What to Explore Each Month in Washington State Throughout 2026
After living in Washington for three years, it is hands down the best place to spend the summer months. But many people already know that. What they may not know is that outside of mid-November through December, there are still plenty of fun things to do outdoors across the state. (Just don’t forget your rain jacket.)
If you’re looking for outdoor adventures in Washington throughout the year, I think you’ll enjoy this month-by-month breakdown.
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A Month-by-Month Guide to the Best Spots in Washington State for 2026
January – Snowshoeing to Artist Point
By January, snow has blanketed Mount Baker and the surrounding North Cascades area, creating a magical winter wonderland. In the summer, you can drive all the way up. But in winter, the road is closed at the base of the ski resort.
This creates a beautiful four-mile round-trip snowshoe experience. I’ve done this a few times, and we finally had a bluebird day to enjoy the jagged, snow-capped peaks of the North Cascades, Mount Baker, and Mount Shuksan.
Don’t have snowshoes? Get some here: Women’s | Men’s
February – Snowshoeing at Mount Rainier National Park
If there’s a clear day in winter, you want to be at Mount Rainier National Park. While Rainier is stunning year-round, a fresh coat of snow on her is mesmerizing. My fiancée and I went up multiple times each winter to explore the slopes around Paradise Visitor Center.
As the highest paved road open in winter, it provides easy access to winter sports.
There are two classic routes to do: Glacier View and Mazama Ridge
Before you head out, check in with the rangers to make sure the routes are safe from snow bridges or avalanches.
Mazama Ridge
Head east out of the parking lot and down the road. You’ll cross a bridge at the bottom and turn left. Here, your incline begins through a snowy forest. After a mile, you’ll reach a flat area with stunning views of Pinnacle Peak.
Glacier View
Starting from the visitor center, hike up clockwise as you would on the Skyline Trail. But now, there are a dozen trails to follow before they coalesce into one main trail higher up the mountain. There are some steeper parts, but overall, it’s not too shabby. Before long, you’ll have a full view of Mount Rainier shining in the sunlight.
Winter Hiking Gear I Recommend
It took a while to dive into these items, and I did my best to find high-quality gear that will keep you warm as you tackle your winter hikes. Ladies, I’m sorry if I missed the mark for some of these.
- Warm Puffy Jacket: Men’s & Women’s – Budget Option: Men’s – Women’s
- Hiking Pants: Men’s & Women’s
- Warm Leggings: Men’s & Women’s
- Wool Socks: Men’s & Women’s
- Beanie: Men’s & Women’s
- Gloves: Take a look
- Fleece: Men’s & Women’s
- Warm Baselayer: Men’s & Women’s
- Outer Shell: Men’s & Women’s – Budget Option: Men’s & Women’s
- Rain Pants: Men’s & Women’s
- Hiking Poles with Snow Baskets
- Waterproof Boots: Men’s & Women’s
- Winter Boots: Men’s & Women’s – Browse all options
- Satellite Communications Device
- Warm Thermos
- Jet Boil to heat water – Coffee
- Emergency Blanket, Rumpl & Fleece Blanket
- Glacier/Snow Glasses
- Sunblock
March – Wallace Falls
As March progresses, the days are getting longer and it is slightly warming up, but we’re still getting plenty of rain across the state. As a result, waterfalls near Seattle are flowing like crazy. (And they will until June.)
One favorite is Wallace Falls State Park, an hour from Seattle. This six-mile trail has three superb waterfalls. It’s moderate in difficulty, but if you go slow enough, most people should handle it just fine.
April – Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Every April, the Skagit Valley bursts into vibrant colors with tens of thousands of blooming tulips. I was unenthused the first time driving up. I mean, how cool could flowers be? Well, I was so wrong!
I literally couldn’t be dragged away, snapping so many photos I was afraid my memory card would run out. Then, in 2025, we went back towards the end of the month and had another amazing time.
If you’re on the fence, I recommend visiting 1000%.
May – Olympic Peninsula
The Hoh Rainforest gets around 120 inches of rain each year. That’s 10 feet for those who don’t like math. And a lot of that happens over the winter months. So, by May, the days are getting long (sunsets around 8:30pm), the weather is warming up and drying out, yet the crowds haven’t started to appear.
All combined, it’s a fantastic time to plan your Olympic itinerary and see the rainforests, beaches, and more!
Find lodging near Port Angeles.
June – Leavenworth and east of the Cascades
Depending on the year, this is when we can start getting into hiking season. But usually, it is the end of June when the trails really melt out. So, while you’re still waiting for high elevation trails and peaks to open up, let’s take a trip along Highway 2 to Leavenworth and Lake Chelan!
I did this trip with my parents in mid-May, but June also works!
There is still plenty of hiking, sunny skies, and fun times to be had. Plan for at least four days. Though I’d say five days is the sweet spot.
July – North Cascades
As Rafiki said in The Lion King, “It is time.”
July 4 marks the start of summer in Washington, and now it’s time to explore the best hikes and enjoy long summer days, blue skies, and warmer temperatures. There’s honestly no better place to be.
Here’s a handful of good ones to check out:
- Park Butte Lookout
- Maple Pass Loop
- Trappers Peak
- Hidden Lake Lookout (4×4 needed)
- Sahale Glacier Camp
August – Mount Rainier National Park
In late July and early August (depending on the year), the wildflowers on Mount Rainier bloom, and it is one of the most magical views you’ll witness in the country. Whites, purples, reds, and yellows cover the fields below the glaciated peak rising over 14,000 feet in the sky.
Seeing Mount Rainier National Park in August is one you shouldn’t miss.
September – Anywhere that is smoke-free in the mountains
September is a fantastic month in Washington if there aren’t wildfires.
By now, every trail in the state is snow-free. It might be a good time to find some good backpacking trails in Olympic National Park (don’t want to forget those), or check out some of the great hikes in eastern Washington or near Mazama.
The only bad part is that summer is beginning to wind down, and you’ll feel that anxiety creeping in.
October – Start the larch march
Fall is here, and it’s time to start the larch march. For those who aren’t familiar, every October, larch trees in Washington transition from green to a vibrant yellow. But larches grow at about 5,000 feet, so people have to hike to reach them.
Hence, the larch march.
You can learn more about my favorite fall hikes in Washington and my top larch hikes here.
November – Mountain Loop Highway or Lower Level I-90.
I’ll be honest with you, November isn’t a great time to be hiking or out exploring. It’s probably a good time to head to eastern Washington, but I unfortunately don’t have much experience in that area. (Maybe wine tasting in Yakima or Walla Walla.)
I can say that it’s a good time to chase waterfalls, like Twin Falls, or do Lake 22 or Heather Lake. Both are around six miles round-trip and at a low enough elevation that you shouldn’t have too much snow yet.
December – Snowshoe at Hurricane Ridge. Go snowboarding/skiing. Or search for Bald Eagles.
If I’m being honest, December sucks here. The days are so short, it is cold, gloomy, and everything is sorta in between seasons of snow and rain. (Though there are still plenty to do, including these top winter hikes.)
Now, if there’s been good snowfall, then it’s a great time to go snowshoeing or hit the ski resorts. Unfortunately, December can be hit-or-miss for heavy snowfall.
I remember going to Crystal Mountain in 2023, and on the lift up, we could see grass sticking up. That didn’t exude confidence, and lo and behold, it was icy as heck!
If you haven’t been out to the Olympics yet, plan a day trip to snowshoe around Hurricane Ridge. It’s a beautiful place to explore. Just come prepared with an AWD vehicle and take your time on the curvy road.
Lastly, if you have a dry day, you can go searching for bald eagles. The best places to find them are Rockport, the San Juans, Skagit Valley, and 30 minutes east of Bellingham.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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