Hiking with kids is always a gamble. Will they actually hike? Will they have fun? Will they throw their entire body into a mud puddle? Will they refuse to move one step farther three minutes from the end of the trail?
I recently took a hike with my daughter, my friend Suzanne and her three kids. The children ranged in age from 20 months to 10 years.
There was a bit of whining and a few falls in the mud, but mostly the kids raced along the trail, marveled over the salamanders and basically enjoyed being outside.
We were hiking to Sares Head in Sharpe Park, not quite 3 miles north of Deception Pass. Anna Roth, the hiking content coordinator at the Washington Trails Association, suggested this hike to me when I asked for ideas for trails in Skagit County.
It caught my attention for a family hike because she said it was easy, offered great views and had several options to make the trip longer if desired. (In other words, if our kids were crazy, we could keep walking.)
The route we chose was short, less than a mile roundtrip, and we took our time. Just a few minutes into the hike, the adults paused to admire the reflective waters of the beaver pond, but the kids were unimpressed and hiked ahead.
Mira, Suzanne’s toddler, was insistent on walking herself — even over rough, muddy ground. She probably would have walked the whole way if Suzanne had let her. Eventually, a section of trail got too muddy and we needed to speed things up, so Mira went in a carrier on Suzanne’s back.
The kids, in the manner of children, surged ahead and then collapsed in the trail, dramatically declaring exhaustion, only to run ahead again.
Lunch was much needed — running back and forth on a trail is hungry work — and afterward we took the time to really take in the views from Sares Head, the end of the hike and high point. We could see Deception Pass, Whidbey Island and Lopez Island. (Warn kids to stay close here, there are drop offs.)
The kids were intrigued by the view, pointing out that one island looked like a turtle and another like a gingerbread man. I even convinced Ben, Suzanne’s normally camera-shy son, to pose for a photo with his sister.
The return trip was delayed twice when Ben discovered rough-skinned newts on the trail. I don’t know how he spotted them, they blended in so well.
We made it back to the car and declared the trip a success: We had returned with every kid we’d started with, no one was crying (anymore) and no one was abnormally wet. And the adults got to escape the house and enjoy some fresh air. What more could you ask for?
Jessi Loerch: jloerch@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3046.
If you go
Where: Sares Head is in Sharpe Park, off of Highway 20 north of Deception Pass. Length: 0.75 miles roundtrip; 150 feet of gain. Details: At the first junction on the trail, veer left. From here, you have two options to reach Sares Head. Take the left trail for a bit more climbing and a rougher tread. Keep right for a flatter trail and a smoother tread. There are a number of options for longer hikes at Sharpe Park. Check a map at http://bit.ly/1PiRkvO. Details and directions: www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/sharpe-park-sares-head.
More hikes in Skagit County
Anna Roth of WTA suggested these hikes in Skagit County. All are hikeable right now. Check out the links on the WTA website for more information and directions.
Montgomery Duban Headlands: This hike is also in Sharpe Park. It’s 1.5 miles roundtrip with 300 feet of gain; with options to go farther. This trail offers some gorgeous views, a decent workout for a short trail and you’re likely to see eagles, Roth said. Trail map: http://bit.ly/1PiRkvO. Details: www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/sharpe-park-montgomery-duban-headlands.
Northern State Ghost Town: Roth is particularly excited about this hike, which is off of the North Cascades Highway. It’s been a hit since it was first posted on WTA’s site in October. The trail, 5 miles and basically flat, explores the site of Northern State Mental Hospital, which was established in 1909. About 2,700 patients lived there in the 1950s. The hospital closed in 1976. The trail explores some of the old grounds and is a cool spot for photography. Details: www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/northern-state-ghost-town.
Little Mountain Park: This park is right in Mount Vernon, with many options for hikes. Roth said this area reminds her of how people use the Issaquah Alps off I-90 — it’s a convenient place for keeping in hiking condition during the winter. It’s a nice little bump in Mount Vernon that is open to hikers and bikers with a variety of routes. Trail map: http://bit.ly/19TtWqw. Details: www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/little-mountain-park.
Anacortes Community Forest Lands: Roth said hikers can find a wealth of options on the trails in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. There are a number of access points. Roth suggests trying the hikes on Sugar Loaf, Heart Lake or Lake Erie. Pickup a map at Anacortes City Hall or the Mount Erie Grocer, which is on the way to several of the hikes. Details: www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/anacortes-community-forest-lands; www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/sugarloaf-1; www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-erie.
Rasar State Park: The park offers about 4 miles of hiking trails, including some ADA accessible trails. Roth said it’s a nice riverside walk with old growth and cool fungi. “It’s really good for people who are flora and fauna buffs.” Details: www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/rasar-state-park.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
