Hikes for Young Children

Hiking with toddlers and young children (under 5) is very different than hiking with adults or older kids. New hikers will find out how much they need to plan ahead. Experienced hikers will realize how much they have to adjust their expectations.

Franklin Falls is a short and easy hike with a towering waterfall at the end. The spray (and shade) can make a warm day cold. Make sure you have a jacket in your backpack! Photo by Susan Elderkin

Little kids dawdle along the trail. They don't care about the destination. They care about what's right in front of them: the stream flowing under the trail, the wildflower that's blooming, the root of the big tree underfoot. Toddlers and young children tend to have spurts of energy. They hike along energetically, then suddenly want to be picked up. Cold and hot temperatures confuse them and bug them.

Fortunately, hiking with small children is incredibly rewarding. Slowing down helps you appreciate all of the little things that make our ecosystem so diverse. And there is nothing better in celebrating a child's accomplishment or seeing something from a fresh perspective.

So what are the secrets for a successful hike?

• Choose a hike that is short and with a destination that would be interesting to a small child. Water is quite enticing; views not as much.
• Be flexible - Don't be so destination-driven that you ignore the signs your child is ready to turn around. To create a life-long hiker, you want his or her first experiences to be good ones.
• Pack extra clothes - Always bring a jacket, hat and an extra set of clothes.
• Stop often for energy breaks - Food and water can be a great reviver and motivator.
• Pack a lot of patience and praise - It's all about the journey, so let them explore every nook and cranny while at the same time praising them for their little accomplishments.

WTA has compiled a list of hikes that are good choices for toddlers and pre-schoolers. These are hikes that could be done with a minimal amount of carrying, since kids this age often are too big or too wiggly for the backpack. Do note that every child is different - some will be able to do more, some less.

All of these hikes are in Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington & Cascades by Joan Burton (Mountaineers Books). This book features 182 hikes suitable for children, and is an excellent investment if you like hiking!

Young children dawdle on the trail. Pack patience, extra time and flexibility into your hike. Trail to Twin Lakes, photo by Susan Elderkin.

 

Twin Falls State Park

Location:  Near North Bend
Distance:  1.5 mi - 3.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation:  500' gain up to 1000'
Best Season:  Usually accessible all year; the falls in spring is quite spectacular
Map:  Green Trails Rattlesnake Mountain/Upper Snoqualmie Valley No. 205S

Why Go:  Twin Falls is a great year-round hike to a beautiful waterfall. With it's big pay-off at trail's end, Twin Falls is an ideal hike for small children. There are benches and a nice viewpoint of the falls at .75 mile, which is a good turn-around for smaller toddlers or if you opt to leave a backpack behind. But by hiking another mile (down and then up again), you will reach a sturdy bridge that crosses high over the water and between the two falls. Kids will be mesmerized by the waterfalls and the water all around them. Do note that this is a popular trail, and on weekends don't expect any solitude.

Directions:  From Seattle, drive east on I-90 to exit 34. Turn south on 468th Ave SE and go 1/2 mile. Just before the bridge over the South Fork Snoqualmie River, turn left (east) on SE 159th Street and drive 1/2 mile to the trailhead parking lot.

Franklin Falls

Location: Snoqualmie Pass
Distance: 2 mi. roundtrip
Elevation: 100 ft. gain
Best Season: July - October
Map: Green Trails #207 Snoqualmie Pass

Why Go:  Franklin Falls is a great hike to take with young children. It is short, with a gentle climb, and a pretty waterfall at trail's end. The trail starts just outside the Denny Creek Campground and travels along the South Fork Snoqualmie River to the falls. The path travels through the trees, gently climbing from the river. There are roots, some rocks and several stairs to climb over and up along the way, but it is still easy for even the youngest to hike. Fences and bridges keep wandering children from stepping over cliffs. The only difficult section is the final scramble to the beach beneath the falls - most kids will need supervision here! While you may notice the sights and sounds of I-90 above the falls, your kids will be interested in the falls and the rocky beach - great for throwing stones into the water or wading. Note that the spray and morning shadiness at the falls can be cool even on hot days. Bring jackets!

Directions:  Take I-90 to Exit 47. Turn north at the exit (left if coming from Seattle) and turn right at the T in the road. In 0.25 mile turn left on Denny Creek Road No. 58. Drive 2.5 miles. Just past the Denny Creek Campgound turn left on the gravel road. The parking lot is before the bridge. NW Forest Pass is required.

Boulder River Waterfall

Location: Off Hwy 530 near Arlington
Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation: 250 ft gain
Best Season: Spring - Fall
Maps: Green Trails 77 Oso

Why Go:  Towering lowland old growth forest, impressive waterfalls, and a roaring stream make Boulder River a great destination any time of the year. Spring is one of the best times to visit, when run-off makes the waterfalls particularly powerful; later in the season they slow to a trickle. Beginning hikers and families will be rewarded by a spectacular and lacy waterfall at 1.25 miles, with a nice lunch stop just beyond.

Directions:  From I-5 drive Highway 530 east to mile point 41. Turn right on the French Creek Road FS #2010. Follow this to the road's end at 3.8 miles and an ample parking area. Northwest Forest Pass required. NW Forest Pass required.

Choose destinations that kids will like, such as lakes and waterfalls. Aidan spent about an hour throwing tiny rocks into Hidden Lake. Photo by Susan Elderkin.

Hidden Lake

Location: Lake Wentachee
Distance: 1 mile
Elevation: 300 ft gain
Best Season: June - October
Maps: Green Trails 145 Wenatchee Lake

Why Go: It's easy and short and the lake is quite lovely! The trail is wide and conducive to parents and children walking side-by-side. It winds its way gently through a ponderosa pine forest away from all of the noise and bustle of Lake Wenatchee. Hidden Lake is only a scant half mile from the trailhead and even toddlers can make the whole way on foot. There are several flat boulders to sit on and enjoy the quiet mountain lake. On warm days, older kids are likely to be swimming or floating in rafts.

Directions: From US 2, turn north on Hwy 207 to Lake Wentachee. At the intersection at 4 miles, turn left to Lake Wenatchee State Park. Turn left soon thereafter on South Shore Road #6607. In five miles, right before the Glacier View Campground, turn left on a road to the trailhead. NW Forest Pass required.

Red Top Lookout

Location: Teanaways
Distance: 2 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 350 ft gain
Best Season: June - October
Maps: Green Trails 209 Mt Stuart, 210 Liberty

Why Go:  There are few mountaintops in Washington that are accessible by such a short and easy trail. Kids will delight in actually climbing a mountain and will be encouraged along the way by the fire lookout perched on top. In mid-to-late summer, the lookout is manned and you may be allowed inside. But the views are just as good from the ground. What's more, this area is dotted with agates and you may be lucky enough to find one! At the top, there is some loose rock, so please watch young children here.

Directions:  From I-90, take exit 85 and go north on Hwy 97 north for 18 miles. Just past the Mineral Springs Campground go north on FR 9738. In 2.6 miles, go left on FR 9702. Drive 4.5 miles to the trailhead, elevation 5000 feet. NW Forest Pass required. 

Ebey's Landing

Location: Whidbey Island, near Coupeville
Distance: 2 miles roundtrip to beach or 3.5 mile loop
Elevation:  trailhead sea level'; 200' gain & loss
Best Season: Year-round; it's least crowded October - May 

This photo of Parego's Lagoon at Ebey's Landing is the December 2007 Photo Gallery cover shot. Photo by Shahid Durrani.

Why Go:  This little preserve, tucked away in a rainshadow on Whidbey Island, has a bit of everything. Panoramic views of mountains and water. Twisted driftwood and old gnarled trees. Rare plants. Gray whales and shipping activity in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Bald eagles, hooded mergansers, harlequin ducks, and even something called an alligator lizard. Lots of things that children and adults can enjoy! Young children will probably be happy to hike 1 mile along the beach to Parego's Lagoon.

Older kids would probably be up for the 3.5 mile loop. The best way to hike the loop is to go counter-clockwise, up the bluff and back down via the beach.  On clear days, the bluff provides a 180 degree panoramic view of the Olympic Peninsula and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Mt. Rainier, and the rolling farmland and prairie of Whidbey Island. After about 1.5 miles, drop down a very steep trail to the far end of Parego's Lagoon.  Beware that this drop can be slippery and difficult for the very young or old.  The return is a wonderful stroll south on the strip of beach between Admiralty Inlet and the lagoon. 

Directions:  Ebey’s Landing can be reached from state Highway 20 (on Whidbey Island) by turning south on Main Street in Coupeville. This road turns into Engles road as you head out of town. Turn right on Hill road, follow this road through trees and then down a hill where you see a view of Ebey’s bluff in front of you. Park in the parking lot at the bottom of the hill. 

Second Beach

Location:  Near Forks on Olympic Peninsula
Distance:  1.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation:  80 ft gain, 100 ft loss
Best Season:  Year round
Maps:  Green Trails 163S La Push

Kids love to go tidepooling on Second Beach. Make sure to bring extra clothes and a few sand toys to play with - and watch the little ones carefully around the rocks, waves and sea creatures. Photo by Susan Elderkin.

Why Go:  The ocean holds such great allure for children, and by hiking in just three-quarters of a mile you leave behind the crowds. Second Beach is a jewel, with seastacks along the beach and out in the ocean. This is a great place to tiptoe through the tidepools and see the sea stars and sea anenomes. Be sure to plan your visit accordingly and watch your children carefully around waves,  rising water and delicate sea life. Bring a bucket and shovel for more sand fun!

Directions: From US 101, turn west on the La Push-Mora Road just north of Forks. Drive toward La Push. Shortly before you reach the town, there is a parking area for the beach on the left side of the road.

Beacon Rock State Park

Location:  Beacon Rock State Park, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Distance:  2 miles round trip
Elevation:  600 feet elevation gain
Best Season:
Maps:

Why Go:  Located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area east of Vancouver, WA is Beacon Rock, an enormous Basalt monolith that is actually the core of an ancient volcano. Named by the Lewis and Clark expedition, hikers today can do something that Lewis and Clark could not: walk on a trail that takes you up 600 feet to the top of this great monolith. The mile-long trail to its summit provides outstanding panoramic views of the Columbia River Gorge and activity along the river. The trail begins with an easy climb through mixed forest, then ascends paths that were blasted out through solid rock and along wooden catwalks. Handrails line the route for the safety and comfort of hikers. The trail gradually climbs its way up a onto the sheer basalt cliffs of the rock itself, where the views are sensational.

Directions: From Vancouver, take I-205 south to the Hwy. 14 exit and follow Hwy. 14 east. Beacon Rock and the park entrance are located at mile post 35. From Portland,take I-84 eastbound along the Columbia River to Cascade Locks, and cross the Columbia River into Washington on the toll bridge. Turn left onto Hwy. 14 west for seven miles to Beacon Rock.

Exploring Washington's National Parks & Monuments

Olympic National Park, Rainier National Park and Mt. St. Helen's National Monument also offer great hikes for families with small children. Look for nature trails and short hikes near visitor centers. You'll get the added bonus of interpretive markers along the trail, flush toilets and cafeterias!