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Hike Report: Take a Walk Along The Cedar River and See the Salmon

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The Cedar River Trail in Renton offers a flat, easy walk or bike ride with views of the Cedar River, fall color and parks along the way. This stretch also offers three locations to view spawning salmon. These areas are staffed by docents from the Seattle Aquarium in October weekends through the 29th from 11-4.

To start your adventure, park at Maplewood Roadside Park and head up the hill to the left of the bridge. Cross the bridge and then hit the trail.

 

The trail is wide –and on a Sunday afternoon– was moderately busy with walkers, strollers, joggers and bikers. We saw beautiful fall foliage and peek-a-boo views of the river.

Soon you will come to Riverview Park and you can see the blue tents from the Seattle Aquarium from the trail. 

Join the volunteer docents at the tent and learn all about the Cedar River Salmon Journey, the salmon life cycle and pretty much anything you could ever want to know about salmon! They even loan out disposable polarized sunglasses  for easier viewing– kids loved these! Stand on the bridge and docents will point out the bright red and green fish in the water. There is also a public bathroom at this park.

Once you are done spotting salmon, continue down the trail to the Cedar River Park, which is just before the highway 405 overpass. On the way, you will pass the Cedar River Dog Park– perfect for giving your furbaby a break from the leash. Once you arrive at Cedar River Park, again, just look for Seattle Aquarium’s blue tent. We got the best views of swimming salmon at this site. This location also features a fish weir, a sort of a holding pen that captures some fish for the hatchery and allows others to pass through which is pretty cool to see. There are restrooms here, too. 

You can choose to make a U turn here or continue on to the Renton Library for another staffed fish viewing location and a fun park. To continue, cross under the highway overpass and then pass Liberty Skate Park and Liberty Park, which has a play structure if kids need to get some wiggles out. Continue on to the Renton library for yet another look at salmon in a more urban environment. For more salmon spotting adventures check our guide here:

Let’s Go Salmon Spotting: Where to Take the Kids to See Salmon Returning to Spawn

Even if you go after the salmon spawning season this 3 mile, flat walk is a beautiful outing in any season.

 

 

 

Hike Report: Deep Lake at Nolte State Park

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Nolte State Park offers an easy, 1.4 mile trail that is family and dog friendly. With an elevation gain of only 52 feet and peek-a-boo views of the lake, this loop makes a lovely walk.

To park in the lot you will need a Discover Pass.  At the entrance there is a booth with an attendant, so be sure and have your pass ready. You can also purchase a day pass for $10, but at $30 per year, an annual pass is a darn good deal.

The trail head is located in between the restrooms and the play structure and is clearly marked. We noticed that they have a receptacle for micro filament recycling (the white container in the picture) –pretty cool!

The gravel path is pretty wide and you could definitely take your all-terrain stroller on this walk, and we saw folks riding bikes, too. There are occasional offshoots from the trail that go to picnic tables or the shore of Deep Lake.  Just stay on the widest path. There are a couple of small hills, but otherwise it’s pretty flat. We saw lots of huge trees, root balls with hanging moss, butterflies and dragonflies.

Although the trail takes you through the forest, you will catch glimpses of the lake.

The trail takes you right back to where you started, and the whole 1.4 loop took us about 40 minutes to walk, with plenty of breaks when the kids were checking out trees or wildflowers or chasing butterflies…  Now that you’ve gotten in some exercise, enjoy a swim in Deep Lake, go fishing, check out the play set or grab a snack at the picnic tables.

The restrooms were really clean and parking was plentiful. This is a great walk for the whole family and an excellent starter hike.

Nolte State Park   36921 Veazie Cumberland Rd SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022

Check out our park and swim report for Deep Lake

 

Hike Report: Twin Falls in North Bend

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This is a great family hike at Olallie State Park in North Bend. There are plenty of shady areas on the trail, places to stop and play by the river, a giant tree, huge rocks, wildflowers and of course– waterfalls!

To get there, take exit 34 from I-90. Turn right onto 468th Ave SE, then left on SE 159th st. This road ends in the Twin Falls trailhead parking lot.

You’ll need a Discover pass to park at the main Twin Falls trailhead parking lot, but if you don’t have one, there is street parking along the road before the entrance. The trailhead offers a restroom and a map kiosk, it’s a good idea to take a phone picture of the map in case you need it later.

Start out on the main trail which runs alongside the river. You’ll go through a swampy area that has lots of different plant life including skunk cabbage and –when we went in May– lots of wildflowers. Along the river part of the trail, you’ll see lots of smaller paths going down to the riverbank. If you ever want to make it to the waterfall, do what I did and tell the kids you’ll go to the river on the way back. If you stop, they might have so much fun playing that your hike will end there!

You’ll cross a wood bridge, then the trail heads away from the river and into the forest.

The trail winds through the woods until you come to a giant rock at the base of a hill. After you pass the rock, the trail continues up, up, up in a series of switchbacks.

Your first break will be a scenic viewpoint of the lower falls. There is a bench there, but as of my last visit, no trash can- so come prepared to pack out what you pack in. The falls are fairly distant, but still impressive! This is a perfect spot for a water or snack break. You can choose to turn around here or continue to the next, closer view of the falls.

View of lower falls from “The Benches”

From the benches you will continue down a hill where you will find Big Tree.  I found out after I took this picture that you aren’t supposed to walk around the big tree, whoops! There is no fence or sign, but I read that hikers walking around the tree compacts to soil, which isn’t good for the tree. So don’t do what I did- don’t let your kid go right up to the tree.

Big Tree

 

The Upper Falls

After you’ve enjoyed Big Tree, take the trail up a few more switchbacks. When you come to a short wooden bridge, you are almost at the next stopping point. You will see stairs off to the right that descend to a wood platform and an amazing view of the falls. The deck is pretty small, so on crowded days, you may have to wait.

We turned around after the second view of the falls, but you can continue up the hill to a bridge which offers a third view of the upper falls. To get back, go back the same way you came. On the way back, we stopped to relax by the river.  We saw a few people playing in the water, but of course, keep a close eye on your kids– the river runs deceptively fast and it is cold!  

Need more kid friendly hiking?  SFM loves the new edition of (my affiliate link)  Best Hikes With Kids.

For still more ideas, see our round up of favorites here! Note you’ll need to wait until summer for many of these; we always recommend checking trip reports at the Wta.org site for latest conditions and tips.

Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

Park Report: Lake Wilderness Park in Maple Valley

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Tiffany has the scoop on a fun new park for kids near South King County!

Lake Wilderness Park in Maple Valley recently installed new play equipment and I took my son and his friend to check it out. This 117-acre park already has so much to offer; the new play area is the icing on the cake.

From the main parking lot, take the paved path on the right (if facing the rear of the lot). This path takes you over a bubbling creek and past a baseball field and then you will see the playground right in front of you.

There play area is enclosed by a curb and covered in bark mulch.  The smaller play structure has two shorter slides for the littles plus a “tent” with a climbing wall and space to crawl inside.

The larger structure offers two bigger slides plus lots of places to balance and climb.

A separate swing set has a glider, regular swings, baby swings and even an oversized baby swing. The biggest hit seemed to be the spinner, all of the kids were on it going around and around at one point!

In addition to the play equipment, there are paved paths for bikes or scooters, picnic tables, BBQ’s, large grassy areas, bathrooms, faucets for watering your dog and dog waste bag stations.

The lake is just a few steps away and there are tables and benches to sit and watch the ducks, geese and even the occasional bald eagle–but please don’t feed the waterfowl! Picnic shelters and picnic sites near the lake are available for rent. The lake has a roped off swimming area with seasonal lifeguards (check website for dates and times) as well as concessions and boat rentals.

Lake Wilderness Park is open from 7 a.m. ’till dusk. Bring a picnic and spend the day!

Check the website for driving directions and other info!

Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

Hike Report: Fairy Trail in Black Diamond

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If you’ve never hiked in Black Diamond Open Space,  you should check it out! There are miles and miles of trails shared by pedestrians, bikes, and sometimes even horses. ** This hike is an easy one and is more of a nature walk, suitable for younger kiddos or folks that don’t want too much elevation. This trail is called the Lake Sawyer Railroad Company Trail, but it is nicknamed the “Fairy Trail” because there are fun fairy doors on the trees.

Here is a good trail map. As always, we suggest you prepare for your hike by packing the Ten Essentials.

** Keep in mind that this is a multi use trail, and you should be ready to yield to horse or biker riders.  We heard from one reader who was concerned about hikers with young ones not being able to get out of the way of bikes, so keep that in mind if you decide to try this one.

 

The parking area is located off of Highway 169, at the north edge of Black Diamond near Maple Valley. If you are driving south on Highway 169, there is a small, gravel parking lot on the west side of 169 soon after you pass 288th street in Maple Valley. There is no sign. If you reach the larger parking area on the other side of 169 (like I did) you’ve gone too far. Just turn around and go back.

To find the trail head, take the trail that starts just past the Port O’ Potty. You won’t see any signage or trail markers until further in. When you come to the first intersecting trail, stay straight. At the next intersection, you will see the Lake Sawyer Railroad Co sign on a tree.

Turn left onto Lake Sawyer Railroad Co trail. Once you are on the path, keep your eyes peeled! These fairy doors are tiny, only an inch or two in size. They are stapled onto the trees. Be sure to look high and low! This is a short stretch; once you get to the next trail sign, just turn around and go back.

I’d heard that there is sometimes fairy furniture too, but we didn’t see any. Unlike the Gnomes Trail, which has actual gnome statues, here you will only find the doors to fairy homes. I guess fairies are shy!

We found several painted rocks too!

Just FYI, other than the aforementioned portable potty, there are no facilities. We brought our dog, but there were no trash cans or waste bag stations. The trail is not gravel, so there are roots and rocks, but overall it was a pretty easy walk. If you want to walk a bit more, one offshoot from this trail goes to Ravensdale Creek. (Marked Ravensdale Creek). It will add about a half mile to your trek. As always, make sure this hike is a good fit for your hikers and their needs and abilities.

Enjoy!

Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

PS If you like this hike, don’t miss the Gnome Trail! 

Take a Magical Hike on the Gnomes Trail in Maple Valley

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Writer Tiffany has found a magical hike for the whole family right in Maple Valley. We’ve settled into a bit of a rainy, windy pattern, but I couldn’t wait to share it. Obviously, you don’t want to do this hike in the wind, so save it for the next bluebird day! :)

** Keep in mind that this is a multi-use trail.  We heard from one reader who was concerned about hikers with young ones not being able to get out of the way of bikes, so keep that in mind if you decide to try this one.

The Gnomes Trail in Maple Valley

This trail is a fun loop within a network of trails called Henry Ridge in Maple Valley. This whole area is so pretty it feels like a fairy tale, which is probably why many of the trails sport names like Once Upon a Time, Lil’ Red and The Lorax.  Huge trees, funky bridges, hanging moss and ferns as tall as a tween are some of the highlights.

The Gnomes trail offers even more fun, with gnomes of all shapes and sizes along the trail, sitting in hollow trees, atop stumps and hiding among the mushrooms. There are also usually lots of painted rocks as well.

The trek is about three miles round trip. Please keep in mind that this is definitely more of a hike than a walk, with narrow trails, loose rocks and some elevation gain. It is easy to get turned around, I found the Henry Ridge map on the Trailforks app to be very helpful.

These trails are dog-friendly but there are no trash cans or waste bag stations. Also, no bathrooms, so be sure to make a pit stop before heading out!

Directions:

From Hwy 169 turn on Maple Ridge Dr and drive up hill . When you see the water tower, turn right onto SE 281st Way where you can park on the street.

 

Head straight down a gravel road past the map kiosk until you see a trail called Stinger on your right. 

The Stinger trail starts with a pretty bridge.

Stay on Stinger until the trail forks. Here you need to go right and you will soon come to a gravel road. Cross the road and see the Once Upon a Time trail entrance on the other side. This trail is absolutely gorgeous. Though you are very close to a neighborhood, you feel miles away. The kids will love the hanging moss, many different colors of shelf fungus and nurse logs.

Take Once Upon a Time until you come to a “T” here you will see the Derailer trail sign on the right. 

The sign has a white plaque with a zig zag on it and the Derailer sign is up above this.

Turn right on Derailer. This trail has all of the beauty above plus cool bridges.

Keep going on Derailer you’ll cross a bridge and then you will come to a fork in which you can go one of three directions. Stay right to continue. You will cross another really cool bridge that is constructed over a fallen tree, after crossing, continue straight uphill. You are almost to the Gnomes Trail now!  You will see a big tree stump with a gnome on top before you see the sign. This trail winds and doubles back then ends up back at a different point on Derailer. Keep your eyes open, there are gnomes everywhere! Big ones, small ones, even gnome- painted rocks if you are lucky!

Once you exit the Gnomes trail, you will be back on Derailer. Go left and walk past the first Gnomes trail entrance then continue back the way you came in.

One more caution: it is pretty easy to get disoriented on these trails. Be sure to have plenty of daylight, a charged phone, the TrailForks app and your patience! Before I discovered the TrailForks app, I got turned around and was able to use google maps to get back on track!

Send us your pictures if you go!

Hike Report: The Interurban Trail in Milton

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If you are looking for a paved, stroller-friendly and mostly flat walk in the Milton/Fife area, then this hike is for you! The trail head is actually located in Fife at  1705 70th Ave E, Fife, WA 98424. Here you will find a small parking lot, bench and trash can–but no bathrooms. This is the south end of the 2.5-mile trail and the first quarter mile is close to busy 70th Ave so there is quite a bit of traffic noise.

70th St trail head

After about a quarter mile, you will enter a quiet, forested area that is really pretty. The trail runs next to Sweetwater Creek, but I wasn’t able to see the water.

Helpful signs in the path itself let you know you are on the right trail

About 3/4 of a mile in, there is a Port-O-Potty on the left, as well as a picnic table and benches. This was the only facility that I saw, so take note!

Soon after you pass the Port-O-Potty you will cross two streets fairly close together to continue on the trail. These are well marked and you can push a button to turn on a flashing light and cross safely.

Kids will love this, and if yours are anything like mine, each one will want a chance to push the button! There are two of these crossings on the way in, and you will come back the same way so there are two more chances for button pushing on the way back.

We saw some pretty scenery-lots of huge trees with hanging moss and ivy. We met a few dog walkers, joggers and bikers but it wasn’t super crowded on a weekday. I imagine there will be more traffic on weekends.

There was also a nice mix of coniferous and deciduous trees and some leaves were already dropping during my August walk. I’ll bet this makes a fabulous autumn walk. It is dog friendly too!

This out-and-back trail is 2.5 miles long, so be sure and turn around early if you don’t feel like a 5-mile hike. I went twice and both times I turned around at the 2-mile mark. This path is great because if you or the kiddos get tired, just make a U-turn!

Check photos and a trail map here.

 

 

 

Sand Beach at Dash Point State Park

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Dash Point State Park in Federal Way (not to be confused with Dash Point Park and Pier in Tacoma) has lots to offer: campsites, hiking trails, beautiful views and a sand beach. Great for wading, splashing and sandcastle building, this beach is the perfect family outing on a hot day.

Even the drive into the park is pretty, as the road winds through a serene forest. Once you get to the  entrance, you’ll see a sign at the T intersection pointing the way to the beach. A paved lot offers plenty of parking, but you will need a Discover Pass. You can buy a day pass for $10 (put cash in an envelope provided at the self service station-no change available but you can write a check), or if you have an annual pass, place it in the windshield. An annual pass is $30, pretty good deal!

From the parking lot, it is a very short walk over a bridge and through a short tunnel (which my kids thought was really cool-they did lots of yelling to hear the echo) and you are there! A building on the right offers bathrooms with flush toilets and there is also an outdoor shower for rinsing off sand.

The time we went, noon on a weekday, the tide fairly low and we could walk a long way out into the water and still only be in only up to our knees. I read some reviews which stated that if the tide is high, there is less beach- so check the tide table before you go. The sand was very clean and the kids found tons of shells. The kids splashed and swam and of course built sand castles.

What I really liked about this beach was that it is bordered by forest, so there is plenty of shade. Perfect for keeping babies out of direct sunlight or just cooling off. There were also many large driftwood logs which made for good seats and towel hangers.

This beach was totally worth the drive, and you can’t beat the view!

Hike Report: the Lower Ape Cave at Mt. St. Helens

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Calling all spelunkers! The lower Ape Cave at Mt. St. Helens is a 1.5-mile out-and-back walk through a fascinating geologic formation. This is a moderately easy hike for adults and older kids. There is almost no elevation gain, but the floor is uneven and slippery in places, making it more difficult to traverse than a regular trail. If you bring toddlers, be prepared to lift and carry them at times. Because of the tripping hazard, I wouldn’t recommend bringing babies in backpack or front packs, but we saw plenty of people who did just that. Use your own judgement when bringing very young children.

The Ape Cave, located near Mt. St. Helens in Cougar, Washington is not a cave, but is actually a 13,042-foot lava tube–the third longest lava tube in the United States. This unusual formation was created when lava flowed down the south side of Mt St Helens 1,900 years ago. The name has nothing to do with apes, much to my son’s disappointment, but is named after a group of explorers who found the cave, called the Mt St Helens Apes.

There are two hikes within the Ape Caves, the lower and upper caves. The lower cave is much easier and suitable for families. The upper cave requires physical agility as you will need to climb over large boulders and even scale an 8-foot lava wall- not recommended for young children. This post only covers the lower cave.

Getting there: From I-5, take exit 21 and follow SR 503 to Cougar. Once you drive through Cougar, follow the signs to Ape Cave. We drove in from Kelso and used google maps.

What to bring:

5 dollars cash to purchase a parking pass if you don’t have a Northwest Forest Pass. There is no place to get change, you put the money in an envelope and tear off a ticket to place on your car windshield. You can also purchase an e-pass from home before you go, print out and bring along on your trip.

Plenty of light. Two light sources per person are recommended. Headlamps are great for keeping your hands free, but make sure you have good quality ones that can rotate and point downward and have very strong light. I had a headlamp that wasn’t strong enough that I just put in my pocket because it didn’t help me at all. Same goes with flashlights. Dollar store lights or iPhone flashlights will not emit enough light. I found a strong flashlight worked best because I could point it at the ground which was very uneven. Several groups in the cave had the rental propane lanterns (available for rent at the Ape Cave Headquarters near the entrance for $5) which worked really well.

A backpack. You’ll want your hands free.

What not to bring:

No pets!  Animals are not allowed in the caves because of the delicate ecosystem. We saw folks that had to leave their dogs locked in the car because they brought a pet. No smoking, food or drink (except water) allowed inside. No open flames, flares, fireworks or firearms. Littering inside the cave carries a $200 fine and you cannot take any rocks away with you. Also, don’t touch the walls. The “cave slime” that grows there takes years to regrow.

What to wear:

I recommend long pants, preferably jeans, because there are some areas in which you will climb over rocks. Bring a sweater or sweatshirt as well. The temperature stays a constant 40 degrees, and with the uneven floor, you can never really walk fast enough to break a sweat. I also recommend a hat, not necessarily for warmth, but because water drips from the ceiling.

Some reports advised bringing gloves. I didn’t feel the need for gloves, but one of the teens I brought said her hands got really cold.

Wear sturdy shoes! The floor is very uneven and wet in places. Athletic shoes with a good tread are just fine. If you have hiking boots, you could wear them, but in my opinion boots are not necessary for the Lower Cave. We saw people trying to walk in flip-flops, and it wasn’t pretty!

Parking and fees: There is a parking lot at the Ape Headquarters Center for which you will need a Northwest Forest Pass. You insert $5 cash in an envelope and put the ticket on your windshield.  At this lot, there are bathrooms (vault toilets- really stinky!) and souvenirs/lantern rental at the Ape Headquarter Center.

During the winter months, this area gets snowed in and you will need to park about a mile away at the Trail of Two Forests lot, get a Sno-Park Permit, then hike in. 

From the parking lot a short, paved walkway will take you to the cave entrance. Be sure to check out the station staffed by a ranger with lots of info on the caves and bats. Before you enter, stop at the shoe brush station and clean your shoes. This helps cut down on the transmission of the fungi which causes White Nose Syndrome– a disease that harms bats. You will also need to use the shoe brushes after exiting the cave.

Enter the cave via a stairway. Once you get to the bottom, if you continue straight ahead, this takes you to the easier, lower cave. There is a sign with arrows pointing to the upper and lower cave areas but it is tucked under the staircase and we didn’t see it until we were heading back.

Our German exchange student, Sara, just inside the entrance

The cave is huge and I never felt claustrophobic at all. I found I had to keep the flashlight pointed at the floor while walking because it is extremely uneven. But my adventurous kiddos had no problem and were way ahead of me the whole time. We stopped every few minutes to just look around at the walls and ceiling. It never got boring because the inside of the tube looks different every few feet.

 

In addition to the uneven floor, there are a couple of areas in which you will need to climb down or over large rocks. They weren’t huge, but they could present a problem for really little kids. That being said, we saw plenty of parents lifting toddlers over rocks.

Two interesting features are the “railroad tracks” near the entrance, where a smaller tube within the tube formed, leaving a ledge on either side. Also of note is the “meatball” which is a ball of lava that floated through the tube until it got stuck. When you see the meatball, you are almost to the end.

The “meatball”

The tube eventually narrows then dead ends. At the end, there is a tunnel that a small person can army- crawl into. There is nothing on the other side, so you have to back out. Your kids will probably want to go in the tunnel (like mine did) but I don’t recommend it!

This is the end of the lower cave. From here you just turn around and walk back. We really enjoyed the walk back because we were more familiar with the terrain and could really enjoy the scenery.

My whole family really enjoyed this trek, my 13-year-old even called it the highlight of her summer! We didn’t see any bats, much to my kids disappointment. We went on a Sunday and it was very crowded. It would probably be more peaceful on a weekday. The little store offers a free brochure called Exploring the Ape Caves which I recommend picking up before you go in, it has a helpful map.

 

FREE Aquarium at Redondo Pier

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MaST Center at Redondo Pier

28203 Redondo Beach Drive South, Des Moines

If you or your kids love marine life, you have got to visit the MaST center! MaST stands for Marine Science and Technology Center and is a public aquarium belonging to Highline College located right on the pier at Redondo in Des Moines. This FREE resource makes for a fun and educational outing.

 
The center is open every Saturday 10AM-2PM and 4-7PM on Thursdays during the summer.

There is free street parking if you can find it, and a paid lot right across from the pier. It is $1/hour, up to $8/day. The restrooms are just to the left of the MaST Center. They are flush toilets, but, well- they are also public restrooms…

You’ll see the signs for the center just to the right of the restrooms. There are two buildings.

When you enter the first building, pick up a “Self-Guided Tour through the MaST center” brochure. Not only will this tell you about the marine life, but it includes activities for the kids.

The day we went, a Thursday afternoon, it was not crowded and there were plenty of volunteers to answer questions.

 

We were wowed by the gigantic 38-foot gray whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling.

A helpful volunteer showed us some marine animal skulls and let us feel otter and seal pelts. One tank was filled with what was found in the gray whale’s first stomach. (Don’t worry- the whale died of natural causes and was later examined for educational purposes.) The boys I brought were fascinated by this, it included a golf ball, a toy telescope and of course lots of plastic bags.

There were also skeletons of a seal and sea lion.

The next building houses the aquariums and touch tanks. All of the aquariums feature marine animals native to Puget Sound. There are 20 tanks, ranging in size from tiny to huge, and they have an open flow system, which means they circulate water from Puget Sound. They have even found new residents that entered the tanks from the Sound as plankton, then grew up in the aquarium!

My kiddos favs were the touch tanks. Sea anemones, starfish, urchins were all touchable. One tank had skates, a fish similar to sting rays– but without stingers!  The other tanks were interesting too, the kids enjoyed trying to find and ID different fish. It was also cool to see stuff you wouldn’t find at the zoo aquarium, like live sand dollars (they look completely different!)  huge, living scallops and some of the biggest starfish I’ve ever seen.

Once you emerge from the aquarium, you will be on the end of the pier. Be sure and make use of the telescope to look out at the ocean.

You can easily spend several hours in this area. Check out this post for other activities!

Redondo Boardwalk and Sand Beach