Today it is harder than ever to separate kids from their screens and to connect them with nature. Fortunately, living in Seattle gives parents unique access to wild areas that families can explore. Hundreds of hikes are within a couple hours of the city and offer opportunities for families to connect with each other, get great exercise and learn about the natural world. Preparation is key to a successful hike with the kids. Here are three essential tips:
Dress for success
Dress the kids in layers, allowing them to cool down and warm up as the conditions change. Even on hot days, a summit can have a cold wind, a waterfall a freezing mist or a meadow a swarm of mosquitoes. Being able to take off and put on clothing is a key to a happy hiker and safety. And always take a raincoat. Conditions in the mountains can change very quickly.
Pack plenty of food and water
Kids should eat and drink regularly along the trail. Food can be both a motivator and a rejuvenator; water is absolutely essential. If your kid is flagging, consider whether he has drunk enough water. Dehydration can be extremely dangerous, and kids often don't know when they are extremely thirsty. Bring extra water.
Have fun!
Hike like a kid and leave your adult expectations at home. Pack patience and flexibility. Stop and feel the ferns and watch the slug slowly inch across the trail. Use teachable moments to explore the natural world. You may not reach the end of the trail or even a mile, but if you adjust your hike to the enjoyment and comfort level of the kids, you will have kids that want to go out again.
Where To Go
Pretzel Tree Trail
Location: Squak Mountain State Park (Issaquah)
Trail Info: 0.5 mile; no elevation gain
Good for: kids under 5
Pass: Discover Pass
This short, easy, year-round trail meanders under the cool, protective trees of Squak Mountain State Park. It is a treat for kids because of interpretive story boards and for families with older kids who may like to wander in the woods before or after a longer hike in the park. Tucked just off the Squak Mountain picnic area, story boards illustrate the adventures of Field Mouse as he meets local forest creatures and discovers their importance in the ecosystem on his search for the Pretzel Tree. Birds and various kinds of natural habitat abound.
Heather Lake
Location: Mountain Loop Highway (east of Granite Falls)
Trail Info: 4.5 miles; 1050 feet of elevation gain
Good for: 6 and up
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
Heather Lake is an excellent sampling of Washington's Cascades. Huge trees, little creeks and an alpine lake at the base of Mount Pilchuck define this hike. The route is steep in places and a bit rocky for little feet, but the destination provides two kid-pleasing features: a trail that circumnavigates its shores and water that can be waded in during hot summer days. Go early to avoid crowds on sunny weekends.
To find more information about these and other hikes, visit www.wta.org.
