Ellensburg, Washington
Looking for the best backpacking in Ellensburg? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Ellensburg. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Backpacking Spots in and near Ellensburg
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Ronald, Washington
Climb Mt. Daniel via the Southeast Ridge
5.016 mi / 6000 ft gainFar from the iconic skyline of Seattle, on King County's Eastern boundary, is a lesser known natural skyscraper named Mt. Daniel. At 7960 feet plus, Mt. Daniel's true summit effortlessly juts into the sky as King County's tallest point.From Roslyn, head North for roughly 15 miles on Salmon La Sac...Read more -
Ronald, Washington
Dip Top Gap
5.022.67 mi / 5620 ft gainThis is a great side trip from Backpacking to Marmot & Jade Lakes. Check out the Adventure linked above for directions on how to get as far as Jade Lake. I would recommend 2 nights at either Marmot or Jade to allow for a full day of exploration from your camp. From Jade what is described bel...Read more -
Ronald, Washington
Winter Backpack to Jade Lake
4.022 mi / 4000 ft gainStarting at the Hyas Lake trailhead north of Cle Elum, it's a meandering easy hike through the woods for about 5.0 miles up to Deception Pass. You gain 1100 feet through this first five miles to the junction with the PCT. From here take a left to continue on the Lake Clarice Trail towards Marmot...Read more -
Snoqualmie Pass, Washington
Alaska Lake via Gold Creek Pond Trail
11.62 mi / 2303 ft gainDriving Directions: From Seattle drive east on I-90 to exit 54 (signed "Hyak"). Turn left (north) under the freeway and right on the frontage road marked "Gold Creek." After about 0.5 mile turn left (north) on Gold Creek Road (Forest Road 4832), and in another 0.5 mile reach a junction. To the ...Read more -
Yakima, Washington
Surprise Lake via South Fork Tieton Trail
13 mi / 1549 ft gainGetting There Take Road 1000 to start your hike at Conrad Meadows, which is also where you will park your car, be sure to leave your Northwest Forest Pass properly displayed on the dash of your car before you leave. Surprise Lake trailhead is one of the very few trailheads that starts out on th...Read more -
Ashford, Washington
Upper Palisades Lake
7.05 mi / 1601 ft gainPark at the Sunrise Point parking lot and find the Palisades Trail at the northeast corner of the parking lot. If you bring along a pair of binoculars, you can stop at the first overlook on the left and scan the adjacent mountain slopes for the white dots of mountain goats. Continue down the trai...Read more -
Enumclaw, Washington
Sun Top Peak via Sun Top Sno-Park
11.62 mi / 3028 ft gainFrom Tacoma, Wa. take Hwy 167 to Hwy 410 and follow that until you get to the Chinook Pass Hwy. Then from there follow this road and take the second Service Road on the right and follow this road until it dead ends. The trail starts on NF-7315. You have to walk this road until you reach the first...Read more