Must-See Summer Hikes in Washington
Summer is just around the corner and it truly is one of the most magical times in Washington. (Mostly) snow-free trails, alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, and access to some of the most beautiful national and state parks in the world! After exploring Washington for 3 summers, I’ve come up with a list of some of the most epic summer Washington hikes that you MUST add to your list to explore!
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Table of Contents
Research / Navigation
I recommend downloading the Alltrails app – this is the best app in my opinion for finding trails that are suitable for backpacking. You can filter out the trails you are searching through with the keywords like “Wildflowers,” “Forest,” and “Lake” for example so you can find your very perfect summer trail! Also, we love using Washington Trails Association Trip Reports (if you’re planning on hiking/backpacking in Washington, where we are based out of) is another great place to research trails. Both Alltrails and WTA Trip Reports have been amazing resources for us to find accessible trails that are suitable for backpacking! People also provide great reviews of the trail as well so you know what you’re getting into (so it’s not too hard, or not accessible – downed tree, closed trailhead, washout, etc). The very best time to hike in Washington is late June to mid October. But always be sure to check trail reports before visiting!
Alltrails also comes in handy for having navigation right on your cell phone – you can download the trail before you go so you have the map downloaded on your phone and it will automatically track you on the app so you know where you are on the trail and so you don’t make any wrong turns. My favorite feature on this app is that it also has icons that shows you where camping spots are and where restrooms are along the trails so that you can navigate to your desired location with ease. And to be sure you are camping in a designated camping area.
Passes for hiking trails in Washington
To hike most of the trails in Washington you need a Discover Pass, Northwest Forest Pass, or America the Beautiful Pass (or can pay the entry fee to the national park). Check Alltrails to see if the trail you are going to require one of these passes.
Skyline Trail and Myrtle Fall Viewpoint
Location: Mount Rainier National Park
Distance: 6.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,788 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Pass: America the Beautiful Pass or Pay entry fee
Drive from Seattle: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Dog Friendly: No
Experience this beautiful and breathtaking hike at Mount Rainier National Park – this is one of our absolute favorite trails. It’s 6.2-mile loop trail near Paradise Inn, Washington. Be sure to go to the Myrtle Falls Viewpoint first to see the iconic waterfall with Mount Rainier behind it. So epic and beautiful! We always get to this trail super early in the summer to avoid the crowds and catch sunrise. We might have to set our alarm clocks at 2/3 am so we get to the trail in time for sunrise – but it’s always so worth it! Also to catch the wildflowers in their prime here – be sure to go mid-August! It’s the perfect time to get amazing weather and meadows of beautiful wildflowers.
Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake Trail
Location: Leavenworth, Washington
Distance: 9 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,283 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Pass: The self-issuing day permits are available at trailheads for day hiking. $5 per vehicle/per day
Drive from Seattle: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Dog Friendly: No
A very popular hike in the summertime – so plan on big crowds are get there very early! The lake is the most pristine blue, and perfect for taking a dip in, in the summer! Colchuck Lake is located in The Enchantments in Washington – one of the most beautiful and magical (or shall I say…enchanting) places to explore in Washington. We have done this hike in a day – and it is definitely doable! But it also is rated as hard difficulty so be prepared and bring extra snacks and warm clothes since you will most definitely spend all day hiking and exploring here! We have also stayed the night and backpacked here – but in order to do so you need to win permits through a lottery system here (lottery opens every February)! We have been lucky enough to win permits 3 years in a row and we can’t stop going back – The Enchantments is one of our favorite places to visit in Washington and is also where my husband proposed to me! So special. :’)
Summit Lake Trail
Location: Carbonado, Washington
Distance: 5.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,443 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
Drive from Seattle: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Dog Friendly: Yes
We love Summit Lake Trail so much since it is as close you can get to Mount Rainier National Park without being inside the national park which means we can bring our dog! Hike up to a beautiful blue lake and on a clear day – be able to see Mount Rainier behind the lake. The most picturesque scene. Keep hiking from the lake until you reach the summit to get the most epic view of Rainier! We have day hiked this trail and we have backpacked here as well! Be sure you have a high clearance / AWD vehicle to get to this trailhead. The road up to the trail is very vertical, and has lots of rocks and potholes! So just be sure to drive slowly and you should be ok. Also – when you map to this trailhead on Apple Maps will tell you it is going to take 4-5 hours to reach the trailhead. Which is not true – it only does this since it knows you have to go up a pot hole filled road to reach the trailhead so it adds some extra time on the GPS. But it truly only takes about 2 1/2 hours from Seattle to reach this trail!
Butte Camp Trail
Location: Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument
Distance: 7.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,712 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or $5 fee
Drive from Seattle: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Dog Friendly: No
We had never been to Mount Saint Helens before and we knew we had to visit! We actually did a day hike here for the fourth of July (ever since moving to Washington – we opt out of fireworks and do a sunset hike instead)! The only downside about doing a day hike here is it requires a lot of driving since it takes 3 1/2 hours to get to the trailhead from Seattle. But it was such a fun day and the trail was so incredible. The first photo is literally the very beginning of the trail – where Mount Saint Helens is front and center and the blooming bear grass made it even more magical! You hike up literally right next to Mount Saint Helens (we felt like we could touch it)! Definitely a must-see hike and location in Washington! We can’t wait to go back and explore more of Mount Saint Helens after hiking this trail.
Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap
Location: Paradise Inn, Washington
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,236 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or $5 fee
Drive from Seattle: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Dog Friendly: Yes
This is a beautiful, easy, and dog-friendly hike near Mount Rainier National Park! Hike up to a beautiful alpine lake amongst mountains and meadows. Sit by the lake and have a picnic or keep hiking up Sourdough Gap to get a view of Mount Rainier! Sheep Lake is nestled in a subalpine area that explodes with wildflowers in July and August so plan your trip for then!
Tolmie Peak Trail
Location: Mount Rainier National Park
Distance: 5.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,541 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Drive from Seattle: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Dog Friendly: No
Located at Mount Rainier National Park, Tolmie Peak takes you up a trail that leads you to a fire lookout that overlooks Mount Rainier and a beautiful alpine lake (Eunice Lake). Hike up a shaded, forested trail up to Eunice Lake. From Eunice Lake, if you look up, you’ll see a tiny fire lookout that you need to hike up to! It looks intimidating – but you can do it! And it will be worth it – promise! Highly recommend catching sunrise here – it was so beautiful and we can’t wait to do this trail again! How epic is the bottom left photo – our friend @dylanspitz took that one for us! Such a talented photography – such an epic photo at the fire lookout!
Emmons Moraine Trail
Location: Mount Rainier National Park
Distance: 4.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 902 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Drive from Seattle: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Dog Friendly: No
Hike to an icy blue alpine lake with sweeping views of Mount Rainier and evergreen trees galore! Once you arrive at the lake you will have to scramble down some rocks in order to get to the lake if you want to jump in! Be careful and swim at your own risk. The water can be really cold – so stay close to the edge in case you need to get out to avoid hypothermia. Bring a towel and snacks to hang by the lake and have a picnic! Always remember to leave no trace and pack it out!
Lake Dorothy Trail
Location: Skykomish, Washington
Distance: 9.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,096 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
Drive from Seattle: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Dog Friendly: Yes
We decided to take a backpacking trip here since during the summer there was a washout on the road to the trailhead so we had to hike an extra 4 miles just to get to the main trail! So we thought a backpacking trip was perfect for this location. I was seriously blown away by how underrated this hike and lake is! It was so beautiful and we are so glad we took the trip to stay here overnight. The lake is so beautiful and it had a little island that I got to go swim over to. It was like our own private little island for the night. There are plenty of camping spots around the lake for you to pitch a tent too!
What to pack
Day Backpack
It’s important to bring a backpack that’s comfy and able to hold all your gear for hiking! I love my REI backpack!
Refillable Water Bottle / Water Reservoir
When I first started hiking here in Washington, I just used a reusable water bottle – a hyrdroflask – to take with me on the trails. But after I had been hiking for a few months, I ended up getting a water reservoir and it’s the best ever! It’s so nice to have the convenience of drinking water while you hike from the water reservoir straw! It definitely helps you stay hydrated on the trail and they hold more water for longer, hotter summer hikes.
Hiking Clothes
Layers are key! Dress warm to start the day, and then you can always take off clothes during the day as you get warmer / get your blood pumping from hiking. Comfort and function are key when it comes to finding hiking clothes that work best for you while backpacking. Make sure most of our apparel is moisture-wicking so that when you get sweaty while hiking it is able to dry quickly so that you can stay dry and warm throughout your entire trip!
Socks
Wet, cold feet are not happy feet! Keep your feet warm, dry, and comfortable in the backcountry and on the trails by investing in wool socks. And always bring a few extra pairs with you! My favorite brands are REI and Darn Tough Socks!
Footwear
much too! I would suggest going to your local REI and trying on a few of your favorite pairs to see which hiking shoe/boot would be best for hiking. The people at REI are also super great resources and should be able to help you find your perfect hiking shoe! Also very important to have microspikes even in the summer! We have come across over a handful of instances hiking in Washington in the summer where we were so glad we had our microspikes on snow and ice up at high elevations!
Headlamps + Lanterns
Headlamps are key to have packed in your backpack – especially if you’re planning on doing any sunrise or sunset hikes or plan on hiking in the dark. Sometimes you might also be hiking on a trail longer than you expected and might be hiking unexpectedly in the dark! So having a headlamp to light up the trails when it becomes pitch black is so important for your safety!
First Aid Kit
First Aid kits have come in handy multiple times for me while hiking and backpacking! You can get nice compact ones made for hiking and backpacking. I’ve gotten a few scrapes and gashes while out in nature – and we’ve used the first aid kit to help disinfect and protect wounds from becoming infected!
Bear Spray
Black Bears typically are not agrressive. But if you end up stumbling upon one with her cubs or just spooking one – they could become aggressive. To be safe – please have bear spray with you! It could also help for other potential run-ins with wildlife like goats or mountain lions or even could be used as pepper spray for protection. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Sun Protection
The best way to avoid sunburn and stay cool while hiking and backpacking is to use sun protection! And yes, you can even get sunburnt in the winter! So be prepared and protect your eyes and skin from the sunshine while out exploring nature! Also chapstick/lip balm is a must! You’re lips will get dry and if you don’t have chapstick with you to help satiate them – it sucks! Find chapstick that also has sunscreen in it for double the protection.
Bug protection
The backcountry means beautiful alpine lakes views, but it also, unfortunately, means bugs! Don’t forget to bring bug protection on your hike to avoid getting eaten alive and itching all night. Definitely no fun! The amount of bugs and mosquitoes depends on the time of year – so the best way to know if the bugs are bad or not so bad on a trail is to look up recent trail reports.
Snacks
It’s important to bring plenty of snacks and fuel while hiking! You will most likely be burning a lot of calories hiking to the top of a lot of these trails – so having the proper snacks to refuel is key! You don’t want to be hangry on the trails…right? These are a few of our favorite trail snacks to take with us!
Safety
Be sure to let a family member or close friend know where you’re going to be hiking to and for how long. You can give them GPS coordinates and the day you plan on coming home. To feel even safer, you can also buy something like a Garmin In-reach in order to be able to send text messages in case of an emergency.
Leave no trace
It is so important to respect these beautiful places and leave them even better than you found them! To brush up on how to leave no trace and learn about the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace – head over to Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics website!
