My family and I just returned from a two-week road trip, including some truly glorious hikes. We spent time in the northern California redwoods, Bend and even stopped at Crater Lake, all fabulous places for families to hike.
Of course, we have plenty of remarkable places for family hiking right here in the Portland metro area! Forest Park, Tryon Creek State Park, Hoyt Arboretum, Powell Butte and many other wonderful urban oases are easily accessible, and tempting day trips include the Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood, the Oregon coast and beyond. But this summer, my family is determined to explore even more of the local flora and fauna, so this week we’re asking our readers to recommend their favorite local family hikes, and we’re offering a chance to win a copy of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon by Bonnie Henderson (Mountaineers Books, 2007) for doing so.
To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us where your family loves to hike and what makes the place so special. We’ll pick a winner from all appropriate comments received by Friday, July 30, at 5 pm.
Want to double your chances of winning? “Like” us on Facebook (AND leave a comment on one of our Facebook posts from this week so we know you’ve joined us!) and we’ll put your name in the hat twice.
Contest ends Friday, July 30, at 5 pm. Happy trails!
Our favorite hiking spot is Jackson Bottom Wetlands in Hillsboro, but it can get muddy when it rains. On non-gorgeous days, we tend to stick to the paved trails at Noble Woods (Hillsboro) or Tualatin Hills Nature Park (Beaverton).
We recently checked out the new park at Cooper Mountain and were very impressed. In a few years when everything grows in and the poison oak dies back, it will be fantastic.
My husband, our 2 kids, 8 and 5 and I love to hike Tarbell Trail. It’s a trail system on Department of Natural Resources land in Clark County in the Yacolt Burn State Forest on Larch Mtn. There are some very neat features. A wooden plank footbridge crosses a creek and goes up through tall trees where you come across a stick hut that was made by someone. For kids who love pretend play and adventures, this trail has the perfect features to assist with our family’s imagination. You can viewphotos of our hike here. You can also find a link to the trail system map there.
We love Hoyt Arboretum in Washington Park. There are several different lengths and trails to explore with maps telling you what you’re viewing. Even when it’s nice and warm, like today, it’s always cool at Hoyt.
Not too far from the rush of McLoghlin Blvd. in Milwaukie is a little oasis called Elk Rock Island. http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=113&action=ViewPark
You enter Elk Rock Island though a little play area/greenspace that was recently updated and as you walk, you move from a park-like setting to a forest like setting. The hike is not long, but it is easy to do with very young children and your older children will feel like true explorers. The trail takes you out to the shore of the Willamette River, and I have seen people fishing there. You can wade around in little shallows or hike up a rocky area (apparently Elk Rock Island is the result of a volcanic eruption 40 million years ago). If you are looking for something to do that is close to the city but makes you feel like you’re far away from civilization bring a picnic and enjoy a day at this little oasis.
Indian Beach to Ecola Point in Seaside! Along the way there are gorgeous old growth trees and vegetation. At the end of this hike is a beautiful beach seems hidden from the rest of the world.
Bring a picnic, sunscreen and your bathing suit!
I love Mt. Tabor, the hills are killer but its so beautiful and my big jogging stroller goes most everywhere.