The Best Day Hikes Of The Pacific Northwest

Spanning from Oregon to British Columbia and beyond, the Pacific Northwest provides a huge spectrum of features ranging from giant peaks, to glacial meadows and wild coastline. Here are five of the best day hikes of the Pacific Northwest...

Naches Peak Loop Trail – Mt. Rainier, WA – 4.5 miles Easy

Via wta.org

Naches Peak Loop trail, located in Washington State on the outskirts of Mt. Rainer National Park, is a relatively easy 4.5-mile hike that intertwines with the legendary Pacific Crest Trail. While you won’t actually hike up Mt. Rainier, the Naches Peak Trail provides some of the most uninterrupted and breathtaking views of the historic mountain. There's also a plethora of wildflowers to frolic through, so bring your camera because you’re going to have a new profile picture after this hike.

Panorama Ridge trail – Garibaldi Provincial Park, Whistler – 17 Out and Back Miles Difficult

Via vancouvertrails.com

While this hike in British Columbia is a doozy at 17 miles out and back, it’s been called one of the best for those seeking panoramic mountain views and overall wilderness wonderment. Just under 2 hours north of Vancouver, this day hike will take you into a timber forest, through glacial meadows, and across ridge lines until you finally arrive at Panorama Ridge, overlooking the coastal mountain range and turquoise Garibaldi lake.

Hoh River Trail – Olympic National Park, WA – 7-8 Out and Back miles easy

Via frontdooradventures.blogspot.com

The Hoh River Trail in Olympic National Park offers the chance to experience a rare coastal rainforest in an area that receives up to 14 feet of rain annually. While the trail runs over 17 miles to the base of Mt. Olympus, a day hike will give you plenty of opportunity to see lush, moss covered forest, and a spot known as the quietest place in the United States called “One Square Inch of Silence.” The Hoh River trail is beautiful year-round and just a stone's throw away from Portland.

Trail of Ten Falls- Silver Falls State Park, OR – 10 mile loop Moderate

Via cascadialiving.blogspot.com

If you’re looking for a day hike with plenty of gravity testing water, look no further than Silver Falls State Park’s Trail of Ten Falls in Oregon. This 10-mile loop offers you views of 10 breathtaking waterfalls, ranging from 27-footers to several well over 100 feet. When it comes to seeing spectacular waterfalls, few places will offer you so many in such limited time, making the Trail of Ten Falls one of the best day hikes in the Pacific Northwest.

Paradise Park Loop, Mt. Hood Oregon (moderate)

Via Shutterstock

The Paradise Park loop from Timberline Lodge offers some of the best views of Oregon’s tallest peak, Mt. Hood. The 12-mile part loop part there-and-back, gives hikers the chance to march along fields of broadleaf lupine and other wildflowers (if you time it right) and takes you through ZigZag Canyon, giving this day hike a little bit of everything. From beautiful flowers, canyon exploration, and views of the dormant volcano Mt. Hood, all in one day, it doesn’t get better than the Paradise Park Loop.