Hiking opportunities abound in Washington, with beautiful treks seemingly around each bend. Today, we’re going to highlight one of our state’s most scenic excursions, which comes with some seriously stunning visual rewards. We highly recommend checking out the Chain Lake Loop Trail and think it’s one of the best and most beautiful hikes in Washington!
The Chain Lakes Loop Trail is located in the Mount Baker area of the North Cascades.
E Heckman / alltrails.com To reach it, head east from Bellingham on the Mount Baker Highway to the Glacier Public Service Center. Continue for another 25 miles to the road’s end, where you’ll find the parking lot for Artist Point and signs for the trailhead.
This trail is about 6.5 miles in length, and it’s considered a moderately challenging terrain.
Hector Calderon / alltrails.com If you’re a beginner, take a seasoned hiker with you and make sure you’re comfortable hiking such a distance.
If you do decide to pursue this adventure, you won’t regret it. This hike is absolutely gorgeous.
Rizka Budiati-Szkutnik / alltrails.com From sweeping views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan to the alpine lakes along the way, you’ll be surrounded by some of the most enchanting scenery in the Pacific Northwest.
Hike through rock formations, take in the views of soaring mountain tops, and walk along the shores of the lakes.
Matthew Guy / alltrails.com There won’t be a single boring moment.
Iceberg Lake, the two Bagley Lakes, and Hayes Lake are particularly enchanting.
Hector Calderon / alltrails.com And since you can begin this trail from several different parking lots, you can choose which lakes and other points of interest you’d like to explore the most.
You can hike the Chain Lakes Loop Trail in spring, summer, and fall and have three very different (and beautiful) experiences.
Carina Chen / alltrails.com The wildflowers tend to start popping in late spring, and there are ripe blueberries on the bushes in the summer. Fall brings the blazing colors this part of Washington is known for.
Add this trail to your hiking bucket list and set aside an entire day to complete it.
Fr. Thomas Aquinas Pickett, O.P. / alltrails.com It’s breathtaking and you’ll want to spend plenty of time taking in the views.
Which Evergreen State trail is at the top of your bucket list? What are your picks for the best hikes in Washington? Share them with us in the comments below!
E Heckman / alltrails.com
To reach it, head east from Bellingham on the Mount Baker Highway to the Glacier Public Service Center. Continue for another 25 miles to the road’s end, where you’ll find the parking lot for Artist Point and signs for the trailhead.
Hector Calderon / alltrails.com
If you’re a beginner, take a seasoned hiker with you and make sure you’re comfortable hiking such a distance.
Rizka Budiati-Szkutnik / alltrails.com
From sweeping views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan to the alpine lakes along the way, you’ll be surrounded by some of the most enchanting scenery in the Pacific Northwest.
Matthew Guy / alltrails.com
There won’t be a single boring moment.
And since you can begin this trail from several different parking lots, you can choose which lakes and other points of interest you’d like to explore the most.
Carina Chen / alltrails.com
The wildflowers tend to start popping in late spring, and there are ripe blueberries on the bushes in the summer. Fall brings the blazing colors this part of Washington is known for.
Fr. Thomas Aquinas Pickett, O.P. / alltrails.com
It’s breathtaking and you’ll want to spend plenty of time taking in the views.
For more extraordinary hikes in Washington, check out these seven superlative trails.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: North Cascades National Park, Washington, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best hikes in Washington April 01, 2022 Sarah M. What are the best waterfall hikes in Washington? Nothing beats a good waterfall hike, and luckily for Washington waterfall chasers, our state is home to an abundance of spectacular falls – and scenic waterfall trails! In this article, The Ultimate Bucket List For Anyone In Washington Who Loves Waterfall Hikes, we share some of our favorite waterfall adventures. One of our favorite waterfall hikes in Washington is the Twin Falls Trail in North Bend. This easy 3.6-mile trail takes you through the Cascade foothills to a beautiful set of waterfalls. The hike offers stunning views of both waterfalls and is considered a good trail for any skill level. The Franklin Falls Trail in Snoqualmie Pass is another epic trek. This 4.9-mile trail leads through old logging roads to a stunning 25-foot cascade. And in Olympic National Park, the Marymere Falls Trail is a favorite hike; less than two miles, the 90-foot Marymere Falls is a brilliant waterfall finish! Where’s the best place to hike in Washington? Scenic places abound for hiking adventures in the Evergreen State, but nothing beats the trails in Olympic National Park. Allow us to sing its praises. For starters, Olympic National Park encompasses 876,669 acres, and within this extraordinary expanse are its headlining peaks: the majestic Olympic Mountains. Formed over 30 million years ago after two plates in the Pacific Ocean collided, the Olympic Mountains are a true natural wonder. There are 60 named glaciers on the peaks of the Olympics – and 200 that are yet to be named! – making it a treasure trove for bucket-list discovery and adventure. In terms of superlatives, Mount Olympus is 7,979-feet tall, making it the tallest of the Olympics – but it’s obfuscated by other mountains to the west. As such, the best place to find a perfect panorama of this epic peak is from Hurricane Ridge, an immensely beautiful overlook. The park is also home to a magical place called Hoh Rain Forest, one of the only temperate rainforests in the world that feels like something straight from Middle Earth. The best part is that there are some very accessible hikes here. For example, the Hall of Mosses hike is perfect for families. It’s a 0.8-mile loop that’s completely paved, and the 1.2-mile Spruce Nature Trail is another easy-to-compete adventure.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best hikes in Washington
April 01, 2022
Sarah M.
What are the best waterfall hikes in Washington? Nothing beats a good waterfall hike, and luckily for Washington waterfall chasers, our state is home to an abundance of spectacular falls – and scenic waterfall trails! In this article, The Ultimate Bucket List For Anyone In Washington Who Loves Waterfall Hikes, we share some of our favorite waterfall adventures. One of our favorite waterfall hikes in Washington is the Twin Falls Trail in North Bend. This easy 3.6-mile trail takes you through the Cascade foothills to a beautiful set of waterfalls. The hike offers stunning views of both waterfalls and is considered a good trail for any skill level. The Franklin Falls Trail in Snoqualmie Pass is another epic trek. This 4.9-mile trail leads through old logging roads to a stunning 25-foot cascade. And in Olympic National Park, the Marymere Falls Trail is a favorite hike; less than two miles, the 90-foot Marymere Falls is a brilliant waterfall finish! Where’s the best place to hike in Washington? Scenic places abound for hiking adventures in the Evergreen State, but nothing beats the trails in Olympic National Park. Allow us to sing its praises. For starters, Olympic National Park encompasses 876,669 acres, and within this extraordinary expanse are its headlining peaks: the majestic Olympic Mountains. Formed over 30 million years ago after two plates in the Pacific Ocean collided, the Olympic Mountains are a true natural wonder. There are 60 named glaciers on the peaks of the Olympics – and 200 that are yet to be named! – making it a treasure trove for bucket-list discovery and adventure. In terms of superlatives, Mount Olympus is 7,979-feet tall, making it the tallest of the Olympics – but it’s obfuscated by other mountains to the west. As such, the best place to find a perfect panorama of this epic peak is from Hurricane Ridge, an immensely beautiful overlook. The park is also home to a magical place called Hoh Rain Forest, one of the only temperate rainforests in the world that feels like something straight from Middle Earth. The best part is that there are some very accessible hikes here. For example, the Hall of Mosses hike is perfect for families. It’s a 0.8-mile loop that’s completely paved, and the 1.2-mile Spruce Nature Trail is another easy-to-compete adventure.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Nothing beats a good waterfall hike, and luckily for Washington waterfall chasers, our state is home to an abundance of spectacular falls – and scenic waterfall trails! In this article, The Ultimate Bucket List For Anyone In Washington Who Loves Waterfall Hikes, we share some of our favorite waterfall adventures. One of our favorite waterfall hikes in Washington is the Twin Falls Trail in North Bend. This easy 3.6-mile trail takes you through the Cascade foothills to a beautiful set of waterfalls. The hike offers stunning views of both waterfalls and is considered a good trail for any skill level.
The Franklin Falls Trail in Snoqualmie Pass is another epic trek. This 4.9-mile trail leads through old logging roads to a stunning 25-foot cascade. And in Olympic National Park, the Marymere Falls Trail is a favorite hike; less than two miles, the 90-foot Marymere Falls is a brilliant waterfall finish!
Where’s the best place to hike in Washington?
Scenic places abound for hiking adventures in the Evergreen State, but nothing beats the trails in Olympic National Park. Allow us to sing its praises. For starters, Olympic National Park encompasses 876,669 acres, and within this extraordinary expanse are its headlining peaks: the majestic Olympic Mountains. Formed over 30 million years ago after two plates in the Pacific Ocean collided, the Olympic Mountains are a true natural wonder. There are 60 named glaciers on the peaks of the Olympics – and 200 that are yet to be named! – making it a treasure trove for bucket-list discovery and adventure.
In terms of superlatives, Mount Olympus is 7,979-feet tall, making it the tallest of the Olympics – but it’s obfuscated by other mountains to the west. As such, the best place to find a perfect panorama of this epic peak is from Hurricane Ridge, an immensely beautiful overlook. The park is also home to a magical place called Hoh Rain Forest, one of the only temperate rainforests in the world that feels like something straight from Middle Earth. The best part is that there are some very accessible hikes here. For example, the Hall of Mosses hike is perfect for families. It’s a 0.8-mile loop that’s completely paved, and the 1.2-mile Spruce Nature Trail is another easy-to-compete adventure.
