Rainy Season Hikes Near Seattle

Seattle is famous for coffee, salmon and rain. While there are not often downpours, there are a fair amount of overcast days with a cold drizzle, generally from October through May, and some years into June.

But there are still plenty of great options for getting out and enjoying the surrounding mountains and fern-studded forests, even on rainy days.

It’s best to stick to lower elevation trails not likely to have snow on them. Many of these trails stay snow free throughout the year; others experience snow only rarely, at the height of winter.

The Old Sauk River Trail is a flat six miles round-trip along the raging Sauk River, usually swollen during the rainy season. Wallace Falls is a perennial fall/winter/spring favorite, as it passes several impressive cataracts on its 5.5-mile, round-trip amble.

The Middle Fork Snoqualmie River is another nice river hike option near the city; you can go about six miles round-trip on this trail. For a short trip, try Franklin Falls, which reaches a waterfall in just one mile. This area can get snow, and the falls are more impressive when frozen.

For the latest trail conditions, visit the Washington Trails Association’s website; they also offer rainy season hiking tips.