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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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