Up this week - PART 5 in the series, covering our final two hikes for families ready for a more difficult adventure. Also be sure to check out the last few weeks, covering PART 4 - 2 Hikes Worth The Drive, PART 3 - 2 Great Lake Hikes, PART 2 - 3 Nature Hikes on the Eastside and PART 1 - 3 Easy Hikes in Redmond.
BONUS #11 Heybrook Lookout– Gold Bar, WA
Difficulty: Hard for beginners. It is 2.6 miles round trip with 850 feet of elevation gain, all of which happen in the first 1.3 miles. Kids as young as 4 can do this, but they have to want to and they need to be able to do something like Franklin Falls with ease first.
Fees: *Northwest Forest Recreation Pass Required* The trailhead is patrolled and there is no way to buy one on site. You can get a $5 daily e-pass here to print out at home and put on your dashboard.
Address: There is no real address for this trailhead. On Highway 2, look for mile marker 37. Map: https://goo.gl/maps/32MCQ
Trail map: http://alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/heybrook-lookout-trail
Restrooms: Unlike every other hike on this list, this one has no restrooms. Someone that can do Heybrook is ready for Little Si, though.
Stroller / wheelchair options: No.
Why you want to go: Climbing up into the lookout tower is an incredible experience.
Getting there: Drive east on Highway 2. Around mile marker 35 or 36 you'll see the Espresso Chalet with a yellow road sign. This means you're getting close so keep an eye out for the mile markers. If you want to try an address in your GPS, you can try this address for the Espresso Chalet: 50010 US-2, Gold Bar, WA 98251. Just past mile marker just past mile marker 37, there is a gravel lot on the left (North) side of the road
BONUS #12 Little Si – North Bend, WA
Difficulty: Hard for beginners but totally possible for kids in elementary school who want to try it. It is 4.7 miles with 1300 feet of elevation gain, all of which happen in the first 2.35 miles. Kids as young as 5 can do this, but they have to want to and they need to be able to do something like Franklin Falls with ease first as this has 3 times as much elevation gain. However, in some ways Little Si is easier than Heybrook, even though Little Si is longer and has more elevation gain. How can this be? A hike’s profile plays an important role in its difficulty level. Consistently steep hikes like Heybrook or big Mt. Si offer little recovery opportunity so muscles can get tired and stay tired. However, the profile of Little Si is a steep first .5 miles and a steep .5 miles before the summit with a relatively flatter 1.5 mile stretch in between. This offers hikers an opportunity to recover. If you think of Little Si as 2 hikes that each have .5 miles of work, it becomes much easier to accomplish!
Fees: *Discover Pass Required* The trailhead is patrolled and there is no way to buy one on site. REI and Duvall True Value sell them. Look here for a complete vendor list.
Address: There is no real address for this trailhead, but there are signs for folks coming from I-90. This address should lead to the overflow parking lot: 43400 Mount Si Road, Mt. Si, WA. Take the trail to the right to find the main lot and trailhead. Bing Maps: http://binged.it/1CvU0i1.
Trail map: http://alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/little-si-trail
Restrooms: There is a sani-can facility in the main parking lot. Pack hand sanitizer.
Stroller / wheelchair options: No.
Why you want to go: The views from the summit are incredible.
Getting there: Before you go, make sure you pack: at least 2 liters of water per person, shoes with a great sole that can absorb a day of pounding, snacks, and a long-sleeve shirt or even a light coat for kids. While everyone will be warm on the trail, taking time to take breaks is an important key to success, and sometimes bodies can get chilly before the legs feel rested. Also make sure to pack Band-Aids in case any blisters appear and some wet wipes. The only restroom at the trailhead could be too far away to hold it so it may be necessary to find some cover and pee behind a tree. Also, make sure to read recent trip reports on the WTA to be aware of any relevant trail conditions. This trail is one of the most popular ones in the entire state, though, so it is generally kept in fantastic condition.
Parking is always a challenge around popular Little Si. Try the main parking lot at the intersection of Mt. Si Road and 439th Pl SE. Next try the overflow lot at the intersection of Mt. Si Road and 434th Ave SE. If both lots are full, try to find street parking. This hike is great for a vacation day on a weekday.
Looking for more hikes? 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/
