Best Kid-Friendly Fall Hikes Around Seattle
Photo:
Mt. Baker has beautiful fall colors when you head there for a kid-friendly hike. Photo: iStock
Tonga Ridge, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Distance: 6 miles round trip, 400 feet of elevation gain
Location: Find the Tonga Ridge hike in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest along Highway 2.
Description: Known as the easiest ridge walk on the west slope of the Cascades, Tonga Ridge is also one of the most popular hiking destinations in late summer. Fall will afford you some solitude to enjoy the fiery huckleberry and heather meadows in peace. Hike to Sawyer Pass or as far as your kids wish, then turn around. Keep an eye out for deer and bears (wear bright colors!), and don’t miss the gorgeous views into the Cascades on a clear day. You need a Northwest Forest Pass to park.
Directions: Drive Highway 2 east from Skykomish for 1.8 miles, then turn right onto Foss River Road (#68). At 1.2 miles, keep right at the fork. At 3.6 miles, take a left onto Tonga Ridge Road (#6830). At 7 miles from that junction, turn right (#6830 or #310) and continue 1.4 miles to the trailhead. It’s about a two-hour drive from Seattle.
Next stop: Lime Kiln
