What makes Washington one of top 10 states for hiking? See latest ranking
From Skyline Trail at Mount Rainier National Park to The Enchantments near Leavenworth, the Evergreen State is home to some stunning trails.
And whether you’re a seasoned backpacker hoping to push yourself, or a novice aiming for an easy ramble, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for within Washington’s diverse trail system, described as “superb” by the outdoor apparel brand Kühl.
In fact, Kühl named Washington one of the best states for hiking in an Oct. 9 ranking.
Here’s a closer look at where the Evergreen State ranked and why:
How does Washington rank on Kühl’s best states for hiking list?
Washington just missed the top three on Kühl’s list of the best U.S. states for hiking, coming in at No. 4 behind California, Arizona and Utah.
It received particularly high marks for its trails, placing second in that category, per Kühl’s report, which noted that Washington “maintains 140 state parks and portions of three national parks, and has roughly 4,400 hiking routes, including legendary long-distance trails like the Pacific Crest Trail.”
The state’s safety scores were “about average,” while “its weather score came in near the bottom (44th) thanks to frequent rain, especially in the west,” the company said.
Still, “it’s those rains that nourish what makes Washington’s landscapes spectacular,” according to Kühl, which said that “despite its famously wet climate, Washington’s superb trail system propelled it to” its high ranking.
What are the top 10 states for hiking?
Like Washington, several states on Kühl’s top 10 list are in the western U.S., although a state in the northeast and another in the southeast ranked in that upper echelon.
So did Hawaii, home to hikes such as the Kalalau Trail.
Here are the top 10 states for hiking, according to Kühl:
1. California
2. Arizona
3. Utah
4. Washington
5. Colorado
6. Hawaii
7. Wyoming
8. Oregon
9. Florida
10. Maine
How did Kühl come up with its ranking?
Kühl said it evaluated states across three categories, each given a weight.
Trails and outdoor access, including “the number of long-distance trails, the average score of each state’s top 20 trails, and the share of land designated as protected parkland,” was weighted at 50%, according to Kühl.
Weather/climate was weighted at 25%, and so was crime/safety.
Kühl drew data from several sources, it said, ranging from Destination Hikers to the FBI Crime Data Explorer and the National Centers for Environmental Information.
What to know about hiking during the government shutdown
If you’re looking to get out on a Washington trail sometime soon, you’ll want to double check if your route is on federal land that may be affected by the government shutdown.
The Washington Trails Association has a guide to hiking during the shutdown.
The News Tribune also has information specific to Mount Rainier National Park, including which entrances are open and what to expect if you venture into the park.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "What makes Washington one of top 10 states for hiking? See latest ranking."
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