King County, Washington
Looking for the best hiking in King County? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around King County. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Hiking Spots in and near King County
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Snoqualmie Pass, Washington
Hike Mount Catherine
5.03 mi / 1300 ft gainStart off on the extremely rough Forest Service 9070 road. Follow this for just over 4 miles until you see a sign for trail #1348 on the right. There is only enough room for a couple cars at the trailhead.You start off climbing right away, covering 800 feet of elevation in the first 0.80 miles of...Read more -
North Bend, Washington
Lodge Lake via PCT
3.53.79 mi / 932 ft gainAs you begin your hike up to Lodge Lake you will pass through a small forest. After about .5 miles you will come out into the open. Simply follow the path under the chairlifts as you cut across the mountain. In the summer when there is no snow on the ground you can see lots of wildflowers. If you...Read more -
Carbonado, Washington
Bearhead Mountain via Summit Lake Trail
5.05.76 mi / 1914.7 ft gainFormerly the site of an old fire lookout, Bearhead Mountain located in the Clearwater Wilderness, provides great unobstructed views of the north side of Mount Rainier, Little Tahoma, and many other surrounding Cascade mountain peaks. In the summer months you are likely to encounter great wildflow...Read more -
Carbonado, Washington
Summit Lake
4.56.13 mi / 1499 ft gainSummit Lake, nestled in a small basin just north of Mt. Rainier National Park in the Clearwater Wilderness, has everything a hiker could want in a day-hike or easy overnight backpack. The views, the well-maintained trail, and a perfect distance make this hike a must-do for anybody in the Pacific ...Read more -
Hoodsport, Washington
Climb Mt. Washington
3.5Follow the driving directions, pass the upper Mt Eleanor parking area and continue until the road dead-ends due to a landslide. Try to leave room for cars to turn around when you park.Follow the trail which starts just near the lake boulder near the parking area. The trail through the lower slope...Read more -
North Bend, Washington
Franklin Falls Winter Route
5.03.04 mi / 354 ft gainDepending on the year, these gorgeous 70-foot falls may freeze come winter and transform the trail into a winter wonderland. It's the perfect introduction for anyone who wants to try snowshoeing! Depending on the road conditions and where you parked, the hike will be somewhere between 5-6 miles...Read more -
North Bend, Washington
Kendall Peak
5.09.17 mi / 2677 ft gainKendall Peak is an easily accessible summit hike just off of Exit 52 of I-90 that offers spectacular 360-degree views of the entire Snoqualmie range. You’ll start out in the PCT parking lot where you’ll need a NW Forest Pass to park, or pay the daily fee. A permanent bathroom and backcountry acce...Read more -
North Bend, Washington
Gravel Lake
14.25 mi / 2792 ft gainStarting at the Snoqualmie Pass PCT trailhead, you start hiking through an old growth forest. This hike has a nice gradual incline with views starting near a talus field. Late June, early July wildflowers are growing like crazy along the trail. This field offers a up close view of Mt. Rainier alo...Read more -
North Bend, Washington
Climb Mount Thomson
16 mi / 4500 ft gainThe West Ridge of Thomson is rated 5.6 and is 4-5 pitches depending on how you break it up. The East Ridge is some spicy 4th class and although people do scramble it, it is recommend to use a rope on the descent. The Approach Starting at the PCT trail-head you have two options. You can take the ...Read more -
North Bend, Washington
Scramble Guye Peak
4.5 mi / 2200 ft gainThere are quite a few ways up Guye Peak ranging from a simple walk up to multiple pitches of technical rock climbing. Both of the routes described here start from the PCT parking lot north of exit 52 of I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass. Some of the scrambling described would be treacherous in wet or sno...Read more -
Hoodsport, Washington
Upper Big Creek Loop Trail
4.76 mi / 1142 ft gainUpper Big Creek Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Lilliwaup, Washington.Read more -
Granite Falls, Washington
Mount Pilchuck Lookout
4.85.22 mi / 2113 ft gainHike the well-maintained Mount Pilchuck Lookout trail through a variety of terrain: old-growth forest and granite boulder fields. At the top, you'll reach a lookout tower perched on Mount Pilchuck. Pilchuck sits on the western edge of the Cascades, which offers up amazing panoramic views once you...Read more -
Gold Bar, Washington
Baring Mountain
4.62 mi / 3556 ft gainDon't let the low mileage trick you – this is not an easy climb. Give yourself plenty of time to summit this beast of a mountain. Starting at the Barclay Lake Trailhead, be careful not to jump onto the Barclay Lake Trail. The path to Baring Mountain is hidden down a path leading from the bathroo...Read more -
Gold Bar, Washington
Barclay Lake
4.44.4 mi / 607 ft gainWith less than 500 feet of total elevation and 4.4 miles of round trip hiking, the Barclay Lake trail is a perfect hike for beginners, families, or those looking for a quick morning or afternoon jaunt. Yet dont let the simplicity of the hike fool you. The end result of the hike is nothing short o...Read more -
Gold Bar, Washington
Eagle Lake via Barclay Lake Trailhead
8.5 mi / 2000 ft gainStart off on the same trail as Barclay Lake. After 2.25 miles, you will arrive at Barclay Lake. This lake can be quite busy in the summer months as it is relatively easy to access, and you may see many people camping there with their kids. Continue around the lake until you almost reach the east...Read more -
Skykomish, Washington
Deer Lake via Lake Dorothy Trailhead
12.6 mi / 1600 ft gainStart off by traveling along Highway 2 and turning towards the Money Creek Campground. Turn off onto Forest Road 6410 and follow that to the Lake Dorothy Trailhead (about 9 miles). This first section of the hike can be pretty crowded on a nice summer day as the trail is very family friendly and ...Read more