Loved all the advice I got from TexAgs on trips to Canada, Jackson Hole WY, Glacier NP Montana, Yosemite, and Utah.

Now it's time for … Washington State.

Looking to take family if 6 (18-23 yrs old) on a great trip for about 8 days.

Maybe 4 days in 1 location, then 4 in another so we see more of the state?
Open to fly in to one airport from IAH and fly out another if needed.

Grateful for advice as we seek rest, hikes to amazing lakes, Mt. Rainer perhaps?

Just spitballing some rough outlines...

Fly into Portland, spend a day, head north to Mt. St Helens, Mt. Rainier, and then clockwise Olympic pensinsula loop ending in Seattle

Fly into Seattle, spend a day or two and then Cascade Loop with a jog over to Pt. Townsend/Sequim/Port Angeles and then back through Bainbridge Island to Seattle

https://www.cascadeloop.com/

Two things that would be a must for me:

1. Hike Skyline trail at Mt Rainier. Be parked and on the trail just a little before sunrise to miss the crowds and to get great colors.

2. Olympic National Park is amazing. Hit all the districts but be sure to catch the coast at low tide one morning. You'll see some incredible stuff in the tide pools. They even have a ranger led walk on some days.

oh my - YES!! This is exactly what I was hoping to see - thank you both!

I'll start working on my outline

I'd skip Helens. But I do like the idea of flying into PDX / Columbia River Gorge (airport is actually right next to it). Hit the waterfalls/Timberline Lodge/Hood River then head to Rainier.

2 days in Rainier. It' not that big. Olympic, though, is huge and not easy to get around. We'll actually be in Port A to ride Hurricane Ridge in August. First Sunday every August is bike only up Hurricane.

That said, North Cascade > Olympic, for me. It will be harder to get to, steeper hikes, but if you want alpine lakes and mountain vistas, that's the jam. If you're really really into alpine lakes, consider Alpine Lakes Wilderness / Enchantments near Leavenworth instead of NCNP. It would cut down on a lot of driving. And 2 is quick back to Seattle for a flight home. Either of those are where I'd spend 4 days.

One more thing: I got rained out of the Sahale Arm trail in North Cascades back in 2024 and it's been bugging me ever since. I need to go back and hike it. There are other hikes up there that are phenomenal, as well. Maybe I'll swing by over Labor Day…

Wow - found this website - some helpful ideas and photos

https://aliciamarietravels.com/2-days-in-the-north-cascades-national-park-washington-itinerary/

There's a USF campground at the top of Harts Pass. It's the highest maintained road in the US. Not for the faint of heart, pun intended, I've only ridden my bikes up Slate/Hart. But go get after it. Plenty of beta on YouTube/interwebs. It's one of my favorites during the Larches in September.

Whale watching tours out of Olympic are pretty nice. We were able to see killer whales surfing the tide though island pass, humpback whales etc

Olympics hiking wise is not so great for day hikes but have heard that the multi day hikes are great. Basically less than a mile or going for days.

Olympics,,we stayed at Airbnb on the sound and got to watch all the ship traffic, including a sub, and some tidal pools

San juan islands by boat is amazing. You can island hop by ferry also but not as nice as private boat

Mt Rainier.. agree with earlier comments

Cascades.. really enjoyed plan on going back

On our last trip out there we decided we should learn to flyfish. Lots of rivers to fish on.

Leavenworth is nice

Wine tours in Walla Walla/ Pasco area

I'm from Washington - i would make sure to see the San Juan islands if at all possible. Take the ferry from anacortes (beautiful town in itself). Even better if you drive up through Whidbey Island via taking the Mukilteo ferry to the south side. Langley and Coupeville are worth a stop on the way. Deception pass state park is on the north end and is a must if you're in the area.

Friday harbor is the biggest destination in the San Juan's and a fun day trip. You can even walk on the ferry and hit everything in town on foot, although San Juan Island which it is located on is worth checking out for hikes, Roche harbor, etc. The ferry ride through the islands is worth the trip by itself. Would be a day trip, none of the islands really worth staying with a group. Orcas and Lopez are even more lowkey.

In the anacortes/Skagit valley area, Chuckanut drive to Taylor Shellfish farms is incredible (the drive and the food). You can stay in Bellingham which is a bigger city with nicer amenities and from there it is easy to get to North Cascades which I would recommend over Olympic, the Mt Baker wilderness is underrated as well.

In general I would say Rainier is a must but you can do fun day hikes that will give you a great view of the mountain and be out of there in half a day. I recommend getting there as early as possible as it gets crowded especially in afternoons.

Leavenworth (Fredericksburg in the mountains) is beautiful but can be touristy so unless traveling over the mountains on highway 2 I wouldn't make it an absolute priority.

I'm less familiar with the peninsula but be very deliberate if choosing to go there, Olympic NP is massive and you can't see everything in a day or two, and there's really no where to stay once you commit.

With 8 days you can easily see the east side of the state too. Second the Walla walla recommendation for the wineries and the town. Airbnb's are a great option there.

Lastly, Seattle has definitely gone downhill but since you're most likely flying in there and if you've never been, pikes place and the needle are worth the visit. If you're planning on staying there and need something else to do other than the city, the ferries to bainbridge or vashon are good options. Sorry for the novel!