16 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Washington

Washington State, nicknamed ‘The Evergreen State‘, is located in the Pacific Northwest region of the US and offers lots to visitors. Be it nature, city trips, culture or art, this state surely has some awesome things to discover. Be amazed by these beautiful places to visit in the state of Washington!

1. Granite Mountain

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Granite Mountain offers outstanding views from its peak that include Crystal Lake, Kaleetan Peak and Mount Rainer. Climbing to the top of Granite Mountain is a steep climb, for every mile you go you gain nearly 1,000 feet in elevation. The best time to enjoy the staggering sights is during the week as sometimes weekends can get a little busy at the summit.

2. Diablo Lake

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In the North Cascade mountains is a reservoir created by Diablo Dam, it is called Diablo Lake. There is a good selection of fish kept in the lake and you can expect to see many canoeists and kayakers out on the water. The water in the lake has a turquoise hue that is caused by the surrounding glaciers that send a fine powder into the lakes.

3. Ferry from Seattle to Bremerton

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If you get a chance to take the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton it is highly recommended that you take it. The ferry has been running this route since 1951 and it takes about one hour to complete the journey. The scenery is mesmerising especially when you look up and see Mount Rainer.

4. Jade Lake

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Jade Lake is roughly an 11 mile trek from the start of the trail but it is a hike that is well worth taking. The lake is a beautiful sight and one that any keen hiker should have on his or her bucket list. The lake gets its unique colour from the surrounding glacial silt.

5. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

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The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is a 110,000 acre volcano that has been set aside for visitors to enjoy, research to be carried out and also for educational purposes. The volcano last erupted in 1980 and visitors have been able to climb to the summer of the volcano since 1986.

6. Nisqually Vista

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Nisqually Vista is an easy hiking trail that goes around in a loop. The loop is just over 2 miles in length and is suitable for all levels of fitness. There are plenty of beautiful wildflowers along the trail which is one of the reasons the area is famous. The ideal time to explore this area would be July through August, this will enable you to see the maximum number of flowers in bloom.

7. Olympic National Park, Washington

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There is much to see and experience at Olympic National Park as the park covers several ecosystems. The star of the show is the Olympic Mountains with Mount Olympus having a glacier clad summit which is popular with climbers.

8. Palouse region of Washington state

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The Palouse region is a beautiful area full of rolling hills that have a rich farmland history. The hills are asymmetrical and offer some of the most beautiful, peaceful, lush green landscape available.

9. Perfection Lake

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Perfection Lake is part of the Enchantments in Washington State. The lake itself is shallow and clear at one end and as you walk down the trail you will pass through meadows and continue along the eastern shore. The lake is a stunning reminder of how nature naturally creates the most beautiful of sites by itself.

10. Riverfront Park in Spokane

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Riverfront Park is a park that is over 100 acres in size, it contains the Spokane Falls but the main feature of the park is the 145 foot tall pavilion that was created during Expo ’74. There are many things to do in the park and a walk along the Spokane River Centennial Trail will see you take in many beautiful sights.

11. Mount Shuksan

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Mount Shuksan lies 11.6 miles south of the Canadian Border. A glaciated complex peak that has four major faces and five ridges to climb. Mount Shuksan is one of the most photographed mountains in the world due to its sheer beauty.

12. Cape Flattery

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A trip to Cape Flattery will see you reaching the north-western most point of the contiguous United States. To get to Cape Flattery you will need to take a short hike along a board walked path.  This also happens to be the oldest named feature in Washington after James Cook named it in 1778.

13. Hoh Rainforest Trail at Olympic National Park

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The most outstanding feature of the Hoh Rainforest are the Sitka spruce and western hemlock trees. Some of these trees grow to a staggering 95 meters in height and 7 meters in diameter. As you walk through the rainforest you will come across many unique mosses and lichens which add to the fairy tale feeling this rain forest brings.

14. Enchanted Valley

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The Enchanted Valley trail is a 36 mile trail and that is popular with hikers and horse riders. The Enchanted Valley itself is exactly what you would expect from its name. It is magical and enchanted and a wide open section of the Quinault River.