Great Family Hikes

These are some great hikes in the state of Washington that I used to take with my son. Usually they where a day trip, we would drive to a nearby town, spend the night and head out on the trail early in the morning. Occasionally my son and I would camp for a night or two after he got a little older. All three of these hikes are very easy for adults, and easy to moderate for children 8 and above. My family has relocated to Idaho so it has been awhile since going to these great locations. A camera is a must for any of these trips.

The first and probably my favorite hike is High Rock Lookout off of the Mount Rainer National Park Highway. From Olympia, head for Highway 706 toward the town of Ashford. After going through town, stay on highway 706 going east for about four or five miles. You then turn right on a road with the sign Big Creek Campground. From this point I recommend getting a US Forest Service map as I only know the roads from memory and I do not want to be responsible for getting anyone lost. A good map makes the drive very easy. It is no more then 15 miles to the trail head and the drive is beautiful. You will be over 4000' in elevation at the beginning of the hike so dress accordingly. The trail head is #266 and has a sign labeled High Rock. The trail is about 1.5, maybe 2.0 miles long and has a 1500'elevation climb. The lookout sits on the edge of a cliff at the 5700' elevation mark. 2000' below is a small lake and you will also be treated to a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier. Last time I was at the lookout, it was still in operation and the Forest Service employee was very nice and let my son use the binoculars as he gave us a visual tour of the surrounding area.