Out-of-state visitors will particularly appreciate this flat 1.5-mile trail because it offers families the memorable experience of stately old-growth forest with massive Douglas firs, western red cedars and western hemlocks. Extra bonus: it won’t matter whether the weather is cloudy or sunny since you’re trekking through low-elevation forest. At the half-mile point, hike the suspension bridge across the Ohanapecosh River to a small island and its regal “Patriarchs,” many of them 25 feet and more in circumference and up to 1,000 years old. Walk the .3-mile raised boardwalk loop through the understory and then back across the bridge. Of all the stops to visit natural features, this is one of our favorites. Be aware, the parking lot can fill up on summer days. The trail is snow-free June through October.
Grove of the Patriarchs
Stevens Canyon Road, Mount Rainier National Park, WA