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

Published on March 7, 2024 by littlefeethikingLeave a comment

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.

Vancouver, Mt. St. Helens, and Southwest Washington Must-do Spring Hikes

Published on March 6, 2024March 7, 2024 by littlefeethikingLeave a comment

Curious where to hike with your kids this spring in the Vancouver, Clark County, and Southwest Washington Areas? Look no further because I’ve written two kids hiking guides covering 55 hikes in the area. While some of these hikes will be covered in snow for a few more months, there are so many other hikes that are accessible and lovely in spring.

I’ve picked the must-do spring hikes from my books little feet hiking and little feet hiking two. You can get all the details you need for a safe and fun family hike by picking up a copy and hitting the trail.

Book 1: little feet hiking

One of the trails at Vancouver Lake Regional Park

Vancouver Lake North Trail

Near downtown Vancouver
2.5 to 4.5 miles
Stroller-friendly
Visit in spring to see migratory birds and early budding black cottonwood trees
Catch a glimpse of Mt. Hood on a clear day
Leave time for some playground play
little feet hiking educates about the neat cottonwood trees you’ll see on this trail

Salmon-Morgan Creek Natural Area

Brush Prairie
1.25 to 1.75 miles
In spring, look for trillium flowers, wood sorrel, fern fiddleheads, bleeding heart flowers, and other native plants
Check out a native plant field guide from the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System
We love this place for the big trees and nurse logs; learn more about both of these in little feet hiking

Birdwatching at Steigerwald; see the peak of Mt. Hood in the distance

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Washougal
2 to 4 miles; stroller-friendly
I’ve been leading kids on hikes at this refuge for 10 years; it is an amazing place to introduce kids to birdwatching and conservation
Visit in spring to watch for migratory birds
Seasonal trails open up in May and there isn’t much shade on this hike
Learn about migratory birds like ospreys in little feet hiking

Lucia Falls Regional Park

Yacolt
1.25 miles
Stroller-friendly
Visit in spring to look for early native plants, camas lilies, and salmon jumping the falls in April and May
To protect this unique habitat, be sure to avoid any contact with the water
Learn about salmon and the East Fork Lewis River in little feet hiking

Blooming camas in the Lacamas Lily Field

Round Lake and Lacamas Lily Field

Camas
1.25 to 1.5 miles
Visit in spring to visit the camas lily fields
Scan Round Lake for water birds
Leave time to visit the playground along the trail
Learn about camas and environmental stewardship in little feet hiking

Toddler plopped in the middle of the trail heading into the refuge; see the plankhouse in the distance

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

Ridgefield
1 to 3.8 miles
Visit in spring to see the arrival of migratory birds; seasonal trails open in May
Keep an eye and an ear out for passing trains
Visit one of my favorite trees, known for being a lunch spot for local birds of prey (see the guide for more information)
Learn about bird migration in little feet hiking

Tarbell Trail from Tarbell Picnic Area

Yacolt Burn State Forest
1.6+ miles
This is one my favorite local hikes: there are amazing wildflowers April through June, and you can see three volcanoes on clear days
Learn about the local volcanoes in little feet hiking

Hummocks Trail

West side of Mt. St. Helens
2.4 miles
This lower elevation hike is the best kid-friendly hike to see into the crater of Mt. St. Helens
Add on a trip to nearby Coldwater Learning Center and Coldwater Lake
Wildflowers can start popping up in May
Learn about hummocks in little feet hiking

Book 2: little feet hiking two

Kiwa Trail

Ridgefield
1.5 miles
Seasonal trail that opens May 1st
One of the best places around to see nesting swallows
Over the last few years, sandhill cranes have nested in the area and delayed opening
Learn about tree swallows and check the trail’s status in little feet hiking two

Trail view of the Oregon side of the Gorge

Doetsch Ranch Loop

Near North Bonneville
1.2 miles
This area is part of the Washington State Birding Trail and is a great place for birdwatching
Enjoy views of Beacon Rock, Hamilton Mountain, and the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge
Learn about Beacon Rock and the Missoula Floods in little feet hiking two

Springtime view of Mt. St. Helens from the boardwalk trail

Silver Lake

Castle Rock
1 mile barrier-free dirt and boardwalk loop
Excellent for bird-watching, and spotting frogs and lily pads
Catch a glimpse of Mt. St. Helens on a clear day
Add on a visit to next-door Mount St. Helens Visitor Center
Learn about frogs and lily pads in little feet hiking two

Columbia Springs

Vancouver
1.75 miles
Spring is an excellent time to visit in order to watch for birds, identify native plants, and see the fish in the ponds
Keep an eye on the website for interesting family events
Learn about the history of the onsite hatchery in little feet hiking two

La Center Bottoms

La Center
2.2 miles
Hike along wetlands, keeping an eye out for migratory and resident birds
Consider bringing along a bird guide and binoculars
The trails can flood during times of heavy rain
Learn about bird migration in little feet hiking two

Battle Ground Lake State Park

Battle Ground
1 mile loop, but can add on additional miles on outer trails
Enjoy watching birds, including bald eagles and cormorants
Add on a spring camping trip in the adjacent campground
The trails can be muddy during times of heavy rain
Learn about the volcanic origins of the lake in little feet hiking two

Approaching the bridge that crosses Rock Creek

Tarbell Trail from Rock Creek Campground

Yacolt Burn State Forest
2+ miles
This trail offers a bit more solitude, although you may encounter mountain bikers and horses
Visit for the creek, flowers, birdsong, and empty trails; be sure to bring sun protection on clear days
Learn how to practice dendrochronology on the trail in little feet hiking two

Catherine Creek Trail

1.4 to 2.6 miles
This trail is very popular in spring due to amazing wildflowers and spring sunshine
Make sure you do a tick check after your hike
You can add on a shorter accessible 0.25 to 1.25 mile round-trip hike
Learn about why this side of the Gorge is so much sunnier in little feet hiking two

Lewis River Trail

Gifford Pinchot National Forest
4.6 miles
This trail is known for its large Western red cedar trees and proximity to the beautiful Lewis River
Hike in May to see fairy slipper orchids
Learn about Western red cedars trees in little feet hiking two

There are many more excellent springtime hikes in the area. For Portland area spring hikes with kids, check out this post. For Columbia River Gorge area spring hikes with kids, check out this post.

“little feet hiking” on KGW News!

Published on August 23, 2022September 5, 2023 by littlefeethikingLeave a comment

Originally posted here on KGW News on August 18th, 2022.

LET’S GET OUT THERE

Finding fun trails for kids close to home

Jessica Becker is a mom and self-published author. Her “Little Feet Hiking” books help parents find fun outdoor learning experiences close to home.

CLARK COUNTY, Wash. — In this week’s Let’s Get Out There, we head to the Tarbell Trail in Clark County. For the grown-ups who love to hike, it can be easy to zone in and charge toward the goal. But once you add kids into the mix, it’s a whole different ballgame.

Self-published author Jessica Becker hopes families use her books as a way to explore trails close to home. In addition to being a writer, she’s also a Clark County mom.

“We like to bring people here that have never hiked before, because it’s got some fun challenges, but it’s also easy to get to and not too hard,” said Becker.

The Tarbell Trail is one of her favorites and it’s easy to see why. It boasts great views of Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier, edible plants like huckleberries and thimbleberries, plus a chance to see wildlife — or at least the evidence they leave behind.

No matter how short the hike, an outing with kids can be a whole other animal.

“I like letting the kids lead, it gives them like a feeling of being in control and some autonomy,” said Becker.

Becker left a fast-paced corporate job after she became a mom, and she found that slowing down was hard. She began hiking with her daughter and learned that going slow is the best way to explore.

Friend and fellow mom Rachel Valentine comes here quite a bit with her three kids as well.

“Seeing the kids really develop this excitement, but also they kind of learn where they can hit their limits and you get to encounter that in nature’s playground,” she said. “I think that’s one of the most exciting parts of it.”

“My goal is to kind of give people a place where they can go close by to their house that gives them a sense of adventure with their kids,” added Becker. She humbly guesses there aren’t many trails in the area she hasn’t been on, but her experience of them has changed over time.

“Being a hiker before kids, I was just kind of going as fast as I could to get to the viewpoint, and having kids and hiking with them has made me slow down,” she continued. “And there’s just so much to see and so much to learn.”

Credit: Jon Goodwin, KGW

So Becker took everything she’s seen and learned, and put it into her four-book series “Little Feet Hiking” — the most recent edition highlighting the Columbia River Gorge was released last spring. Two focus on Southwest Washington and one on the Mount Hood area. In all, her books feature about 150 hikes to do with kids. Next spring, she’ll publish her fifth book, on the Portland metro area.

Becker is self-published, making it incredibly hard for her to promote her book. However, it allows her to dig into a specific area and offer families a resource to know what’s in their backyard.

History, wildlife, and level of difficulty are just a few things she includes. Setting parents’ expectations with kids who may like to stop and take in what’s around them, Becker’s books help with that as well.

“I’ve also had a lot of adults say, ‘Hey, this would be really great for me. I have an injury or I’m getting older, and I don’t feel as confident on the trail. Where can I hike and just get these really awesome viewpoints or these really neat connections with nature?’” she said.

Maybe hiking is a long-time passion of yours, or perhaps you’ve never been out on a trail. Either way, “Little Feet Hiking” will help you see those things you weren’t even looking for. For parents ready to brave the outdoors with little ones, be honest with yourself and your little one’s capabilities. If you get out there with those little feet, be sure to take in all the little things the trail has to offer.

To buy the “Little Feet Hiking” books, visit littlefeethiking.com.

Let’s Get Out there airs once a week on KGW’s 4 p.m. newscast and The Good Stuff, which airs Monday-Thursday at 7 p.m. We’re including viewer photos for this series. You can text your photos to 503-226-5088 or post them on the KGW Facebook page.

Tarbell Trail – Yacolt Burn State Forest

Published on May 6, 2022 by littlefeethikingLeave a comment

Do you love wildflowers and volcano views? Yeah, so do I

I’m always telling you all about the under-rated Tarbell Trail in the Yacolt Burn State Forest (write-up in “little feet hiking“). This time of year, the area is full of native wildflowers, migratory birds, animal tracks, and volcano views (on clear days of course). I’ve been hiking this trail for 10 years and it has been so neat to see the clearcut forest grow back and the diversity of the plants growing along the trail. Today, I saw anemone flower blooming and tiger lily not far behind.

Wood anemone – http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=anqu

The best time to visit if you want to see wildflowers is late May through June. Keep an eye out for wild irises and lupine in the more open areas, and beargrass when hiking through the shadier forest section.

Wild iris and lupine blooming on the trail in June

Remember to bring your WA Discover Pass, sun protection and extra water on this hike. On sunny days, there isn’t much cover from the sun. Also, avoid drinking the non-potable water at the trailhead (the water is for horses) and watch out for mountain bikes zooming down the trail.

Bells Mountain Trail from Cold Creek Day Use Area

Published on April 17, 2022 by littlefeethikingLeave a comment

When it’s raining/snowing/hailing, one of my favorite hikes is along the Bells Mountain Trail starting from Cold Creek Day Use Area (located in the Yacolt Burn State Forest in Southwest Washington). The western red cedar and Douglas fir trees protect you from falling precipitation and the creek is so lovely. There are several beach spots along the creek and a lot of native plants budding and blooming. You can learn more about this 3.6 mile hike and it’s western red cedar trails in my first book “little feet hiking.”