How to Use This Guide

This guide is designed to be simple and easy to use. Each hike is described with a map and summary information that delivers the trail’s vital statistics, including length, difficulty, fees and permits, park hours, canine compatibility, and trail contacts. Directions to the trailhead are also provided with trailhead GPS coordinates, along with a general description of what you’ll see along the way. A detailed route finder (Miles and Directions) provides mileages between significant landmarks along the trail.

Hike Selection

This guide describes trails that are accessible to every hiker. The longest hike is less than 6 miles round-trip, and most are considerably shorter. They range in difficulty level from flat excursions perfect for a family outing to more challenging hikes in the Cascades with some elevation gain. These trails were selected to represent a wide diversity of terrain, scenery, and experiences. Keep in mind that nearby trails, often in the same park or preserve, may offer options better suited to your needs and abilities. These hikes are spaced throughout the Seattle area—wherever your starting point, you’ll find a great easy day hike nearby.

Difficulty Ratings

These are all easy hikes, but easy is a relative term. In the Seattle area, hills are a fact of life, but many of the hikes in this guide have no elevation gain at all; others have moderate elevation gain.

To aid in the selection of a hike that suits your particular needs and abilities, each hike is rated easy, moderate, or more challenging. Bear in mind that even most challenging routes can be made easier by hiking within your limits, being prepared, using trekking poles, and resting when you need to.

• Easy hikes are generally short and flat, taking no longer than an hour or two to complete.
• Moderate hikes involve increased distance and/or slight changes in elevation or may take longer than one to two hours to complete.
• More challenging hikes feature some steep stretches, more elevation gain, greater distances, or may take longer than two hours to complete.

These ratings are subjective. What you consider easy is entirely dependent on your level of fitness and the adequacy of your gear (primarily shoes). If you are hiking with a group, you should select a hike with a rating that’s appropriate for the least fit and least prepared hiker in your party.

Approximate hiking times are based on the assumption that on flat ground, most walkers average 2.5 miles per hour. Adjust that rate by the steepness of the terrain and your level of fitness (subtract time if you’re an aerobic animal; add time if you’re hiking with kids or are easily distracted by trailside attractions), and you will arrive at an approximate hiking duration. Be sure to add more time if you plan to take part in other activities, such as picnicking, bird-watching, or photography.