Updated 10/24/2025

This selected list of Southwest Washington day hikes includes trails through old-growth forests, subalpine lakes, volcanic blast zones, and summits with panoramic views.

To learn more about each featured hike, view the trip report links.

PERMITS & PASSES: Some of the trailheads in this list require a Northwest Forest Pass for parking. See the trip report links for info on whether or not a pass is needed.

HIKE DIFFICULTY RATINGS

• Easy: Up to 6 miles round trip, and up to 1,000 ft. gain
• Moderate: Up to 8 miles round trip, with 1,000-2,000 ft. gain
• Strenuous: Up to 10 miles round trip, with 2,000-3,000 ft. gain
• Very Strenuous: Up to 12 miles round trip, with 3,000-4,000 ft. gain

Featured Hikes

• Bells Mountain – Sword Fern Way loop
• Blue Lake – Indian Heaven Wilderness
• Falls Creek Falls loop
• Harry’s Ridge – Mount St. Helens
• Indian Racetrack & Red Mountain Lookout
• June Lake – Mount St. Helens
• Pacific Crest Trail from Panther Creek
• Silver Star Mountain via Ed’s Trail loop
• Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista hike
• Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista & Tarbell loop
• Trapper Creek Trail

Bells Mountain – Sword Fern Way loop

distance: 8.4 miles (lollipop loop)
elevation gain: 1,785 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best season: fall, spring
trip report: Bells Mountain – Sword Fern Way loop

This hike in Southwest Washington begins at Moulton Falls Park and goes up to the summit of Bells Mountain through mossy forests and open formerly logged sections with views towards the Silver Star Mountain area.

Blue Lake – Indian Heaven Wilderness

distance: 6.6 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 980 ft.
difficulty: easy
best season: summer
trip report: Thomas Lake to Blue Lake hike

Located on the west side of Indian Heaven Wilderness, this moderate hike to Blue Lake from the Thomas Lake trailhead is filled with brilliant fall color and subalpine splendor.

Falls Creek Falls loop

distance: 6.3 miles (loop)
elevation gain: 1,150 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best season: late spring to fall
trip report: Falls Creek Falls

Stunning three-tiered Falls Creek Falls is the highlight of this loop hike that combines an easy hike alongside a mossy creek in old-growth forest with an upper ridge trail and canyon views.

Harry’s Ridge – Mount St. Helens

distance: 8 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 1,200 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best season: summer
trip report: Harry’s Ridge hike

Hike though the blast zone at Mount St. Helens to Harry’s Ridge to see the area’s remarkable recovery since the 1980 eruption. Starting at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, take the Boundary Trail to Harry’s Ridge for views of Spirit Lake and Mount St. Helens.

Indian Racetrack & Red Mountain Lookout

distance: 6.2 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 1,465 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best season: summer to fall
trip report: Indian Racetrack hike

The Indian Racetrack was used by native tribes for hundreds of years. They gathered here in the summer to hunt, forage huckleberries, and race horses in the open meadow. Continue to the Red Mountain Lookout for panoramic views of the Cascades.

June Lake – Mount St. Helens

distance: 5.7 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 1,150 ft.
difficulty: easy to June Lake, strenuous to Chocolate Falls due to scrambling over large lava boulders
best season: summer to fall (typically June to October)
trip report: June Lake hike

On the south side of Mount St. Helens, take an easy hike to June Lake with a waterfall spilling into it. Or if you like scrambling, continue to the Loowit Trail and climb over large lava boulders to Chocolate Falls.

Pacific Crest Trail from Panther Creek

distance: 7 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 1,350 ft
difficulty: moderate
best season: late spring to fall
trip report: Pacific Crest Trail – Panther Creek

A less traveled trail, this section of the PCT near the Panther Creek campground has plenty of solitude, wildflowers in early summer, and two great viewpoints.

Silver Star Mountain via Ed’s Trail loop

distance: 4.8 miles (loop)
elevation gain: 1,240 ft
difficulty: moderate to difficult (based on scramble sections)
best season: summer to fall
trip report: Silver Star via Ed’s Trail loop

Featuring expansive mountain views and rugged terrain, this loop to Silver Star Mountain via Ed’s Trail included rocky scrambles, fall color, and panoramic vistas of five Cascade volcanoes.

Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista hike

distance: 6.8 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 2,040 ft
difficulty: moderate to strenuous
best season: summer to fall
trip report: Silver Star via Grouse Vista hike

Silver Star Mountain, located in the Yacolt Burn area, is filled with summer wildflowers and includes panoramic views of the Cascades from the summit.

Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista & Tarbell loop

distance: 7.4 miles (loop)
elevation gain: 2,440 ft
difficulty: strenuous
best season: summer to fall
trip report: Silver Star – Grouse Vista & Tarbell loop hike

This longer loop to Silver Star Mountain takes the Tarbell and Sturgeon Rock trails to the summit, then returns via the Grouse Vista trail.

Trapper Creek Trail

distance: 7 miles (out and back with small loop section)
elevation gain: 1,550 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best season: summer and fall (typically April to October)
trip report: Trapper Creek hike

Trapper Creek Wilderness, located in Southwest Washington near the Wind River, includes around 25 miles of trails in old-growth Douglas-fir forests.

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