Lace up your hiking shoes and grab a water bottle before heading out to one of Washington and Oregon's scenic trails with waterfalls, lakes and endless views. Mountain ranges dividing both states have ideal trails for beginning hikers through the most experienced hiking enthusiasts. Pack a picnic lunch and plan a day trip or load a backpack with gear for a multi-day adventure on one of the Pacific Northwest's many hiking trails.
Western Washington
Follow Highway 2 east from north Seattle to Wallace Falls State Park for a moderately challenging 12-mile round trip with the reward of a spectacular 265-foot waterfall at the top and several smaller falls along the way. On Washington's western peninsula, Olympic National Forest features day hikes through temperate rain forests, along the Pacific coast or around a lake ranging from 0.2 to 6 miles. Deception Pass, a 4,134-acre state park located on Puget Sound, has 38 miles of hiking trails up rugged cliffs and following the saltwater shoreline with island and mountain views.
Eastern Washington
Travel east of Washington's Cascade Mountains for hiking in a drier climate through canyons and valleys with desert landscapes. The Westberg Trail is a 4-mile round trip reaching 3,560 feet in elevation outside Ellensburg, according to the Washington Trails Association (WTA), and is populated with many bird species such as red-tailed hawks and grouse. Retrace the steps of Lewis and Clark on a 2-mile hike through their namesake state park near Walla Walla, or hike 9 miles along the Lower Klickitat River at Brooks Memorial State Park.
Western Oregon
In the Portland area, 645-acre Tryon Creek State Natural Area has 8 miles of trails through forest land that serve as an escape from city life for avid hikers. Silver Falls State Park in the Willamette Valley features the 8.7-mile Trail of Ten Falls where hikers pass through a rain forest with 10 waterfalls ranging from 27 to 177 feet, according to the state park's website. Other trails at Silver Falls include the 6.2-mile Buck Mountain Loop and 3-mile Howard Creek Loop.
Eastern Oregon
The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (W-W) covers 2.3 million acres of forests and mountains across much of eastern Oregon and extends into Idaho. Numerous trails are available in the Eagle Cap Wilderness portion of the W-W Forest, such as 12-mile Minam Lake Trail, 10.1-mile Hurricane Creek and the 35.2-mile loop of West Eagle Creek.
Most Challenging Hikes
Hike 100 miles across Washington on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail starting near North Bend just east of Seattle and ending near the Idaho border. Spend one day or several hiking portions of the 382-mile Oregon Coast Trail, which follows the Pacific coastline and spans sandy beaches, creeks, hills, state parks and towns. The 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail stretches from Mexico to Canada and has day hikes and extended adventures along its path through both Oregon and Washington.
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