Washington · best-of list
The 17 Best Outdoor Spots in Washington
All 17 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Washington, across 7 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect trails, beaches, parks and viewpoints, with Olympic NP contributing the most (6).
Our curated picks
17 outdoor spots in Washington, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Olympic NP 6 picks
Hall of Mosses Trail
Olympic NP · On our Pacific Northwest route
0.8-mile loop through the Hoh Rain Forest's moss-draped bigleaf maples and spruce.
Tip: Arrive before 9am; the entrance line backs up in summer.
Photo: Prajna Shenoy · Google
Hurricane Ridge
Olympic NP · On our Pacific Northwest route
Paved road to subalpine meadows with views across the Olympic range and Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Tip: Check road status first; winter access is limited.
Photo: Josh H · Google
Lake Crescent
Olympic NP · On our Pacific Northwest route
Glacier-carved lake with clear blue water, kayak rentals and lakeshore trails off US-101.
Photo: Zandcee · CC BY-SA 3.0
Rialto Beach
Olympic NP · On our Pacific Northwest route
Driftwood-strewn wild beach; walk 1.5 miles north to the Hole-in-the-Wall sea arch.
Tip: Time it for low tide to reach the arch and tide pools.
Photo: Mick Dees (nomad.mick) · Google
Ruby Beach
Olympic NP · On our Pacific Northwest route
Sea stacks, driftwood and red-tinged pebbles on the park's southern coast.
Tip: Sunset is best; trail from the lot is short but steep.
Photo: Barbara Zancoast · Google
Sol Duc Falls
Olympic NP · On our Pacific Northwest route
Short forest walk to a waterfall splitting into channels in a narrow gorge.
Tip: Pair with a soak at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort.
Photo: Barbara Zancoast · Google
Bainbridge Island 3 picks
Bloedel Reserve
Bainbridge Island · On our Puget Sound Islands route
150-acre gardens and forest, including a Japanese garden and moss garden.
Tip: Reserve timed entry online.
Photo: Bmzuckerman · CC BY 4.0
Fort Ward Park
Bainbridge Island · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Wooded shoreline park with WWII-era batteries and Rich Passage views.
Tip: Watch for seals and ferries passing.
Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Waterfront Park
Bainbridge Island · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Shoreline park on Eagle Harbor with a trail toward the ferry.
Tip: Follow the Waterfront Trail to the ferry.
Photo: Dickson Wan · Google
Pike Place Market & Waterfront 2 picks
Discovery Park
Pike Place Market & Waterfront · On our Seattle New Year's Eve route
The city's largest park, with bluffs, forest trails and a beach walk to the 1881 West Point Lighthouse.
Tip: The Loop Trail is about 4.5 km; add the South Beach Trail down to the lighthouse.
Photo: Cody Logan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Olympic Sculpture Park
Pike Place Market & Waterfront · On our Seattle New Year's Eve route
Free outdoor park of the Seattle Art Museum, zigzagging down to Elliott Bay past Calder's red Eagle.
Tip: Walk the waterfront path from the Market to the park and back, about 3 km.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0
San Juan Island 2 picks
American Camp
San Juan Island · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Open prairie and beaches from the 1859 Pig War, part of the national historical park.
Tip: Walk to South Beach; watch for foxes.
Photo: Frank Li · Google
Lime Kiln Point State Park
San Juan Island · On our Puget Sound Islands route
Lighthouse shoreline known as one of the best places to see orcas from land.
Tip: Bring binoculars; orcas often pass on summer afternoons.
Photo: Draugen at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Snoqualmie Pass 2 picks
Gold Creek Pond
Snoqualmie Pass · On our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route
Flat snowshoe loop around a mountain pond on the east side of the pass, reached from the Gold Creek Sno-Park.
Tip: A Sno-Park permit is required; rent snowshoes in North Bend on the way up.
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Pass · On our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route
A 268-foot waterfall on the Snoqualmie River, running at full force in the wet winter months.
Tip: The upper viewpoint is steps from the parking lot; the trail to the lower viewpoint is short but steep.
Photo: Guywelch2000 · CC0
Leavenworth 1 pick
Blackbird Island
Leavenworth · On our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route
Riverside trails in Waterfront Park, a short walk from Front Street, along the Wenatchee River.
Tip: The flat loop is a good snowshoe or winter walk when the town gets crowded.
Photo: Thayne Tuason · CC BY-SA 4.0
Seattle Center & Queen Anne 1 pick
Gas Works Park
Seattle Center & Queen Anne · On our Seattle New Year's Eve route
Lakeside park around the towers of a 1906 gasification plant, with a grassy hill facing the skyline across Lake Union.
Tip: The fireworks are far off but the whole skyline and the Needle line up; it is less crowded than Kerry Park.
Photo: WikiPedant · CC BY-SA 4.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Washington?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 17 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Washington has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Olympic NP has the most (6 of 17), followed by Bainbridge Island (3) and Pike Place Market & Waterfront (2).
Are any of these free?
15 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Hall of Mosses Trail, Discovery Park, American Camp, Gold Creek Pond, Blackbird Island, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Washington
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Olympic NP 6 on this list
- Bainbridge Island 3 on this list
- Pike Place Market & Waterfront 2 on this list
- San Juan Island 2 on this list
- Snoqualmie Pass 2 on this list
- Leavenworth 1 on this list
- Seattle Center & Queen Anne 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.