Have you ever hiked with a kid who just didn’t want to hike? It happens. In my five hiking guides, I give you a lot of general and hike-specific ideas to motivate your kids to keep hiking. However, after 10 years of hiking with kids of all ages, the most tried-and-true motivator that I’ve found (other than ice cream) is PLAYGROUNDS!
After going through all 5 of my kids hiking guides, I’ve identified 22 hikes, within 50 miles of Portland (Oregon) and Vancouver (Washington), that have playgrounds along the trail, at the trailhead, or within a few miles of the trailhead. Better yet, my 10 year old (the original littlefoot) sat down with me to rank the top 10 playgrounds in her opinion (she has visited all of them). You can find that post here. Below you will find the remaining 12 playground hikes!
12 MORE PLAYGROUNDS (AND THEIR HIKES)
Tickle Creek
- 1.6 to 3.2 miles round trip
- Shallow creeks
- Paved or gravel, stroller-friendly trails
- 29 miles from downtown Portland and 32 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking: Portland Metro
Mt. Tabor
- Up to 3 miles round trip
- Hike atop an extinct volcano
- Paved stroller-friendly trails with some hills
- Flush toilets available
- 4 miles from downtown Portland and 11 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking: Portland Metro
Cooper Mountain Nature Park
- 0.7 or 2.9 miles round trip
- Hike through meadows and look for wildlife like deer, frogs, and birds
- Nature-themed playground
- Gravel trails that are stroller-friendly if you don’t mind hills (the 0.7 mile loop is less hilly)
- Flush toilets available
- 13 miles from downtown Portland and 21 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking: Portland Metro
Oxbow Regional Park
- 2 to 4.1 miles round trip
- Hike through old-growth forest and along the Sandy River (use caution near the river)
- Two available playgrounds: a more traditional playground and an inclusive nature-themed playground
- Flush toilets available
- 25 miles from downtown Portland and 28 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking: Portland Metro
Lower Marble Creek Falls
- 1 mile round trip
- Hike alongside a lake (reservoir) to a small waterfall
- Flush toilets available
- 46 miles from downtown Portland and 35 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking two
Battle Ground Lake
- 1 or 2 miles round trip
- Hike alongside a volcanic lake and through lovely forest
- Flush toilets available
- 29 miles from downtown Portland and 20 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking two
Pool of the Winds
- 3 miles round trip
- Hike uphill to a beautiful waterfall through forest past Bonneville Dam views
- Flush toilets available
- 41 miles from downtown Portland and 35 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking: Columbia River Gorge
Hamilton Island
- 3 miles round trip
- Hike past Gorge views, through meadows, and along the Columbia River
- Vault toilet available at the trailhead
- See if you can find all the Bigfeet at the Bigfoot-inspired North Bonneville Park playground located 3 miles from the trailhead
- 46 miles from downtown Portland and 40 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking: Columbia River Gorge
Campen Creek Greenway
- 1 mile round trip
- Hike through meadows to the turnaround point at Hartwood Park Red Barn Playground
- Portable toilets available
- 26 miles from downtown Portland and 20 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking two
Oaks Bottom
- 2.7 or 2.8 miles round trip
- Hike through an urban wildlife refuge
- Playground and flush toilets available at adjacent Sellwood Park
- 5 miles from downtown Portland and 13 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking: Portland Metro
Iron Mountain
- 1.8 miles round trip
- Hike up hills to the site of a historic iron mine
- Flush toilets available
- 9 miles from downtown Portland and 18 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking: Portland Metro
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
- 1 to 4.1 miles round trip
- Hike through a large national wildlife refuge
- Vault toilets available
- Davis Park playground is located 1 mile from the trailhead
- 27 miles from downtown Portland and 18 miles from downtown Vancouver
- Learn more in little feet hiking: Portland Metro and little feet hiking
Which playground, I mean hike, will you choose first??
little feet hiking 