8 Kid-Friendly Hikes Just 90 Minutes (or Less) From Seattle
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Enjoy a kid-friendly hike on the Grand Ridge Trail. Photo: courtesy of King County Parks
Grand Ridge Trail Park, Issaquah
Completed several years ago by tireless Washington Trails Association volunteers, Grand Ridge Park trail is a 7-mile multi-use trail overlooking the cities of Issaquah and Sammamish. Kid attractions along the way include several small bridges and a 40-foot cedar log stringer bridge built with wind-fallen trees. A 605-foot cedar-decked boardwalk spans a peat wetland surrounded by thick stands of western hemlock and Sitka spruce. Look for barred owls, pileated woodpeckers, deer, squirrels, swallows, finches and bald eagles. Cougars, black bears and bobcats are sometimes spotted in this area, too.
Length of trail/difficulty: This 7-mile trail includes some rolling terrain and a roughly 1,100-foot elevation gain. Kids ages 10 and older should be able to walk the entire network, while younger children can explore shorter loops. Hikers, bikers, horses and leashed dogs share this trail.
Getting there: You can start a hike from several trailheads. Find directions and recent trip reports with info on trail conditions at the WTA website. No parking pass required.
Next hike: Ravine Experience
