National Geographic just released a new book with an expert listing her top 100 “hikes of a lifetime” in the United States. 100 Hikes of a Lifetime: USA by Stephanie Pearson features “the country’s ultimate scenic trails”—and two of them are located not far from Seattle. One is in Mount Rainier National Park and the other is in Olympic National Park.
Read on for all the details about these bucket-list hikes!
Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park
Pearson categorizes this “magical turn around Mount Rainier” as a strenuous hike that takes seven to 14 days. The 95-mile Wonderland Trail, which loops around Mount Rainier, offers hikers a demanding yet rewarding journey marked by dramatic elevation changes—totaling nearly 25,000 feet—and continuous, panoramic views of the mountain. With high points like Panhandle Gap at 6,700 feet and low valleys such as Ipsut Creek at 2,320 feet, the trail requires careful preparation. There’s no single way to complete it, thanks to multiple access points and 18 wilderness camps that require permits, making each hike customizable but logistically complex. To get you started on planning, Pearson does recommend summer as the best time to do this hike.
Every segment of the trail showcases distinct natural beauty, from subalpine meadows like Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground to historic sites such as the Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout, which provides sweeping views of surrounding peaks including Mount Rainier and the Olympics. Along the route, hikers encounter glacial features, wildflower-filled meadows like Paradise, and snow-covered passes such as Panhandle Gap, creating a diverse and ever-changing landscape.
Hoh River Trail in Olympic National Park
Pearson categorizes this as a moderate hike that takes about three to five days to complete (it’s 37 miles roundtrip). She recommends June to October as the best time for it.
The Hoh River Trail in Olympic National Park is a peaceful out-and-back hike that transitions from dense old-growth rainforest to alpine terrain and the icy expanse of Blue Glacier beneath Mount Olympus. The first 13 miles are relatively flat, winding through lush greenery along the Hoh River, before a steep 3,500-foot climb leads past landmarks like Hoh Bridge, Elk Lake, and Glacier Meadows to the glacier’s edge. Along the way, hikers experience a rare temperate rainforest ecosystem—one of the last of its kind—rich with towering conifers, heavy rainfall, and wildlife such as the massive Roosevelt elk, all set against the backdrop of rapidly retreating glaciers that are estimated to disappear entirely from the Olympic Peninsula by 2070.
