Trails

Hiking trails

You'll find nearly 700 miles of trails in Washington State Parks, from short interpretive nature walks to challenging long-distance treks. Deception Pass State Park has 38 miles of trails that wander through forests and sand dunes, along rocky saltwater headlands and along clear freshwater lakes. Climb up Scarborough Hill behind historic Fort Columbia State Park for views across the Columbia River to Oregon and beyond. Spend an afternoon hiking in the timbered Cascade foothills to thundering, plummeting, 265-foot Wallace Falls. And don't miss the gorgeous wildflowers that bloom throughout spring and summer on the Puffer Butte trails at Fields Spring State Park.

For information on wheelchair-accessible trails, see our ADA Recreation page. For still more trails-based recreation opportunities, you can check out our long-distance trails below.

Mountain biking trails

Mountain bikes are permitted on trails in nearly three dozen state parks. Beacon Rock State Park on the lower Columbia River has 20 miles of biking trails. Dosewallips State Park on Hood Canal offers five miles of rideable beach. Cyclists who breeze past waiting cars and onto the San Juan Island ferries are rewarded with lots of good mountain biking at scenic Moran State Park, permitted from Sept. 15 - May 15. You could also check out Riverside or Olallie state parks for mountain biking and Wallace Falls State Park for gravel biking.

For still more bike riding opportunities, read about our long-distance trails below.

Water trails

The Cascadia Marine Trail (PDF) (stretching along the inland waters from Olympia to Point Roberts) and the Willapa Bay Water Trail (PDF),embracing unspoiled Willapa Bay, are the first two trails in Washington designed for kayaks, canoes, and other non-motorized, beachable boats.

Water trails offer unsurpassed views of Northwest scenery and wildlife while providing access to pullouts, campsites and other public amenities along the way.

An overnight primitive site fee is charged for State Park campsites along each of these trails.

Equestrian trails

Horses and their riders are welcome on most ocean beaches and on established trails in 10 parks. At Bridle Trails State Park, located at the edge of metropolitan Seattle, horses have the right of way on 28 miles of trails. Battle Ground Lake State Park has a primitive horse camping area and five miles of riding trails, while Steamboat Rock State Park offers 10 miles of trails in a classic Central Washington landscape of sagebrush and bare basalt cliffs. Horses can be rented at Lake Wenatchee State Park for both day trips and overnight pack trips. For more horseback riding opportunities, learn about long-distance trails below.

Long-distance trails

Learn more about our long-distance trails here.