With quick and easy access to lots of lush, open green spaces, rugged mountain trails, waterfalls, and urban hikes alike, Seattle is the epitome of a hiker’s paradise. We rounded up the best hikes near Seattle to help you narrow down all the choices.
The entire state of Washington is known for having plenty of excellent hiking opportunities, and Seattle is no exception. Situated directly on the Pacific coast and within close proximity to several major mountain ranges and national parks, the Emerald City’s well-earned reputation for being super “outdoorsy” lives up to the hype.
Whether you’re an avid enthusiast or a beginner hiker, you’ll definitely find lots of great hikes near Seattle for all experience levels and interests. Long mountain treks, alpine lakes, waterfalls…Washington has it all!
It’s truly no wonder hiking in Seattle has become a popular pastime for both locals and visitors alike.
Regardless of what brings you to this quirky city, you’ll want to fit in at least one or two hikes. It’s definitely one of our favorite things to do in Seattle! In this article, we’re sharing some of the best hikes near Seattle to help you plan your next outing.
1. Discovery Park & Lighthouse Loop Trail
- Distance: 4.4-mile loop
- Elevation: 472 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Easy
- Distance from Seattle: within the city
- View the trail notes
Discovery Park is one of the best hikes near Seattle because of its convenient access right from within the city. You can even reach the park via the Metro Bus System or walk if you’re up for the extra steps! The easygoing loop trail traverses fields, forest, and the coast, keeping things interesting.
2. Gold Creek Pond
- Distance: 1.2-mile loop
- Elevation: 45 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Easy
- Distance from Seattle: 55 miles east; roughly 1 hour
- View the trail notes
At the top of beautiful Snoqualmie Pass, Gold Creek Pond is one of the best hikes near Seattle. The wide, paved trail is ideal for folks in wheelchairs and strollers, and it offers year-round recreation. In the winter (when the pass is accessible), try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing!
3. Franklin Falls
- Distance: 2 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 364 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Easy
- Distance from Seattle: 51.2 miles east; roughly 50 minutes
- View the trail notes
This is one of the most popular hikes near Seattle for families especially, and it’s easy to understand why. Easily accessible, plenty of places for a picnic, restrooms at the trailhead, and a huge payoff with Franklin Falls itself; what’s not to love?!
You’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass to enter the trailhead ($30 annually or $5 per car, per day).
4. Foster Island Trail at Washington Park Arboretum
- Distance: 3.3 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 101 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Easy
- Distance from Seattle: 51.2 miles east; roughly 50 minutes
- View the trail notes
If you’re looking for one of the best hikes in Seattle proper, head to the Arboretum. Situated in the Broadmoor neighborhood, it’s just 10 minutes from downtown, but it feels like another world. This hike is spectacular during the spring azalea bloom and fall, when the leaves turn.
5. Coal Creek Falls
- Distance: 2.7-mile loop
- Elevation: 544 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Easy
- Distance from Seattle: 16 miles east; roughly 22 minutes
- View the trail notes
Just outside town in the super-scenic Newcastle area, this is one of the best hikes in Seattle. The trail runs mostly through verdant, mossy green forest to the falls, and it’s doable for families with young children. Best of all, it’s accessible year-round (and is pretty magical with snow!).
6. Hoypus Point
- Distance: 5.1-mile loop
- Elevation: 531 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Easy to moderate
- Distance from Seattle: 80 miles north; roughly 1 hour, 20 minutes
- View the trail notes
Hoypus Point offers a little of everything: beaches, tide pools, old-growth forest, and views of Mt. Baker. On Whidbey Island, this trail follows a paved road for the bulk of it, making it a great option for wheelchairs and families. At the end, explore the sandy beach.
Hoypus Point is in Deception State Park, so you need a Discover Pass ($30 annually or $10 per car, per day).
7. Rattlesnake Ledge
- Distance: 5.3 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 1,459 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate
- Distance from Seattle: 34.5 miles southeast; roughly 40 minutes
- View the trail notes
Despite its ominous-sounding name, Rattlesnake Ledge is one of the most beautiful, best hikes near Seattle. Near gorgeous Snoqualmie Valley, the steady incline takes you through dense forest and offers panoramic views of Rattlesnake Lake and countless peaks.
8. Lake Twenty-Two
- Distance: 6.8-mile loop
- Elevation: 1,473 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate
- Distance from Seattle: 56.8 miles northeast; roughly 1.25 hours
- View the trail notes
In the foothills of Mount Pilchuck, the hike to Lake Twenty-Two is a steady climb through alpine wetlands and rainforests – come prepared for muddy trails! However, hiking past small waterfalls and seeing the incredible lake make it worth the trouble. You’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass.
9. Twin Falls
- Distance: 2.6 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 600 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate
- Distance from Seattle: 35 miles southeast; roughly 35 minutes
- View the trail notes
For a short, family-friendly hike near Seattle that’s also feature-rich, it’s hard to top Twin Falls. Right off I-90, the trail follows lush forest and the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, and leads to three lovely waterfalls. You’ll need a Discover Pass.
10. Heybrook Lookout
- Distance: 2.6 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 912 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate
- Distance from Seattle: 58 miles northeast; roughly 1 hour, 15 minutes
- View the trail notes
Leading to one of Washington’s iconic fire lookout towers, Heybrook Lookout delivers a short and sweet workout. The trail climbs about 900 feet in just over a mile, then packs even more of a punch if you climb the 89 steps to the actual fire tower (which we highly recommend!).
11. Wallace Falls
- Distance: 5.6 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 1,489 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate
- Distance from Seattle: 47 miles northeast; roughly 55 minutes
- View the trail notes
Wallace Falls is almost like three individual trails, and you get to choose which one you’re up for. It’s really all the Woody Trail, but there are three viewpoints that work as natural rest or turnaround points. The view from the second, Middle Falls, is by far the best. You’ll need a Discover Pass.
12. Scenic Hot Springs
- Distance: 2 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 1,100 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate
- Distance from Seattle: 80 miles east; roughly 1.5 hours
- Trail notes**
In case you didn’t know this, we kinda love hot springs…and Scenic Hot Springs is our absolute favorite hot springs in Washington! The best time to make the two-mile, mostly uphill trek to this private hot spring is during winter when the pine trees are dusted in a fluffy layer of white. Snow makes the experience magical! Just know this will require snowshoes in wintertime.
Scenic Hot Springs only allows 10 people per day, and reservations book out months in advance. Find more details and make your reservation HERE.
13. Snow Lake
- Distance: 6.7 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 1,699 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate
- Distance from Seattle: 52.6 miles from Seattle, roughly 55 minutes by car
- View the trail notes
Another of the well-known day hikes near Seattle is Snow Lake, which brings you along a rocky trail to a jaw-droppingly beautiful alpine lake. Just an hour drive from Seattle, this trail is understandably popular, so go early. You’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass.
14. Mailbox Peak
- Distance: 9.6 miles
- Elevation: 4,005 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate to challenging
- Distance from Seattle: 37.2 miles east; roughly 40 minutes
- View the trail notes
This formidable peak is a popular destination, especially because it’s easily accessible via I-90. A few years ago, a new trail was constructed, as the old one was notoriously treacherous. This new route combines the two, and while it’s still steep and challenging, it’s actually fairly quick going up. You also get to (or have to, depending on your viewpoint!) navigate through a large boulder field toward the end. You’ll need to have a Discover Pass.
15. Poo Poo Point
- Distance: 7.2 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 1,794 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate to challenging
- Distance from Seattle: 18.8 miles east; roughly 25 minutes
- View the trail notes
If you’re looking for a challenging hike near Seattle with rewarding vistas (and a silly name!), this one’s for you. At the top, you’ll enjoy fantastic views of Lake Washington and the surrounding hills. There are actually two routes to reach the summit, this one or the 3.4-mile Chirico Trail.
Free parking at the trailhead fills up fast, especially on weekends, so get there early or bring cash to pay the $5 overflow lot down the street.
16. Mason Lake
- Distance: 6.5 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 2,400 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Moderate to challenging
- Distance from Seattle: 76 miles west, roughly 1 hour, 25 minutes
- View the trail notes
The trail to this glassy lake is one of our personal favorite hikes near Seattle. While challenging, it keeps things interesting by switching the scenery up between open ridgeline, switchbacks, and old-growth forest. Fall foliage and vibrant summer wildflowers both make this trail a showstopper.
17. Mount Pilchuck
- Distance: 5.4 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 2,122 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Challenging
- Distance from Seattle: 62 miles northeast; roughly 1 hour, 25 minutes
- View the trail notes
Another popular fire lookout, Mount Pilchuck is a challenging but not-too-difficult hike. From the tower, you’ll get sweeping views that include Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, and countless peaks in the Olympics. You’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass, and the dirt road leading to the trail is rough and very slow-going, though do-able in most vehicles.
18. Mount Si
- Distance: 8 miles
- Elevation: 3,336 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Challenging
- Distance from Seattle: 33.9 miles east; roughly 40 minutes
- View the trail notes
Not only is Mount Si one of the best hikes near Seattle, it’s the most popular in the entire state! Admittedly, the bulk of this trail isn’t particularly feature-rich — you mostly hike through view-less forest. It’s the summit views you hike (or climb; it’s wildly popular with rock climbers!) Mount Si for, staring out over the entire Snoqualmie Valley.
Lots of hikers use Mount Si to train for summiting Mount Rainier, so that gives good indication about the awesomeness of this trail!
19. Kendall Katwalk
- Distance: 12 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 2,600 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Challenging
- Distance from Seattle: 51.5 miles east; roughly 1 hour
- View the trail notes
Named for the “catwalk” on the trail, a narrow, exposed path with a sheer drop-off on one side, Kendall Katwalk is one of the best hikes near Seattle for anyone seeking a challenge. You get a bit of everything, including old-growth forest, alpine lakes, wildflowers, and epic campsites.
20. Blanca Lake
- Distance: 8 miles, out-and-back
- Elevation: 3,300 feet
- Difficulty Rating: Challenging
- Distance from Seattle: 82 miles east; roughly 2 hours
- View the trail notes
Tucked away in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, this striking green lake is one of our favorite hikes near Seattle! The trail is challenging, with 30-plus switchbacks, but has a tremendous payoff. Although it’s the furthest hike from Seattle on our list, it’s still an easy day trip!
What to pack for hiking near Seattle
There are a few items we take on every hike with us, no matter how far or challenging the trail we plan to tackle.
- Navigation: we recommend using Alltrails+ to download the offline trail map
- Get your first week of using Alltrails+ for FREE when you sign up using our link!
- Hiking backpack
- Hydration pack and/or water bottles
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
- Camera/tripod (this one’s our favorite for hiking)
- Hiking shoes or Chacos if you prefer
- Comfortable hiking clothes (lots of layers!)
- Hiking snacks
- Bug spray (we prefer the natural stuff)
Be sure to grab our ultimate hiking packing list includes our must-have gear for any hiking trail!
You may also like…
- Beautiful Waterfalls Near Seattle
- Incredible Washington Hot Springs & Where to Find Them
- Washington National Parks Guide + Map
- 50 Best Hikes in Washington State
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We want to hear from you!
Have you done any of the hikes near Seattle on this list? What was your experience like? Which is the hike you’re most excited to add to your bucket list? Comment below and let us know!