Trail Compass

Easy hiking trails in Washington

13 trails rated easy across Washington state parks, national forests, and recreation areas.

Easy hiking trails in Washington state parks, national forests, and recreation areas are short, mostly level, and welcoming to first-time hikers, families with school-age kids, and visitors who want a quick taste of the Pacific Northwest temperate rainforest and Cascade volcanic belt without committing a full day.

Trail Compass currently indexes 13 easy-rated routes in Washington, totalling roughly 30 trail miles. The average easy trail in this state is about 2.3 miles long, which is a useful starting point when you are sketching a weekend.

Across the Pacific Northwest temperate rainforest and Cascade volcanic belt, the most reliable hiking season is mid-July through early October for high country; lower forest trails are hikeable nearly year-round in mild rain gear. Shoulder-season visits can deliver beautiful empty trails but tilt the difficulty upward — short days, possible snow, and unstaffed entry stations all add friction.

Expect wildlife typical of the Pacific Northwest temperate rainforest and Cascade volcanic belt: Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer, Steller's jays, pileated woodpeckers, and salmon spawning in the autumn streams. The risk of a serious encounter is low, but the cost of getting it wrong is high — give animals space, store food correctly, and never approach a young animal even if no parent is visible.

How to use this page: every trail listed below links through to a full guide with distance, elevation gain, route type, best-season notes, wildlife expectations, parking guidance, and nearby attractions. Combine this filter with the Trail Compass park pages to plan a trip around a specific Washington destination.

All easy trails in Washington

TrailParkLengthElevationRoute
Naches Peak Loop Mount Rainier National Park 3.5 mi 600 ft Loop
Mount Rainier Cabin Loop Mount Rainier National Park 3.19 mi 212 ft Loop
Mount Rainier Creek Trail Mount Rainier National Park 5.17 mi 474 ft Out & Back
North Cascades Wild Garden Loop North Cascades National Park 0.91 mi 99 ft Loop
North Cascades Vista Loop North Cascades National Park 2.08 mi 288 ft Loop
North Cascades Overlook Trail North Cascades National Park 2.43 mi 293 ft Out & Back
North Cascades Lakeshore Trail North Cascades National Park 2.12 mi 201 ft Loop
North Cascades Meadow Loop North Cascades National Park 1.17 mi 101 ft Loop
Hall of Mosses Olympic National Park 0.8 mi 100 ft Loop
Sol Duc Falls Trail Olympic National Park 1.6 mi 200 ft Out & Back
Marymere Falls Olympic National Park 1.8 mi 500 ft Out & Back
Williams Lake Overlook Trail Williams Lake Provincial Trail 2.46 mi 525 ft Out & Back
Williams Lake Lakeshore Trail Williams Lake Provincial Trail 2.65 mi 124 ft Loop

Other difficulty tiers in Washington

Moderate trails in Washington Hard trails in Washington Strenuous trails in Washington