The Top 10 Easy Hikes in Washington

Maybe you are a beginner hiker, maybe you are hiking with kids, or maybe you are just looking for easy hikes in Washington to add to your itinerary. Whatever your reason, I have found the most impressive easy hikes in Washington for your outdoors vacation. These hikes are all beautiful walks in forests or along streams to a jaw-dropping destination.

What is My Definition of an Easy Hike in Washington State?

An easy hike does not mean an effortless stroll in the park. There are some easy hikes in Washington that fall in this category, but the views are usually underwhelming. The easy hikes listed in this article will get your heart rate up and your breathing will get heavier, but the views are spectacular. Easy hikes usually have some elevation gains but not so many gains that you struggle. I also think easy hikes must be under 5 miles to be considered easy. Once a trail reaches 5 miles in length, the body tends to tire more easily.

Fees and Passes

Many of the hikes in this list require a fee, but some do not require a fee at all. The fees for each hike are listed with the hikes below. However, many of the trail costs are included in annual park passes. An Olympic National Park annual pass is $55, and a Mount Rainier National Park annual pass is also $55. Or you can purchase an America the Beautiful U.S. Park Pass, which gives access to all National Park Services sites for a full year. This interagency pass only costs $80.

What to Pack

Bug spray – I usually list water as the first thing to pack. But if you want to keep your sanity, bug spray is an absolute must-have essential!
Water – Whether you use a hydration backpack or carry bottled water, make sure to pack plenty of water when outdoors.
Sunscreen – Protect your skin from the sun, and do not forget to reapply. Many of these North Cascades hikes are completely exposed to the sun.
Hat – More sun protection to block the sun from your face
Hiking shoes/boots – Some of the hikes are on steep, slick rock, and people wearing regular tennis shoes struggled to keep their footing. Here are the men‘s version of the hiking shoes I love.
Hiking socks – The best way to prevent blisters is by keeping your feet dry. Moisture-wicking socks are the best way to do that.
Microfiber Beach Towel – I packed my microfiber beach towel to take for water activities in Lake Diablo.
Water Shoes – The beaches and lake bottoms are rocks, not sand. Protect your feet with water shoes.
Swimsuits – For pool or lake time, you will need a swimsuit. Men’s Women’s
Backpack – A backpack is a necessity when hiking to carry your water, snacks, sunscreen, etc. that you may need on your North Cascades hikes.
Rain jacket – You never know when a storm will pass through so be ready with some men’s or women’s raingear.
Printed Maps/Directions – Cell service is non-existing inside the park, so I recommend you print maps/directions to all North Cascades hikes you plan to visit.

Where are the Easy Hikes in Washington State

Trip map courtesy of Wanderlog, a road trip planner on iOS and Android

1. Marymere Falls Trail

Location – Olympic National Park, west of Port Angeles
Trail Length – 1.7 miles
Elevation Gain – 298 feet
Route Type – Out and back
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – Only the first 0.5 mile to a Barnes Creek Overlook is accessible. The route to the falls is not.
Parking Situation – Large parking area assigned to Lake Crescent and Marymere Falls.
Bathroom Situation – Bathrooms are located near the Storm King Ranger Station at the trailhead.
Fee – No fee but located inside Olympic National Park

I came across this trail and many others listed in this blog while road tripping Olympic National Park, and it was perfect! This trail starts at the Storm King Ranger Station and continues past giant old growth trees and a carpet of ferns on the forest floor. The hike crosses Barnes Creek and Falls Creek before reaching the 90-foot Marymere Falls. There are two viewing points of the waterfall: one at the lower platform and the second viewing area that looks down at the falls after a steep climb. After finishing your hike, head to the shorelines of Lake Crescent for stunning views of the deep blue lake surrounded by majestic mountains.

2. Franklin Falls Trail

Location – Snoqualmie Pass near North Bend
Trail Length – 2.0 miles
Elevation Gain – 364 feet
Route Type – Out and back
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – No
Parking Situation – The parking at the trailhead holds 30 cars. There is a larger parking area 0.5 mile past the trailhead.
Bathroom Situation – Pit toilets on corner of FS-5830 and NF-5800 along trail.
Fee – $5/vehicle or free with America the Beautiful Pass

This trail is one of the most popular easy hikes in Washington, so I suggest visiting on a weekday to avoid the masses. If you have to do this trail on a weekend, arrive extremely early. The Franklin Falls trail is a steady uphill climb most of the way to the waterfalls that follows the South Fork Snoqualmie River. Once you reach the falls, the trail becomes slick, wet stairs that have been gouged out of the rock cliffs. Watch your step as this part of the trail is slippery! Traverse the riverbed and downed trees to get up close views of Franklin Falls. The only downside of this hike is the Highway 90 bridge that cuts across your view of the falls from the side.

3. Sol Duc Falls

Location – Olympic National Park, west of Port Angeles
Trail Length – 2.1 miles
Elevation Gain – 255 feet
Route Type – Out and back
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – No
Parking Situation – Parking is at the Hot Springs and Resort at the end of Duc Hot Springs Road
Bathroom Situation – Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort has restrooms, not sure how receptive they are of allowing hikers to use their facilities. A pit toilet is on Loop A in the campground.
Fee – Olympic National Park Fee ($30/vehicle for 7 days) or free with America the Beautiful Pass

This easy hikes in Washington begins at the Sol Duc Hot Springs and Resort. Before starting the hike, go inside the resort for a look at the hot springs fed pool. This easy hike on a paved trail wanders through a lush rainforest and passes a cascading creek before reaching the epic three-pronged Sol Duc Falls. Just before reaching the falls, you will cross a wooden bridge that connects the narrow canyon below. Here you can get views of the waterfall plunging into the creek that runs at the bottom of the gorge.

4. Myrtle Falls Viewpoint via Skyline Trail

Location – Mount Rainier National Park, Paradise Area
Trail Length – 0.8 miles
Elevation Gain – 160 feet
Route Type – Out and back
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – Yes, until you get to the stone stairs that take you to the viewpoint.
Parking Situation – Parking is at the Paradise parking area. The lot is large but fills up early.
Bathroom Situation – Bathrooms are located inside and outside the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center.
Fee – Mount Rainier National Park Fee or free with America the Beautiful pass

Myrtle Falls Viewpoint is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Washington state. The viewpoint is a short jaunt down stone stairs on the Skyline Trail Loop. If you get to the wooden bridge, you have missed the viewpoint. The stairs take you to a viewing area of a picturesque Myrtle Falls, wooden bridge, lush meadow, and the grand Mount Rainier in the background. You will want to stay for some time just taking in the magnificent view.

5. Snoqualmie Falls Trail

Location – Snoqualmie, Washington
Trail Length – 1.6 miles
Elevation Gain – 374 feet
Route Type – Out and back
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – Yes
Parking Situation – Parking at the gift shop has around 40 spots and parking across Railroad Ave. has around 100 spots.
Bathroom Situation – Bathrooms are located near the Snoqualmie Falls Gift Shop and at Lower Falls parking lot.
Fee – Parking at the gift shop is $7/vehicle (2021) but is free if you park across Railroad Ave.

The Snoqualmie Falls hike is a short, but steep paved trail that takes you from the upper falls viewpoints to the lower falls viewpoint. There are many informational displays that describe the importance of the falls and the power that the waterfall generates. The lower falls viewpoint features a boardwalk that takes you to the very small and crowded viewing platform. If you do not want to walk this trail, there is a parking lot at the lower falls viewpoint which will significantly reduce your hiking distance.

6. Barclay Lake Trail

Location – Off Stevens Pass Highway near Index
Trail Length – 4.3 miles
Elevation Gain – 387 feet
Route Type – Out and back
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – No
Parking Situation – The parking at the trailhead holds 30 cars. There is a larger parking area 0.5 mile past the trailhead.
Bathroom Situation – Pit toilets at parking lot and at the lake’s campsites.
Fee – $5/vehicle or free with America the Beautiful Pass

The most treacherous part of this easy hikes in Washington is the drive from Stevens Pass Highway to the trail parking lot. The very narrow gravel road is riddled with large potholes. Once you begin the hike, this popular trail leads you to Barclay Lake through a series of ups and downs. The path continues along the bustling Barclay Creek and has many tree roots that could serve as tripping hazards. At 1.2 miles in, be prepared to cross the creek on a log bridge with a single handrail. As you close get closer to the lake, look up for views of mountains including the scenic Baring Mountain. The Baring Mountain serves as a dramatic backdrop to the pristine lake. There is a campsite at the lake and is popular for fisherman.

7. Nisqually Vista Loop

Nisqually Vista Loop, easy hikes in Washington

Location – Mount Rainier National Park, Paradise area
Trail Length – 1.1 miles
Elevation Gain – 180 feet
Route Type – Loop
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – Yes to strollers when snow has completely melted. There are a short set of stairs at the beginning of the trail that will make it difficult for wheelchairs.
Parking Situation – Parking is at the Paradise parking area. The lot is large but fills up early.
Bathroom Situation – Bathrooms are located inside and outside the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center.
Fee – Mount Rainier National Park Fee ($30/vehicle for 7 days)

This short and easy hikes in Washington leads you through forests. If you time your visit right, be prepared to see beautiful wildflowers along the trail. If the path still has snow patches when you are here, the left side of the loop has less snow and is easier to traverse. Once you get to the viewing areas, you will see the rocky Nisqually River valley where the receding Nisqually Glacier lies.

8. Rainy Lake

Location – North Cascades National Park
Trail Length – 2.0 miles
Elevation Gain – 124 feet
Route Type – Out and back
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – Yes with the exception of a couple downed trees across the path.
Parking Situation – Parking at trailhead but shares lot with Maple Pass Trail, so it fills up. Overflow parking is along Highway 20.
Bathroom Situation – Pit toilets in parking area.
Fee – $5/vehicle or free with America the Beautiful Pass

This easy hike shares a parking area with the strenuous Maple Pass Trail, where you can get views of Rainy Lake from atop the mountains that surround it. For equally as beautiful views of the lake without the difficult hiking, take the Rainy Lake trail to the lake’s waterfront. With the exception of a couple downed trees on the trail, this hike is about as easy as it comes. At the trail end, there is a small wooden viewing platform where you can see a massive waterfall cascading down the mountain from melting snow and plummeting into the turquoise waters of Rainy Lake. I completed both the easier Rainy Lake and the difficult Maple Pass Trail during my 2 Days in North Cascade National Park.

9. Second Beach

Second Beach, easy hikes in Washington state

Location – Olympic Peninsula, outside La Push
Trail Length – 2.1 miles
Elevation Gain – 278 feet
Route Type – Out and back
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – No
Parking Situation – The parking lot only holds 10 cars, but the overflow lot east of the main lot holds more.
Bathroom Situation – A pit toilet is located where the trail meets the beach.
Fee – No fee.

From the parking lot, you must walk up and over a steep hill before reaching the sandy beach. In order to accomplish this easy hikes in Washington, you must follow a series of switchbacks through old growth forests. On the trail, you will pass a whimsical ‘cabinet tree’ where hikers tend to leave keepsakes. Once the trail reaches the beach, you will see sea stacks rising out of the ocean. Walk north (right) up the beach until you reach the tide pools. The time you visit is very important as you need it to be low tide to fully discover the starfish, sea urchins, and small fish that are trapped in the tide pools. When we visited, an otter was frolicking on the large boulders near the shoreline.

10. Cape Flattery

Cape Flattery, easy hikes in Washington state

Location – Olympic Peninsula, near Neah Bay
Trail Length – 1.2 miles
Elevation Gain – 229 feet
Route Type – Out and back
Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible – No
Parking Situation – Small parking lot that holds around 20 cars.
Bathroom Situation – Pit toilets are available in the parking area.
Fee – Users need a Makah Recreation Pass to hike here. Purchase it at the Makah Tribal Museum or Washburn’s grocery in Neah Bay.

As soon as you enter the tree line at the trailhead, you will be transported into a dark green, mossy rainforest. The ground is completely covered with ferns, and be careful not to step on a giant slug crossing the paved path. As you continue down towards the coast line, the path turns into a boardwalk before turning into a rooted dirt path. The trail leads you to viewing platforms to the left and right of the trail where you can see violent waves crashing into sea caves below. At the trail end, climb the short ladder for views of the Pacific Ocean and Tatoosh Island ahead. Here, you have reached the northwesternmost point of contiguous United States on these easy hikes in Washington.