3 great day hikes for kids (and their parents)

Hopefully that last post inspired you to pack a snack and hit the trail! In case you are wondering where to go for your first hikes, here are my reviews of the trails we have explored this month.

Big Four Ice Caves

2.2 miles round trip, 200 ft elevation gain. Northwest Forest Pass required. Off the Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls. Nice picnic area at the trail head with privy toilets (this freaked out our four year old who was unnecessarily concerned that he might fall in the hole). The hike is a barely noticeable climb through woods dense enough to keep you shaded while feeling light and bright on the forest floor. Many parts of the trail are covered by board walk and all of it is wide and well maintained. With the exception of one or two uneven patches, a rugged stroller would have little trouble with this trail. The caves are neat but the real views are the soaring cliffs and cascading waterfalls above them. Please follow the posted warnings and admire the caves from the trail. People have died inside the caves, which have been known to spontaneously collapse.

Haybrook Lookout

2.6 miles round trip, 850 ft elevation gain. Northwest Forest Pass required. No toilet facilities (welcome to nature!). Park along highway 2 just passed mile post 37 east of Goldbar. The Washington Trails Association Guide appropriately describes it as, “short and sweet but a tad steep…” This hike starts climbing right from the highway. There are numerous parts of the trail where those hikers with shorter legs may need to scramble a bit to keep going but it didn’t slow down our sturdy four year old. Along the way there were boulders and logs to perch on if you needed to catch your breath. For the best views, climb to the top of the 67 ft lookout tower.

Iron Goat Trail

6 mile loop between the Martin Creek and Scenic trailheads, 700 ft elevation gain. Northwest Forest Pass required. Privy toilets are available in the parking areas. The 9 miles of Iron Goat trail may be accessed from any of three parking areas all off highway 2 east of Skykomish. This trail has an incredible history and it is very much worth doing a little reading up before hitting the trail. The land is the former site of the Great Northern Railway that connected St. Paul to Seattle. The trail passes by the now abandoned snow sheds and even through some of the original train tunnels. The northern most trailhead at Wellington is the location of the deadliest avalanche and train disaster in United States history.

This trail is impressively maintained thanks to a veritable army of hiking and rail history enthusiasts. Due to work of the volunteers and the nature of the site the lower section of the trail between Martin Creek and Scenic is ADA accessible and stroller friendly. There is much to view and explore on this lower trail making it a stellar hike for budding outdoors enthusiasts. The upper trail between the same points is narrower and better for more sure footed hikers with more stamina. The full loop includes a mile of steep switch backs between Windy Point and Scenic but the upper trail has its own set of incredible scenery and several spectacular view points.

Find further details of these and many more great hikes for all abilities on the Washington Trails Association website.

Also read: Explore NW for fun outdoor activities in and around Snohomish County. Start with this article which includes a review of the Haybrook Lookout hike and nearby Barclay Lake hike. I completely agree with the recommendation that both are terrific for a range of ages and abilities.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.