It’s a beautiful day, and you want to be outside enjoying nature, but you don’t feel like doing a big workout. Or maybe you’re going with small children or older family members, and you want something that is suitable for everyone. You’re looking for the best easy hikes in Washington state. I’ve got you covered! 

I am always in awe of the beauty in Washington, particularly the accessibility of amazing and easy trails. You truly don’t have to be climbing 3,000 feet on a trail to get unbelievable views (though you certainly can find incredible places doing this!). You can, in fact, thoroughly enjoy easy hiking trails in Washington.

14 Fantastic, Easy Washington Hikes

1. Greenwater Lakes

Distance & elevation gain: 4.9 miles roundtrip, 479 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Greenwater Lakes Trail

A lovely trail in the Greenwater area, east of Enumclaw, you’ll find peace in this forested area. A less popular trail, it’s excellent for a quiet stroll through the woods, passing streams and arriving at small (green) lakes. Perfect for a warm spring, summer, or fall day.

2. Skookum Flats

Distance & elevation gain: 4.6 miles roundtrip, 525 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Skookum Flats Trail

This trail is low-traffic, pet friendly, and gorgeous.
Another trail near Greenwater on the way to Mt. Rainier, Skookum Flats is a relaxed forest amble along the river and towards Skookum Falls. The waters of the river come from glaciers, and the color reflects that. It’s an ideal lowlands trail with ample shade. 

3. Talapus Lake

Distance & elevation gain: 3.4 miles roundtrip, 656 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Talapus Lake Trail

This was from a November visit. Blue skies and icy lake with snow covered mountains, it was perfection.
A small and pretty lake off of highway 90, Talapus Lake is especially wonderful when it has snowed and the lake freezes over.  Mind the gray jays, these birds are very intense and will steal your snacks. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can add on a couple miles by continuing on to Ollalie Lake.

4. Barclay Lake

Distance & elevation gain: 4.4 miles, 500 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Barclay Lake Trail

Barclay Lake is a relatively flat forest trail that leads to a lake at the foot of Mt. Bering. It’s a popular backpacking spot, filled with families in search of a gentle backpacking trip in the warm summer months, because it’s one of the best easy hikes in Washington.  It’s also a solid hike in the fall. Be sure to check snow conditions if you visit later in the year.

5. Gold Creek Pond

Distance & Elevation gain: 1 mile roundtrip, 10 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Gold Creek Pond Trail

Gold Creek Pond was the first hike I did after my C-section. N was just a few weeks old. This was a great introductory trail as it was paved and I could push the stroller.

About an hour from Seattle at the Snoqualmie Pass area, this paved trail is wonderful for a clear summer day where you’ll get beautiful views of the mountains at the pass, or for an easy, avalanche-free snowshoe excursion in the winter. Mileage is a lot higher in winter when the snow blocks access to the Gold Creek Pond trailhead and you have to walk a bit to get there.

6. Oxbow Lake Loop

Distance & elevation gain: 1.8 miles, 56 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Oxbow Lake Loop Trail

Oxbow Lake Loop is beautiful in every season.
Ideal for a day when you want a peaceful excursion, Oxbow Lake has it all: a lake, a forest, and mountain views. Doesn’t get any better than that!

Pro tip: if the water is frozen over, try throwing small rocks on it. We got some fascinating tones and reverberations when we did so.

7. Twin Falls

Distance & elevation gain: 2.4 miles roundtrip, 940 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Twin Falls Trail

A perennial favorite, you won’t be alone when you visit Twin Falls, because the secret is out and everyone loves this place. You get some riverside trail followed by a gentle climb through forest to view points of the impressive falls. This one is best hiked in the wet months for maximum water.

8. Murhut Falls

Distance & elevation gain: 1.6 miles round trip, 250 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Murhut Falls Trail

One of the quietest trails I’ve been on in Washington, Murhut Falls is a hidden gem. Located on the Olympic Peninsula near the Hood Canal, this waterfall is certainly worth the 3/4 mile hike to see it.

9. Pinnacle Saddle

Distance & elevation gain: 2.5 miles roundtrip, 1000 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Pinnacle Saddle Trail

A bit tougher than some of the other hikes on this list in terms of elevation gain, Pinnacle Saddle packs a punch. It offers panoramic views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens, among others, if you visit on a clear day. Pinnacle Saddle is best hiked in summer months. 

10. Garfield Ledges

Distance & elevation gain: 2.2 miles roundtrip, 830 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Garfield Ledges Trail

A relatively new trail, Garfield Ledges is in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie area, and offers a lovely view of the river, forest, and surrounding mountains from the top. Quick and easy, this is a nice spot to take visitors when you don’t want to venture too far from the city, but you want great views and a quiet trail.

11. Naches Peak Loop

Distance & Elevation gain: 3.2 miles roundtrip, 600 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Naches Peak Loop

I love this hike anytime, but I’m particularly partial to a fall hike here. We did this in the fall for the first time last year and now I want to make it a yearly fall tradition. No bugs, and fall colors!
Naches Peak Loop is a classic hike near Mt. Rainier that is always busy, but for a reason: the place is unbelievably beautiful. Visiting this trail has to be on your easy hikes in Washington list. A quick loop trail, you’ll get to see Mt. Rainier and the surrounding mountains, alongside wildflowers or fall colors if you go in the right seasons (late July and late September, respectively). I never tire of this hike.

12. Heybrook Lookout

Distance & Elevation gain: 2.6 miles roundtrip, 850 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Heybrook Lookout Trail

Washington is famous for the lookout trails we have, and Heybrook Lookout is probably the easiest to access of all of them. It doesn’t involve driving on any wild forest service roads (it’s right off the highway), and it’s a quick jaunt to the top, where you’re treated to breathtaking vistas of Index her mountains. It’s particularly beautiful in the winter when snow caps the peaks, and should be near the top of your easy hikes in Washington list.

13. Frozen Lake Rainier

Distance & Elevation gain: 2.8 miles roundtrip, 534 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Frozen Lake Trail

Note that this area of Mt. Rainier is only open for a few months of the year (June-September). We hiked this on Labor Day weekend, near the end of the season.

Located at the Sunrise entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park, Frozen Lake is an approachable trail near the mountain herself that leads to a small lake at the skirt of the mountain. Head down the wonderland trail to make this one into a loop and catch some wildflower and marmot sightings in peak summer. 

14. Sol Duc Falls

Distance & elevation gain: 1.6 miles roundtrip, 226 feet elevation gain
Trail link: Sol Duc Falls Trail

An Olympic Peninsula gem, Sol Duc Falls are powerful and impressive, and just a quick walk through old growth forest to the viewing areas. Don’t miss this trail if you’re in the Lake Crescent or Sol Duc areas.

Final thoughts on the best easy Washington hikes

Sometimes you want a challenging hike, and sometimes you want something easy and enjoyable. You don’t even have to sacrifice incredible views for these easy hikes in Washington. You can find gorgeous mountain views, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and more on these gentle trails. Luckily, easy Washington hikes are some of the best around!

Interested in other trail recommendations? Check out this popular post on the best hikes in Mt. Rainier, or this one on the best lake hikes in Washington.