The Seattle area is one of the most dog-friendly places I have ever been to, with tons of dog parks, an off-leash area, and plenty of other areas to explore. But if you and your four-legged friend are more into the trails and getting into nature, these top dog-friendly hikes will certainly make you and your furry friend happy.
Great hikes within city limits
If heading out of the city isn’t in the cards, there are some great green spaces that offer miles of trail close to home.
Discovery Park
This is my favorite park in the city. You can walk the Discovery Park loop trail, a well maintained, mostly flat and paved trail around the park. There’s areas that are surrounding by trees and views of the Puget Sound. It’s the perfect place to spend a morning with your furry companion.
There’s plenty of parking here and portable toilets available. At the time of writing this there are no areas to fill up water so be sure to bring water with you for you and your dog.
Seward Park
This park is located along Lake Washington and is the only remaining old-growth forest within Seattle. There’s 4.6 miles of trail at this park, with 2.4 miles of paved shoreline trail and 2.2 miles of interior dirt trail. It’s open year round and has bathrooms and water available in the parking lot.
And the hiking here is flat and easy for all skill levels.
Washington Park arboretum
Another one of our favorite places in Seattle is the arboretum. There’s a well maintained, paved road that encircles the entire arboretum with dirt paths weaving in and out of the various parts of the park. You can spend hours exploring here and I would recommend exploring the connecting islands, though expect very wet conditions most of the year.
You should also plan to bring a picnic with you, there are plenty of places to take a rest and just enjoy the blooming flowers and bushes with your pet.
Top hikes outside city limits
Much of the hiking that is nearby are in state parks and national forests, so specific passes may be needed, such as the NW forest pass (though the America the Beautiful pass can be used in its place) for national forests and a Discover Pass for the state parks.
Marmot Pass
Located on the Olympic Peninsula, Marmot Pass is within the Olympic National Forest. Since dogs are not allowed in national parks, the surrounding national forests offer a great opportunity to still experience the beauty of each area, while also bringing along your furry friend.
This hike was one of my favorite hikes and can be a day hike or a multiday, since there’s lots to explore here. I do recommend hiking in and staying right at the pass for the night, listening to the marmots yelling at one another and any passersby. The hike is about 11.5 miles round trip just to the pass and back. But make sure to hike up the ridge along the pass to get some of the best mountain views in the entire national forest.
For more on this hike check out my trail guide to Marmot Pass.
Lake Twenty-Two
It has a funny name and there is no consensus on why it is called that, but this hike is a sure stunner. With around 1,350 feet in elevation gain, its a bit of a slog but one of the easier in the area. Many hikes in western Washington often have elevation gains over 4,000 feet, which for some dogs can be a bit challenging, but a few have what I think is the sweet spot in elevation change.
Located on the mountain loop highway, it’s 5.4 miles round trip and considered moderate difficulty. But it has everything from old growth forest, to wetlands to a stunning lake with mountain views. Make sure to hop in for a chilly swim in the summer months, I know our dog appreciated that cool dip!
Twin Falls
Located in North Bend at Olallie State Park, this is an extremely busy and popular hike. If possible, visit this one during the week. We made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend and finding parking was our first challenge. It was packed with people.
Most, however, only go as far as the waterfalls (makes sense), but you can keep going for miles along quiet trail with beautiful forest. One part is under a electric pole area, which is less nice, but overall a great day hike
Middle Fork Snoqualmie
If you are looking for fewer crowds, Middle Fork Snoqualmie is a great trail. Also located in North Bend, it is past Mount Si and Mailbox Peak and all the way at the end of Middle Fork Road. There’s a large parking lot with bathrooms available and a picnic bench.
The trail starts by crossing the river on a beautiful bridge. Then you need to either bear left or right. For the flat, easy trail, turn right. It follows the river, going through forest and dried river beds. Turning left takes you up switchbacks (I went this way by accident) through stunning forest (it was a happy accident) but then just kept climbing in elevation and as that was not my plan for the day I turned around and headed in the other direction.
Little Si
This is another popular destination, especially on the weekend. There are two parking lots for this hike, one of which is considered an overflow. Both of these can fill up quickly but if you go back along that road for a short stint there is a walking trail with parking along its side. It’s a short walk to the trailhead from there, so don’t worry about adding too much mileage to your trek if that was not the plan for the day.
The hike up gives cool views of climbers on the many granite faces and cool, dark and vibrant green mosses and foliage. This hike is 3.7 miles round trip with 1,300 feet in elevation gain. At the top you have views of Mount Si on one side and views of North Bend on the other.
Mount Si
Another extremely popular hike, Mount Si is hiked by over 100,000 people every year. So maybe don’t go on the weekend or holidays to try to avoid some of the crowds. This hike is 8 miles round trip (out and back) with 3,150 feet in elevation gain.
This is a popular trail for those preparing to summit Mount Rainier, so you may see people training with heavy packs on. This hike is a bit more challenging than Little Si, but not so challenging that a beginner cannot do it. Just make sure to bring plenty of water and of course a snack for the summit and take your time.
Mailbox Peak
This hike, also in North Bend, is another popular hike that is 9.4 miles round trip with 4,000 feet in elevation gain. The draw is the mailbox on top, where others have left a little something and you can too.
There is now a new route to the top due to erosion from so many visitors and because there were so many rescues needed, but this hike is still a challenge. It begins at Middle Fork road (same as some of the above hikes) in a small parking area. Make sure to arrive early to get a spot. This one requires a Discover Pass, so make sure to hang it from your window.
Pacific Crest Trail
Many of you will know or have heard of the Pacific Crest Trail or PCT. This thru hiker trail extends from Mexico to Canada and runs through the best of the west, including Mount Rainier National Park and the national forest around it. The beauty of this trail is that it is dog friendly and at Rainier National Park it skirts around the park itself allowing you to enjoy Rainier with your dog.
Hike for as long or as short as you like before turning around to head back to your car and if you are hiking in the summer, bring some snacks for the thru hikers they will definitely appreciate that gesture.
Some hiking logistics
Many dog friendly hikes in the Pacific Northwest can be hiked year round due to their lower elevation but in the winter months be sure to check the road conditions before heading out as some highways will close. In the summer months, the trails can be very busy, so plan accordingly. Always have a backup in case there is no parking at a hike you wish to do.
And as always, the best way to keep these places beautiful is to practice leave no trace. Especially if you are bringing your pooch, make sure to have plenty of poop bags and always carry out. Just because they say they are biodegradable does not mean you can leave them along the trail. Wildlife are attracted to these smells (this also goes for your banana peels and other fruit rinds) and lead to problems with habituated bears and other animals, which is not good for you or the bear.
Concluding Thoughts
City life often offers great options at an off-leash dog park for your favorite dog, but sometimes you need to get out. Knowing where you can find a dog-friendly trail is a great way to spend the day with your canine companion.
Keep in mind that though these are dog-friendly trails, they do not always have dog-friendly amenities. So bring water and snacks (dogs can burn a lot of calories on those trails, especially the smaller guys who have higher metabolisms) and don’t forget those poop bags!
