It’s no secret that Washington is home to some of the best hikes in the country and my husband and I were lucky enough to hike 3 of the top rated hikes during our trip this past October. We visited during the first week of October and it seemed to be the perfect time! It was the beginning of the off-season so there were less people on the trails, it was before the snow fall began so the weather was perfect and we were there during peak larch season! (Larches are a type of pine tree that turn bright yellow right before losing their needles.)
We were in Washington for a full week and were able to visit Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park during our time there. We’ve visited Mount Rainier before, back in 2020, but this was our first time at North Cascade so that made National Park number 17 for us… only 46 more to go!
Below are some details on the trails we chose to do as well as some tips for planning your trip to Washington (because trust me, you’ll want to go see it for yourself!)
***Note: Keep in mind that I am from Louisiana and I am not used to elevation gain so I take a bit longer than most to complete a hike. I also stop for pictures every two seconds and take a few detours along the way so the recordings listed below may not be exactly what AllTrails says. So I’ve included both our recordings and AllTrails stats for comparison.
TOLMIE PEAK FIRE LOOKOUT – Mount Rainier National Park – Mowich Lake Area
We stayed in Seattle the first 2 nights of our trip so we decided to head down to Mount Rainier for a sunset hike to the Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout. The trailhead starts at Mowich Lake in Mount Rainier National Park which is about 2.5 hours or so from Seattle.
The views of Mount Rainier from Tolmie Peak are absolutely incredible! It’s a pretty steep hike up to the peak but the views make it well worth the effort it takes to get there! The fire lookout is pretty cool too.
Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout recordings:
Distance: 6.22 miles (Out and Back) / 5.6 miles according to AllTrails
Elevation Gain: 1526ft
Time: 3hrs 18min
Tips & Recommendations:
-The road to get to the trailhead was very long and rough so an all wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended (although we did see some people making it in sedans or non off-road vehicles).
-The road to Mowich Lake does not connect to other parts of the National Park so keep that in mind when planning your trip! This section of the park will require a detour but I think it’s well worth it!
-The summit of Tolmie Peak is actually a little bit past the fire lookout, so keep on going! We didn’t realize this until after we completed the hike. (I guess that means we’ll have to go back to make it to the summit!)
-Spend some time exploring Mowich Lake before or after your hike. It is absolutely beautiful and so peaceful!
-Always carry bear spray and be bear aware! Black bears are very common along this trail although we didn’t see any.
MAPLE PASS LOOP – Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest / North Cascades National Park
After our time in Seattle we made our way to The Cascade Loop, otherwise known as Washington’s Ultimate Road Trip. We skipped the first portion and started in Concrete, WA to save some time and we made our way to Winthrop, WA where we stayed for 2 nights. We made a few stops along the way, the main one being Diablo Lake which was beautiful! But our favorite part of this leg of our trip was hiking the Maple Pass Loop trail. It was definitely one of my favorite day hikes I’ve ever done! I’m sure this hike is beautiful in the spring and summer too, but the colors are just unbelievable in the fall! People come from all over to hike this trail during “Larch Madness” aka larch season which takes place in the beginning of October every year.
Maple Pass Loop recordings:
Distance: 7.08 miles (Loop) / 6.5 miles according to AllTrails
Elevation Gain: 2162ft
Time: 4hrs 36min / 4hrs 9min
Tips & Recommendations:
-Do the loop counterclockwise. The elevation gain is a lot more gradual going this way!
-Bring trekking poles! Trust me, it’ll save your knees on the way down.
-Be sure to bring bear spray and be bear aware since you’re in black bear territory. I’m actually quite surprised we didn’t see any bears!
-Take your time and enjoy the views. Since this is a loop the views are everchanging.
-This is one of the most popular hikes during larch season so try to avoid hiking on weekends and get there as early as possible before the parking lot fills up!
-Parking for this trail is easily accessible and it’s right off of the main highway. No off roading needed for this one!
COLCHUCK LAKE – Leavenworth, WA
After our stay in Winthrop we continued along the Cascade Loop and stayed 2 nights in Leavenworth. Leavenworth is a Bavarian inspired mountain town and is a must see along the Cascade Loop! About 30 minutes outside of Leavenworth is the trailhead to Colchuck Lake. You’ve probably seen pictures of the crystal clear, turquoise glacier lake before and trust me, it’s even more stunning in person! (Yes, the water really is that blue!)
This was definitely the most challenging hike we did this trip, but it was a great one!
Colchuck Lake recordings:
Distance: 10.0 miles (Out and Back) / 8.7 miles according to AllTrails
Elevation Gain: 2482ft / 2342ft according to AllTrails
Time: 6hrs 53min / 4hrs 57mins according to AllTrails
Tips & Recommendations:
-This is a glacier fed lake so the water is COLD but so refreshing after a long hike!
-The trail is pretty easy for the first few miles with a gradual incline. Once you get to the giant boulder field, that’s when things are about to get strenuous!
-This is one of the most popular trails in Washington so the parking lot fills up fast! Try to avoid hiking on weekends and be prepared to walk a bit to get to the trailhead if the parking lot is full.
-This is another trail that is only accessible by a rough unpaved road. AWD is highly recommended for this one!
-Always be bear aware and carry bear spray!
-There are a few open pit toilets along the trail, so if you gotta go you’re in luck!
DON’T FORGET THE 10 ESSENTIALS!
Always be sure to pack the 10 essentials when hiking! Even though all of these are day hikes, it’s still important to be prepared.
1. Appropriate Footwear
Wearing the right shoes (and socks) truly does make all the difference when hiking! My absolute favorite hiking boots are the Lowa Renegades GTX. But I switched things up for this trip and wore the Hoka Trail Code GTX and the Altra Lone Peak 7. Both of these had great traction and support!
2. Navigation
Because we only did highly trafficked day hikes we didn’t bring a GPS but we definitely made sure to download each trail map on All Trails before heading to the trailheads! (Cell service is very spotty in the mountains so make sure to download BEFORE heading out to hike.)
3. Water
Staying hydrated is SO important when hiking – and not just in the heat. As a general guideline you should drink half a liter per hour while hiking (even more if it’s warm out).
I like to bring electrolytes too for extra hydration!
4. Food
Always bring extra snacks! No one enjoys hiking if they’re hungry. Calorie dense snacks are the best way to keep you energized. We like to hike with freeze dried meals like Backpacker’s Pantry or Good to Go. Nothing beats dinner on the trail with a gorgeous mountain view!
5. Extra Clothes/Layers
The weather in the mountains (especially in Washington) can be very unpredictable! Especially if there’s elevation gain. I always make sure to pack an extra set of clothes as well as an insulated jacket, rain jacket and a warm hat and gloves. Being able to add and remove layers makes the hike much more comfortable!
6. Safety Items
Light, fire starters/tools, whistle, etc.
You never know what can happen so being prepared is always a smart choice!
7. First Aid
Luckily I’ve only needed to use my first aid kit once in the past but I never hit a trail without it! Here is the one I use:
Adventure Medical Kit’s: Mountain Day Tripper Lite
8. Knife or Multi-tool
A knife can come in handy for so many reasons so it’s always good to have one on hand when hiking!
9. Sun Protection
Sunglasses, sunscreen and/or sun protective clothing are highly recommended when hiking or spending any time outdoors.
10. Shelter
I always carry an emergency blanket when hiking because you never know what can happen.
Some other essentials I used for this trip:
One last thing you don’t want to forget to purchase ahead of time is an America the Beautiful National Park Annual Pass! Having the pass gets you in to all National Parks for an entire year! This can save a ton of money when you’re visiting multiple parks every year. Veterans also get a lifetime pass for free!
