Washington peaks

3,907 peaks

Highest peak

Mount Rainier

14,411 ft / 4,392 m

Most climbed peak

Mount Si

349 climbs

Most prominent peak

Mount Rainier

13,246 ft / 4,037 m prom

Washington climbs

10,966 summits

First Ascent Awards

1529 of 3,907 peaks 39%

Top climbing months

July 17%

August 15%

June 14%

Washington mountains highlights

  • Washington is the epicenter of mountaineering in the lower 48 US states with more technical and glacier ascents than anywhere else outside of Alaska.
  • The rugged, volcanic Cascade Range runs north-south across the state with hundreds of major peaks including Mt. Rainier (Washington's highest peak and the only US 14er outside of Colorado, California, and Alaska), Mt. Adams, Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, Glacier Peak, and Mt. St. Helens of 1980 eruption fame. The Pacific Crest Trail passes 500 miles along the length of the range across Washington on its way to the Canadian border
  • The Olympic Mountains in the Olympic Peninsula of western Washington only rise up shy of 8,000 ft but look much higher because they lie only 12 to 22 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The western slope of the range is the wettest place in the US.
  • Washington has 3 mountain-centric National Parks: Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, and North Cascades National Park. All 3 lie within a couple hours drive of the Seattle metro area.
  • Get away from the crowds and head to the North Cascades, a particularly rugged and vertical part of the Cascades with a multitude of incredible peaks to climb.
  • Over 4 million acres of mountainous wilderness areas protect vast trail networks leading to a lifetime of peaks to climb. An incredible place to explore.
"Ski tour of Ellinor. Parked at lower parking lot (icy road) and took access trail to upper lot. From there it was dirt along the ridge until snow at 4000'. Hard-pack snow boots+crampons to the summit up the winter route. Then skied the amazing (but scary) north chute. Traversed over towards Mt Washington and took BS chute up and into the bowls on the east side of Ellinor Point A. Through the trees down to the road." — castrode • Jan 14, 2025
"Steep trail from the Nisqually gate turnaround up to the ridge where it leveled out a little but the trail disappears into mountain goat tracks and a small amount of bushwhacking. Just ran outta daylight and traveling solo did t sound fun anymore. " — castrode • Dec 12, 2024
"Copper Creek Trail The Mt Rose Trail team really converted a ruggedly steep trail into a gorgeous feat of hard work. 410 stairs w rebar to gain 1150’ elevation at the 1mi mark. Then another 1.4miles to the trail loop at the col (section not finished yet). Very very beautiful old growth particularly on the bottom half. Don’t know why all the Mt Rose loopers don’t this one. I’m talkin to you Scott Michie. Lightning Peak - 3” of snow at the top. Good mountaineers trail from the col w orange tape and cairns as guide. Sad part - four false summits all within 12 vertical feet of each other. One has to go one bump (200’ west) further from the coolest summit on average Olympics ridgeline to attain the true summit. Fun w snow. Furthest one is 6’ shorter than true summit. 3hrs up. 1.5hrs down. 6.5 miles. Watch died coming down. " — castrode • Oct 17, 2024
"From our camp at Upper Granite Lake, we returned to the gap we'd used to travel from Lake 1 to Upper Granite, then traversed at about 4700 feet to Lower Granite Lake and ascended the south ridge to the summit." — TynanRammGranberg • Sep 4, 2024
"The trail was about three and a half miles from the trailhead and every step was absolutely gorgeous. Late August was a risky time to go, as the week had been very rainy and foggy for most of the week, but that Saturday was absolutely stunning. Had found and downloaded the trail on the AllTrails app" — haleybaker • Aug 24, 2024

Popular Washington mountains