What’s the most popular hike in WA? This trail has ‘absolutely unreal views’

With three national parks, an ocean coastline and the Cascade Mountains, Washington residents have plenty of options of hiking.

Which one is the most popular?

Outdoor outfitter Kühl recently released its 2025 list of America’s most loved hikes, examining the 20 most popular hiking trails in each state.

These trails are guaranteed to “challenge adventurers of all experience levels,” Kühl contributor Ivan Slovic wrote in an article published July 13.

Here’s which Washington trail topped the list.

What’s the most popular hike in Washington?

According to Kühl, the most popular hike in Washington is the Colchuck Lake Trail near Leavenworth in the central Cascades.

As of Thursday, Aug. 14, the 8.7-mile trail in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest had an average rating of 4.8 stars on outdoor recreation platform AllTrails with more than 14,500 reviews.

AllTrails called the out-and-back trek in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area “a challenging hike” with “stunning” lake and mountain views.

“This was my ideal day hike,” AllTrails user Brooke Young wrote in a review, praising the “absolutely unreal views at the top. The payoff is so worth it! And the lake is the perfect place to cool off!”

AllTrails reviewer Beth Martinez agreed that the hike is “well worth it once you get to the lake. The turquoise water is beautiful!”

According to the Washington Trails Association, the hike gains 2,280 feet of elevation.

“The first time you round the corner and come out of the trees at Colchuck Lake is something of a religious experience,” the organization says in its description of the hike.

Colchuck Lake Trail was the highest ranked Washington hike on Kühl’s list, ranking 74th in the nation.

Which other Washington hiking trails made the list?

Kühl’s list of the best loved hikes in Washington also showcased Mount Rainier National Park’s Panorama Point, which ranked No. 95 nationwide.

Other hikes highlighted by Kühl included Snow Lake Trail near Snoqualmie Pass, Twin Falls Trail in Olallie State Park and Maple Pass Trail in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Where are top 10 hiking trails in the nation?

These were the top 10 trails for hikers in the United States, according to Kuhl:

• 1. Centerpoint to Goat Trail, Arkansas
• 2. Lands End Trail, California
• 3. Bright Angel Trail, Arizona
• 4. Indian Head and Rainbow Falls, New York
• 5. Half Dome via the John Muir Trail, California
• 6. Cathedral Rock Trail, Arizona
• 7. Devil’s Bridge Trail, Arizona
• 8. Highline Trail, Montana
• 9. Waihe’e Ridge Trail, Hawaii
• 10. Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail, Nevada

How did Kühl pick most popular hikes in US?

To determine the most popular hikes in all 50 U.S. states, Kühl looked at Google searches, Instagram mentions, AllTrails ratings and the total number of AllTrails reviews for each trail.

The retailer then gave each trail a weighted average score based on those results.

“These scores determined the final rankings, with higher scores indicating greater overall popularity,” Kühl said.

This story was originally published August 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "What’s the most popular hike in WA? This trail has ‘absolutely unreal views’."