A Guide to Hiking in Seattle
Cougar Mountain, Discovery Park, and South Beach Trail are some of the best hiking destinations in Seattle.
Written by Patrick Price
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
From laid-back walks along South Beach to rigged treks up Cougar Mountain,
Seattle
has some of the best hiking routes you’ll find. Most Seattle residents won’t be surprised to hear that The Emerald City is a popular hiking destination. Outdoor activity and adventure are an integral part of the local culture in
Washington
.If you’re looking to get your feet wet (sometimes literally) with this popular Seattle pastime, you’ll need some good trails to start on. To help get you going,
Jerry
—the super app
for car insurance
—has compiled this guide to the best hikes in Seattle. RECOMMENDED
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The best hikes in Seattle
Seattle is widely known for being a great place to hike. It’s not for nothing that it has long been known as The Emerald City—few urban areas can compete with Seattle’s abundance of greenery, plant life, and nature trails.
The only difficult part is deciding which amazing hiking trail you want to go on. Below are a few of the best trails around Seattle and its surrounding areas to help you narrow things down.
Best for views: Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park
Distance: 38 miles
Difficulty: Varied
Trail type: Varied
Elevation gain: 5,505 feet
Parking: Available at the park, for a fee
Dogs: Dogs are allowed
Everyone knows that Washington state offers some of the most beautiful vistas in the entire country. The
Cougar Mountain Wildland Regional Park
, however, offers some especially breathtaking views—if you’re willing to work for them. Situated in the heart of 5,000 acres of protected alpine wildland, Cougar Mountain rises above the Pacific Northwest mists and looks out on an ardent landscape of green.
Numerous trails, such as the
Wilderness Peak Loop
, run up the mountain from various starting points. You can find trailheads leading up the mountain at the following locations: - Red Town Trailhead on Lakemont Boulevard
- Sky Country Trailhead on Clay Pit Road
- Harvey Manning Trailhead on Cougar Mountain Road
- Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak Trailhead on Renton-Issaquah Road
No matter which route up the mountain you take, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with unbeatable views.
Pro Tip Hiking up any mountains carries an element of risk. If you don’t reach the peak before noon or 1:00 pm, you’re likely to get caught in sudden afternoon storms—which are all too common in Washington. Remember to start your hike early, and bring along a hard copy of amapin case you lose cell signal.
Best for Instagram: South Beach Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Out and Back
Elevation gain: 282 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Dogs are allowed.
Starting point: South Beach Trail, Seattle, WA 98199
Looking for an easy afternoon hike where you can snag some great pics for Insta? Then head out on the
South Beach Trail
! You’ll quickly come to some grey yet gorgeous shores beside a vast emerald countryside that could easily be mistaken for some beach in western Ireland. Covered in a picturesque mix of green foliage, grey rocks, and blue ocean, this trail is an easy 44-minute out-and-back trip that you can make in the late afternoon during “golden hour—a photographer’s best friend!
Even better, the trail is dotted here and there with some really cool old buildings in styles reminiscent of a coastal lighthouse—they make great posing points for social media pictures!
Best for Families: Discovery Park
Distance: 2.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Loop
Elevation gain: 140 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes—but not on the beach
Starting point: 3801 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 98199
If you need an activity to get the family all out of the house together, then you should take a quick 1-2 hour hike along the
Discovery Park Loop Trail
. It’s the perfect amount of time for the whole clan to stretch out their legs and breathe some fresh air. Plus, it’s not too strenuous so even the little kids should be able to keep up just fine! During the hike, you’ll get to see the scenic Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains as well as a variety of landscapes, from sprawling meadows to dense forests and rocky cliffs.
Pro Tip Don’t forget to bring umbrellas and a change of clothes—rainy weather is always only a moment away in Seattle.
Best for Dogs: Taylor Creek & Trail
Distance: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Out and Back
Elevation gain: 908 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: 68th Ave S. &, Holyoke Way S S, Seattle, WA 98178
Give your canine companion a nice bit of laid-back exercise when you go for a hike along the Taylor Creek Trail in
Lakeridge Park
. While the trail technically has many different access points, start at the Holyoke trailhead for a nice easy walk that’s perfect for dogs. Since the park and the trail both run for a considerable length through the heart of the city, you can stay on the hike for as long as you want! The trail follows Taylor Creek, and you’ll get to enjoy the greenery and river views. Meanwhile, your furry friend can splash around in the shallows having a wonderful time—just so long as they remain on a leash.
Best for Dates: Wolf Tree Nature Area
Distance: 1/4 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Loop
Elevation gain: 472 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: No
Starting point: Discovery Park, Seattle, WA 98199
For a romantic walk with that special someone, head to the
Wolf Tree Nature Area
. This short but sweet trail provides some lush greenery to set the mood and occasional benches to stop, rest, and get to know each other! Pro Tip The best time to enjoy the Wolf Tree nature area is in the fall or spring when the weather is nice and balanced—not too hot and not too cold. Just watch out for those spring rains.
Best for Exercise: Interlaken Park
Distance: 1.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy-moderately challenging
Trail type: Loop
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: 2451 Delmar Drive East, Seattle, WA 98102
If you’re looking to work up a good sweat on your hike, you could head to
Interlaken Park
. The 1.6-mile trek around the park may be short, but it presents some fairly challenging bits of terrain. You’ll come across everything from paved roads to stone steps dug into a hillside. For a little bit of everything, a whole lot of green forests, and everything you need for a good workout, head to Interlaken Park!
Tips for hiking in Seattle
Seattle is a hiker’s paradise. So, it’s no surprise that hiking is such a popular pastime in The Emerald City. Many of the city’s hikers are pretty familiar with the area. If, however, you just getting started with this activity, here are a few basic tips for hiking in Seattle:
- Always bring plenty of food and water. This one is a universal rule for hikers, but it bears repeating.
- Bring layers, a change of clothes, and rain gear. Seattle is one of the rainiest areas in the nation—it rains nearly every day there. You should always keep an eye on the forecast and bring rain gear just in case.
- Let someone know where you’re going. Another universal hiking rule. Even if you’re planning on having an easy hike, always make sure someone knows where you are and when you expect to be back.
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FAQs
Can you hike in Seattle right now?
Yes! You can always hike in Seattle! Of course, it can become bitter cold in the winter. So if you’re planning a December hike, you may want to hold off for a few months.
Is Seattle good for hiking?
Seattle is one of the best locations for hiking in the entire country. Few regions can compete with the pacific northwest for great hiking opportunities and culture—except perhaps for Colorado.
