Washington peaks

3,427 peaks

Highest peak

Mount Rainier

14,411 ft / 4,392 m

Most summited peak

Mount Si

261 summits

Most prominent peak

Mount Rainier

13,212 ft / 4,027 m prom

Washington summits

7,446 summits

First Ascent Awards

1316 of 3,427 peaks 38%

Top climbing months

July 18%

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.
"Snow Lake to Gem to Main Roosevelt summit to North Roosevelt summit. It was raining and pretty slick going up/down main peak. Used an axe in the dirt. Easy scramble at top." — cloudbreach • Sep 20, 2020
"Late start, started heading up around 1:30 from exit 42, avoided alot of the crowding. Once i got to the junction and headed up only saw two other people. Great day for a hike!" — Birddog • Sep 20, 2020
"39th summit I've climbed. A beautiful, relatively quiet trail from the Artist Point parking lot up a large cliff face and across a mesa-like plateau to a very picturesque summit. Overall rating 9/10, the most varied and scenic 2 1/2 mile trail I've ever hiked: definitely worth the effort." — MountainQuest • Sep 12, 2020
"Starting from the Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak trailhead, I kept to the path until I hit the junction. I followed Longview Trail to the Peak; which is just a dirt patch. I continued down the Deceiver's Ridge and was amazed at how beautiful the environment was with the morning light. I visited Doughty's Fall that was dry at this time of year as well. Eventually, it led me to Shy Bear Pass that took me back to Wildneress Trail. To end the day, I revisted the Wilderness Peak and finished the loop bsck to the trailhead." — IanW • Sep 7, 2020
"Starting from the Jim Whittaker Wilderness Peak trailhead, I kept to the path until I hit the junction. I followed Longview Trail to the Peak; which is just a dirt patch. I continued down the Deceiver's Ridge and was amazed at how beautiful the environment was with the morning light. I visited Doughty's Fall that was dry at this time of year as well. Eventually, it led me to Shy Bear Pass that took me back to Wildneress Trail. To end the day, I revisted the Wilderness Peak and finished the loop bsck to the trailhead." — IanW • Sep 7, 2020

Popular Washington mountains