11 Incredible Hikes Near Seattle: Complete Guide

Seattle is surrounded by some of the most incredible natural settings in North America. Within a short drive, you’ve got access to alpine lakes, glacier-carved peaks, mossy forests, and waterfalls cascading down walls of granite. And the best part is that you don’t even need to plan a big expedition to get there. Many of Washington’s best hikes can be done as a day trip from Seattle, with time to spare.

In this post, I’m sharing my all-time favorite hikes near Seattle. These are hikes that I’ve personally done, loved, and would absolutely do again. Each one comes with a link to a full trail guide on the blog, so you can get all the details you need to plan your own adventure there.

11 Incredible Hikes Near Seattle

Lake 22

It’s not often you find a trail that packs in mountain views, old-growth forest, wetlands, waterfalls, and alpine scenery, yet is easily accessible. Lake 22 is just that.

And better yet, in the winter, the lake freezes over and gets buried in snow until early spring. The area transforms into a quiet, snowy basin that’s one of the best hikes near Seattle.

But the real magic of Lake 22 isn’t just the lake. It’s the journey there.

The trail winds through lush old-growth forest, past creeks and waterfalls, with something new around every turn. It’s the kind of hike that keeps you looking around and never leaves you bored.

Heybrook Lookout

Most epic viewpoints in Washington require a serious hike, going up miles of steep switchbacks, rocky scrambles, and a lot of sweat.

Not this one.

The Heybrook Lookout Trail has all the payoff with a fraction of the effort. The short trail winds through a lush, moss-draped forest before climbing gently to a lookout tower that peeks out over the canopy.

It’s less than a mile to the top, but the reward makes you feel like you’ve conquered a summit.

From the top platform, you’ll spot Mount Index, Baring Mountain, and even Bridal Veil Falls. It’s an incredible panoramic view, all from a single vantage point.

Heather Lake

Heather Lake is a popular day hike near Seattle. The 4.2-mile round-trip trail gains about 1,000 feet in elevation and is a solid hike without being too intense.

When we started the hike to Heather Lake, I didn’t expect the trail itself to be so interesting. The path was rugged in some areas as we traversed over slick roots and large rocks, with massive old-growth stumps dotting the way.

But while Heather Lake is often overshadowed by the nearby Lake 22 hike, it has its own unique beauty. It may not have the same dramatic waterfalls or wooden bridges, but its rugged trail, fewer crowds, and interesting plant history make it a fantastic adventure in its own right.

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is a popular day hike located about 90 minutes from Seattle. It’s a 4-mile round-trip hike with roughly 1,000 feet of elevation gain. It’s a moderately challenging trail and gives you a big waterfall payoff without an all-day commitment.

Getting to Bridal Veil Falls was an adventure in itself. The trail wound through a section with overgrown brush, and the turnoff for the falls was easy to miss. For a moment, I wasn’t even sure if we were still on the right path.

But when we finally stepped in front of Bridal Veil Falls, the mist slammed into us like ocean spray. What looked like a modest cascade from a distance turned out to be a massive wall of water up close. It was so high I couldn’t even see where it started.

And it’s crazy to think that some people skip the waterfall. The hike starts at the same trailhead as Lake Serene, but the trail for Bridal Veil Falls branches off about 1.5 miles in. Most hikers push on to Lake Serene and are too tired to make the side trip on their way down. Big mistake.

Dirty Harry’s Balcony

Dirty Harry’s Balcony is a popular day hike located about 1 hour from Seattle. It’s a moderately challenging, 4.4-mile round-trip hike with roughly 1,600 feet of elevation gain. The trail ends at Dirty Harry’s Balcony, a popular viewpoint located on a craggy rock face with views of the I-90 corridor.

The balcony is a rocky outcrop sitting high above the freeway. While sitting on the balcony, you’ll see sweeping views of the surrounding mountain peaks. The hike itself is a solid workout, with a fantastic payoff at the end.

But the best part of the trail isn’t just the balcony. It’s everything you see along the way.

There is another viewpoint along the trail that, in my opinion, is better than the balcony itself.

And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also make the side trip to Dirty Harry’s Museum. It’s an old, rusted-out logging truck stranded deep in the forest.

Franklin Falls

Franklin Falls is an easy waterfall hike near Snoqualmie Pass. It’s an awesome hike for first-timers in the summer. But where Franklin Falls really shines is in the winter, when it freezes into a massive wall of icicles. It’s an incredible sight, and a hike we look forward to every winter in Washington.

But catching Franklin falls while it’s frozen requires some planning. You can’t just pick a date on the calendar and hike there, expecting to find the waterfall frozen over.

Franklin Falls only freezes when temperatures drop low enough for several days in a row. That can happen anytime during the winter, so if you want to see it fully iced over, you need to monitor the waterfall for the right conditions to create a frozen wintry landscape.

Wallace Falls

Wallace Falls is a hike that keeps you hooked from start to finish. In just a few miles, you get a little bit of everything: mossy forests, a rushing river, sweeping views of the Cascade mountains, and of course, the waterfalls that give the trail its name.

But what a lot of people don’t realize is that Wallace Falls isn’t just one waterfall. It’s actually spread out over three areas. And you don’t have to hike the entire trail to experience the best of it.

The trail starts off wide and easy, following the Wallace River through a quiet stretch of forest. There are several small access points along the river, perfect for a quick break or even a swim on a hot day. Families and children sometimes hang out there, and it feels more like a forest park than a hike at first.

Eventually, the trail veers away from the river and starts to gradually gain elevation. Along the way, you’ll cross a few wooden bridges over mountain creeks before reaching the waterfall viewpoints.

Mount Catherine

Mount Catherine might just be one of the most underrated hikes in Washington. At only 1.5 miles one way (3 miles round-trip), this short trail takes you all the way to a true mountain summit. The trail gradually climbs upward through shaded forest before reaching a rocky summit with views of Mount Rainier looming in the distance.

Once you reach the top, you’re rewarded with a wide-open, rocky ledge and an incredible view of Mount Rainier looming to the south, with Tinkham Peak framing it to the right.

Honestly, I couldn’t believe how high up we were for such a short hike. One minute we were in the trees, and the next we were standing on a peak with a panoramic view. Big mountain vibes without big mountain hike distance.

Mason Lake

When we first started the hike to Mason Lake, it felt like a walk in the park. The trail started out wide, winding through a peaceful stretch of forest with a gentle incline. We thought, hey, this might be easier than we expected.

But that didn’t last. The trail turned into a steady uphill slog that kept going and going.

But between all the forested hills, there were some incredible payoffs: views of Mount Rainier peeking out over the horizon, wildflowers lining the trail, and of course, Mason Lake tucked into a basin of granite cliffs.

The shoreline of Mason Lake is rugged and rocky, but there are a few good spots to sit along its shoreline. Find a quiet boulder to lounge on, eat a snack, soak up the sun, and enjoy the peaceful alpine atmosphere. The hike is worth every step.

Talapus and Olallie Lakes

The hike to Talapus and Olallie Lakes is a 6-mile roundtrip trek through forests of western red cedar and hemlock to two alpine lakes nestled beneath granite slopes. It’s a moderately challenging hike in terms of distance, but in my opinion is one of the easier hikes you can do near Seattle because it doesn’t have a steep incline.

Roughly 1.5 miles in, you’ll reach Talapus Lake. It’s a great place to stop for a snack or just enjoy the views and vibe. A short side trail leads left along the western shore of Talapus Lake, where you’ll find several established campsites nestled among the trees.

After hiking another mile, you’ll reach Olallie Lake. Its slightly larger and sits in a wide basin surrounded by forested ridges. Pick a spot, take off your pack, and enjoy the scenery. If you’re camping, there are a handful of well-established sites here too.

But even though the trail is a popular one, it somehow still felt hidden away. And while it’s often overshadowed by the nearby Mason Lake hike, Talapus and Olallie have just as much to offer. Especially if you’re looking for a peaceful spot to camp, swim, or just sit on the lakeshore.

Snow Lake

Snow Lake has a big reputation. It’s the most popular hike in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and after doing it ourselves, we get why. From the moment we hit the trail, our expectations were high. What we found was a hike that absolutely delivered.

The hike started off mellow as it wound through a quiet forest. But soon the trail began to climb along the mountainside, cutting across rocky talus slopes with views of waterfalls and snowy peaks. It felt like stepping into another world. At the top of the mountain pass was an epic view of Snow Lake nestled in an alpine valley. It was a reward that made it more than worth the hike.

In spring and early summer, the viewpoint at the pass is where most people turn around. The trail beyond is usually buried under steep, melting snowfields.

If you’re experienced in winter hiking and come early in the day (when the snow is still firm), you may be able to carefully descend with microspikes and trekking poles. But for most hikers, it’s best to wait until the snow melts out.

Looking for more hikes?

If you’re willing to venture a little further, head for Mount Rainier National Park. It’s the closest national park to Seattle and is packed with glaciers, wildflower meadows, and waterfalls.

We put together a list of our top 20 hikes in Mount Rainier. You can check it out in the link below.

Are You Following Our Seattle Blog Series?

We’re based in Seattle and have done so many awesome things in this city. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.

• Our Seattle travel guide: 29 Incredible Things to Do in Seattle
• Our Seattle hiking guide: 11 Incredible Hikes Near Seattle
• Best day trip from Seattle: 11 Awesome Things to Do on Bainbridge Island
• Best Space Needle photo spots: 8 Incredible Views of the Space Needle
• Best national park near Seattle: 12 Unique Things to Do in Mount Rainier
• Best winter weekend trip from Seattle: 8 Amazing Things to Do in Leavenworth in Winter

I hope you enjoyed my guide to the best hikes near Seattle! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸