Best Kid-Friendly Fall Hikes Around Seattle

Location: Explore the many trails of Lord Hill Regional Park near Snohomish.

Distance: 3–6 miles round trip, scant elevation gain

Check conditions: 425-388-6600

Directions: From Snohomish, take Lincoln Avenue south from the southeast edge of town; this road becomes the Old Snohomish–Monroe Highway. Continue for 2.7 miles, turn right (south) onto 127th Avenue Southeast. Continue 1.6 miles to the park entrance and trailhead. Find more information on the WTA website.

Description: Close enough for an after-school hike, wild enough to leave the city behind, Lord Hill offers an autumn respite near home for urban hikers and equestrians. The park comprises some 1,400 acres of upland nature preserve along the Snohomish River, with more than 5 miles of designated trails that crisscross the old homestead. Varied river, forest and pond habitats support a lot of wildlife creatures that are more active in autumn, including bears, bobcats, beavers, birds and garter snakes.

The main trail starts from the parking lot, first on the boardwalk and then on regular trail tread, and short loops can be created from side paths that branch off from it. Use the map to create a loop of your desired distance; the trails are well signed. For a varied path with great fall color and possible wildlife sightings, hike the Beaver Lake Loop: From the main trail, turn left on the Beaver Lake Trail, right on the Pipeline (which takes you past the pond), and then return to the main trail via the short Pipeline Connector Trail.

Next stop: Tonga Ridge

^{Image credit: Owen Jones/Flickr CC}