Silver Falls Loop, Grove of the Patriarchs Loop — Friday, Aug. 22, 2014

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon

The Grove of the Patriarchs Loop was a very nice excursion to go on with my three children. (one of whom is three years old) You can very easily see the trailhead from the road, it is right after the Stevens Canyon Entrance to the State Park. There were many groups on this trail but there were enough parking spots for all of us. There are multiple garbage cans, picnic tables, and nicely kept restrooms at the beginning of the trail. The trail walks along a creek and across a fun suspension bridge. Then you reach a boardwalk loop which leads you around many old growth cedars which my son was amazed at. The boardwalk was very well kept. Once you finished the boardwalk loop you would return to the trail and cross the suspension bridge a second time. This hike was very enjoyable but my children wanted to see some waterfalls so I took them to the Silver Falls Loop. The Silver Falls Loop is a few minutes further down the road past the Grove of the Patriarchs hike. You will find a paved pullout across the street from the trailhead. You follow the trail down to the water. My kids loved this trail because of the many waterfalls that can be seen very easily from the trail without risking climbing down to rocks. There was a lookout with a guard rail and then a sturdy wood bridge to see the biggest waterfall. We took many pictures of the beautiful clear water and the picturesque moss on the ground around the trail. (It almost looked like grass) Overall this hike was very easy and provided a fun daytime hike for my children and I.