What you’ll get visiting Gifford Pinchot National Forest

This 1.3 million-acre national forest surrounding Mt. St. Helens is an absolute treasure. Visiting Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a slam-dunk sure-bet for stunning views, gorgeous hikes, nature play and family-friendly camping.

From views of snow-capped mountains to second-growth forest (since some of this area was decimated during the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens), from pristine creeks to kid-friendly hikes, I can’t wait to revisit Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids.

Explore, play, discover in Gifford Pinchot

With 1.3 million acres, it’s tough to write an exhaustive list on visiting Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids, so I won’t even try. What I will do is share a few highlights.

Camping at Gifford Pinchot

We stayed at the Iron Creek Campground in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, which is about a 20-minute drive from Randle, Washington. The campground is large—it has just under 100 sites—but sites felt roomy. The campsites are divided between four loops, and we couldn’t even see our neighbors from our spot.

Campsites are shaded and are tucked in the forest, which means you don’t get hot, direct sunlight as soon as dawn comes. In fact, one morning the girls slept until 8 am!

The family-friendly campground in Washington includes flat, paved roads for bike riding and a 1.5-mile loop trail that winds along the Cispus River and around the entire campground. It was easy terrain for our kids to hike, and there were plenty of downed logs to climb on along the way. We also stopped at a river bank to throw rocks in the river, of course!

Note that the only restroom facilities are vault toilets. (The kids mostly peed outside anyway, abiding by my dear Uncle Dick’s rule to never miss an opportunity to pee outside!!)

Level 10 travel tip: You can get ice (or ice cream!) in Randle if you run out.

Hikes and waterfalls in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

At the recommendation of one of the campground hosts, we hiked to Covel Creek Falls, about a 10-mile drive from Iron Creek Campground. Park in front of the Cispus Learning Center (46.4399° N, 121.8486° W) then cross the road to catch the trail.

You’ll hike through old-growth fir and spruce forest and along Covel Creek. The intensity and variety of green hues had us stopping to marvel throughout the 3-mile kid-friendly hike. The girls loved crossing logs and climbing onto tree stumps—they’re like little forest fairies!

Note that signage isn’t great along the trail, and two bridges are out. That just means there are two places you have to scramble a bit, but we were far from the only family who managed. I helped Kiwi (aged almost 3) up and down some of the embankments, and Peeper (aged almost 5) managed on her own. “Obstacle conquered!” Peeper shouted each time, and she was so proud!

IMG_6576 from Catherine Ryan Gregory on Vimeo.

The real payoff is Covel Creek Falls, a gorgeous waterfall you can hike behind. The final ascent just before the waterfall is steep, but Peeper managed it. (By this time I was wearing Kiwi. Hey, she made it most of the way up!) We very carefully walked down behind the waterfall, and it was an unforgettable experience for the girls.

Level 10 travel tip: When it gets steep, you’ll be tempted to turn around if your kids start to complain. About halfway up the steep section there’s a level spot with fallen logs that’s perfect for a snack break. Power up here then tackle the rest of the ascent—you won’t be disappointed in Covel Creek Falls!

Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center

If you’re driving to Gifford Pinchot from Portland, make sure to stop at the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center at the base of the volcano. For us on our road trip from Portland, it was exactly halfway to our destination in Gifford Pinchot and so was a perfect opportunity to use the bathroom (I have the world’s smallest bladder!) and stretch our legs. The Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center is almost exactly one hour from Portland.

Inside the visitor center, you’ll find an information desk that was more like a hotel concierge. The park staff were incredibly helpful in recommending kid-friendly trails around Mt. St. Helens and telling us about road closures. (Even in late May, several passes on Mt. St. Helens were still closed due to snow.)

We also walked through the interpretive displays ($5 admission for adults). My kiddos were much to antsy to wait while I read the (sometimes long) explanations so I didn’t get to learn as much as I’d like about the eruption, but they did enjoy some of the interactive parts of the exhibit—mostly pushing buttons and walking underneath a model of the volcano. There is also a short video that plays twice an hour at :05 and :35, but we didn’t watch it: The last thing I wanted for my kids after a road trip was to sit down!

Level 10 travel tip: If you’re pressed for time, feel free to skip the interpretive displays. We only spent about 10 minutes walking through, but I don’t mind spending the admission fee for such a short time: I figure it’s my way of supporting the park, since parking here is free.

Hiking Silver Lake at Mt. St. Helens

From the Mt. St. Helens interpretive center, you can access a 0.6-mile hike around Silver Lake—an ultimately kid-friendly and accessible trail. This short hike is entirely flat, goes through forest as well as wetlands, and has bridges—which are pretty much my kids’ favorite things on the planet.

(Our conversations about kid-friendly hikes go something like this: Me: “We’re going on a new hike today!” Kids: “Yeah but are there bridges?” Me: “…”)

We listened to the distinctive call of red-winged blackbirds, which nest in the cattails growing in the wetlands here. The girls also chased butterflies and loved looking for other wildlife. Thousands of migratory birds pause at Silver Lake, making it an excellent spot for bird-watching. Also, a fascinating bit of trivia: Silver Lake is also home to the Bladderwort aquatic plant, which is carnivorous! When insects brush against it, a piece of the plant closes around the unsuspecting bug and is slowly digested. Feed me, Seymour!

Stopping at Silver Lake is the perfect hike and way to stretch your legs when you’re traveling to Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Exploring Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids

There’s so much to see in Gifford Pinchot National Forest—it’s like nature’s playground.

So much of kids’ lives today are scripted, scheduled and constrained, so I cherish time my girls spend outside. As we kept repeating all weekend, “We have no agenda.” So if the girls wanted to hold a centipede for five minutes, cross the same stretch of creek 10 times or get “lost” in the woods behind our campsite, it was all good. We had no place to be except present.

Covel Creek, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington from Catherine Ryan Gregory on Vimeo.

That’s the true treasure of going to a place like Gifford Pinchot National Forest with kids: It’s off the grid. It’s beautiful. It’s quiet. It’s the perfect environment to reconnect with each other and with nature.

We’ll be heading back to Gifford Pinchot, Washington again soon. There’s still so much to explore! See you out there!

PS – Don’t miss my post all about the Best Camping Hacks!

The post Stunning Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Camping, Waterfall Trails + More appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

But don’t wait to have fun until you arrive at these day trip destinations. Enjoy every mile along the way, too, with my book Road Trip Games & Activities for Kids! (You don’t have to be a kid to love these 33 games, I promise!!!) Click the image below to get your copy in e-book or paperback.

Day trips from Portland you’ll absolutely love

These Portland, Oregon, day trips require almost no planning, and they definitely don’t require overnight stays. But last-minute day trips don’t have to feel like a consolation prize. They’re a fun (and budget-friendly) way to explore Oregon.

I selected a few of our favorite day trips from Portland that are all easy to access from the metro area and are perfect for a quick family getaway or a romantic escape. If you leave in the morning, you’ll have time to enjoy your destination and make it back home by bedtime.

So what are you waiting for? Pack a cooler with snacks, make sure your camera is charged and hit the road. These day trips from Portland will make memories you and your family will enjoy all year long.

1. Oregon Coast Day Trip

Weather on the Oregon Coast is hit or miss this time of year, but Oregon-born kids won’t mind a little rain when they’re building sandcastles, chasing seagulls, and tempting the tide. (“Can’t catch me!!!”)

We love Cannon Beach for family day trips from Portland, and the girls love Seaside for its on-the-sand swing sets and carousel, but you pretty much can’t lose wherever you stop.

For help deciding where to go, check out my epic guide to the Oregon Coast.

2. Sisters, Oregon Day Trip

This tiny Central Oregon town is often overlooked en route to Bend, Oregon, but Sisters is quaint and fun to explore, too. You can spot the region’s many mountains in what locals jokingly call the “skyline,” ride horses on a guided trail ride, play disc golf, hike, bike along the Metolius River at Camp Sherman, and of course, pick out some candy at the old-timey shops along Main Street.

If you go to Sisters, Oregon, you’re only a short drive from Skylight Cave, an off-the-beaten-path adventure where you can see sunlight streaming in from holes in the cave ceiling.

3. Hood River Day Trip from Portland

Hood River might be better known for grown-up activities (like wine tastings and brewery hopping), but there’s plenty to entertain the whole family on this fun day trip from Portland, too.

We love the local ice cream joints, hikes in the area, and of course the Fruit Loop when apples, pears, cherries and peaches are in season.

You can also just hang out in Hood River. Watch kitesurfers skim across the water in the Columbia River Gorge, browse cute shops downtown and enjoy al fresco music on a weekend.

4. Columbia River Gorge Day Trip

The lower viewpoint at Multnomah Falls just reopened after recovery from last year’s Eagle Creek Fire, so this is a great resting place to stop on your drive farther out the gorge.

If you need some time indoors, check out the Maryhill Museum on the Washington side of the Gorge. You’ll be able to marvel at Native American weavings, Rodin sculptures, and the museum’s resident peacocks.

Level 10 travel tip: Some of the hikes on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge are still closed from the wildfire’s damage. Most hikes on the Washington side escaped severe damage so they’re still open—but they’re significantly busier than they used to be, especially on weekends.

5. Astoria Day Trip

I absolutely adore Astoria. It’s close to the coast but has its own personality, and kids have so much to do in Astoria.

On a Spring Break day trip, you can ride the trolley down the edge of town along the Columbia River, visit any of the many museums (the Maritime Museum is a good place to start), and definitely climb the Astoria Column, which gives 360-degree views. (Kids can also purchase little airplanes at the Column’s gift shop to fly from the tippy top!)

Level 10 travel tip: Stop at Buoy Beer, where you can see sea lions off the pier—and through a glass section of the floor inside! Kids love to watch the behemoths beneath their feet as you wait for a table.

For more on this quaint town, read my post on a romantic weekend getaway in Astoria.

6. Olympia Day Trip

Yes, I know this one’s in Washington, so it’s not technically an Oregon day trip—but you can get there from Portland in two hours.

We love visiting Olympia. Washington’s capital has a bit of the crunchy, progressive personality of Portland, but it’s right on the Sound and so it has its own attractions, too.

Our favorite kid-friendly activity in Olympia is the indoor and outdoor Hands-On Children’s Museum of Olympia. The girls love exploring the many rooms and themes (including a section outside where you can build waterfalls with sand, rocks, and dump trucks), and I appreciate that it incorporates so much science discovery.

For more details about this kid-friendly museum, read my full post on the Hands-On Children’s Museum.

Olympia also has a ton of parks for outdoor fun. Our favorite is Priest Point Park, where you hike through old-growth forest to get to a rocky beach.

7. Tacoma Day Trip

Another Washington day trip—but this one is fun, too, I promise! Seattle’s lesser-known sibling city was named in Sunset Magazine’s 20 Game-Changing Places to Live list, and there are lots of family-friendly attractions.

The Tacoma Children’s Museum has plenty to entertain kids. They have a really cool spot where kids can build with life-sized Lincoln Logs. (Finally, a place where Peeper can satisfy her quest to build a life-size castle!)

Then throw stones into the water at Owens Beach, ride the (free!) light rail, Link, from downtown to the Tacoma Dome, or make engineering, science, and art projects at Tinkertopia.

8. Catalana Cellars Day Trip

A kid-friendly, visually stunning place where parents can taste wine, and kids can explore the grounds? Sign me up! Villa Catalana Cellars, outside Canby and just a half-hour from Portland, is modeled after 12th-century Spanish architecture, so you’ll get a European vacation feel without ever leaving Oregon.

This estate is open on Saturdays and is the perfect choice for your next Portland day trip. The whole family can explore the grounds (including a rare plant nursery, olive groves, and even a bocce court), and the 21+ set can taste their wines ($10 tasting fee).

Want more? Read my whole post on visiting Villa Catalana Cellars.

9. Aurora Day Trip

Ranked as one of the nation’s best antiquing communities, Aurora, Oregon is a quaint town fully in touch with its history. Although the idea of taking kids into an antique store might make you sweat, it can actually be a super-fun way to spend some time with kids—and allow them to be responsible and safe.

They’ll really get into it if you give them each $5 and challenge them to find the weirdest thing in the antique store, and have a tiny prize for the winner—or surprise the whole gang with cupcakes at The White Rabbit Bakery. (Their seasonal cupcake this week is Oatmeal Cream. Yum!)

You could also combine a trip to Aurora with Catalana, as they’re close by. Two for the price of one! This makes for an awesome weekend getaway from Portland if you’re looking for a longer trip.

10. Silver Falls Day Trip

Oregon’s largest state park includes a wealth of hiking trails, including some that go behind waterfalls. (That’ll get kids excited!)

Just know that some of the trails can get steep and slippery and so aren’t ideal for little children. (I wore Max and Edie when they were little.) The state park also has a top-notch playground!

When you get chilly, warm up in the lodge with some hot chocolate. They also have snacks and some food.

11. Mt. St. Helens Day Trip

Just an hour north of Portland is Mt. St. Helens—the volcano that erupted in 1980, covering the region in ash. You and your kids will be able to see just how this habitat has completely changed from that destructive day.

Start at the interpretive center, and explore to your heart’s content.

12. Neskowin Ghost Forest

Just two hours from Portland, the Ghost Forest in Neskowin appears at low tide—then disappears again as the tide moves in. Just beneath the beach lies a petrified forest of Sitka spruce trees, and you can only explore this Oregon hidden gem when the water pulls the sand away.

Plan on arriving in Neskowin an hour before low tide to make your way to the beach in time to give this fun day trip in Oregon its due justice.

For all the details, read my full post on the Neskowin Ghost Forest.

13. Eugene day trip from Portland

Eugene is the second-largest city in the state, but that’s not why it’s one of the best day trips in Oregon. Track Town USA, which also happens to be where I grew up, is home to the University of Oregon Ducks and mecca for Prefontaine-loving runners.

I always recommend a few things for visitors to do in Eugene:

• Walk along the Willamette River—or better yet, float or kayak it!
• Hike Spencer’s Butte—it has a gorgeous 360-degree view of the city and beyond
• Eat from one of the many mini-restaurants in 5th Street Market

If you want even more ideas, click to my post on fun things to do in Eugene and the best family-friendly Eugene restaurants. 

14. Wine country near Portland

The highest concentration of wonderful wineries near Portland is in the Dundee-Newberg-McMinville area. Just an hour from downtown Portland, vineyards sprawl over the rolling hills, and tasting rooms pop up all along Highway 99.

You’ll get to taste oodles of pinot noir, which this wine region is famous for, along with other varietals including pinot gris and Riesling.

My favorite winery near Portland, Stoller, is a great first stop for folks wanting a great day trip in Oregon. They have enormous grounds, including a tire swing and a mini disc golf course. The real stars, though, are the Adirondack chairs to relax in and the sparkling pinot noir rose to sip.

And if you’re taking your kiddos along, make sure to read my post on going wine tasting with kids.

15. Mt. Hood Day Trip

If you’re looking for day trips from Portland, Oregon, you have to consider heading up Mt. Hood. We go up this volcano every chance we get (and don’t worry, it’s not an active volcano!!).

In fact, we go up so often that the mountain frequently appears in my kids’ drawings, and when they pretend a cardboard box is a plane or car, they’re typically heading to Mt. Hood in their imagination.

If you’re wondering what to do on Mt. Hood, I recommend that everyone take at least a short hike. This area is simply full of amazing trails for every comfort level, skill, and age. My girls have been hiking various trails on Mt. Hood since they were babies!

A few of the kid-friendly trails on Mt. Hood I recommend: Old Salmon River Trail near Rhododendron, Oregon; Lost Lake; and Little Zigzag Falls.

16. Smith Rock State Park

One of the most impressive locations in Oregon, Smith Rock State Park, is a Portland day trip you should definitely make. At about 2 hours 45 minutes from Portland, it’s a bit of a drive for a day—and 100% worth it.

There’s a catch, though. If you’re going to Smith Rock on a weekend, get there as early as humanly possible. On a recent day trip from Portland, my kids and I arrived at 12:30—and there were literally zero places to park. We had to turn around and leave! 

Once you arrive at Smith Rock, take in the views. Then choose which hike you’ll do—from the difficult Misery Ridge trail to the fairly easy River Trail to the very short Homestead Trail. 

No matter how you spend your time at Smith Rock, it’s almost guaranteed to be unforgettable. 

17. Long Beach, Washington

Long Beach, WA is just across the river and border from Astoria but has a totally different feel. For one thing, this Washington beach town is actually on the ocean, while Astoria was built along the Columbia River. 

Photo courtesy Pacific County Tourism Bureau

Stroll down Long Beach’s boardwalk that overlooks the ocean, stop by the town’s kite museum or hike around Cape Disappointment. And if it’s safe, park your beach chair on the sand and watch hundreds of kites fill the sky during August’s International Kite Festival.

No matter what time of year, the two hours’ drive makes this day trip from Portland totally doable—and totally memorable. Check out my post on Seaview and Long Beach, Washington!

Photo courtesy Pacific County Tourism Bureau

Explore Oregon’s family-friendly destinations on your Portland day trip

I am bowled over by the wonderful family-friendly activities and sites the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

My kids, husband, and I live in a state with boundless beauty, appreciation for history, and a dedication to good old fashioned fun—and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Are there any spots on this list you haven’t visited yet—but are excited to see? What Portland day trips do you love that I missed? Please share in the comments!

The post 17 Unforgettable Day Trips from Portland, Oregon to explore the PNW appeared first on To & Fro Fam.