Best Spring Hikes in the Seattle Area for Kids and Families

In the late winter and early spring, my kids and I start to go a little stir-crazy. We long to go hiking, but the weather is still drippy and our favorite hiking trails in the mountains are snow-laden. It’s time to get creative and explore trails closer to home.

We especially like places that offer indoor nature centers where we can duck out of the rain to keep learning and exploring. Some of the visitor centers and indoor facilities mentioned have limited hours, so double-check before you go if you want to be sure to have an escape from the rain.

Now, let’s get going on 11 of our favorite spring hikes, including one longer road trip for when the wanderlust bug bites. Use the arrows above the image to browse each hike, or skip ahead to the trail you can’t wait to visit first:

• Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden, Seattle
• Mercer Slough Nature Park, Bellevue
• Cedar River Watershed, North Bend
• Discovery Park, Seattle
• Padilla Bay, Skagit County
• Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Olympia
• Brightwater Center, Woodinville
• Tacoma Nature Center, Tacoma
• Bellevue Botanical Garden, Bellevue
• Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue
• Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, Vantage

First stop: A garden at the Ballard Locks

Editor’s note: This article was originally published a few years ago and was most recently updated in March 2025 by ParentMap's family fun editor, Meredith Charaba, with new details and a thorough fact-check.