Backpacking with my daughter is a favorite past-time of mine, and I know other families enjoy it too. I also know that it can be hard to know where to go backpacking with kids. Below are some trails in SW Washington and around Mt. Hood in my books that I know work for backpacking with kids.
Book: little feet hiking
- Thomas Lake / Blue Lake – there are designated campsites in the Thomas Lake area about 0.6 mile in; there are designated campsites around Blue lake at 3.3 miles in; avoid this trail in early summer due to mosquitoes
- June Lake – there are campsites at the lake around 1.25 mile in; no overnight parking is allowed at the trailhead, but there are some old roads and pull-outs near the access road (this will add a little extra mileage)
Book: little feet hiking 2
- Placid Lake – there are campsites at Placid Lake 1 mile in and Chenamus Lake at 2 miles in; avoid this trail in early summer due to mosquitoes
- Lewis River Trail – campsites at 2 and 2.3 miles from the trailhead
Book: little feet hiking: Mt. Hood
- Salmon River Trail – there are campsites along the river at around 1.5 and 2 miles in
- Burnt Lake – there are several campsites at the lake at 3.3 miles and 1400 feet gain in
- Mirror Lake – there are multiple campsites at the lake at 2.2 miles in and 650 feet gain in
- Hidden Lake -there is one campsite near the lake at 2 miles in and 700 feet gain into the hike
- Lower Twin Lake – there are multiple sites at Lower Twin Lake 2 miles in (although you may need to hike along the additional 0.75 mile lake loop to find a site); there are more sites at Upper Twin Lake 0.7 mile from Lower Twin Lake
- Catalpa Lake – after coming to the lake, hike to the right and find the campsite 0.75 mile from the trailhead
- Buck Lake – there are multiple sites at the lake 0.5 mile from the trailhead
- Meditation Point – there are several sites and a vault toilet at this walk-in campground 0.8-1.5 miles from the trailhead, depending on where you start your hike (0.8 mile from NF-5890 and 1.5 miles from the West Shore Day Use Area); learn more here
- Boulder and Little Boulder Lakes – there are multiple campsites at both lakes, 0.3 miles from the trailhead to Boulder Lake and 1.2 miles from the trailhead at Little Boulder Lake; Little Boulder Lake is less busy than Boulder Lake
- Badger Creek – there are at least 4 campsites within the first 3 miles of the hike
- Oval Lake – there are several campsites by the lake, 2 miles from the trailhead
If you need some ideas on how to get started, check out these links too:
little feet hiking 