Families Go Hiking - Central Region
The goal of the “Families Go Hiking” program at Washington Trails Association is to get families in touch with resources which can get themselves on a trail as easily as possible. To help out, WTA has composed a list of resources organized by region which can ease the process of researching online for an outdoor family activity. Each region is subdivided by park type: city, county, state, and national park in each region. This helps to plan for a hike in your backyard, or a bigger weekend family expedition. Many of the links provided have family-friendly suggestions for a hike, as well as additional information, such as if the park has educational centers, scheduled events, or interpretive trails.
Photo by Robert Crum.
- CITY PARKS
City of Ellensburg
While planning a hike with your family check the city parks with trails by clicking Park Facilities for details on each park.
City of Wenatchee
Click the Recreation Programs & Events section for a downloadable seasonal activities guide of scheduled all-ages hikes. This is a great introduction to the outdoors. If you are looking for a park, go to the Parks section of the website and download the most recent City Park Guide for information on individual parks.
City of Omak
Visit their website to view the parks in the area. Some have walking trails which are great for getting toddlers on their first hike. Dalton Klessig Memorial Park was a donation to the city.
City of Moses Lake
Moses Lake has many community parks. Check their website to see what fits your family.
Olympic Region
Puget Sound Region
Eastern Region
Southwest Region
Northwest Region
- STATE PARKS
From the State Parks webpage you can select an area by region, or choose from a list of parks by name. There are also downloadable maps for your convenience. Each individual park page has in-depth information to help your family plan a trip.
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Interpretive Trails
This park has a 1.5 mile loop, a 2.5 mile loop and interpretive hiking trails. The interpretive center explains Central Washington’s prehistoric past. Informational videos are shown throughout the day. Be sure to visit Wanapum Heritage Center at the Wanapum Dam nearby to learn about Native American culture.
Steamboat Rock State Park
This park is open year-round for camping and day use. The park is situated along the Banks Lake shoreline with basalt rock formations in view. The park has 13 miles of hiking trails and great places for swimming.
Lake Wenatchee State Park
Lake Wenatchee State Park is a large campground with eight miles of hiking trails. There are areas for swimming along the lake, as well as more forested sections. This park is a natural wildlife area.
Sacajawea State Park
This park is for day use and has a 1.2 mile hiking trail. The park has an interpretive center with guided tours Friday through Sunday from 10am-4pm. This park has wildlife viewing, swimming, and other opportunities for families.
Colockum Wildlife Area
Colockum Wildlife Area is a great spot for many activities, especially hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping. From this website you can find a wildlife viewing guide by following the link under other information.
- NATIONAL PARKS
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
There are all sorts of hikes and camps within this recreation area. Check the For Kids section to get children interested prior to a trip.
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
There are many options for family outdoor recreation in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Visit their website to find the activity that's right for your family.
Columbia National Wildlife Refuge
The Columbia National Wildlife Refuge is a great place for a family to spend a day bird watching.The area contains many lakes and abundant wildlife.
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