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Note-The wading pool was scheduled to be on after July 4th, 2018, but I haven’t had a chance to confirm yet.
Directions and contact info. are here. Read on for our original post on this fun spot!
This park has it all: hiking, beautiful views, playgrounds, picnic shelters, outdoor grills and a fun splash pool/fountain.
A friend and I visited this park with our kids (12, 10 and 9 year olds) and our dogs.
First, we checked out the hiking trails. We started at Vista Sites, which is an observation deck overlooking the river and dam. The view of the river is amazing, and there are several informational plaques describing the history of the dam as well. The Vista Trail (.3 miles) leads from the upper deck down a hill to another observation area for a closer view of the water. Unfortunately, the Vista Trail was closed due to fallen trees, but a sign stated that it will be open soon. I’ve been on that trail before and although it is steep, the view is amazing, so don’t miss it if it is open!
Next, we found the trailhead for the Rim Trail, located just outside the main gate of the park. This trail is narrow (we had to hike single file) and a little overgrown. The main trail continues for 2 miles, but our kids wanted to get back to play in the fountain, so we hiked one mile out and back. The trail winds through thick forest so we stayed cool on a really warm day. We could hear the river, but we couldn’t see it.
This trail continues for two miles, before connecting to another trail that leads along the river for a total of 5 miles. Due to roots, inclines, and uneven ground, I really wouldn’t recommend this hike for younger kids. Ours did have fun, and we plan on returning to hike the rest. You can check out this trip report at Visit Rainier for more information. Note that it also cautions about unstable ground.
The park itself is amazing, with four separate play structures, one that has swings only (two baby swings and two regular) and the three play structures feature the usual slides, rings, etc.
There are many covered picnic areas, some with grills, and lots of grassy meadow for lounging. A clean bathroom with a baby changing table is right next to the splash pool.
The favorite for our kiddos was the giant, mushroom-shaped fountain and wading pool. Be sure and pack the kids’ bathing suits, because only swimwear is permitted in the water. Note from SFM-In the summer of 2016 one of our readers reported a lot of bees/insects near the pool. That was not our writer’s experience, so we suspect something must have been blooming. We haven’t heard reports of anything like that recently, but there are some other links at the bottom of this post if you need a back up option (You could also do a hike/playground and skip the pool-if your kids would be ok with that).
If you go-Mud Mountain Dam Recreation Area is at 30525 SE Mud Mountain Rd, Enumclaw, WA 98022 You’ll see a sign on your right, and the park is at the end of a short road/driveway. There is ample parking and no fee. I’ve only found it to be close to busy if there is a group there. It is a bit out of the way, unless you’re in Enumclaw, so we suggest you pack a picnic and your suits and have a full day of play and relaxation with some pals! The water is typically on until the first freeze. You can get more detailed directions here.
Article and pictures by contributor Tiffany Doerr Guerzon.
We have more great summer hikes with the kids here! One to consider that is somewhat close to Mud Mountain is Federation Forest.
What time does the mud mountAin mushroom pool open?
It’s up to the ranger. Last year it was on when our writer visited June 28th, but it’s usually not until the 4th of July. I’ll try to get a hold of them to see if there is a plan for this year.