Need an outdoor experience that’s a little unorthodox? Not only will hiking through one of our many ghost towns put you in a spooky state of mind, but you’ll be able to burn off some of the energy buzz (and calories) you’ve likely got going on. Let’s get outside, enjoy the outdoors, and embark upon some of the best hikes in Washington for those of us who like things a little spooky. 

1. Bordeaux
Bordeaux, WA 98512, USA
Carol Wilkerson / Flickr
Bordeaux sits on Mima Creek, south of Olympia. This was one of the longest-lived logging company towns in the Pacific Northwest, but now all you’ll find there are building foundations and walls. Park on the side of Bordeaux Road SW when you see an old concrete structure. That structure is an old bank vault that was once part of a hotel. The trail through this town is only half a mile round trip, so this is a great place to visit if you have other Halloween plans.
2. Liberty
J F / Flickr
Liberty, which you’ll find in the Central Cascades near Ellensburg, is a living ghost town. It was a popular gold rush town in the 1870s, but now very few people call it home. The trail begins by the roadside and you can cover the one-mile grounds easily.
3. Franklin
J F / Flickr
Located on the south slope of the West Cascades, Franklin is an old coal mining town. Follow the old railroad grade into the "town," which consists of a cemetery, sealed mine shaft and some coal cart tracks. It’s an easy 2.5-mile loop, and you’ll walk along the Green River near Black Diamond.

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4. Wellington
Wellington, WA 98826, USA
David Lee / Flickr
We saved the spookiest for one of the last. To reach Wellington, which was founded in 1893 at the west portal of the Cascade Tunnel along the Great Northern Railway, you must walk the Iron Goat Trail near Stevens Pass. This trail is known for being haunted, and for good reason. In 1910, a passenger trail and a mail train were stuck at the Wellington Depot waiting out a blizzard when an avalanche hit the trains, swept everything downhill and killed 96 people. The entire loop is 5.5 miles, but you can take the eastern portion if you only have time for 2 miles.
5. Copper City
Dean Fuller/AllTrails
Tiger Tanker/AllTrails
Head down Chinook Pass on Highway 410 and turn right onto Bumping River Road to reach Copper City, which was once the center of mining activity in Yakima County. The founders of the town were hoping for a boom when the railroad came through, but sadly the tracks were never put down. Take the old mine-to-market road to town and back for a nice, short 1.5-mile walk.

Would you go on a ghost town hike? What would you say are some of the best hikes in Washington? If you prefer to stay in your car, you can always go on a road trip of Washington’s abandoned places!

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Best Hikes in Washington

Tori Jane | June 08, 2022

What are some of the best hiking trails near me?  

No matter where in Washington state you happen to find yourself, you’re sure to find some amazing trails to blaze, too. Some of the most popular (and therefore arguably the “best,” though the word is subjective) hiking trails in Washington include the moderately challenging Rattlesnake Ledge Trail, within the Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area, which offers amazing alpine lake views and to-die-for panoramic view of the mountain range it’s nestled in. Another excellent hiking trail near me (or you) is the Marymere Falls Trail, at Olympic National Park, which is easy and amazing, with an incredible waterfall that’ll blow you away involved.  

What are some great easy hikes in Washington?  

Speaking of easy hikes in Washington, which ones are the best? The real cream-of-the-crop of hikes in Washington? We happen to love the one we mentioned above – Marymere Falls Trail – but there are lots more that make our favorites list, too. With more than 1,000 trails marked as “easy,” Washington State is a hiker’s paradise even if you’re brand-new to the sport. If you like waterfalls and found Marymere Falls Trail enjoyable, you’ll also want to try Franklin Falls Trail, in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, for a really magical hike

What are some of the most scenic hikes in Washington?  

Let’s be real here: every hike in Washington is a scenic one! That being said, there are definitely some that stick out above the rest in terms of sheer amazingness. One of those incredible scenic hikes in Washington is the Skyline Trail Loop at Mt. Rainier National Park. It’s 6.2 miles long and quite challenging, but the incredible scenery and views make it absolutely worth it. The Snow Lake Trail in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is also outrageously beautiful, leading to an amazing overlook of one of Washington’s most beautiful lakes. Finally (but not really – there are thousands more) we’ll mention the breathtaking Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake Trail, which might just be the single most beautiful hike in Washington there is.  

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