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Head out on a kid-friendly fall hike and take advantage of cooler temps and open trails. Photo: iStock
Fall is the perfect time to hike
If you’re like me, with school underway and summer beginning to fade, hiking might be slipping from your mind. But don’t pack up your family’s hiking boots just yet! Autumn is a terrific season to hit the trail.
Our wildlands are beginning to burst with fall color this time of year. I can’t wait to head out on these fall hikes to take in gorgeous hues of flame red, bright orange and soft yellow. Summer crowds have begun to dwindle, and pesky mosquitoes have disappeared, too. Critters such as marmots and songbirds are more active and visible as they hurry to find food for the long winter ahead. With a few extra layers for warmth and the lure of a thermos of hot cocoa, my family finds fall hiking to be full of brilliant color and natural exploration.
- Twin Falls, North Bend
- Swan Creek Park, Tacoma
- Lord Hill Regional Park, Snohomish
- Tonga Ridge, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- Lime Kiln Trail, North Cascades
- Wright Park, Tacoma
- Naches Peak Loop, Mount Rainier National Park
- Cedar River Trail, Renton to Landsburg
- Wildwood Park, Puyallup
- Lake Ann, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
- Billy Frank Jr. Refuge, Olympia
- Hurricane Hill, Olympic National Park
More great hikes for Seattle-area families: |
Editor’s note: This story was originally published many years ago and was updated on Sept. 17, 2025, by ParentMap's editorial team with a thorough fact-check on these trails and an interactive map. In previous years, author Maegen Blue contributed to this article.
