Today we’d like to highlight one of our state’s most underrated natural treasures: the alpine meadow. Often full of wildflowers and berries by late spring, these gems can be spotted on some of our most popular hiking trails. These nine are especially scenic, so here are the best hikes in Washington for anyone who wants to experience a real-life meadow.
- Bear Creek Mountain
Richard Swearingen / alltrails.com This delightful 7-mile tail is located in the Goat Rocks Wilderness near the small town of Naches. You’ll need need a high ground clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead (it’s rocky and uneven),. The path takes you over Bear Creek itself to a sprawling meadow. Bear Creek Mountain, Washington 98377, USA
- Tiffany Mountain Trail
MC Hiker / alltrails.com Tiffany Mountain Trail is located in the Okanogan Highlands near Winthrop. Although it’s only 4.4 miles in length, the elevation gains will leave you winded. That being said, the stunning scenery around every corner makes it all worth it. Tiffany Mountain Trail, Washington, USA
- Sheep Lake Trail
Steve Devlin / alltrails.com This relatively easy 5-mile hike sits nestled in Mount Rainier National Park near Ashford. The trailhead begins on the Pacific Crest Trail at Chinook Pass, and if you time it right, it’s full of wildflowers. Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap Trailhead, Naches, WA 98937, USA
- Grand Park Trail
Yaz Obara / alltrails.com Speaking of Mt. Rainier National Park, the Grand Park Trail happens to have one of the largest meadows in the area. The 9-mile trail is especially stunning in June and July. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
- Dog Mountain Trail
Brittney Jo / alltrails.com This 6-mile trail is one of the most famous hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, especially during wildflower season. On a clear day, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of Mount Hood and the Columbia River. The trailhead is located near the tiny town of Underwood. Dog Mountain Trail, WA-14, Cook, WA 98605, USA
- Spider Meadow Trail
John Heyde / alltrails.com This is a long hike (13 miles in its entirety), and the drive to the trailhead is a lengthy one as well (from Highway 2 West, near Leavenworth, it’s a good 90 minute drive down a lot of backroads). That being said, if you’re up for the challenge, you’ll get to experience one of the most spectacular high alpine meadow hikes in the Pacific Northwest. Spider Meadow, Washington 98826, USA
- Maple Pass Trail
Chris Workman / alltrails.com This is a must-do hike near the North Cascades on Heather Maple Pass near Chelan. In fact, some hikers swear this 6-mile loop is one of the best trails in Washington - and there’s only one way to find out if they’re right. Maple Pass, Washington, USA
- Margaret Lake Trail
Yaz Obara / alltrails.com Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Easton, this 5.4-mile trail is highly underrated. If you go early in the morning or during the week, you just might have it all to yourself. Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, Leavenworth, WA 98826, USA
- Naches Peak Loop Trail
Ivy Wong / alltrails.com To reach this breathtaking 3.3 mile trail, park at Tipsoo Lake on SR 410 near Chinook Pass. Every step of this trek is spectacular, especially with Mt. Rainier looming in the distance. Naches Peak Loop Trailhead, Pacific Crest Trail, Naches, WA 98937, USA
We have so many stunning hiking trails here in Washington. Which trails would you call the best hikes in Washington? This one is another must-do, and tell us about your favorites in the comments!
Richard Swearingen / alltrails.com
This delightful 7-mile tail is located in the Goat Rocks Wilderness near the small town of Naches. You’ll need need a high ground clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead (it’s rocky and uneven),. The path takes you over Bear Creek itself to a sprawling meadow.
Bear Creek Mountain, Washington 98377, USA
MC Hiker / alltrails.com
Tiffany Mountain Trail is located in the Okanogan Highlands near Winthrop. Although it’s only 4.4 miles in length, the elevation gains will leave you winded. That being said, the stunning scenery around every corner makes it all worth it.
Tiffany Mountain Trail, Washington, USA
Steve Devlin / alltrails.com
This relatively easy 5-mile hike sits nestled in Mount Rainier National Park near Ashford. The trailhead begins on the Pacific Crest Trail at Chinook Pass, and if you time it right, it’s full of wildflowers.
Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap Trailhead, Naches, WA 98937, USA
Yaz Obara / alltrails.com
Speaking of Mt. Rainier National Park, the Grand Park Trail happens to have one of the largest meadows in the area. The 9-mile trail is especially stunning in June and July.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
Brittney Jo / alltrails.com
This 6-mile trail is one of the most famous hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, especially during wildflower season. On a clear day, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of Mount Hood and the Columbia River. The trailhead is located near the tiny town of Underwood.
Dog Mountain Trail, WA-14, Cook, WA 98605, USA
John Heyde / alltrails.com
This is a long hike (13 miles in its entirety), and the drive to the trailhead is a lengthy one as well (from Highway 2 West, near Leavenworth, it’s a good 90 minute drive down a lot of backroads). That being said, if you’re up for the challenge, you’ll get to experience one of the most spectacular high alpine meadow hikes in the Pacific Northwest.
Spider Meadow, Washington 98826, USA
Chris Workman / alltrails.com
This is a must-do hike near the North Cascades on Heather Maple Pass near Chelan. In fact, some hikers swear this 6-mile loop is one of the best trails in Washington - and there’s only one way to find out if they’re right.
Maple Pass, Washington, USA
Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Easton, this 5.4-mile trail is highly underrated. If you go early in the morning or during the week, you just might have it all to yourself.
Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, Leavenworth, WA 98826, USA
Ivy Wong / alltrails.com
To reach this breathtaking 3.3 mile trail, park at Tipsoo Lake on SR 410 near Chinook Pass. Every step of this trek is spectacular, especially with Mt. Rainier looming in the distance.
Naches Peak Loop Trailhead, Pacific Crest Trail, Naches, WA 98937, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in Washington June 13, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the most popular scenic hikes in Washington? Washington is an outrageously beautiful place. From its lush, green forests to its cascading waterfalls, it’s easy to see why the most scenic places in Washington are considered some of the most scenic places anywhere! We have a few favorite hikes in Washington that are known for being especially stunning; among the most popular scenic hikes in Washington include Rattlesnake Ledge Trail, within the Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area, which features incredible views unlike any other, and the famed Skyline Loop Trail at Mount Rainier National Park, a challenging six-mile trek through incredible terrain that showcases the best of Washington’s natural beauty. What are the best easy hikes in Washington? With nearly 4,000 hiking trails in Washington, many of them are bound to be easy, right? Correct! In fact, there are more than 1,000 hiking trails in Washington rated as easy, like the amazing Marymere Falls Trail, which is 1.7 miles long and leads to one of the coolest waterfalls in Washington state. You’ll find that trail at Olympic National Park, as well as another favorite easy trail, the Hoh Rain Forest Hall of Mosses Trail which leads you through a breathtaking rainforest that’ll make you feel like you’re somewhere far away. Of course, we also have to mention the single most famous waterfall trail in Washington: the Snoqualmie Falls Trail, which you’ll no doubt recognize immediately upon completion of the 1.4-mile easy hike. What are some of the best hiking trails near me? No matter what part of Washington you’re coming from, you’re sure to find some amazing hiking trails near you! There are many popular hiking trails in Washington that weave all over the state, so you’re set in terms of excellent trails without the pain of going long distances. Among the best hikes in Washington that might just be near you are the Maple Pass Loop, at North Cascades National Park, as well as the Enchantments, near Leavenworth. Another favorite is the Boroughs Mountain Trail at Mount Rainier National Park, which is incredible and well worth a trip!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in Washington
June 13, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the most popular scenic hikes in Washington? Washington is an outrageously beautiful place. From its lush, green forests to its cascading waterfalls, it’s easy to see why the most scenic places in Washington are considered some of the most scenic places anywhere! We have a few favorite hikes in Washington that are known for being especially stunning; among the most popular scenic hikes in Washington include Rattlesnake Ledge Trail, within the Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area, which features incredible views unlike any other, and the famed Skyline Loop Trail at Mount Rainier National Park, a challenging six-mile trek through incredible terrain that showcases the best of Washington’s natural beauty. What are the best easy hikes in Washington? With nearly 4,000 hiking trails in Washington, many of them are bound to be easy, right? Correct! In fact, there are more than 1,000 hiking trails in Washington rated as easy, like the amazing Marymere Falls Trail, which is 1.7 miles long and leads to one of the coolest waterfalls in Washington state. You’ll find that trail at Olympic National Park, as well as another favorite easy trail, the Hoh Rain Forest Hall of Mosses Trail which leads you through a breathtaking rainforest that’ll make you feel like you’re somewhere far away. Of course, we also have to mention the single most famous waterfall trail in Washington: the Snoqualmie Falls Trail, which you’ll no doubt recognize immediately upon completion of the 1.4-mile easy hike. What are some of the best hiking trails near me? No matter what part of Washington you’re coming from, you’re sure to find some amazing hiking trails near you! There are many popular hiking trails in Washington that weave all over the state, so you’re set in terms of excellent trails without the pain of going long distances. Among the best hikes in Washington that might just be near you are the Maple Pass Loop, at North Cascades National Park, as well as the Enchantments, near Leavenworth. Another favorite is the Boroughs Mountain Trail at Mount Rainier National Park, which is incredible and well worth a trip!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Washington is an outrageously beautiful place. From its lush, green forests to its cascading waterfalls, it’s easy to see why the most scenic places in Washington are considered some of the most scenic places anywhere! We have a few favorite hikes in Washington that are known for being especially stunning; among the most popular scenic hikes in Washington include Rattlesnake Ledge Trail, within the Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area, which features incredible views unlike any other, and the famed Skyline Loop Trail at Mount Rainier National Park, a challenging six-mile trek through incredible terrain that showcases the best of Washington’s natural beauty.
What are the best easy hikes in Washington?
With nearly 4,000 hiking trails in Washington, many of them are bound to be easy, right? Correct! In fact, there are more than 1,000 hiking trails in Washington rated as easy, like the amazing Marymere Falls Trail, which is 1.7 miles long and leads to one of the coolest waterfalls in Washington state. You’ll find that trail at Olympic National Park, as well as another favorite easy trail, the Hoh Rain Forest Hall of Mosses Trail which leads you through a breathtaking rainforest that’ll make you feel like you’re somewhere far away. Of course, we also have to mention the single most famous waterfall trail in Washington: the Snoqualmie Falls Trail, which you’ll no doubt recognize immediately upon completion of the 1.4-mile easy hike.
What are some of the best hiking trails near me?
No matter what part of Washington you’re coming from, you’re sure to find some amazing hiking trails near you! There are many popular hiking trails in Washington that weave all over the state, so you’re set in terms of excellent trails without the pain of going long distances. Among the best hikes in Washington that might just be near you are the Maple Pass Loop, at North Cascades National Park, as well as the Enchantments, near Leavenworth. Another favorite is the Boroughs Mountain Trail at Mount Rainier National Park, which is incredible and well worth a trip!
