5 Super Stroller Hikes in Western Washington

Overview: Rainy Lake, at Rainy Pass on Route 20 in the North Cascades, is a 1.8-mile roundtrip with 10 feet of elevation gain, and a June-to-October hiking option. A jewel-hued lake is a short jaunt down a barrier free path in the North Cascades. This is a great leg-stretcher when heading over the North Cascades Highway.

The trail is paved and level, with interpretive signs sprinkled throughout, and a jade-green lake twinkles in a rocky cirque at the end of the short trail. Its easily attained beauty is an exception to the rule that you must work hard to reap such a reward.

The Details: From the trailhead, head left on the paved trail, an ideal place for toddlers to try out their hiking feet. Because it is maintained by the Forest Service for wheelchair accessibility, there should be nothing on this path for them to trip over. The trail parallels the highway for 0.75 mile, and the occasional whir of vehicles is the price you pay for such a level hike. Interpretive signs identify trees like Engelmann spruce and Pacific silver fir. Our favorite sign describes a phenomenon called “pistol butt,” where the pressure of snow moving downhill bends the trunks of young trees.

At 0.4 mile, pass a side trail to Maple Pass, and at 0.75 mile curve away from road. Follow the sound of water for a few hundred more yards to a patio with two benches at Rainy Lake. The color and clarity of the lake is striking. You may even be able to spot fish. High, impassable cliffs surround the lake, and in June and July two distinct waterfalls pour loudly down the far side. If it is busy, a side trail leads beyond the patio to a couple of other vantages. When you are ready, retrace your steps to the parking area.

Next trail: Point Whitehorn