If you’ve been trying to find the perfect backpacking trail in Washington State for your elopement, or just to explore this summer, you’ve come to the right place! I’m absolutely in love with the huge variety of trails Washington has gifted us with, especially because there are so many options for every skill + ability level. This blog post is for you if you’re looking for some of the best beginner backpacking trails in Washington & are ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

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Table of Contents:

• 7 Best Beginner Backpacking Trails in WA
  • Rachel & Rampart Lakes
  • Shi Shi Beach Trail
  • Melakwa Lake Trail
  • Seven Lakes Basin Loop
  • Pete Lake Trail
  • Lena Lake Trail
  • Skyline Divide
• Packing List
• Final Tips
• More Washington Hiking Elopement Resources

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7 Best Beginner Backpacking Trails in Washington

1. Rachel & Rampart Lakes

The Rachel & Rampart Lakes Trail is a gorgeous route by Cle Elum that takes you through a collection of pothole lakes, greenery, and has plenty of space to camp, swim, & take breaks to relax. The 9-mile journey is perfect for couples who want to either complete the whole route in a day so you can move on to somewhere new the next day, or who want to make it an overnight trip (which I highly recommend so you can take your time & fully enjoy it)!

Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, near Cle Elum

Trail length: 9 miles out & back

Average completion time: 5 hours

Elevation gain: 2,529 ft

Permits/passes needed:

• Northwest Forest Pass – required for use of recreation sites; $30 annually, or $5/vehicle/day
• Wilderness Permit – required self-issued permit; free; available at trailheads & Forest Service Ranger Stations

Other requirements/things to note:

• Best season: summer-fall
• Campfires are prohibited within 0.5 miles of Rachel Lake
• Pet-friendly

2. Shi Shi Beach Trail

The Shi Shi Beach Trail is a nearly 9-mile out & back trail near Neah Bay, located on the Makah Indian Reservation (on the Olympic Peninsula). It makes for a great day hike on the coast if you’re already out exploring the peninsula, and want to hit up other spots along the coast or in Olympic National Park as well, such as Cape Flattery which is the most Northwestern tip of the US! You’ll need to pay a small fee if you’d like to park overnight at the trailhead, and you’ll also need to purchase a Makah Recreation Pass since the route takes you through the Reservation.

Location: Makah Indian Reservation, near Neah Bay

Trail length: 8.8 miles out & back

Average completion time: 3.5 hours

Elevation gain: 561 ft

Terrain: well-maintained boardwalk, sand, muddy road bed

Permits/passes needed:

• Wilderness Camping Permits – required for overnight stays
• Makah Recreation Pass – required for use of trails on the Reservation; must be purchased in Neah Bay prior to arrival; $20
• $20 overnight parking fee

Other requirements/things to note:

• Pets are prohibited
• Best season: April-October
• Water sources: Petroleum Creek, Willoughby Creek

3. Melakwa Lake Trail

I love me a good hike in the northernmost part of Washington, and Melakwa Lake via Denny Creek Trail is a fantastic option! Located near Snoqualmie Pass, this almost 10-mile trail is a great backpacking route for couples looking for a challenge within the beautiful Washington mountains. You’ll get to see gorgeous alpine lakes, rocky mountain peaks, tons of old-growth trees, and more of Washington’s classic outdoor beauty!

Location: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie Forest

Trail length: 9.7 miles out & back

Average completion time: 5 hours

Elevation gain: 2,680 ft

Terrain: wide & gentle, then rocky & steep

Permits/passes needed:

• Northwest Forest Pass – required for use of recreation sites & to park; $30 annually, or $5/vehicle/day
• Free day-use pass or overnight Wilderness Permit – must be filled out at trailhead

Other requirements/things to note:

• Dogs allowed on leash
• Best season: April-October

Take a look at this infographic for full details on getting a backcountry permit in the North Cascades in 2022!

4. High Divide – Seven Lakes Basin Loop

The Seven Lakes Basin Loop is an epic multi-day backpacking trip that takes you through the Hoh Rain Forest, Sol duc Falls, Heart Lake, the Hoh River, and more. You’ll get to experience a ton of the beauty that Olympic National Park has to offer, including views of Mount Olympus, and will be in the presence of local wildlife + vibrant PNW foliage throughout. Be prepared to pay a fee to enter the national park as well as ready to get an overnight camping reservation ahead of time!

Location: Olympic National Park northern coast, near Joyce, WA

Trail length: 19-mile loop

Average completion time: 10 hours

Elevation gain: 5,308 ft

Terrain: well-maintained

Permits/passes needed:

• National Park Pass – required for entry
• Wilderness Backpacking/Camping Reservation – can be made up to 6 months in advance & up to the date of your trip depending on availability

Other requirements/things to note:

• Bear canisters are required – can be rented through the Wilderness Info Center
• There’s no water available for roughly 5.5 miles along the High Divide section
• Best season: Mid-July through September
• Pets are prohibited

5. Pete Lake Trail

The Pete Lake Trail is a great one for couples who want to go on a backpacking adventure, but who want to keep it a little easier. The 9-mile route is considered fairly easy, and is a great day hike as well as a great option for overnight camping! Feel free to bring your dog(s) along on this one, and get ready to see all the glorious landscapes that the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has to offer.

Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, near Roslyn

Trail length: 9 miles out & back

Average completion time: 3.5 hours

Elevation gain: 734 ft

Permits/passes needed:

• Northwest Forest Pass – required for use of recreation sites & to park; $30 annually, or $5/vehicle/day
• Wilderness Permit – required self-issued permit; free; available at trailheads & Forest Service Ranger Stations

Other requirements/things to note:

• Dogs allowed
• Best season: summer-fall
• No water at trailhead

6. Lena Lake Trail

The hike to Lena Lake is a great option for any couple, no matter your backpacking experience. You’ll travel along fairly wide paths and through the old-growth forest to get to a beautiful overlook of Lena Lake! This is another route you can bring your doggos to, and you can choose to make it either a day hike or an overnight adventure.

Location: Olympic Peninsula

Trail length: 7.2 miles out & back

Elevation gain: 1300 ft

Terrain: bridge, dry rocks, creek

Permits/passes needed:

• Northwest Forest Pass – required for use of recreation sites & to park; $30 annually, or $5/vehicle/day
• Park Wilderness permit – required for overnight stays; available at trailhead

Other requirements/things to note:

• Best season: May-October
• Dogs allowed on leash on Lower Lena Lake Trail

7. Skyline Divide

Last but definitely not least, Skyline Divide is a stunning backpacking route through the North Cascades, in the Mount Baker wilderness area. On this route you’ll pass through six knolls, at the final one reaching 6,500 feet of elevation overlooking Chowder Ridge, the Black Buttes, & the North Cascades. You can stay the night at a few different campsites including one at the first knoll, or the Deadhorse Creek campground area!

Location: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, near Maple Falls

Trail length: 9 miles out & back

Average completion time: 5 hours

Elevation gain: 2400 ft

Permits/passes needed:

• Northwest Forest Pass – required for use of recreation sites & to park; $30 annually, or $5/vehicle/day

Refer to the infographic in the above Melakwa Lake Trail section for further details on backcountry permits for the North Cascades in 2022!

Other requirements/things to note:

• Dogs allowed on leash
• No potable water available
• Best season: summer-fall
• Campfires are prohibited in the Mt. Baker Wilderness

Washington Backpacking Trip Packing List

One of the most important parts of any backpacking trip is making sure you’re prepared for a safe trip, no matter where you’re heading or for how long!

Below is a list of essentials for your backpacking trip in Washington state, and don’t worry – if you’re doing a backpacking elopement with me, I’ve got extensive experience & will make sure we’re all as prepped as possible beforehand!

• Bear canisters
  • North Cascades food storage requirements
  • Olympic National Park food storage requirements
  • National Forest food storage requirements
• Water supplies
  • If there are water sources available, be sure to bring a water filter
  • If there aren’t water sources available, bring the largest water bottle you’ve got

• Bug spray – and lots of it!
• Bear spray
• Rain covers
• Jetboil for coffee & tea
• Dried meals
• Boiling water for dried meals
• Dessert – chocolate is light & feels indulgent!

• Trail mix, Clif Bars, & other hike-appropriate foods
  • Check out REI’s Backpacking Food Ideas list for more ideas!
• First-Aid kit
  • REI coming in clutch again with a helpful First-Aid Kit Checklist!

• Camping supplies
  • Tent
  • Sleeping bag/sleeping pad
  • Stove/fuel
• Extra hiking boots/shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothes (layers are essential in the PNW!)
• Headlamp & extra batteries
• Sunscreen
• GPS/map/compass/downloaded offline maps (use Alltrails!)
• Trekking poles if desired
• Light quick-dry towel

Final Washington State Backpacking Tips

Let’s wrap this up with a few final tips for your backpacking trip in Washington!

1. Tell somebody your plans

An essential part of staying safe on backpacking trips is to let a few people in your life know about your plans so they’re aware of your whereabouts! Tell a few of your closest friends/family members where you’ll be (what route you’re taking), when you expect to be back in service, and what course of action to take in case they don’t hear from you within X hours/days of that timeframe. It’s always better to be safe than sorry in case of a potential emergency! 

2. Treat yourself to coffee or a bite to eat on the way home

I love stopping somewhere after a backpacking trip for a yummy treat or some delish coffee on my way back to civilization! 

Here are a few of my favorite go-to’s:

North Bend

• Pioneer Coffee Co (for that iced coffee you’ve been craving & one of their yummy baked treats – my favorite is the raspbery oat bar!)
• Sure Shot Pub – for an ice cold Sno Falls APA 😉

Sultan

• The Sultan Bakery – so many amazing baked goods & hearty meals! An iconic spot I grew up driving past a million times.

Port Angeles

• Shirley’s Cafe

(P.S. these would all make for adorable spots for some chill, post-backpacking-trip photos if I tag along with ya!)

More Washington Hiking Elopement Resources

And if you’d like to get some more planning tips for your hiking elopement, I’ve got a whole guide to How to Have an Epic Hiking Elopement in Washington State that’s full of ideas, advice, & more!

Ready to book your Washington backpacking elopement photographer? I’m your gal! Contact me here & we’ll start planning your dream day of beautiful exploration + celebration✨