This is the first article in a new series that highlights some great family-friendly hikes around Seattle’s Eastside. All are free, have some sort of restroom facility, and have something interesting for kids. Many of these even have stroller and wheelchair options. Because toddlers will walk about 1-2 miles per hour, preschoolers will walk 2 to 3 miles per hour, and school kids will walk about 3 miles per hour, if a child has the endurance to play on a playground for a half an hour, they are ready for their first mile hike!
With bridges, streams, and even some farm animals, these 3 easy hikes in Redmond will be fun ideas to introduce your family to hiking adventures while staying close to home.
#1 Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park (Charlotte's Trail, Lowland Creek Trail) - Redmond, WA
Difficulty: Very easy. The Lowland Creek Trail has a small hill, but it isn’t too steep. The entire trail takes about 20 minutes.
Fees: None. Totally free!
Address: 19545 Redmond Road, Redmond, WA 98053
Trail map: http://www.redmond.gov/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=23566
Restrooms: Yes. In the summer the restroom silo is open. In the winter sani-cans are open so pack hand sanitizer.
Stroller / wheelchair options: Yes
Why you want to go: Between a very short trail, several fun bridges over tiny streams, and a free visit to a barnyard, Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park is one of the best “first hikes” in King County! One of the best features of Farrel-McWhirter is checking out the animal barn before and after the hike. It’s totally free and the goats, chickens, pigs, and bunnies are fun to see up close. The Lowland Creek Trail is a 15 minute easy walk in the woods, so even though trail strollers can make the trip with ease, so can the littlest of preschoolers. Several small bridges over shallow, trickling streams will fascinate little explorers. Allow time to stop and throw rocks in the streams.
Getting there: From the parking lot, head towards the barn and the restroom silo. To get to the trail, go through the gate just past the silo. Charlotte’s Trail is the paved path that goes past a horse pasture and tire swing. Take it out and back for a wheelchair-accessible option. A minute past the gate, find the trailhead to the Lowland Creek Trail on the right side of the path. Once on the trail, take a left turn at each junction and you will work your way back to the animal barn.
#2 Evans Creek Preserve– Redmond, WA
Difficulty: Very easy. Download the trail map to your phone ahead of time so you can keep your baring on the trail. You can scale your hike to one 5 minute loop or you can wander back and forth for 45 minutes.
Fees: None. Totally free!
Address: 3929 224th AVE NE, Redmond, WA 98053
Trail map: https://www.sammamish.us/files/document/14764.pdf
Restrooms: Yes. There is a restroom in the field, across the bridge from the parking lot. It is a sani-can type of facility, so bring hand sanitizer.
Stroller / wheelchair options: Yes, although limited. Check out the ADA-approved wheelchair path on the trail map. There is a small hill from the parking lot down to the main field, so it could be challenging with some strollers or wheelchairs. It would be best to leave strollers home and just scale the hike as appropriate.
Why you want to go: Bridges! There are about a dozen little footbridges over tiny streams. Kids will love being allowed to throw rocks in the bridge. This is also a wonderful park to build little ones’ confidence. Let them chose the path at the numerous intersections – they will feel like such an expedition leader! Since you’re never more than 15 minutes away from the parking lot, they can’t make a wrong choice. Make sure to check out the boardwalk between signposts #10 and #13. The variety of a boardwalk trail always feel fun for kids. As you wander, note your path. Later, you can tally up all of the .1 mile and .2 mile stretches on the trail map, see what distance feels comfortable for your family, and use this to plan out future outings. Another great thing about Evans Creek Preserve is the variety of scenery. Even though the trails are pretty short, you can experience meadows, a forest, streams, and a boardwalk. {Editor’s note: the gnomes are no longer hidden in this park}
Getting there: From Redmond Way, be on the lookout for the green and white “Evans Creek Preserve” sign. Turn onto 224th Ave / NE 34th St.
#3 Redmond Watershed Preserve(Treefrog Loop Trail and Trout Trail) - Redmond, WA
Difficulty: Very easy. Either loop takes about 25 minutes.
Fees: None. Totally free!
Address: 21760 Novelty Hill Rd, Redmond, WA 98053
Website: Trail map: http://www.redmond.gov/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=24797
Restrooms: Yes. There is a year-round restroom with diaper changing station.
Stroller / wheelchair options: Yes
Why you want to go: The Treefrog Loop Trail is a beautifully serene paved trail out to a pond and back. It is perfect hike in the woods for a stroller or a family member with a wheelchair and the wide path makes it an extra safe option for a new walker on a trail. At .6 miles roundtrip (.3 miles each way) kids as young as 2 can walk this hike. Trout Loop’s narrow and bumpy trail feels like a real adventure, but since the .6 mile loop will likely only take about 20 minutes, it makes for a great short hike. While the trail is too narrow for strollers, preschoolers will have a really fun time doing this hike all on their own. Take time to turn over rocks and look for bugs or check out the colors and shapes of all of the leaves. {Editor’s Note: No dogs are allowed at Redmond Watershed}
Getting there: As you enter the main parking lot, the trailhead for the Treefrog Loop trail is on the right (east) and the entrance to the Trout Loop Trail is near the restrooms to the west.
Looking for more ideas? Find even more FAMILY-FRIENDLY HIKES HERE
Growing up in King County, Jennifer attended Western Washington University and started working at Microsoft right out of college. For over a decade, she worked on online games with Microsoft Games Studios focusing on test automation. She left the exciting world of game development in 2010 to enter the even more exciting world of being a stay at home mom. Currently, she and her son love going on local adventures and spending time outdoors year round. Vist more on her blog: http://dotsonstories.blogspot.com/
