Washington Hiking Guides

Guides to Hiking the Olympic Peninsula, Mt. Rainier, San Juans, More

Mar 4, 2008

Find day hikes or weekend backpacking trips and learn which are best for waterfall, old growth or wildflower viewing, which are kid-friendly and dog-friendly.

Washington offers rugged Pacific Northwest wilderness, lakes, clear rivers, majestic Mt. Rainier and the wild Olympic Peninsula, plus the open panoramas east of the Cascade Range. Hiking is a favorite way to get out into this bounty of natural scenery. Below are five hiking guides that can point the way to some of the state’s best trails. All give directions to trailheads and key hiking information such as level of difficulty, and most include distance, elevation gain, hiking time, and any permits required for entrance or parking at trailheads.

100 Clasic Hikes in Washington, by Ira Spring and Harvey Manning (Mountaineers Books)

This guide covers the North Cascades, Olympics, Mt. Rainier and the South Cascades, Alpine Lakes, and Glacier Peak. The book guides you along favorite hikes of this veteran author-photographer team. It combines stunning photos with detailed maps and hiking information, plus engaging narrative written with a strong conservation ethic. Spring and Manning have collaborated on a number of guides focused on various regions of Washington. In this book, they bring together their top picks from their many years of hiking.

Foghorn Outdoors Washington Hiking: The Complete Guide to More than 400 Hikes, by Scott Leonard (Avalon Travel Publishing)

You’d see much of the state if you followed all 400 of these hikes. But you can also choose according to your personal taste by consulting the “Best Hikes List.” The list outlines the author’s “Top 10” in categories including waterfall, wildflower and berry picking hikes, as well as weekend hikes, easy hikes and the best hikes for children. Descriptions give you everything you need to enjoy the trail, but are concise enough to pack into a manageable-sized book of less than 400 pages. It’s organized by region, including the scenic San Juan Islands. Detailed maps are included.

Day Hiking, Olympic Peninsula: Park, Coastal Beaches, Southwest Washington, by Craig Romano (Mountaineer Books)

This book features 125 hikes in one of the region’s favorite wilderness areas. Huge trees, deep moss, Pacific beaches and mountains characterize this area of temperate rainforest. This is a guide to it all, compact enough to fit in a day pack. The “At a Glance” chart gives quick data on distance and difficulty, whether trails are accessible year-round, and suitability for kids and dogs, plus trail features including beach hiking, old growth, wildflowers, alpine views and historic points. Hikes are rated according to appeal. Directions and maps are easy to follow.

Day Hike! Mt. Rainier: The Best Trails You Can Hike in a Day, by Ron Judd (Sasquatch Books)

This guide zeros in on 51 hikes in another favorite Washington hiking spot, Mt. Rainier. The “Hikes at a Glance” introduction provides everything you need to know about difficulty on five levels from easy to extreme, plus other key trail information. Information on best seasons for hikes, plus suitability for kids and dogs is provided. Hikes are rated, although the author notes all the hikes are worth taking. Key information is easy to find.

Best Loop Hikes: Washington, Edited and compiled by Dan A. Nelson (Mountaineers Books)

The beauty of loop hikes is that the entire route is new territory; you don’t retrace your steps as with out-and-back routes. There are 100 of these hikes outlined here with maps and key information including loop direction (clockwise or counterclockwise). According to the editor’s preface, the book was created in conjunction with volunteers of the Washington Trails Association, which helps maintain and rebuild trails in the state. Part of the book proceeds goes to WTA trail maintenance programs. The book includes a valuable introductory section with information on weather, gear, wildlife, safety and trail etiquette.

Spectacular photos by noted photographer Ira Spring help entice you on these 50 hikes through Washington’s best wildflower displays. An introductory “At a glance” table provides quick reference data including best blooming times. Individual descriptions guide you along trails and tell you what you’ll find on the way. An extensive reference section provides plant profiles, plus information on local ecology, natural history and plant zones, geology, and ethnobotany. Sidebars offer tips and interesting facts about the surroundings. Hikes are organized by region, including Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Peninsula. Maps and key information on length, elevation gain, difficulty and directions are included.

The copyright of the article Washington Hiking Guides in Hiking & Trails is owned by Linda McDonnell. Permission to republish Washington Hiking Guides in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.