Tillamook Coast Life Blog
Top 5 Kid-Friendly Hikes
Top 5 Kid-Friendly Hikes
Are you looking for great ways to get your kids outside on a bright sunny day? Well, we’ve got you covered. Here are our 5 top picks for the most family-friend hikes on the Tillamook Coast.
Tillamook Forest Center:
The Tillamook Forest Center is the perfect place to teach your children about forests, nature, and ecosystems. Located in the heart of the Tillamook State Forest, off of Highway 6, you will get a dynamic forest experience with lots of hands-on learning. They have a new indoor Interpretive and Educational Center, and outdoor hiking areas. It’s a place the whole family will enjoy.
Kilchis Point Reserve:
Stretching approximately 200 acres along the Tillamook Bay is the Kilchis Point Reserve. It’s located in Bay City off of Spruce Street, and has 2 miles of paved nature trails that are great for kids. Take in the beautiful scenery and notice the wide variety of plant and animal life that make up this intricate ecosystem.
Cape Meares Lighthouse:
West of Tillamook on the Three Capes Scenic Loop is the Cape Meares Lighthouse. Seated 200 feet above the ocean, Cape Meares is an excellent spot for watching the annual whale migration. There is a wide, asphalt trail that is wheelchair accessible, which provides easy access down to the lighthouse. However, the path is steep so the walk back up to the car may be difficult for small children.
Munson Creek Falls:
Munson Creek Falls is about 8 miles south of Tillamook off of Highway 101. There is a short trail that winds around Munson Creek to the graceful waterfall that tumbles 319 feet. Munson Creek is home to ancient western red cedar and Sitka spruce, and it’s an important salmon spawning ground. In the late fall through winter you can watch the water for spawning salmon.
Bayocean Trail:
A great kid-friendly hike is the Bayocean Spit Loop at Bayocean Peninsula Park in Tillamook. The main hike takes you from the beach all the way to the tip of the peninsula at Kincheloe Point; but if you would like a shorter hike, start along the bayside first and pick up the trail through the dune forest that leads to the beach. The flat terrain makes it easy for younger kids and is a splendid spot for a family bike ride.
