10 Best Year Round Hikes near Seattle
Posted On March 18, 2026
Looking for go to hikes in the Seattle area that are great year round? I’ve got you! I’m the host of the Washington State Hiking podcast and a lifelong Seattle area hiker. I love to get beyond the social media photos and go deeper to help people find the perfect hike for them in different seasons and at different challenge levels.
What makes a great year round hike?
- A hike that is truly enjoyable in all months of the year
- Not too far away – doesn’t require too much planning
- Fun in any weather – rain or shine
- Usually snow free all year
- Doesn’t get too crowded or too hot in summer
These are my top 10 year round hikes near Seattle that meet these criteria – I’ve got a list of my hiking guides for various seasons at the end of this post to help you find that perfect hike for each season of the year.
#1 – Meadowdale Beach Park – Lynnwood
- Location: Lynnwood neighborhood
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: Meadowdale Beach takes you down a ravine through the forest to a beach with views of Whidbey Island, the Olympic Mountains and the Salish Sea. On sunny weekends the parking area fills quickly – try making this an evening or morning hike on warm sunny days.
- Distance: 3 miles round trip including a bit of beach walking
- Elevation Gain: 500 feet (down on the way out, up on the way back)
- Passes Needed: None
- Dogs Allowed: yes, on leash
- Cell phone service: Mostly good with one dead spot
- Restrooms: Portapotty in the parking area and near the beach
- Best place to stop after: Try one of the Gyros spots on 168th between 54th and Hwy 99
#2 – Padilla Bayshore Trail – Mt Vernon
- Location: Near Burlington
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: The Padilla Bayshore Trail is amazing in any weather and is flat and free of mud since it’s graveled. The Skagit Valley has so much to see and do all year – from amazing food to the daffodil and tulip festivals in spring to the agriculture and local food and farms most of the year and birds in winter and spring.
- Distance: 4 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: Flat
- Passes Needed: None
- Dogs Allowed: yes, on leash
- Cell phone service: Good
- Restrooms: Portapotty at each end of the trail
- Best place to stop after: I love Terramar brewstillery in Edison, they have great pizza and delicious non alcoholic drinks too
#3 – Billy Frank Jr Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge – Olympia
- Location: Lacey, just north of Olympia, right off I-5
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: Another flat and mostly mud free hike that never gets too hot or too crowded, this is a great place for birds and for appreciating the estuary environment, named for Billy Frank Jr, a Nisqually elder who fought for Native fishing rights throughout his life.
- Distance: 4 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: None
- Passes Needed: America the Beautiful Pass or daily parking fee
- Dogs Allowed: No (except service animals)
- Cell phone service: None
- Restrooms: Flushing toilets in the visitor center
- Best place to stop after: Try the Nisqually Pub and Grill – a quirky spot for pub favorites with a big patio
#4 – May Valley Loop – Issaquah
- Location: Issaquah
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: The May Valley Loop can be extended to make it much longer, but this forest loop is never crowded and while it doesn’t have views – the forest is shady on hot days and pleasant on rainy and misty days.
- Distance: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1000 feet
- Passes Needed: Discover Pass
- Dogs Allowed: yes, on leash
- Cell phone service: Good to OK, some dead spots
- Restrooms: Pit toilet
- Best place to stop after: Chuck’s Donuts in the Renton Highlands or Bickerson’s Brewhouse (beer only but you can bring your own food)
#5 – Otter Falls and Ipsy Lake – North Bend
- Location: Park at the end of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road in North Bend and take the Snoqualmie Lake Trail
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: Otter Falls offers something that is hard to find this close to Seattle – no crowds! You will encounter other people but this trail is not crowded. In addition, it’s a lovely (though long) forest walk and a beautiful waterfall into a tiny lake – it’s perfect for a rainy day. If you’re going in winter watch out for short hours of daylight on this fairly long hike.
- Distance: 10 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 700 feet (mostly this is the final half mile to the waterfall, which is off the trail to the left – look for the pink tape on a tree)
- Passes Needed: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass
- Dogs Allowed: yes, on leash
- Cell phone service: None
- Restrooms: Pit toilet at nearby Garfield Ledges trailhead
- Best place to stop after: Grab some delicious coffee and pastries at Pioneer Coffee in North Bend or grab a beer at Volition Brewing.
#6 – Boulder River – Arlington
- Location: Off State Route 530 east of Arlington
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: This trail can be quite short or long depending on what the weather is and how you feel – it’s a forest, river and waterfall route so beautiful in any weather and any season and doesn’t get too crowded in summer
- Distance: Up to 9 miles round trip (3 miles round trip to a beautiful waterfall)
- Elevation Gain: Up to 800 feet
- Passes Needed: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass
- Dogs Allowed: yes, on leash
- Cell phone service: None
- Restrooms: Pit toilet
- Best place to stop after: Try the Chaotic Bakery in Arlington or Hanky Pies in Granite Falls, featuring hand pies as well as other baked goods, coffee, breakfast and lunch.
- For the nearest brewery, check out Skookum Brewery in Arlington or the Lake Stevens Brewing Company
#7 – Ebey’s Landing – Whidbey Island
- Location: The west side of Whidbey Island, near the town of Coupeville
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: Ebey’s Landing is one of my favorite hikes in Washington State. It has views, eagles, beach, forest and it’s mellow. It’s a loop trail and I like to go along the bluff before dropping down to return on the beach. If you prefer to stay on trail instead of beach, you can go out and back on the bluff instead. Keep your eyes out for eagles in the trees and soaring above and below you and seals in the water when you’re on the beach. It’s fun in nearly all weather conditions and feels like a real getaway, even if it’s just a day trip. It can get a little tricky to find parking on sunny weekends, but try the upper parking lot in the National Historic Site. Spectacular sunsets here!
- Length: 5.5 mile loop trail
- Elevation Gain: 300 feet
- Passes Needed: Washington State Discover Pass at the beach OR Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) for the upper parking lot at Ebey’s Landing National Historic Park
- Dogs Allowed: yes, on leash
- Cell phone service: Good
- Restrooms: Pit toilet
- Best place to stop after: Front Street Grill in Coupeville or Double Bluff Brewing along with the various shops and Greenbank Farm (great place to bring your dog as there’s a big off leash area)
#8 – Maury Island – Vashon Island
- Location: Maury Island Marine Park is one of the excellent hiking options on Vashon Island and is a King County Park. Vashon Island is the homeland of the Suquamish and other Coast Salish people. The distance from Seattle or Tacoma varies quite a bit based on the ferry wait and the ferry schedule. You can also take public transit (King County Metro is on the island) or bike if you’re not driving.
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: Another one that feels like a real getaway on a day trip including a ferry and fun local spots to enjoy for food and drink while on the island. I like to save this for a sunny day since the views here are so incredible!
- Length: 2.5 mile loop
- Elevation Gain: 400 feet (down on the way out, then back up)
- Passes Needed: None
- Dog allowed: Yes, on leash
- Cell phone service: Good
- Restrooms: Pit toilet
- Best place to stop after: Camp Colvos Brewing (taproom) and/or Snapdragon (vegetarian sandwiches and baked goods)
#9 – Umtanum Canyon – between Ellensburg and Yakima
- Location: Between Ellensburg and Yakima on Canyon Road
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: While it can get a bit hot in summer, the valley is shady a lot of the day. If you’re looking to get out of the west (wet!) side and see a completely different environment, this is my go-to. Spring and Fall are my personal favorite times to go.
- Length: Up to 6 miles
- Elevation Gain: Up to 500 feet
- Passes Needed: America the Beautiful Pass or daily parking fee ($5 for BLM parking)
- Dog allowed: Yes, on leash
- Cell phone service: Spotty
- Restrooms: None
- Best place to stop after: Winegar’s for ice cream in Ellensburg!
#10 – Striped Peak – Port Angeles
- Location: Salt Creek Recreation Area, west of Port Angeles
- Why it’s one of the best year round hikes near Seattle: This is a view hike that’s snow free all year and not crowded even in summer! It’s fun in the rain even if you miss out on the bigger views and is close to other fun things to do in Port Angeles and across the Olympic Peninsual.
- Length: Up to 7.5 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: Up to 900 feet
- Passes Needed: None
- Dog allowed: Yes, on leash
- Cell phone service: Good
- Restrooms: Salt Creek Recreation Area has restrooms
- Best place to stop after: Lots of great options for everything in Port Angeles
Related: What to wear for a hike in the Pacific Northwest, What to bring for a hike in the Pacific Northwest
More of my Washington State Real Talk Hiking Tips
If you could use more hiking ideas throughout Washington, sign up for my email list, check out my podcast and some of my other popular hiking guides for Washington:
- Top 20 Mellow Hikes near Seattle according to a Seattleite
- Best Summer Hikes near Seattle according to a Seattleite
- Best Fall Hikes near Seattle
- 12 Golden Larch Hikes in Washington State that are not Maple Pass
- Best Snow Free Winter Hikes near Seattle
- Best Spring Hikes near Seattle
- Best Waterfall Hikes near Seattle
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Hi! I'm Jennie. I’m a fourth generation Seattleite. I lived in Alaska for many years and I still spend lots of time there every year visiting friends and working as a tour director. I've been a guide for many years in both Alaska and Washington and host the Alaska Uncovered Podcast as well as the Washington State Hiking Podcast. I love to share the places I love with visitors, newcomers and my fellow locals. I’m so glad to have you here!