11 Of The Best Backpacking Trails in Washington
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One of the best things about summer is sleeping under the stars! Luckily for us there are tons of amazing backpacking trails in Washington making it easy to find one that’s right for you!
When I was starting out backpacking I wasn’t really sure where to begin-one of my biggest question was where should I even go? Where is it allowed? Do I need a permit?
This blog post aims to help you find that perfect spot under the stars.
With 11 amazing locations to choose from you are sure to find one that fits your liking- even if it is your first time backpacking!
I have arranged these backpacks from easiest to most difficult- that way you can quickly judge which one would be right for you!
If you are looking for a day hike check out my blog post: 11 of the Best Moderate Day Hikes in Washington
Backpacking Resources For Beginners!
In addition to this post I have other blog posts and guides that will add so much to your backpacking knowledge! Be sure to go give those posts a save 🙂
Washington Backpacking Trails Map
Backpacking Trails In Washington
Ranked From Easiest To Most Difficult
1. Second Beach
Length: 4 Miles RT
Elevation Gain: 300 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Recreation.gov
This is one of the first backpacking trails in Washington I ever did, and it is still one of my favorite memories.
Sleeping on the Olympic Coast is a totally different experience than many of these other backpacking trips. I would recommend this trip to even the most experienced of explorers simply for the beauty of it.
Imagine with me for a moment, crashing waves, a fire you built from driftwood crackling at your feet and the soft sand underneath your feet, sipping red wine and laughing with your friends under the stars. This is camping in La Push.
The hike in takes you through a beautiful forest filled with ferns and graceful trees that softly filter the sunshine. It doesn’t take long before your ushered out onto the sandy beach. With barely any elevation gain this truly is just a nice leisurely walk.
Make sure to bring a bear bin (you can rent one at the ranger station if you don’t already own one- also remember to place this far away from your tent at night) and reserve your permit online at the link above and print or pick it up at the rangers station in Port Angeles!
To find your permit click “add group members” then “South Coast” and then “Second Beach”
2. Rialto Beach
Length: 4 miles RT
Elevation Gain: None
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Recreation.gov
Another beach backpacking trip! Last year was my first trip to Rialto Beach and I am already planning on heading back.
This backpacking trail can be as short or as long as you want it to be- that’s why I love it! You park directly on the beach and walk through the sand to get to one of the many beach side campsites.
These campsites are tucked in amongst the woods right along the shore and make for beautiful places to hangout.
Similar to Second Beach you will need to reserve a wilderness permit online and rent or buy a bear bin to bring with you.
To obtain your permit click the link above then “add members” then select “North Coast” and “Hole in the Wall”
I would highly recommend walking down the beach to hole in the wall rock for some stunning pictures!
READ MORE: Check Out These 11 Hikes In Olympic National Park
Check Out My Washington Wall Art!
3. Summit Lake
Length: 6.1 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 1300 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
If you are searching for the perfect view of Mt. Rainier this may be the backpacking trip you were looking for!
Summit Lake is one of the most gorgeous lakes in Washington as it perfectly frames our queen mountain- Mt. Rainier.
Luckily for us the road to Summit Lake gains most of the elevation so we arrive with only 1300 ft to climb. (Although beware of the road itself, I would recommend a high clearance vehicle and be sure to get used to potholes!)
The hike itself is quite easy and meanders its way through beautiful forest until it opens up at Summit Lake.
There are campsites around the lake itself but the best site requires you to go a bit farther.
Follow the trail to the right and you will find yourself at the most amazing view of Rainier I have found from a campsite!
P.S The bugs can get pretty insane on this hike as well so bring bug spray as well as a water filter to get water from the lake.
READ MORE: 11 Of The Best Moderate Day Hikes In Washington
4. Skyline Divide Trail
Length: 9 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 2500 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
UPDATE (May 2024) : The road to the trailhead is currently washed out so the trail is not accessible by car.
One of my very favorite backpacking trails in Washington!
This trail takes you through stunning wildflower meadows, meanders on a beautiful ridge line and has insanely beautiful camping sites right under Mt. Baker.
Honestly, I can say with confidence that this is the most photogenic hike on the list.
While this trail is definitely a jump up from the easy beach strolls on this list, it is well worth the time it takes to get there.
Be sure to bring water with you as there is none accessible from the trail.
My biggest recommendation on this hike is to bring bug spray! The bugs can get insane up here during the summer and can easily ruin the experience if you are not prepared.
5. Mt. Pilchuck Lookout
Length: 5.4 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 2300ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Hiking up to the top of a mountain only to find a tiny little hut perched in just the right place to see 360 views? Count me in!
Trust me when I say there really is nothing like sleeping in a fire lookout and the Pacific Northwest has an abundance of them!
Mt. Pilchuck is probably the most popular fire lookout in the area- and for good reason! It has beautiful views of the central cascades, isn’t too far away, and the hike is just easy enough to make it worth it.
Since the lookouts are first come first serve I would recommend getting here early to claim your spot in the lookout. Going on a weeknight makes it a lot easier to get lucky too!
Unlike other fire lookouts this one lacks cots to sleep on so either bring sleeping pads or a hammocks to hang from the ceiling, both will do the trick!
It is also important to note that there really is nowhere else to sleep up here besides the lookout, so be prepared to head back down a dark trail if you can’t find a spot.
6. Park Butte Lookout
Length: 7.5 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 2200 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Another fire lookout, woohoo! This Lookout is my personal favorite, with stunning views of the North Cascades and a huge Mt. Baker towering above you, you truly cannot go wrong.
The trail to the lookout leads you through so many different types of terrain- one of my favorite parts about it! At one point you are in stunning meadows, at another you are crossing beautiful streams and even at another point climbing over a boulder field.
The lookout itself is perched on top of a rocky ridge line with beautiful views in all directions.
Similar to Mt. Pilchuck this fire lookout is first come first serve. Luckily, if you aren’t able to find camping in the lookout there are campsites dotted along the trail (so bring your tent just in case!)
Unlike Mt. Pilchuck this lookout does have cots, making it a wonderful place to sleep if you can score a spot.
This trail is equally as stunning in the Summer as it is in the early Fall when reds and oranges begin to take over the alpine foliage. I would recommend either season!
READ MORE: Go Adventure- The Ausangate Trail In Peru
7. Gothic Basin
Length: 9.2 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 2840 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Gothic Basin- one of the most otherworldly places in Washington!
Gothic basin is absolutely stunning, but it is a difficult one. The last part of the trail is rough and and gains an intense amount of elevation with a scramble thrown in there for good measure.
Yet, when you get to the top you will sigh with relief that it was all worth it.
Gothic basin is in fact a basin (shocking I know!) A basin is defined as “a bounded area where the rock within the boundaries dips inward toward the center”
This can be a bit confusing for those who are used to hiking to a specific location (lake, fire lookout, waterfall) in this case you are simply hiking to a general area.
You are free to roam around the area taking in the views of different lakes, tarns and rock formations with stunning ridges surrounding you on almost all sides.
Be sure to bring a bear canister with you as there are no good trees to string up your food and camp on established sites as the meadows are extremely delicate.
READ MORE: Artist Point Snowshoe– The Best Winter Activity In Washington
8. Wing Lake
Length: 12 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 2652 ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Wing Lake sits high in the North Cascades, surrounded by larches it makes for one of the best Fall backpacks in the state.
Personally, I went in the summer but if I were to ever go again I would 110% go late September to early October while the larches are turning.
Wing Lake is a bit of a haul but it sure is beautiful. The lake sits right under black peak which if you are up for it (and have the experience and gear) makes for a great 4th class scramble.
Beware to get to Wing Lake you will need to cross over a very long boulder field and hike up some intense elevation. I would recommend this for experienced backpackers only.
If you don’t want to backpack as far as Wing Lake you can camp at Lewis Lake and enjoy beautiful campsites, marmots that pop up all around you and stunning wildflowers!
READ MORE: Getting Started In Mountaineering
9. Tuck and Robins
Length: 16 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 2900 ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
16 miles round trip and we are starting to get ambitious!
If you are ready for more of a challenge or want to get farther into the back country this may be the hike for you. But it will come at a price!
Tuck and Robins lake has been on my “must do” list for quite some time and I was absolutely stoked to get up there this year.
It was well worth the climb up and is a great spot to camp, watch mountain goats go by and jump in a freezing lake.
If you want make this hike a bit shorter you can camp at Tuck Lake which you encounter after a series of intense switch backs. The hike is still tough but not nearly as hard as it is to Robin Lake.
If you do decide to head to Robin Lake (which I highly recommend) make sure you take care to follow your GPS carefully after Tuck Lake. My group made the mistake of heading up the ridge too early and got stuck taking the long (and very bushy/boulder ridden) route around, not a terrible mistake but definitely added to our exhaustion.
READ MORE: 5 Backpacking Tips To Make The Back-country More Enjoyable
10. The Enchantments
Length: 18 miles one way
Elevation Gain: 4500 ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Lottery Permit
Now we are getting serious: The Enchantments. One of Washington’s most famous and most popular backpacking routes. It is also one of the most protected.
To get backpacking permits for this trail one will need to enter into the lottery permit on February 15th – March 1st.
This allows you to enter your name in to win one of the permits for one of 5 zones. If you get the core permit it allows you to backpack in any of these zones letting you backpack the entire thing.
If you get one of the other zones you are allowed to camp there and day trip into the Enchantments core. The core is what you came for but if you have to apply for another permit I would recommend Colchuck as it is stunning in and of itself.
Getting into the core is not easy- even after obtaining permits you will have to climb up Asgard Pass which is pretty much a boulder field that rises 1900 ft in less than a mile.
Difficult to do with a small pack and even harder when you have 30 lbs on your back.
If I were a new backpacker I would actually recommend sleeping at Colchuck and just day hiking up in the Enchantments as you avoid the grueling climb to the top with a heavy pack.
Once you are over the pass you have now entered heaven- you think I am joking but I assure you, I am not.
Light blue lakes dot the landscape, mountain goats roam free and stunning mountains rise up out of the ground. You may catch yourself thinking “How the heck am I in Washington?!”
If you cannot score a ticket to backpack the Enchantments many will choose to through hike it- leaving a car at the Snow Lake Trailhead and starting at the Colchuck Lake trail. It is a long hike but the views are worthy of the adventure.
READ MORE: What To Wear Hiking In The Fall– Cute Options That Will Keep You Warm!
11. Jade Lake and Pea Soup
Length: 21 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 4500 ft
Difficulty: Challenging
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
We have now reached the crux of this list- the most difficult backpacking trip I myself have done in Washington. One that was well worth it.
The name of this hike is as accurate as any I have ever been on- the color of the water is honestly just jade blue, the bluest water I have ever seen in my life. It looks like someone poured blue gatorade all over the ground and it somehow formed a lake.
If you are wary of the idea of hiking 10.5 miles in a day you can easily split this hike up into multiple nights. Marmot Lake sits below Jade and would make for a wonderful backpacking trip in and of itself.
If you are stubborn like me and simply want to get to the big time- be wary that from Marmot on to Jade it truly does become a scramble. Take your time and watch your step.
This hike has become really popular in the past couple of years and because it is not permitted it is beginning to become a bit over run- please do you due diligence and follow the leave no trace principles.
This is a stunning alpine area that we wouldn’t want to get ruined due to over popularity.
If you are feeling up to it and want to add another 2 miles and 1000 ft to your hike you can hike up over the ridge of Jade Lake to Pea Soup- an absolutely stunning alpine lake that will make your jaw drop.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed my guide to 11 of the most stunning backpacking trips in Washington. Enjoy them and please take care of them, they are special to my heart.
Let me know in the comments below if you have gone on any of these or if I missed any amazing ones!
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