Mountains of Washington State

1. Mount Olympus

As the tallest of the Olympic Mountain Range and one of the most isolated in Washington, Mount Olympus is a stunningly beautiful snow-capped mountain located inside Olympic National Park.

This peak is very technically challenging, and is on the Triple Crown list of peaks, meaning it has at least 5,000 feet of prominence, 5,000 feet of elevation gain on the hike itself, and is on the Apex list of the most difficult mountains to climb. From the top of Mount Olympus, climbers will be rewarded for the struggles of the climb with a beautiful, 360° view.

2. Mount Shuksan

Mount Shuksan is one of the most beautiful mountains in the world, and one of the most commonly photographed. It has been included on lists of the greatest mountains in America, is one of the tallest peaks in Washington, and has a staggering 14 different routes to the top. This is a long trip, so hikers should prepare to stay overnight while tackling Mount Shuksan. The routes are many and varied, but this means that potential mountaineers can choose the level of difficulty they prefer, from a Class 3 scramble to 50-degree snow and ice on the rarely traveled north face of the mountain.

3. Mount Baker

On a clear day, which happens more rarely than one might think, residents of the city of Seattle can see Mount Baker from the downtown area. This active but glaciated volcano is the third tallest peak in Washington, with 10,778 feet of elevation at its summit, record amounts of snowfall each year, and over 24,000 acres of glaciers. This constant ice presence means that Baker is home to some nasty crevasses, which can prove to be dangerous, but in spite of this, Mount Baker is actually a very nice peak for beginners to climb.

4. Glacier Peak

There are five volcanoes in Washington State and Glacier Peak is one of them. Glacier Peak is very seldom climbed because it is hidden from view, and also because years of storms and flooding have washed away any and all access roads, so conquering Glacier Peak requires a hike of at least 10 miles to even reach its base. With a bare minimum of 3 days and 8,000 feet elevation gain, climbing Glacier Peak is not necessarily the most technical or difficult climb on this list, but it is a very long and strenuous one simply because of the length and accessibility.

5. Eldorado Peak

Summiting Eldorado Peak, located in North Cascades National Park (video), is more than just cresting a hill. The summit of this jagged mountain is also one of the most famous knife edge ridges in Washington State, and the adrenaline rush from carving out a trail that’s just wide enough for two feet along the peaked snowy edge of the summit is much of the reason that people enjoy climbing this mountain. This quality gives Eldorado Peak a beautiful shape from a distance, a shape that has an almost Himalayan feel to it. A round trip to the summit and back takes about 1-2 days and is about 8 miles long, with an elevation gain of 7,000 feet.

6. Sahale Mountain

The view from the top of Sahale Mountain affords a look into the very heart of the North Cascade Mountains, at Eldorado Peak, Boston Peak, Sharkfin Tower, Johannesburg Mountain, and more. There is quite a short climbing season due to the nearly year-round snowfall, and the round trip distance to the summit is about 14 miles. Sahale Mountain is also easy to pair with Boston Peak, since the summit of that mountain is less than a mile away, and this will turn the hike from a half-day endeavor into a full or two-day trip.

7. Dragontail Peak

Dragontail Peak was named for the sharp, thin ridges of rock that extend along the southwest ridge of the mountain. The number of routes to the top of Dragontail Peak is staggering and huge, with such a variety of routes that an amateur could scramble to the top and a seasoned mountaineer could still encounter routes and cliffs they would find challenging. The approaches come from either Colchuck Lake or Snow Lake, with stunning views both from the base at these lakes and from the top of the mountain as well.

8. Sherman Peak

Sherman Peak is technically a part of Mount Baker, located on the volcano’s southern edge. From the peak of this mountain there are views of Mount Baker and the rim of its crater, Mount Shuksan, and the Black Buttes. It’s an easy mountain to conquer and is accessible via a number of well-used routes, none of which require technical climbing ability. Sherman can be easily climbed in a single day, but it is recommended to split it into two so that the beauty of the surrounding nature can be fully appreciated. A trip to Sherman can also be combined with a journey to the summit of nearby Mount Baker as well.

9. Lost Peak

Lost Peak lies near Lost River Gorge, a gorge so remote that few humans have ever set foot within it, and there are no trails through that thick wilderness. The mountain that rises above the gorge is more accessible, although it is not terribly popular and is never crowded. Lost Peak is quite easy to summit; it requires no climbing equipment besides a sturdy pair of shoes and a resolved mind (although the trip may take more than one day), and the true reward of this mountain is not the hike itself, it’s the views from the top. Once there, it is possible to see the gorge, and a beautiful skyline of mountains set against the blue of the sky.

10. Big Snow

Big Snow Mountain lies in the wilderness of the Alpine Lakes, and on the north side, this mountain maintains snow for most of the summer season in the deep slabs of glacially scarred rock on the north face. A trip to the summit of Big Snow can be achieved via some technical climbing above Hardscrabble Lake or via the Hardscrabble Trail, which is the easiest of the options but at 25 miles round trip, is quite long. Hikers can also use the Dingford Route, which is much shorter but involves a lot more technical knowledge and bushwhacking.