Central Cascades Hikes
60 trails in Central Cascades, ranked by popularity. Each page shows current weather, road, and trail conditions.
Big Jim MountainA burly Central Cascades ski tour through burned forest to wide-open ridge skiing with Enchantments panoramas.
Skyline Lake SnowshoeA steep but short snowshoe climb from Stevens Pass to a frozen alpine lake with sweeping Cascade views.
Hatchery CreekRugged, relentless climb through fire-scarred terrain to the Cascade high country, connecting to Lake Augusta and the Icicle Ridge system.
Spada Lake - Culmback DamA short walk to Culmback Dam and Spada Lake with options to extend into the Sultan Basin backcountry.
Sultan River Canyon TrailDescend through mossy old forest to a canyon river, then earn it all back on the climb out.
Canyon LakeRemote alpine lake beneath Bannock Mountain's cliffs, reached through meadows and unmaintained trail in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
Company CreekA steep, seldom-maintained route climbing from the Stehekin Valley floor into the remote heart of the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
West Fork Foss River and LakesA staircase of alpine lakes climbs from old-growth forest to granite basins, with Trout, Copper, and Big Heart Lakes each more dramatic than the last.
Lake Dorothy - Lake Bear - Lake DeerA chain of alpine lakes strung through deep wilderness, from the easy shores of Lake Dorothy to the remote basins of Bear and Deer.
East Fork Foss - Necklace ValleyA long valley approach through old-growth forest gives way to a brutal climb into a chain of alpine lakes beneath rugged Cascade peaks.
Fisher LakeLarge alpine lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, reached via a ridgeline walk and a brushy descent from Tonga Ridge.
Evans LakeA short walk through old-growth forest to a quiet 11-acre alpine lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, where the drive takes longer than the hike.
East Fork Foss River SnowshoeA long valley snowshoe through old-growth forest along the East Fork Foss River, with low avalanche risk up to the bridge turnaround.
Tonga Ridge SnowshoeA high ridgeline snowshoe with wide Cascade panoramas, requiring real route-finding skills to earn the views.
Tonga Ridge / Mount SawyerAn easygoing ridge walk through wildflower meadows with panoramic views of Glacier Peak, Baker, and Rainier from Mount Sawyer's summit.
Terrace MountainA quiet scramble off Tonga Ridge requiring route-finding skills and Class 2-3 climbing to reach a seldom-visited summit.
Devore CreekA remote, relentless climb from the Stehekin Valley over Tenmile Pass into the Glacier Peak Wilderness backcountry.
French CreekA long through-route crossing the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from Icicle Creek to Cle Elum River via Paddy-Go-Easy Pass.
Peshastin Pinnacles State ParkSandstone spires and wildflower meadows on the dry side of the Cascades, doubling as the region's top rock climbing crag.
Twin Lakes (Wenatchee)Forested valley hike to two large mountain lakes with old-growth cedars, a rocky canyon, and a historic fish cabin.
Rainbow LoopA short, rewarding loop near Stehekin Landing with waterfall views and Lake Chelan vistas through recovering burn forest.
Rainbow Falls Mist TrailA 312-foot waterfall in the roadless Stehekin Valley, reached only by ferry and worth every minute of the trip.
Purple PassA grueling climb from the shore of Lake Chelan to an alpine pass more than a mile above the water, with massive views in every direction.
Mount DavidA long ridge walk above the White River valley with 360-degree summit views of Glacier Peak, Mount Stuart, and the Central Cascades.
Indian CreekA rugged, overgrown wilderness connector through old-growth forest to the turquoise glacial waters of the White River in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
Glacier Peak CircumnavigationAn 88-mile wilderness loop encircling Washington's most remote volcano through alpine passes, old-growth forest, and river valleys.
Buckner Orchard WalkA living piece of Stehekin Valley history tucked beneath old apple trees and tall cedars.
Boulder CreekA long, strenuous climb from the White River valley to Boulder Pass, rewarding with panoramic views into the remote Napeequa Valley and Glacier Peak Wilderness.
White RiverFollow glacial meltwater through old-growth cedar along one of the Cascades' most striking river valleys.
Stehekin River TrailA flat, forested riverside walk through the Stehekin Valley, accessible only by boat or floatplane, ending at the historic Weaver Point campground on Lake Chelan.
Sauer's MountainEarly-season wildflower ridgeline with sweeping Enchantments and Wenatchee Valley views, on private land near Peshastin.
Bonanza PeakWashington's highest non-volcanic peak, a remote Class 4 scramble above Lake Chelan with glacier travel and massive vertical gain.
ErinswoodA short, barrier-free loop through old-growth cedar and fern-draped forest along the North Fork Skykomish, perfect for a quick leg stretch near Index.
Heybrook RidgeA short, well-built trail to a knockout view of Mount Index, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Skykomish Valley.
Snowall Cradle LakeA remote alpine lake tucked beneath Sixty Six Hundred Ridge in the upper Icicle Creek drainage, reached through old-growth forest and wildflower meadows.
Little AnnapurnaA full-commitment scramble to one of the highest non-technical summits in the Enchantments, surrounded by the granite towers of the Stuart Range.
Lake StuartA quieter fork off the Enchantments trailhead leads to a big alpine lake spread beneath the massive north face of Mount Stuart.
Lake EdnaA steep, demanding climb to a compact subalpine lake on the Icicle Ridge, with connections to the popular Ladies Pass Loop.
Lake CarolineA long, demanding climb through burn recovery zones to an alpine lake tucked between Eightmile and Cashmere Mountains in the Enchantments.
Klonaqua LakesA long valley approach through old-growth forest rewarded by a hidden cirque of alpine lakes beneath Granite Mountain.
Jack RidgeA quiet ridgeline traverse above Icicle Creek with views of Trout Lake and Eightmile Mountain.
Jack Pine TrailA creekside walk through Icicle Gorge, often hiked as the mellow finish to the 25-mile Ladies Loop.
Jack CreekA rugged valley route through fire-scarred forest into the heart of the Stuart Range, linking Icicle Creek to Ingalls Creek.
Icicle Ridge via Fourth of July CreekA long, grinding ascent through wildflower meadows to a former fire lookout site with 360-degree views above Leavenworth.
Icicle Gorge Nature LoopA flat, shaded loop along Icicle Creek through old forest with interpretive signs, birdsong, and the sound of rushing water the whole way.
Icicle CreekOld-growth forest and creek music on a gentle valley-floor walk at the end of Icicle Creek Road.
Horseshoe LakeA granite-walled alpine lake above Lake Stuart with golden larch groves and views deep into the Enchantments.
The EnchantmentsWashington's greatest alpine traverse, 29 km through granite basins, turquoise lakes, and golden larch groves beneath the spires of the Stuart Range.
Eightmile MountainAn off-trail scramble above Eightmile Lake with Stuart Range views and genuine solitude.
Eightmile Creek SnowshoeA winter road walk into the Enchantments corridor with mountain views and options to push toward Eightmile or Stuart Lakes.
Dragontail PeakA bruising 1,778-meter scramble to the highest point in the Enchantments, with summit views spanning from Rainier to Glacier Peak.
Chatter CreekA relentless climb from Icicle Creek into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, with subalpine larch and gateway access to the Icicle Ridge network.
Blackjack RidgeA steep, quiet climb to open ridgeline walking above Icicle Creek, with genuine solitude and big views.
Windy PassA long push past the Eightmile crowds into quiet alpine meadows at the edge of the Enchantments.
Trout Lake via Jack Trout TrailheadA long, forested walk to a marshy lake basin with Enchantment Range views and first-rate east-side Cascade forest.
Blue Lake HighA cairn-marked alpine route to a rocky lake basin, gateway to the Pilot Ridge loop.
Bald Eagle MountainA long pull through river valley and alpine meadows to Monte Cristo views and a PCT connection at Dishpan Gap.
Little Wenatchee RiverA mellow river walk that doubles as the front door to Meander Meadows and the high country beyond.
Cady CreekA brushy, unmaintained connector to the PCT at Cady Pass, built for backpackers willing to earn their way into the high country.
Poe Mountain via Little Wenatchee TrailheadA steep, quiet summit climb to an old lookout site with big views and zero crowds.