King County, Washington

Top Spots in and near King County

  • Hoodsport, Washington

    Climb Mt. Washington

    3.5
    Follow 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...
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  • North Bend, Washington

    Franklin Falls Winter Route

    5.0
    3.04 mi / 354 ft gain
    ​Depending 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...
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  • North Bend, Washington

    Ski Tour or Snowshoe Kendall Knob

    3 mi / 2000 ft gain
    The area around Kendall Knob is great for snowshoeing or ski touring. It is particularly nice for ski touring because there are a variety of short tours at varying difficulty and on varying aspects. Skiers or those on snowshoe can begin their trip at the PCT trailhead near the Commonwealth Campgr...
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  • North Bend, Washington

    Kendall Peak

    5.0
    9.17 mi / 2677 ft gain
    Kendall 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...
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  • North Bend, Washington

    Gravel Lake

    14.25 mi / 2792 ft gain
    Starting 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...
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  • North Bend, Washington

    Climb Mount Thomson

    16 mi / 4500 ft gain
    The 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 ...
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  • North Bend, Washington

    Scramble Guye Peak

    4.5 mi / 2200 ft gain
    There 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...
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  • Hoodsport, Washington

    Upper Big Creek Loop Trail

    4.76 mi / 1142 ft gain
    Upper Big Creek Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Lilliwaup, Washington.
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Mount Pilchuck Lookout

    4.8
    5.22 mi / 2113 ft gain
    Hike 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...
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  • Gold Bar, Washington

    Baring Mountain

    4.62 mi / 3556 ft gain
    Don'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...
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  • Gold Bar, Washington

    Barclay Lake

    4.4
    4.4 mi / 607 ft gain
    With 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...
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  • Gold Bar, Washington

    Eagle Lake via Barclay Lake Trailhead

    8.5 mi / 2000 ft gain
    Start 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...
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  • Skykomish, Washington

    Deer Lake via Lake Dorothy Trailhead

    12.6 mi / 1600 ft gain
    Start 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 ...
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  • Skykomish, Washington

    Snoqualmie Lake via Dorothy Lake Trailhead

    13.24 mi / 2753 ft gain
    The trail was not crowded although when we got to Snoqualmie Lake there were only a couple camping spots left. The trail up from Dorothy is not too hard at all. The weather was perfect. After passing Dorothy you have to ford a creek where the bridge has been washed out. We went through it on foot...
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  • Skykomish, Washington

    Lake Dorothy Trail

    6.97 mi / 1204 ft gain
    Get out of town and into the wild with this easy hike. Starting out fast you feel the solitude as soon as you turn off Highway 2 towards Money Creek Campground with a little under 10 miles of dirt road that winds through old forest growth. As you proceed and get closer to the trailhead the pothol...
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  • Hoodsport, Washington

    Snowshoe Mt. Ellinor's Winter Route

    5 mi / 4500 ft gain
    You can stat this adventure at one of two trailheads. I suggest using the lower of the two. The start of the trail ascends through a forest of old growth pines with periodic views of Mt Washington. Eventually, at a fork in the trail, you will see a sign marking the start of the winter route. You ...
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