Enjoy the Park with your Children

Do you remember how wild terrain, even a small corner of a natural landscape, would entice you as a child? A stand of trees, a mossy log in the corner park, or a winding path down to quiet stream were all enchanting spots to explore.

Our national parks are fabulous places to have fun with kids. Bringing them into the parks encourages a child’s love of nature and desire to protect our wild spaces, and it gives them challenging experiences to fuel their self-confidence and sense of adventure.

The key to any good outdoor experience with children is to scale the adventure to their interests and abilities. Possibilities range from short walks along paved interpretive trails for the very young, to day hikes for elementary-aged children, to back-country camping for older kids.

We Washingtonians are truly fortunate to have many choices for family trips in our three national parks. With a wide variety in terrain, climate, and natural environment, there is truly something for every family and every child.

For an alpine experience, consider the Nisqually Vista Trial at the Jackson Visitor Center in the Paradise area in Mount Rainier National Park. This is short (1.2 mile) loop trial through alpine meadows with great views of Mount Rainier and the Nisqually Glacier allows children to experience the imposing grandeur of the mountain.