WA · Pacific Northwest
8 forest guides within driving distance
Planning a trip near Seattle? Our curated guide has the top picks.
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Snoqualmie National Forest covers the central Cascades east of Seattle, Washington, anchoring the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Snoqualmie Pass, and some of the most-hiked trails in the Pacific Northwest.
5 min read
Complete guide to Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington. Home to the Enchantments, Lake Chelan, and the best Cascades hiking near Seattle.
10 min read
Olympic National Forest wraps around Olympic National Park on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, protecting 628,000 acres of temperate rainforest, rugged river valleys, and old-growth timber along the Pacific Coast.
6 min read
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest spans 1.7 million acres along Washington's Cascade Range, offering world-class alpine hiking, glacier views, and old-growth rainforest within two hours of Seattle.
8 min read
Wenatchee National Forest covers the eastern Cascades slopes and Stuart Range of central Washington, anchoring the Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and Leavenworth's world-class hiking country.
5 min read
Complete guide to Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington. Trail recommendations, volcanic landscapes, campgrounds, permits, and trip planning for this underrated Pacific Northwest gem.
9 min read
Complete guide to Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon. Trail recommendations, campgrounds, permits, seasonal tips, and everything you need to plan your trip.
11 min read
Colville National Forest covers 1.5 million acres of northeastern Washington, featuring rolling forested mountains, more than 900 lakes and ponds, and the Salmo-Priest Wilderness anchoring the region's most rugged terrain.
6 min read
Hike Little Si in Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. This moderate 5-mile out-and-back gains 1,200 feet through second-growth forest to a ridgeline with views of the Snoqualmie Valley and the Cascades.
3 min read
Climb Mount Si in Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. This strenuous 8-mile out-and-back gains 3,150 feet to one of Washington's most climbed peaks with panoramic Cascade and Puget Sound views.
3 min read
Hike to Twin Falls in Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. This easy 2.6-mile out-and-back gains 500 feet through old-growth forest to two dramatic waterfalls on the South Fork Snoqualmie River.
2 min read
Hike to the Talus Caves in Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. This moderate 2-mile out-and-back gains 600 feet through forest to a fascinating jumble of boulders with natural cave passages in the Cascade foothills.
3 min read
Hike to Mirror Lake in Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. This moderate 4.5-mile out-and-back gains 900 feet to a reflective alpine lake with wildflowers and Cascade mountain views.
3 min read
Climb Granite Mountain in Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. This strenuous 8.6-mile out-and-back gains 3,800 feet to a historic fire lookout with panoramic Cascade views and summer wildflowers.
3 min read
Hike to Snow Lake in Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. This moderate-hard 7.2-mile out-and-back gains 1,800 feet to the largest alpine lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness with stunning Cascade views.
3 min read
Hike Commonwealth Basin in Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. This strenuous 10-mile out-and-back gains 2,800 feet to an alpine lake and high basin in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness with stunning views.
3 min read
The Grand Ridge Trail is an 8.8-mile out-and-back route along a high alpine ridge in the Olympic Mountains, offering continuous views of the Olympic backcountry from an open subalpine traverse above 6,000 feet.
3 min read
Lake Angeles is a 7.0-mile out-and-back trail climbing from sea-level Port Angeles into Olympic National Park to a remote cirque lake at 4,196 feet, passing through old-growth forest and subalpine terrain.
3 min read
Hurricane Hill is a 3.2-mile out-and-back trail from Hurricane Ridge climbing to an open 5,757-foot summit with panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Vancouver Island.
5 min read
The Elwha River Trail is a 9.0-mile out-and-back through the recovering Elwha River valley, tracing one of North America's most significant dam removal and river restoration projects through old-growth forest and regenerating riparian habitat.
4 min read
Guide to the Lake Ingalls Trail in Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. A 9.2-mile out-and-back to an alpine lake at 6,463 feet beneath Mount Stuart, the largest non-volcanic peak in the Cascades.
3 min read
Guide to Lake Stuart in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington. An 8.8-mile out-and-back from Icicle Creek Road to a large subalpine lake beneath the Stuart Range near Leavenworth.
6 min read
Guide to the Lake Stuart Trail in Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. A 10.0-mile out-and-back to a large alpine lake at 5,064 feet beneath Mount Stuart in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
3 min read
Guide to Colchuck Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington. A 9-mile out-and-back to a turquoise glacial lake beneath Dragontail Peak near Leavenworth.
7 min read
Guide to the Colchuck Lake Trail in Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. An 8.0-mile out-and-back to a stunning turquoise alpine lake at 5,570 feet beneath the Dragontail and Colchuck peaks.
3 min read
Guide to the Enchantments Thru-Hike in Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. A 18.0-mile point-to-point through the most scenic alpine zone in the Cascades, with a lottery permit system.
3 min read
Guide to the Snow Lakes Trail in Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. A 6.0-mile out-and-back to twin alpine lakes at 5,400 feet, the gateway to the Enchantments.
3 min read
Guide to the Eightmile Lake Trail in Wenatchee National Forest, Washington. A 6.8-mile out-and-back to a large alpine lake at 4,641 feet in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Leavenworth.
3 min read
Guide to the Icicle Creek Trail near Leavenworth, Washington. A 10-mile out-and-back through old-growth ponderosa pine along a productive salmon and steelhead stream.
6 min read
The Seven Lakes Basin Loop is a 19.2-mile backpacking circuit through the subalpine heart of Olympic National Park, linking seven alpine lakes, high ridges, and old-growth forest in one of the peninsula's finest multi-day routes.
4 min read
Sol Duc Falls is a 1.8-mile out-and-back trail to one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Washington, where the Sol Duc River plunges through a narrow basalt gorge in a four-channel cascade surrounded by old-growth forest.
4 min read
Mount Storm King is a 4.4-mile out-and-back trail on the north shore of Lake Crescent, climbing steeply through old-growth forest to a rocky viewpoint 1,700 feet above the lake with panoramic views of the Olympic Peninsula.
4 min read