Best Kid-Friendly Fall Hikes Around Seattle

Distance: 3.4 miles round trip, 700 feet of elevation gain

Location: Find the Lake Ann trail in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, along the North Cascades Highway.

Description: This classic hike in the North Cascades is famous for dazzling during autumn. (But it’s a long drive from the Seattle area.) Late-season huckleberries cling to fire-hued bushes along the trail, and wide-open vistas remind you of why you live in the Northwest (despite the winter that is just around the corner). The star attraction of this hike, however, is the flame yellow of the autumn alpine larches, which are usually at their peak in mid-October.

A short distance from the trailhead is a junction; head to the right off of the paved path and onto the trail. Ascend through a canopy of conifers. At the 1.3-mile mark is a side trail leading to beautiful Lake Ann, a perfect destination for families with small children. Relax at the lake and enjoy the views of granite peaks and golden larches before turning around and returning to your car. You need a Northwest Forest Pass to park. 

Directions: Drive Highway 20 east from I-5 to the trailhead at Rainy Pass. Drive time from Seattle is about three hours one way.

Next stop: Billy Frank Jr. refuge