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! 

14 Kid Friendly Hikes Near Seattle

Swamp Monster Trail: Tiger Mountain

Mileage: 1 mile (with plenty of options back at the trail head to increase and explore more)

Location: Tiger Mountain at High Point (Exit 20 off I-90)

Special Features: Placards along the trail that tell a story about the mythical Swamp Monster.

Passes: Discover Pass required.

Discovery Park Loop Trail

Mileage: 2.8 miles

Location: Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood

Special Features: Environmental Learning Center, beautiful views, climbing trees along the way, playground at the end!

Passes: Free.

Coal Creek Falls Trail: Cougar Mountain

Mileage: 2.5 miles

Location: Cougar Mountain’s Red Town Trail Head (Bellevue/Newcastle, exit 13 on I-90)

Special Features: Waterfall (best in spring), accessible creek area great for exploring and rock throwing, bridges

Passes: Free.

Franklin Falls: Snoqualmie Pass

Mileage: 2 miles

Location: Near Snoqualmie Pass (I-90 Exit 47)

Special Features: Big 70 foot waterfall

Passes: Northwest Forest Pass required.

Denny Creek Waterslide: Snoqualmie Pass

Mileage: 2.5 miles

Location: Near Snoqualmie Pass (I-90 Exit 47)

Special Features: Natural Water Slide for summer play, opportunity to walk under the roaring interstate, waterfalls close by

Passes: Northwest Forest Pass required.

Washington Park Arboretum

Mileage: Varies.  There are so many options from taking the Waterfront Trail in the summer, to strolling down Azaela Way in the spring, walking around the Woodland Garden in the fall, and checking out the Witt Winter Garden in winter.  All easy walks/hikes with low milage if you start at the Graham Visitor’s Center.

Location: Seattle’s Montlake/Madison Park neighborhoods (depending on where you enter)

Special Features: Beautiful plant collections, waterfront trail with access to wetlands, tot lot/small playground just across the Wilcox Footbridge (at Lynn Street)

Passes: Free.

St. Edwards State Park

Mileage: Also varies here, but we like this 3 mile loop described toward the end of this Washington Trails Association post.  There are also shorter options.

Location: Kenmore, WA on Lake Washington

Special Features: AMAZING playground, access to Lake Washington

Passes: Discover Pass required.

Seward Park

Mileage: Also varies.  The paved loop trail is 2.4 miles (stroller friendly), but there are options to go on gravel and dirt pathes all throughout the interior of the peninsula.  None of those paths are very long, so getting lost isn’t really an option.  For more info, see this map from the Seattle Parks & Recreation site.

Location: Seattle’s Seward Park neighborhood

Special Features: Great playground, access to Lake Washington, nature center, beautiful views of Mt. Rainier (on clearer days), old growth forest

Passes: Free.

Anti-Aircraft Peak

Mileage: Varies. We just like to visit this trailhead (make sure to grab a map) to wander and explore.  Since you’re already nearly to the highest point of Cougar Mountain, if you stick to higher ground, it’s relatively easy for little legs.  Directions for a 3 mile hike can be found here.

Location: Cougar Mountain’s Anti-Aircraft Peak Trailhead (Bellevue/Newcastle Exit 13 on I-90)

Special Features: Beautiful big leaf maple leaves falling in the fall, “Million Dollar View” just steps from the parking area, possibility of seeing horses, bridges, erratics

Passes: Free.

Evans Creek Preserve

Mileage: Varies. Check the map at the entrance, and just go explore.  There are maps throughout the park (that let you know of your location) making it easy to navigate.

Location: Redmond/Sammamish, WA (depending on which entrance)

Special Features: Varied terrain from wooded paths to open meadows to keep interest high

Passes: Free.

Ravenna/Cowen Park

Mileage: Total of 4.5 miles of trails.  We like to park on the small parking lot near the playground on the Ravenna side, and take the trail (past the bathrooms) to the wide creek area, then continue along to pass under a large pedestrian bridge overhead.

Location: Seattle’s Ravenna neighborhood

Special Features: Open creek bed for wading and play, playground, opportunities to geocache

Passes: Free.

Pretzel Tree Trail: Squak Mountain

Mileage: Pretzel Tree Loop is just 0.3 miles (with an interpretive signs telling a story along the way).  Beyond that, there are many more miles to explore depending on time and ability.

Location: Issaquah, WA

Special Features: Interpretive signs telling the story of a field mouse in search of the “Pretzel Tree” and learning about forest ecology along with way, we find Squak Mountain less crowded than the other Issaquah Alps (Tiger & Cougar)

Passes: Discover Pass required.

Schmitz Preserve Park

Mileage: 1.7 miles. You could wander, and get “lost” like we did, or follow this more detailed guide from the Washington Trails Association.

Location: West Seattle

Special Features: babbling creeks, possibly seeing a downed tree that’s been painted to look like an alligator, opportunity to end the hike/walk at Alki Community Center/Playground

Passes: Free

Carkeek Park

Mileage: 6 miles of trails, easy to create a hike distance that’s perfect for your group

Location: Northwest Seattle

Special Features: fun nature inspired playground, beach access, bridge over railroad tracks, opportunities for letterboxing, watch salmon spawning in the late fall

Passes: Free

Resources:

Excellent resources for kid friendly hikes near Seattle.

• Best Hikes with Kids Western Washington and the Cascades

• Best Hikes with Kids Western Washington (newest update)

• 75 Great Hikes Seattle (review)

• Curious Kids Nature Guide: Explore the Amazing Outdoors of the Pacific Northwest (review)

• Wild Tales of… Seattle Area Kid Friendly Hiking Guide

We’d love to hear about YOUR favorite Kid Friendly Hikes near Seattle! Let’s chat in the comments.  If you are interested in EVEN MORE kid friendly hiking adventures with your kids (in a printer friendly resource), check out our Seattle Area Kid-Friendly Hiking Guide!

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