Overnight Hiking In Washington

overnight hiking in washington

While day hikes provide stunning views of the landscape, turning a day hike into an overnight trip adds a whole new depth, allowing you to witness the sunrise and sunset as well as stargaze away from the bright lights of the towns and cities.

Here are the best trails to hike on during the night.

North Cascades

North Cascades

Thunder Creek

  • Length – 12 miles
  • Elevation – 1300 feet
  • Location – Highway 20

This low elevation track offers early and late season excursions through big old-growth trees along the emerald green waters of Thunder Arm. As you continue along Thunder Creek, take advantage of the intermittent forest canopy gaps to take in views of the valley’s towering peaks.

McAllister Creek camp is six miles away and is a terrific site to pitch up camp, relax, and soak up some North Cascades backcountry enchantment.

Because this trail is located within North Cascades National Park, overnight camping permits are required.

Read laterBest Hiking Washington State

Twisp Path – Dagger Lake

  • Length – 9 miles
  • Elevation – 2460 feet
  • Location – Near Twisp

Two of the best reasons to hike here in the fall are the lovely red of huckleberries and the golden larches. While this provides beautiful scenery for your hike, summertime is when this trail really shines.

Wildflowers, magnificent views along the way, and a breathtaking panorama of the North Cascades are some of the many things you can see on this trail.

Many hikers do it in a single day, but it is very easy to extend your stay. Simply drop to Dagger Lake, where you’ll have even more freedom to roam.

Take note of the amazing rock work done by WTA volunteers along the trail while hiking.

Mazama Park via Ridley Creek

  • Length – 7 miles
  • Elevation – 2600 feet
  • Location – Mount Baker

This area provides pretty much everything you might want for a weekend escape. After going through dense forest, you’ll find beautiful meadows and a picture-perfect log shelter.

During berry season, the meadows provide a wonderful feast of blueberries, while in the fall, the landscape transforms into waves of red, orange, and yellow foliage.

Olympic Peninsula

overnight hiking in washington

Colonel Bob Peak

  • Length – 8.2 miles
  • Elevation– 3500 feet
  • Location – Pacific coast

The views of the Olympic Peninsula are unrivaled from this vantage point. The Pacific Ocean, Grays Harbor, Lake Quinault, and the Quinault River, can be seen from here.

But that’s not all, the Olympic rainforest, and Mount Olympus may all be seen from this vantage point on the park’s southwest edge. Its jagged summit is the perfect place to pause and gaze out at the world below on a clear day.

Many of the views above the Quinault River Valley have remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years giving you a glimpse into the nature of the past.

Lower South Fork Skykomish River

  • Length – 8.5 miles
  • Elevation – 800 feet
  • Location – Olympics – west

In lush old-growth forest and relative silence, explore the Lower South Fork of the Skokomish River for an abundance of plants and creatures. The trail begins with a series of switchbacks that quickly ascend for a few hundred feet among sword fern and salal before leveling off.

Before abruptly dropping back to the riverbank, the wide, well-kept trail goes past hundreds of years-old trees. As you travel along the river, listen to the sounds of the water and see the forest shift from maple and alder to hemlock and fir.

While the river walk is lovely on its own, you can continue to Six Ridge for views of the lake and mountains.

Deer Lake

  • Length – 8 miles
  • Elevation – 1650 feet
  • Location – Northan Coast

Head to the magnificent woodland surrounding Sol Duc for a day excursion or a quick overnight stay. Start your descent to Sol Duc Falls on the well-worn and well-kept track.

You’ll soon arrive at the Lover’s Lane Route’s entrance, where the trail begins its climb to Deer Lake. On their way to the lake, hikers follow Canyon Creek, which has several waterfalls.

Take a moment to admire them and take pictures of them. This trail is located within Olympic National Park, and overnight camping is permitted.

Eastern Washington

Eastern Washington

Thirteenmile

  • Length – 8-16 miles (depending if you use car shuttle)
  • Elevation – 2000+ feet
  • Location – Colville National Forest

In this little-known area, wide landscapes, rolling hills, and beautiful tranquility are abundant. Thirteenmile has everything, including, forested valleys, breathtaking ridges, the charred remains of lightning-struck trees, and miles of walking trails.

As the season progresses the natural water in the area will dry up, so if you are attempting this trail then make sure you bring your own water.

Horseshoe Basin

  • Length – 12 miles
  • Elevation – 1550 feet
  • Location – Pasayten Wilderness

The wide, undulating alpine scenery provides unlimited exploration opportunities on this hike. To properly appreciate this magnificent spot, bring a bag and stay one or two nights.

This sunny and open sanctuary is a wonderful place to visit. A moderate climb through rolling alpine meadows, lakes, and tarns leads to Sunny Pass. A few reachable peaks will entice you to climb and enjoy the views from your tent.

Jungle Hill Loop

  • Length – 15.4 miles
  • Elevation – 3348 feet
  • Location – Kettle River Range/ Okanogan Highlands

This loop provides the best view of the Kettle Range for hikers. Hikers will walk through large grassy meadows and sagebrush slopes, soaking in the gradual sloping hills and valleys along the way.

Takeaway

This list does not even cover half of the wonderful hiking trails you can find in Washington.

Both novice and pro hikers will be able to find the perfect trail with everything they could want when it comes to nature and views.

If you are planning an overnight hike then make sure that you are properly prepared and that the trail you choose is suitable to hike during the nights.

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