The hike to Poo Poo Point via the Chirico Trail in Issaquah, Washington can get a bad rap because of its crowds and steep climb. We recently hiked the trail as a family, and while we found both of these things to be true, we also came away with the conclusion that it’s well worth the effort. Even if you might need to let other hikers pass every couple of hundred feet (we were hiking on a sunny Saturday afternoon) and you might huff and puff on the way up, and be sore on the way down, the payoff is huge. Here’s what we loved:
14 Kid Friendly Hikes Near Seattle
Of course we love adventure. Of course we love travel. And of course we love getting out for a hike. With two little kids though, who both still nap, and prefer to do so in their own beds at home, we can’t always venture too far. Since Bergen was a wee toddler, I’ve researched, investigated, and explored kid friendly hikes near Seattle (in or at least with in an hour’s drive of the city).
What’s considered “kid friendly”?
- Low mileage: Most of these hikes are 3 miles or less. Some much less, and many with opportunities to add more if little legs allow.
- Exciting features: lakes, waterfalls, view points, story boards, bridges, etc. to help peak interest and motivate
- Mostly flat: Too many hills and inclines can bring out the whines (at least in my young hiker)!
Here you’ll find 14 of our favorite kid friendly hikes in or near Seattle. It is in no way an exhausted list, and I hope to add to it in the future. Make sure to click on the hike’s title for either a more detailed trip report from our site or another trusted resource like the Washington Trails Association (WTA).
Looking for more?
Grab our Seattle Area Kid Friendly Hiking Guide
with 25 Adventures you and your kids will love!
Hiking with Kids: Olallie State Park’s Cedar Butte Trail (North Bend, WA)
In order to feel less guilty about all the junk we’d consume at our Super Bowl extravaganza last weekend, I decided to take the kids on a good calorie burning, heart pumping hike. I don’t really need an excuse to go on a hike, but this was a great way to get the kids out of the house while Slaed (born and raised in Colorado & devoted Denver Broncos fan) prepared, stressed and prayed, for the big game ahead.
As you might have read from our Winter Bucket List post, I’m hoping that the three of us (Georgia, the 1-year old on my back in the carrier) can conquer Little Si this season. The mileage, at 4.7 miles round trip, isn’t something that I’m extremely concerned about, but more the mountain climb and elevation gain (1300 feet). So in preparation, we are training with hikes that are a bit easier, but have relatively similar distance and hill climbing.
Olallie State Park’s Cedar Butte trail definitely fit the bill as another good hike to get ready for the more difficult Little Si. It’s also less popular than it’s neighbor, Rattlesnake Ledge, which was bustling with folks and crammed with cars in the parking lot as we drove by.
To give you an idea of our hiking experience, I once again documented the journey with a video!
Olallie State Park’s Cedar Butte Trail
Hiking with Kids: Cougar Mountain’s Wildside-De Leo Wall Loop
Mondays are turning out to be our day for hiking and adventure. Bergen goes to school 4-days a week (Tuesday-Friday), so Monday is our one full day together. In the new year and partially thanks to our winter bucketlist, I’ve been more motivated to be intentional with our “free day”. Last Monday, we explored St. Edwards State Park in Kenmore, Washington.
This week, I decided we’d tackle a hike, Cougar Mountain’s Wildside-De Leo Wall loop, that didn’t go so well the first time. You can read about that misadventure here, but I’m happy to share that things went a whole lot better the second time around! I didn’t lose my phone, we managed to find the viewpoint, and everyone was in good spirits. Life allows for do-overs, and I’m so grateful for that!
I love the varied terrain of this hike. We were up high with views, down low with rushing creeks, jumping over puddles, crossing bridges, and checking out horse tracks. So much interest, especially for my 4-year old companion. To get an idea of exactly what I’m talking about, we documented the journey with a video:
[Read more…]
About being Mindful, Having Acceptance, and Losing my cell phone on a hike
The baby was crying off and on. More on than off. Knowing she was fed, changed, and seemed to have filled her sleep tank earlier, I couldn’t do much but press on.
Bergen, Georgia, and our dear friend, who didn’t quite know what she had gotten into, and I were hiking in Cougar Mountain Regional Park. Happily shaded and cooled by the forest’s canopy, but equally annoyed with the flies that wouldn’t leave us alone, we tried to make quick work of the loop trail that we had decided to tackle.
We passed the time by counting the snails and slugs we spotted along the way, something that Bergen never grew tired of. Each and every critter deserved to be counted, and most needed to be moved to a “safer” place beside the trail.
The high point, the De Leo Wall for those who are familiar with the park, was supposed to provide us with a nice view of the nearby town of Renton and if clear enough, Mount Rainier, so our anticipation grew as we climbed closer and closer to the top. At the same time, the trail itself grew narrower and narrower.
The foliage lining the sides of our path closed in on us and we caught drops of rain from the previous night’s shower on our legs and feet. Bergen complained that he was “getting all wet”. Being lower to the ground, he was bearing the brunt of the precipitation falling from the bushes and scrubs.
More and more, it felt like we were bushwhacking, blazing our own trail with Bergen out in front, so I pulled out my phone and snapped a few shots of our fearless tot of a leader to document this crazy journey. And then since we’d already reached the peak, unfortunately missing the supposed view, our path got a bit technical as we started to descend. I needed to concentrate on my balance and keep an eye on the little guy, so away went the phone in one of the zippered pockets of my backpack.
Except. Did I bother to zip the pouch closed as I went on my way? Of course not. So when I’d reached a comfortable and more level hiking surface and spotted something else that deserved a quick shot, I was coming up empty handed.
Over and over again, I went through all of the usual spots in my backpack and ergo carrier. I should also mention that lunch time was quickly approaching and the already irritable baby was growing more impatient. The phone wasn’t turning up in any of my pockets. I would like to say that I didn’t panic, but really I was quite flustered, and sick to my stomach.
How could I let this happen? Why wasn’t I paying attention more? Of course this would have to happen today. On this hike. When things were already rocky. Good to have a friend around to help, but how embarrassing.
I turned around and started to retrace my steps, scanning the ground for my lost phone. Bergen and our friend were still up ahead, unaware of my little dilemma. I dreamed that the phone would just suddenly appear, all would be well, and we could get back to our hike, maybe break for lunch, maybe not even mention the mishap. No such luck. I raced back and broke the news to them. I needed their help.
We decided to do another retracing, and as we searched my friend called the phone repeatedly in hopes that we might catch the ring and be able to locate it more easily. At the same time, I talked through the steps leading up to the incident and we determined the stretch of trail that the phone would have landed.
Once we’d reached the end of that stretch with no rescued phone in hand, my friend hatched a plan. One of us would stay with the kids and start lunch while the other went off again and searched. Since I was the fool who had lost her phone and put us in this mess, I decided that I should go. I looked on the ground for the phone trying to be as attentive, aware, careful, and positive, as possible, but I kept losing hope.
There were steep drop-offs just beside the trail in many areas. I couldn’t discount the possibility of the phone sliding down, never to be found. I returned to my little crew as Georgia’s cries seemed to echo throughout the forest. She needed her lunch too.
My friend and I switched places, and I hoped (and prayed) for the best as I scarfed down my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and fed the baby. In my mind, I tried to figure out how I’d tell Slaed. I imagined myself coming back the park later that night without the kids and thought about whether or not that would be a complete waste of time. I thought about the phone numbers, photos, and other information stored on that little device. Had I taken the right steps to insure that all this data could be recovered?
I also questioned my abilities and decision making as a mother. Why did I think taking my preschooler and unpredictable baby out on hike longer than just a couple of miles was a good idea?
I could put those worries aside though because as I heard footsteps coming closer and closer, I also heard, “Kate! I found your phone! I found it!”
Relief. And so much gratitude.
However, the whole incident has been a much needed lesson on mindfulness. When people are relying on me (as little kids do), I must take appropriate measures to be organized mentally. Maybe a photo isn’t necessary, and probably won’t turn out well anyway, during such a critical point in the hike. Maybe hurrying along and making careless decisions in favor of getting something done more quickly actually wastes more time in the long run.
I can also just accept. Accept that babies aren’t always content. Hiking trails are not always straight forward. Friends are more understanding than we realize. And flies really aren’t all that harmful in the grand scheme of things.
Maybe you’ve already gleaned some of this from my story, but here’s what helped in recovering my lost item:
- Think positively. Amongst all that negative talk about mothering and decision-making, I also just kept telling myself that we would find it. I envisioned it. I actually pictured my friend running back with the rescued phone before it was reality.
- Narrow your search. We thought carefully, and were able to be almost 100% certain that the phone had fallen in one particular stretch of trail. I thought about when I’d last used the phone, and when I realized it was actually gone.
- Call the phone. Even if the ringer is off or low, calling the phone can help. My friend actually spotted the phone because the screen was lighting up from having an incoming call.
- Create a plan. Once my friend had the idea for just one person to look, and one person to stay with the kids, I was actually able to calm a bit. Just knowing we had a steps to accomplish this mission (whatever those steps may be) helped to get through the initial panic.
Do you lose things often? Ever lost an item while hiking? Ever have self doubt?
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Preschool Hikes: Discovering More in Seattle’s Discovery Park
Places often remain wonderful in mind because I haven’t quite discovered all they have to offer. The mystery and unknown give me reason to come back and explore. Magic remains.
Seattle’s Discovery Park is one example. Maybe its because we usually fall into the same routine: Parking in the same area, hiking down the same stairs toward the beach, walking along the same stretch of shore. Still beautiful, but I always knew there was more.
For this visit, I switched it up and we saw several aspects of the park that I’ve never seen. And because of that I have an even greater appreciation for the place. Even better, as you might expect my two little adventurers were also along for the ride, and for one of them (Georgia, 2 months) this was her very first visit.
Environmental Learning Center
I’d heard that there was an indoor learning space here, but never visited myself. So to make sure we had a chance check it out, I made it our starting point. The center proved to be a great spot to get our nature juices flowing. The space is filled with books, puppets, and tons of other hands on materials for little ones to investigate before or after heading off on an outdoor adventure.