Hike through an enchanting landscape of moss-draped trees, ferns, and crystal-clear streams on the Hoh River Trail. This route extends 18.5 miles to the Blue Glacier moraine with views of Mount Olympus. In winter, hikers typically turn around at 5 Mile Island for a 10-mile, round-trip hike.

If you’re short on time, the Hall of Mosses Trail winds 0.8 miles through old-growth forests and features an impressive grove of maple trees covered top to bottom in club moss.

Take a scenic ferry ride to the San Juan Islands north of Seattle. Known for its diverse landscapes and ample trails, this peaceful archipelago is a hiker’s paradise. Head to Orcas Island — the largest land mass in the island chain — to explore Moran State Park.

With nearly 40 miles of trails, the park is home to the most extensive trail network in the San Juans. For a low-key winter hike, try the Cascade Lake Trail. This 2.6-mile loop hugs the forested shoreline and connects to several spur trails leading to a lagoon and waterfall.

Along the route, catch views of Mount Constitution. At 2,400 feet, this peak is the highest point in the San Juan Islands and offers sweeping vistas of the surrounding islands. Often covered in snow in the winter, the trail to the summit is a popular option for summer hikers and lucky off-season visitors who catch the trail when it’s snow-free.

East of Seattle, the Cascade Range beckons with its towering peaks, alpine lakes, and dramatic vistas. While high-elevation areas typically receive an average of 37 inches of snow each winter, low-elevation trails remain accessible most of the cold season.

With a maximum elevation of 1,550 feet, the Boulder River Trail offers a chance to experience the North Cascades year-round. Hike among moss-covered trees, which are especially stunning in wetter winter months, and past multiple waterfalls on the 8.1-mile trail. After prolonged cold weather, this already-gorgeous trail takes on an ethereal look, with frozen waterfalls and icicles dripping from branches and rocks.

A local favorite, Tiger Mountain and the surrounding forest offer hikers options for outdoor recreation outside the city. In the winter, low-elevation trails, including the South Tiger Mountain Loop, remain mostly snow-free for winter hiking.

Access this unassuming trailhead on the side of Tiger Mountain Road Southeast. From there, the route follows Tiger Mountain Trail, which gently ascends through the dense southern part of the forest and along the eastern slope.

At Hobart Gap, catch the South Tiger Traverse to venture into clearings where the forest has been logged over the years. Altogether, the trails form a 7.5-mile loop that peaks at just over 2,000 feet — keeping hikers entertained with year-round hiking.

No exploration of Seattle’s hiking scene is complete without mentioning the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest — Mount Rainier and its namesake national park. Washington’s tallest mountain dominates the city’s skyline on clear days and offers some of the most spectacular and varied terrain in the region.

At 14,411 feet, this iconic peak receives an average of 670 inches of snow annually, which means winter adventures on the mountain involve skis.

But in the far northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park, temperate rainforest climates surrounding Carbon River offer visitors a chance to explore a section of the park without snow year round. Once accessible to cars, Carbon River Road now caters exclusively to bike and foot traffic.

Choose from several spur trails along this 10-mile corridor, including the 2.7-mile Old Mine Trail, which winds through dense rainforest along the bank of the Carbon River until it reaches a historic mine.

Perched at over 9,700 feet atop the Rampart Range, the hike up to the tower ascends nearly 900 feet over 1.4 miles. The trail winds through towering aspen groves and interesting rock formations before it reaches the final 143 steps that lead to the top.