5 Super Stroller Hikes in Western Washington

Overview: Nisqually Vista, near the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center in Mount Rainier National Park, is a one-mile loop with 50 feet of elevation gain, and a July-to-mid-October hiking option. Recently repaved, this is the easiest hike at Mount Rainier’s Paradise, and suitable for wheelchairs, strollers and just walkers.

Mount Rainier’s Paradise is a study in verticality. Trails depart straight up the broad shoulders of the mountain, attaining dizzying heights quickly. The newly redone Nisqually Vista Trail is an exception. The entire mile-long loop is smooth pavement, suitable for wheelchairs, strollers, and the youngest of walkers who want to look at one of the mountain’s largest glaciers.

The Details: The trail begins at the far end of the lower parking lot, west of the visitor center. Look for the first photo opp almost immediately — a rock with a hole in the center and room for two. Just beyond, the trail takes off in a loop. Go right on a beeline for glacier vistas. At the half-mile mark there are four viewpoints for the Nisqually Glacier. The final one is the best. Check out the glacier’s gray toe and the white veins of water thundering through the barren valley. Round a corner and close the loop at 0.8 mile, returning right for the trailhead. To learn more about Mount Rainier’s glaciers, be sure to visit the upstairs portion of the nearby Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center.

Next trail: Rainy Lake