Lace up your hiking boots. We’ve compiled a curated hiking guide for the Seattle area with 27 trails and routes to help you plan your next adventure.
Note: Before heading out, we recommend checking park websites for further info, current trail conditions, and safest practices for the area.
Key: Easy = 🥾| Moderate = 🥾🥾 | Hard = 🥾🥾🥾
Picture-perfect views
Chirico Trail to Poo-Poo Point,| Tiger Mountain State Forest, Issaquah
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
- Length: 3.8 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Even though this hike is steep, has a 1760-ft elevation gain, and is considered difficult for most, there are benches every half-mile for you to take a break — because you’re going to want to make it to the top. Once there, you’ll see a beautiful view of Mount Rainier and possibly people paragliding. You can even have a chance to give that a try yourself, with paragliding instructors at the top.
Rattlesnake Mountain Trail to East Peak, Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area, Snoqualmie
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
- Length: 8.6 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Want a challenge? This hike with a 2,500-ft elevation gain will give you the chance to get some miles in with great views along the entire trail, showcasing a beautiful green glow when the sun rises. There’s an easier Rattlesnake trail that’s about half the length, but it gets crowded during nice weather days.
Best for a workout
Myrtle Edwards Park to Elliott Bay Park, 3130 Alaskan Way
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.7 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
This paved path offers views of the waterfront, trains, boats, and the nearby sculpture park. There are separate paths for hikers and bikers — and it’s a great option for those just getting into trail running.
Mount Si via Old Si Trail, Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area, Snoqualmie
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
- Length: 6.1 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
A shaded hike with muddy spots at times, this difficult trek is one for adventurers looking for some true exercise. At the top, you’ll be required to scramble as its 3,556-ft elevation gain and steep terrain involves the use of your hands.
Alki Trail to Hamilton Viewpoint and Seacrest Parks, Alki Beach Park, 2665 Alki Ave. SW
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 7.6 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
This is a great spot for trail running as it’s mostly flat, and the scenery has been noted to be the best during the first two miles of the trek.
Cable Line Trail to West Tiger No. 3, Tiger Mountain State Forest, Issaquah
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
- Length: 3 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
This trail gets the blood flowing with its ~2,000-ft elevation gain and steep incline right from the beginning. The path has loose gravel and can be muddy at times, so be mentally and physically prepared for a leg-burning hike that provides a little view of Rainier at its summit on a clear day.
Wildlife walks
Discovery Park and Lighthouse Loop Trail, 3801 Discovery Park Blvd.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 4.4-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions (but limited)
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
This easy-to-follow stroll is close to town and gives you a little bit of everything outdoors, from forests and beaches to small sand dunes. This route is also ideal for beginner birdwatching.
Lake Washington North Trail, 14445 Juanita Dr. NE, Kenmore
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 2.3-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Another great location for bird watching, this sometimes muddy route in Saint Edward State Park connects to other trails so you can change up your path and difficulty level during each visit. Pro tip: The Discover Pass is required for vehicle entry.
Lushootseed Whispers Trail, Woodinville
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 3.0 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, no leash restrictions
Check this option out if you consider yourself a non-experienced hiker but still want that forest trail experience. Along the narrow and flat path, you’ll find beautiful trees and all sorts of native wildlife. This route is known to have tons of mushrooms, so read up on the proper foraging practices for our region.
Mount Rainier is a classic for a reason — you can enjoy sunshine, snow-capped peaks, and flowers all from one spot.
Photo by Jasmine Horn, via Wikimedia Commons
Flower-filled
Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Dr. E.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 3.8-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Check out the arboretum if you want to experience the wonders of nature within city limits. The Lookout Loop and Pinetum Loop are well maintained and provide signs that share the history of the site.
Sunrise Nature, Sunrise Park Rd.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.5 “lollipop” loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Expect meadows, wildflowers, and butterflies aplenty during the summer along this Mt. Rainier area trail. The ease and length of this trail makes it a good choice for the kiddos, too.
Hobart Middle Tiger Railroad Trail, Tiger Mountain State Forest, Issaquah
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 5.5 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Hike here if you’re looking for a path that is great year-round and does not allow biking or horseback riding. Loaded with wildflowers like foxgloves, this option is ideal for trail runners who want to take in the views.
Urban oases
Foster Island Trail, 2300 Arboretum Dr. E.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 3.3 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: No
Beginning at the very northern tip of the Washington Park Arboretum, this trail reaches up to touch the edge of Union Bay. Hikers will pass underneath SR 520 before continuing on a stroll featuring floating walkways and lots of opportunity for fishing.
Schmitz Preserve Park, 5551 SW Admiral Way
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.7 miles round-trip
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required in most areas
This short and sweet option is filled with old growth forests covered in colorful foliage. Though the ground can be muddy in some spots, check this loop out if you want something with lovely scenery and don’t feel like driving too far from the city.
Lake to Lake Trail, 15500 SE 16th St., Bellevue
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 10 miles one-way
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
This great Eastside trail not only connects Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington, but stops by seven other parks along the way: Downtown Bellevue Park, Mercer Slough Nature Park, Lake Hills Greenbelt, Bellevue Botanical Garden, Kelsey Creek Park, Wilburton Hill Park, Weowna Park. You’ll also pass through marshes, blueberry fields, waterfalls, and lots of creek beds.
Do go chasing waterfalls
Snoqualmie Falls Trail, Fisher Creek Park, 7805 Fisher Ave. SE, Snoqualmie
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.4 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Known for its lovely waterfall views, this steep but well maintained and widely paved path is perfect for families who want a short adventure. The hike will take you ~50 minutes to complete and the viewpoints are the same ones you’ll see in the opening credits of the show “Twin Peaks.” Pro tip: Be prepared for crowds on this popular trail — over 1.5 million people visit it every year.
Coal Creek Falls, Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 18201 SE Cougar Mountain Dr., Renton
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 2.6 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
The incline during the first half mile is worth the calf cramps for the lovely waterfalls at the end. It’s a shaded hike and there are seating options along the way, making this option great for the entire family.
Teneriffe Falls Trail, Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area, Snoqualmie
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 5.6 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Formerly known as Kamikaze Falls, this route offers breathtaking waterfall views, tree cover, 22 switchbacks, and steep inclines. It’s recommended that you wear sturdy boots for this adventure as the route is covered in slippery and loose rocks.
Easy does it
Seward Park Perimeter Loop, 5900 Lake Washington Blvd. S.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.4-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
This flat walking trail is the place to go if you’re looking for a simple stroll with minimal elevation. Visitors have noted it’s great for both wheelchairs and dog-walking. You’ll find lovely views of the water, the city, and the mountains.
Interurban Trail, Scriber Creek Park, Lynnwood
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 24.6 miles point-to-point
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
No one ever said easy had to be short. This hike is great for those looking for a paved run, a dog-friendly exercise route, or straightforward biking trail. Visitors have shared that while this is a generally flat trail, there are sections with hills.
Centennial Trail, 13205 20th St NE, Lake Stevens
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 30.5 miles, point-to-point
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
This long path links the City of Snohomish and the Skagit County line + has multiple trail heads — we included one close-ish to Seattle, but you don’t have to walk the full way. It’s paved for accessibility and includes Sani-Cans that are ADA compliant.
Cedar Butte Trail, Olallie State Park, 51350 SE Homestead Valley Rd., North Bend
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 3.1 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
For the trails less traveled, check out this forested butte hike that only has 900 ft in elevation gain. This route is less crowded than other options in the region, providing several switchbacks and glimpses of Rattlesnake Lake. One you reach the summit, take in the views on log seats. Discovery Pass is required for park entry.
Cool for kids
Camp Long, 5200 35th Ave. SW
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: Trails range in length from 0.1 miles to 0.53 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
This 68-acre park is covered in zig-zagging trails, but Camp Long’s climbing rock and rope course will be of particular interest to the kiddos. You can also check out Longfellow Creek which is just ~500 feet from the parking lot and the park’s old growth forest.
Meadowdale Beach Park, 6026 156th St. SW, Lynnwood
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 2.4 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
When fully open, you can hike through its native forest vegetation to access the beach and let the kids search for crab shells and anemones. Once you reach the bottom of the trail’s staircase, you’ll see the peaceful Lund’s Gulch Creek that pours into the Puget Sound.
Ravenna Park Loop Trail, 5520 Ravenna Ave. NE
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.7-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Have a family adventure as you travel along a ravine and experience deciduous trees, playgrounds, and a large footbridge.
Not your average hike
Kerriston Ghost Town Trail, SE 104th St., Snoqualmie
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 10.6 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
This flat gravel trail along an old logging road takes you to an abandoned town with historic artifacts along the route — from bricks and metal drums to large potbelly stoves. If you want to take a break from walking on the road, there are side paths on approved walking trails that will lead you to a peaceful creek.
Bridle Trails State Park, 5300 116th Ave. NE, Kirkland
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 28 miles of trails, most run 1-3.5 miles round-trip
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet friendly: Yes, leash required
Considered one of the best equestrian parks on this side of the Mississippi, the 482-acre natural area also has four horse arenas on-site to go with its miles of horse-friendly trails. Hikers will love the park, too, for its bird-watching, geocaching, and picnicking opportunities.
Get the right gear
Get the most out of your trip with comfortable, handy, and helpful hiking gear:
- For the best footwear, check out Nordstrom Rack’s sneaker edit for hiking.
- If your trail demands a proper hiking boot, we like Columbia’s collection on Amazon.
- Travel light (but still have room for snacks) with lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag.
- Get a good bulk deal on Perfect Bars, Clif Bars, or Kind Bars at a warehouse store like Sam’s Club.
- Don’t forget to bring a compact, portable phone charger (you’ll thank us later).
- We like this Teton hiking backpack.
- We like this lightweight water bottle.
- Psst — to be ultra-prepared, here are the 10 items you should never enter a national park without, according to the National Park Service.
