If your dream road trip includes giant mountains, misty forests, crashing waves, and maybe even a volcano, Washington delivers it all in one amazing adventure.
This loop takes you to some of the state’s wildest, most jaw-dropping places, from hidden lakes to snowy peaks to forests so green they don’t even look real.
You’ll swim in glacial water, wander through rainforests, spot wildlife, and eat your weight in baked goods.
Ready for the ultimate adventure through Washington’s wild side?
Let’s just say…your hiking boots are about to get a serious workout.
1. Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park sits in the far northwest, where you can go from snow-covered peaks to mossy rainforests to wild ocean beaches, all in a single day.
This park is famous for the Hoh Rain Forest (it gets over 140 inches of rain a year!) and the icy summits of the Olympic Mountains, including Mount Olympus.
You can hike to waterfalls, soak in natural hot springs, and spot elk, marmots, and even a black bear if you’re lucky.
It’s also home to Rialto and Ruby Beach, where you’ll find sea stacks poking out of the waves and tide pools full of tiny, colorful sea creatures.
2. North Cascades National Park
If jagged peaks and dramatic mountain views are your thing, North Cascades National Park is about to blow you away.
It’s located along the Canadian border and packed with more than 300 glaciers, which is actually more than any other U.S. park outside Alaska.
You’ll drive the scenic North Cascades Highway (aka Highway 20), where every twist and turn reveals turquoise lakes, sharp ridges, and alpine forests.
Don’t miss Diablo Lake, which looks like someone spilled a giant bucket of blue-green paint across the mountains.
3. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Next up, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is the place to sit back and relax as it’s only accessible by boat, floatplane, or hiking.
This spot is all about big water and remote beauty, sitting at the very end of a 50-mile-long lake surrounded by cliffs and forests.
At the heart of it all is Stehekin, a roadless little town where bikes and boats rule, plus they’ve got one dreamy bakery that fuels hikers from miles around.
It’s the kind of place where you unplug, swim in crystal-clear water, and soak up that off-the-grid mountain atmosphere.
4. Leavenworth
Next, swing by Leavenworth, a full-on Bavarian village dropped right into the Cascade Mountains.
The buildings look like they belong in the Alps, and yes, there’s bratwurst, giant pretzels, and even yodeling during festival season.
You can raft the Wenatchee River, hike to alpine lakes like Colchuck, or just unwind with a beer in one hand and a mountain view in front of you.
It’s unique, festive, and the Christmas lights make it glow like a holiday postcard when the season hits.
5. Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Once you’ve had your fill of bratwurst, head west into the wild beauty of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
This massive stretch of forestland hugs the Cascade Range like a cozy green blanket.
It is loaded with old-growth trees, snow-capped volcanoes, and more hiking trails than you could ever check off in one trip.
Mount Baker steals the show with its icy summit and year-round snow, making it a hotspot for skiing, snowboarding, and summer treks through alpine meadows.
It’s also where you’ll find one of the most photogenic hikes in the state: the Artist Point, where the scenery is so stunning, it looks hand-painted.
6. Mount Rainier National Park
Then comes Mount Rainier National Park, where the state’s tallest mountain doubles as an epic volcano.
Mount Rainier towers at 14,410 feet, wrapped in more than two dozen glaciers, and wildflower-filled meadows that burst with color in summer.
This park is a hiker’s dream, with trails like Skyline Loop for pretty views and the Wonderland Trail if you’re up for a full-on adventure around the mountain.
Keep your eyes peeled for marmots sunbathing on the rocks and waterfalls streaming down the slopes.
7. Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Just south of Rainier, Gifford Pinchot National Forest is as wild as it gets with lava tubes, steaming volcanoes, and incredible scenery.
It’s where you’ll find Mount St. Helens, the volcano that famously blew its top in 1980, leaving behind a massive crater and a strange, ever-changing landscape.
You can hike into the blast zone, explore Ape Cave (one of the longest lava tubes in the U.S.), or climb a mountain if you’re feeling bold.
It’s a place where the adventure doesn’t end, with quiet alpine lakes and countless hidden corners waiting to be found.
(Ape Cave normally closes in November and usually reopens in May.)
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