Tag: nature

Stroller-friendly and Low Barrier Walk: Daybreak Regional Park

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View from the western part of the trail

Town/City: Battle Ground

Walk Length: 1.1 miles total

Elevation Gain: Minimal

Seasons: Open year-round

Trail surface: Pavement and gravel 

Popularity: High on summer weekends

Trailhead

Why Should You Check Out This Walk? This park is a beautiful spot on the East Fork of the Lewis River. In addition to a paved, flat, and accessible trail, there is river access, a playground, and restrooms. The river is very swift most of the year and caution should be used all year long. Thankfully, the path stays clear of the river, although there are paths that take you to the riverbank. This trail is an excellent spot for birdwatching.

Looking east towards Silver Star Mountain

Considerations: The trail is great for strollers and young walkers. Young walkers may need help staying on the trail and out of the conservation areas alongside the trail. The trail down to the river is not completely stroller friendly. Extra caution must be used near the water’s edge with all kids.

River access during summer

Ways to Engage Kids: 

  • Watch for birds
  • Watch people float down the river
  • Look for animal tracks in the cement along the trail
  • Play on the playground on the other side of the park
  • Learn about riparian areas by reading informational signs
  • If you play by the water, wear a flotation device and keep a special eye on little kids near the rushing water
  • Look for cloud animals in the sky
  • See if you can spot Silver Star Mountain in the distance while looking east
Bird tracks in the cement
Gravel path down to the riverbank

Trail Description: From the Lower Daybreak Trailhead, head west down a paved path. Along the way, you will pass several informational signs and a path (on the right) heading down towards the river. After 0.3 mile, you will see a gravel path going off to the left. Take this to make a short loop around the western part of the park. After 0.3 mile on this gravel trail (0.6 mile into your walk), you will come back to the paved trail at the westernmost part of the trail. Turn right and head back along the paved trail towards the parking area for a 1.1 mile walk. 

Heading towards the benches at the westernmost part of the trail

Important things to know:

Seasons: Year-round; the park gets very busy in the summer

Parking: Free

Website: https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/daybreak-regional-park-and-boat-launch

Dogs okay? Yes, on leash; keep an extra eye on them near the river due to parasite danger (from eating raw fish)

Conveniences: Restrooms and playground on the east side of the park; benches; picnic tables

Restrooms: Located on the east side of the park; access requires crossing or driving across a busy road

Risks specific to the trail: Rushing river near the trail; there is little to no shade on the trail; there may be fishing litter (like hooks) near the river; despite leash laws, you may encounter off-leash dogs

Recommended extra gear: Sun protection; change of clothes and flotation devices if getting near the river

Trailhead GPS coordinates: 45.813233, -122.591274

Parking Directions: If coming from the south on NE 82nd Avenue, turn left into the Daybreak Park Boat Launch area before crossing over the East Fork Lewis River. The trailhead is on the west side of the parking area.

Stroller-friendly and Low Barrier Walk: Pleasant Valley Community Park

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View of Salmon Creek from the bridge

Town/City: Salmon Creek (Vancouver)

Walk Length: About 1 mile round-trip with opportunity to extend

Elevation Gain: Minimal after one big, short hill

Seasons: Year-round

Trail surface: Mostly pavement and gravel

Popularity: Low

Parking: Limited street parking

Why Should You Check Out This Walk? This hidden gem is located in a quiet neighborhood in Salmon Creek. It is a great place to connect with nature and stretch your legs. Bring binoculars for bird-watching too!

View of a flooded trail next to one of the ponds

Considerations:

Stroller – Works for jogging strollers, except where noted. The trail surface is a mix of pavement, gravel, and boardwalk, except where noted. There is one short, but steep hill.

Young walkers – Okay for younger walkers. Keep an extra eye on kids when near ponds, creek and road crossings. Please keep kids out of the conservation areas as well. 

Ways to Engage Kids: 

  • Race leaves from the bridge over Salmon Creek
  • Listen for frogs and birds near the ponds
  • Identify native trees like black cottonwood and western red cedar
  • Look for bird nests in the trees (especially when trees are bare)
  • Roll down a grassy hill
  • Do some birdwatching
  • Keep an eye out for deer
  • Visit in the fall for changing leaves
View of one of the paved trails

Trail Description: After entering the park on a paved path, stay left at the first junction. You will see the school off to the right. Walk along the paved path that skirts a large meadow and runs adjacent to private home fences. At a quarter mile into your walk, come to a split at a sign with a watershed map. To the left is a paved path that goes back into neighborhood. On the right is a gravel path. Check out the map at the junction, and then head downhill to the right. This is the steepest part of the trail and is short-lived. Keep in mind that you will have to push a stroller back up this hill. At the bottom of the hill, you will see a trail going off to the right. That will be your return if you don’t have a stroller (it is too narrow and rooty in places for a stroller).

Checking out the watershed map

Heading downhill on the gravel trail

Continue straight heading downhill a bit more and pass an old gazebo. Pass between two ponds, where you should look for beaver sign (trees cut with teeth). The trail may flood in this area during the wetter seasons. After another 0.2 mile, come to a junction. The trail to the left goes over the bridge, and the trail to the right takes you on a root-filled loop connection back to the main trail. Take the time to walk over the bridge to peer over Salmon Creek. 

Beaver sign by one of the trailside ponds
The bridge over Salmon Creek

If you’d like to extend your walk beyond the bridge, use the crosswalk to cross Salmon Creek Avenue, and head left on the paved sidewalk. After a third of a mile, the sidewalk turns onto the WSU campus, where you can walk for quite a ways. See this map for more information. 

Salmon Creek

Head back the way you came or, if not with a stroller, continue the short loop on the rootier, narrow trail. Cross a little boardwalk and go uphill a little bit through woods until you come back to the junction with the main gravel path. Go left to head up the hill to the paved trail, and retrace your steps to your vehicle. 

This is the non-stroller-friendly path that returns to the main path

Important things to know:

Seasons: Year-round, but the trails could flood during the wet seasons

Parking: Limited street parking

Website: https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/pleasant-valley-community-park-0

Dogs okay? Yes, on leash

Conveniences: benches and picnic table under a gazebo

Restrooms: None

Risks specific to the trail: Slippery bridge; flooded trail

Trailhead GPS coordinates: 45.724818, -122.623133

Parking Directions: Find street parking near NW 143rd Circle and NE 47th Avenue. Be sure not to block any driveways. Some people park at the Pleasant Valley Middle School when not in session. 

How and Where to Hike in Spring around Portland, Vancouver, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge

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Hiking at Lucia Falls during the camas bloom

Spring is such a mixed bag around here. In a given year, we can have snow, ice, rain, hail, and sunshine. Spring in the PNW means wildflowers are popping up everywhere, the waterways are full, and temperatures are (should be??) warming up.

Looking for migratory birds at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

It can be hard to know where to hike in the spring since the weather is constantly changing and snow levels are still quite low. Urban trails, as well as the local national wildlife refuges are usually a good bet with their low elevation and migratory bird excitement. Hikes in the Gorge, as well as most hikes below 2,000 feet are a good bet in spring.

Admiring Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge

While I can’t fully prepare you for spring hiking, below are a few tips on how to hike with your kids in spring:

  • Plan for quickly changing weather. Check the weather the morning of your hike, but make sure you have extra layers for rain, wind, or hail.
  • Dress in layers and avoid cotton. The combination of cool spring temperatures and rain can still put you in hypothermia territory.
  • If you are going up into the area’s national forests, check conditions on trailhead pages (included in book descriptions), as well as here for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and here for the Mt. Hood National Forest
  • Assume you will encounter mud and bring a change of clothes for kiddos!
  • Make sure you do a tick check after your hike and watch out for poison oak, especially when hiking through oak woodlands and east of the Cascades. Learn about how to hike in tick country.
  • Keep an eye out for rainbows.
  • Maintain reasonable expectations and have fun!
  • Check out these great spring hiking tips from the Washington Trails Association.
  • Consider an after-dinner hike as sunset gets later.
Checking out the Willamette River at Canemah Bluff

Now that you know how to hike in spring, how do you know where to hike with your family? No worries, I’ve got you covered. I’ve compiled my favorite spring hikes by book. Check them out below.

For springtime kid-friendly hikes in the Portland area, visit this page.

For springtime kid-friendly hikes in the Mt. St. Helens, Southwest Washington, Vancouver, and Clark County areas, visit this page.

For springtime kid-friendly hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, visit this page.

For springtime kid-friendly hikes in the Mt. Hood area, stay tuned for a future post.