Winter is a beautiful time in Washington, but it’s not always conducive to staying active. But not all of our hiking trails close down when winter strikes – in fact, some of our hiking spots are perfect for a winter trek. The next time cabin fever strikes, bundle up, go outside and head for one of these spots.
- Padilla Bay
Alia Fahim / alltrails.com Padilla Bay is located near Mount Vernon, here the Skagit River meets the Salish Sea. This 4.5 mile trail is full of breathtaking views in an easy to walk area that rarely sees much snow.
- Thunder Creek
Susan Myers / allatrails.com Even after snows close the North Cascade Highway, Thunder Creek’s trailhead at the Colonial Creek Campground stays open. If you’re in the area and able to reach it, you’ll be treated to nice, quiet paths along lakes and creeks with plenty of mountain views.
- Beacon Rock Trail
Stuart Z / alltrails.com Located near Stevenson in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, this 2 mile trail has some of the most amazing views in the area. Handrails line the route, but you should still be mindful on days when the ground is frozen.
- Crab Creek Wildlife Area
Steve Voght / Flickr Crab Creek is a 2.4 mile trail located near Othello that is good for all skill levels and seems to escape most of winter’s worst weather.
- Cowiche Canyon
Pat Strosahl / Flickr Yakima’s Cowiche Canyon Loop Trail is well-maintained and perfect for all types of outdoor enthusiasts. There are places in the area to hike year-round and go cross country skiing all winter.
- Ozette Triangle Trail
Katie Errkila / allatrails.com The Olympic Peninsula’s mild winters make it an ideal place for a nice winter hike. The Ozette Triangle Trail is open year-round and provides over 8 miles of beautiful terrain.
- Lord Hill Regional Park Trail
Tessa Taylor / allatrails.com This dog-friendly, easy to navigate trail is located near Snohomish and is about 3.3 miles long.
- Fort Ebey State Park
Gary Schroeder / alltrails.com You’ll find Fort Ebey State Park near Coupeville, and the 6.7 mile loop is accessible anytime. You’ll see a little bit of everything on this trail: Beaches, woods and bluffs.
- Icicle Gorge Loop
Jay McXplorer / alltrails.com The Central Cascades are absolutely beautiful this time of year. This 4 mile loop takes you into narrow Icicle Gorge and along Icicle River. It’s a relatively flat hike… and although the trail never closes, it may be inaccessible during heavy snow.
What’s your favorite winter hike in Washington?
Alia Fahim / alltrails.com
Padilla Bay is located near Mount Vernon, here the Skagit River meets the Salish Sea. This 4.5 mile trail is full of breathtaking views in an easy to walk area that rarely sees much snow.
Susan Myers / allatrails.com
Even after snows close the North Cascade Highway, Thunder Creek’s trailhead at the Colonial Creek Campground stays open. If you’re in the area and able to reach it, you’ll be treated to nice, quiet paths along lakes and creeks with plenty of mountain views.
Stuart Z / alltrails.com
Located near Stevenson in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, this 2 mile trail has some of the most amazing views in the area. Handrails line the route, but you should still be mindful on days when the ground is frozen.
Steve Voght / Flickr
Crab Creek is a 2.4 mile trail located near Othello that is good for all skill levels and seems to escape most of winter’s worst weather.
Pat Strosahl / Flickr
Yakima’s Cowiche Canyon Loop Trail is well-maintained and perfect for all types of outdoor enthusiasts. There are places in the area to hike year-round and go cross country skiing all winter.
Katie Errkila / allatrails.com
The Olympic Peninsula’s mild winters make it an ideal place for a nice winter hike. The Ozette Triangle Trail is open year-round and provides over 8 miles of beautiful terrain.
Tessa Taylor / allatrails.com
This dog-friendly, easy to navigate trail is located near Snohomish and is about 3.3 miles long.
Gary Schroeder / alltrails.com
You’ll find Fort Ebey State Park near Coupeville, and the 6.7 mile loop is accessible anytime. You’ll see a little bit of everything on this trail: Beaches, woods and bluffs.
Jay McXplorer / alltrails.com
The Central Cascades are absolutely beautiful this time of year. This 4 mile loop takes you into narrow Icicle Gorge and along Icicle River. It’s a relatively flat hike… and although the trail never closes, it may be inaccessible during heavy snow.
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