Vacations Blog

Hiking Mineral Ridge

Spring is about to be sprung on us here in the Pacific Northwest. The one thing I look forward to most with the passing of winter is packing my kids into the car and finding a mountain trail somewhere nearby so I can stretch out my legs and shake off the cabin fever.

I’m familiar with most of the easy trails in Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and Western Montana. By “easy” I mean, simple day hikes that won’t end with one or another child having a meltdown, pleading with me to “never do this again.” No, we’ve been on those hikes and I learned my lesson.

Today I’m going to highlight eight fun family hiking trails in North Idaho, close to the towns of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, Idaho, and not too far from the metropolis of Spokane, Washington. If you’re in the area for a vacation, or just passing through on I-90, any of these treks will make for a fun, and relatively short, way to experience the wonder and wilderness of Idaho’s great outdoors.

Tubbs Hill Picnic Spot

Tubbs Hill in Coeur d’Alene – It’s the crown jewel of Coeur d’Alene, situated right next to downtown. We’ve made this into two separate hikes; one from the 3rd Street parking lot out to the halfway point and back, and a second hike from the east side parking lot on 10th St. to the halfway point and back. Either one, or all the way around, is mostly level, with awesome views of the lake and hundreds of perfect picnic spots.  You can walk to Tubbs Hill from any downtown hotel or bed and breakfast.

Q’emiln Park in Post Falls – The hiking trails start right at the parking lot near the west entrance to the park. There are spectacular views of the Spokane River, and the rock climbing walls provide a chance for the kids to watch people scaling the vertical rocks. On a hot summer day the city beach with lifeguards is right there at the park for a swim or a picnic.

Higgins Point in Coeur d’Alene – At the east end of Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive, it’s a leisurely walk along a paved trail next to the lake. Perfect if you don’t want to get your feet dirty. We go past the photographer statue and up the hill into the park, then down one of the rugged trails to the water’s edge.

English Point National Recreation Trail in Hayden – This one’s kind of hidden away off Highway 95. We love looping through the woods, catching glimpses of Hayden Lake, and generally feeling like we’re in the middle of nowhere. If you’re on your way to Silverwood Theme Park, make a quick stop at English Point.

Mineral Ridge in Coeur d’Alene – The longest of the hikes, at 3.3 miles. We only do it once or twice a year, and make it an all-day trip, with a picnic at the very top where the lake view is well worth the climb. There’s a little cave to explore on the way up, and the whole area is rich with mining history.

Beauty Bay Trail in Coeur d’Alene – At the east end of Lake Coeur d’Alene on Hwy. 97, the Beauty Bay Trail is the shortest and easiest hike, at just a half-mile to a viewing deck and then another half-mile through the forest. The kids might want to walk it twice.

Ancient Cedars

Cougar Bay Preserve in Coeur d’Alene – A few miles south of the Blackwell Island Bridge on Hwy. 95, Cougar Bay is one big wildlife nursery with miles of rugged trails. If you want to pretend to be lost in the woods, this is a good place to do it.

Settlers Grove of Ancient Cedars in Murray – Further away than the other hikes, but worth the drive to the Silver Valley. It’s a quiet place, with few visitors. The level dirt trail winds through huge towering cedar trees that make you feel like you’re in another world. In Murray, the historic Sprag Pole Museum is a must-see while you’re in the area. It’s also a good place to get a huckleberry shake.

All photos by Phil Corless

Deer In Wintertime at Highbanks

The chill of winter is settling upon us in America’s Heartland and already we are enjoying the sequela induced by cabin fever. That’s sarcasm, people. Anyone with children surely knows that whenever you sequester five energetic and bored children to the indoors for any extended period, come springtime you’ll be needing a handyman, or a general contractor. Thank the heavens for the Central Ohio Metro Park System.

Metro Parks operates 15 parks year round in seven Central Ohio counties. Educational and recreational opportunities abound for patrons of all ages and best of all, facilities and the programs are available free of charge. Thanks, voters. Don’t get the wrong idea about that statement. According to the park executive director, the Columbus (Franklin County) Metro Parks system has the largest land area, 23,500 acres, of any of the parks in Ohio but by far the lowest per resident expenditure (less than $20 a year per resident) and lowest tax millage. The Metro Parks system enables anyone to enjoy Ohio wildlife and nature year round.

Grace and Mary Innis Inniswood Gardens

Shag Bark Hickory at Inniswood Metro Gardens

What’s more enticing, is that the Metro Parks are conveniently located in you own backyard, there’s no need to travel far for a perfect wintertime getaway. And with literally hundreds of programs and activities scheduled this winter, you’re sure to find something to your liking.

Winter Hiking Series at Metro Parks

Nature programs will teach young and old how the animals survive the cold Ohio winters. Twelve of the fifteen parks have designated pet trails. It’s not just Susie and Billie with cabin fever. Fido and Fluffy need to get out, too. There are over 140 miles of trails to explore. The annual Winter Hikes Series will be kicking off Saturdays in January and February. Guided or self-guided hikes are available with refreshments and for the hearty–a decorative patch if you complete at least seven of the thirteen scheduled hikes.

When conditions are favorable most of the parks have cross country skiing trails. Several others have excellent hills for sledding: Batelle Darby Creek, Blacklick Woods Golf Courses, Highbanks, Sharon Woods or Blendon Woods (kids only). Call the park office, 614-891-0700 to verify conditions are right. Batelle Darby Creek and Blendon Woods also offer skating ponds.

Diehard golfers will be happy to know that Blacklick Woods Golf Course is open year round. From November through March it’s not necessary to call for a tee time though you may want to call the pro shop and verify that the course is actually playable. 614-861-3193.

Don’t let the chill of winter keep you locked indoors. Now is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the wonder of nature. The cool air and serenity of a secluded trail can be invigorating.  Columbus’ Metro Parks offer the perfect wintertime escape and just what the doctor ordered for that nasty case of cabin fever.

Hiking the Snow Covered Trails

Park hours are generally 6:30 am until dark. Click here for specifics. Photos: Ed Lamaze, and courtesy of Charmaine Gray, Diana Morse and Kim Leach via ParkScope Metro Parks Guide.

Spectacular Double Arch, at Arches National Park

It’s a dream of mine to take my kids to every National Park in the United States.  Obviously, I’ll never be able to do that, as there are just too many of them and too little time.

But at least we can visit the parks close to us in the west, like Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite, Olympic, and Arches.  Last spring, we planned a family vcation to see that last one, Arches National Park, in Utah.  The place surprised me with its uniqueness, beauty, and kid-friendliness.

The best part of the park, especially for families with young children, is that most of the major features are in a relatively small area, and none of them are too far from the road.  That means short hikes that won’t wear anybody out.  The park contains over 2,000 arches, but you’ll probably only see a dozen or so unless you take longer hikes into the backcountry.  Highlights include Double Arch, which is an awesome place for the kids to climb on sandstone formations.  Yes, they let you climb just about everywhere except on top of the arches themselves.

Through sandstone fins to Sand Dune Arch.

Our hikes were mostly a half-mile to just under two miles, on trails that were easy to traverse and, in some cases, paved.  There was one exception, which I’ll get to in a minute.  There’s such a wide variety of arches and formations in the park that at no time are you going to hear, “Oh, it’s just another arch,” from your kids.  They were excited to get out of the car and explore at every stop.  One of my favorites was the half-mile trek through sandstone fins and deep sand to the isolated Sand Dune Arch.  It felt like we were in another world.

At the end of the main road through the park is one of the longest trails, The Devils Garden.  You’ll see ten impressive arches on this 7-mile loop.  Or, you can do like we did and walk as far as Landscape Arch, about a mile in.  Landscape Arch is the longest span in the park at more than a football field in length.  Parts of it collapsed in 1991, so you might want to hurry before the whole thing comes down.  In fact, another arch a few hundred yards down the trail collapsed completely last August.

Running to Delicate Arch

We didn’t walk the entire Devils Garden loop because we were saving our energy for what I think is the must-do hike in the entire park, the 3-mile round-trip trek to the iconic Delicate Arch.  This is the arch you see on Utah license plates.  It’s a free-standing sandstone arch that reminded my son of a giant pair of pants.  You can’t see the arch while you’re on the somewhat strenuous trail, which includes some steep sections of slickrock.  Because it’s out of view the whole way, it’s something of a treat to have it come into view as you round the final corner of the trail.  My tired kids found a burst of energy when they saw it and took off running to the other side of the “bowl” so they could walk underneath the arch.

It’s an absolutely stunning scene, with the La Sal Mountains in the background, and plunging cliffs on either side of the arch.  There are plenty of nooks and crannies along the cliffs above Delicate Arch where you can lay out a blanket and enjoy some snacks before heading back down.  It took us about three hours for the entire hike, so you’ll want to start it in the morning or early afternoon.  Of all the arches you see in the park, this is the one that you’ll remember best.

We stayed in nearby Moab, Utah, where there are plenty of inexpensive hotels to choose from.  If you’re looking for a great place to eat after a day of hiking, seek out some carbs at Pasta Jay’s, an Italian restaurant that made every member of my family happy.  Best Chicken Parmigiana I’ve ever had!

If you want to start visiting our incredible National Parks with your young kids, Arches is the perfect place to begin with them.  They’ll see and experience nature at its most weird and wonderful.

Winding trail through Park Avenue Canyon.

Arches National Park

Climbing near Double Arch

All photos by Phil Corless

Two years ago we spent a fascinating weekend with a rumbling, gassy giant.  No, it wasn’t with my Uncle Earl.  We paid a visit to the most famous volcano in North America.  Mount St. Helens, in Western Washington.

Everyone remembers when Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, killing 57 people and devastating the landscape for miles around.  Not long after the blast, the area was set aside for research, recreation, and education in the form of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Hiking a ridge trail near Mt. St. Helens

When we first arrived at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, less than six miles from the volcano’s crater, my kids were initially disappointed not to find rivers of lava everywhere, but they soon realized that the barren landscape held more than a few surprises.

First, though, we explored the Observatory, which is home to a stunning wide-screen multimedia presentation, after which the huge screen disappears to reveal a floor-to-ceiling panorama of the crater through the observatory’s windows.  It feels like the volcano is right on top of you and, for a moment, you hope it’s not ready to erupt again.  There are also fascinating geological exhibits throughout the building that explain everything you’d ever want to know about volcanoes, earthquakes, and geology.  There are also sobering displays that tell of the lives lost in the blast.

All around the ridge, there are trails leading through a land that is still trying to recover some 28 years later.  Massive trees were splintered like toothpicks and still lay where they fell.  All the while we were walking these narrow ridge trails, Mount St. Helens loomed over us.  My son said, “It looks evil.”

New pond, along the Hummocks Trail, Mount St. Helens

A few miles back down the main road, near Coldwater Lake, is a moderate 2.5-mile loop trail called The Hummocks Trail.  This turned out to be our favorite hike.  The Hummocks Trail winds through the debris field in the North Fork Toutle River Valley. The resulting erosion has created an eerie place of conical mounds and wetlands. The up and down trail was tough for the kids toward the end, but it was well worth the effort. In no other place around the volcano will you see all the different ecosystems that are returning to the area.  You can imagine you’re walking on the moon and then, just around a corner, find yourself in a lush forest beside a pond that is teeming with new life.

There’s a movement to transform the Volcanic Monument into a full-fledged National Park, which would bring in more funding and services, as well as more tourists.  One of our favorite stops along the highway, not far from the Hummocks Trail, was at the Coldwater RIdge Visitor’s Center.  My daughter celebrated her 5th birthday with a chocolate ice cream cone on the balcony overlooking Coldwater Lake.  Sadly, this facility was shut down by the Forest Service last year due to a lack of funding.  Turning Mount St. Helens into a National Park would mean this popular center could be back in business.

Whatever it becomes, the current Monument is huge.  It’s way too big to see everything in one weekend, but a family can certainly hit the highlights in a day or two.  I recommend going in the summer when you can be assured of some good hiking weather.  We were there in August and enjoyed cool temperatures and sunny skies.  There are plenty of hotels along I-5, from Centralia to Longview, where you’re just a quick drive from the entrance to the Monument.  If you’re coming from Seattle or Portland, it’s just a couple of hours away.

Hiking near Johnston Observatory, in the shadow of Mount St. Helens

You don’t have to be a mountain goat or buy a truckload of mountain climbing gear to take a hiking day trip out of New York City. And you won’t be needing maps, or have to spend half a day traveling to the Adirondacks, and neither will you have to pay for one of those fancy upstate New York vacations. The only thing you have to do is get a Metrocard and optionally, join the NY-NoJ Chapter of the AMC.

The AMC does more than 2000 trips each year, and most are for beginners, are free and can be reached from NYC by public transport (so your Metrocard is sufficient). Plus they give you a monthly magazine listing hikes and instructions for newbies, and the hikes are led by volunteers. All said and done, its well worth the annual membership fee ($25 to $40, depending on your age), but if you don’t want to join, you are allowed to join in as a guest to try out how it works. You just need to be there at the starting point of the hike. Be that as it may, listed below are some of the hikes which you can take on your own.

Palisades Interstate Park, NJ - The trails are easily accessible by public transport from New York City. If you’re taking the subway, take the A express subway line to 181st Street, and walk across the George Washington Bridge. And then you have to hike.  More details about the trails, directions and maps available here.

Cold Spring, NY – Its a quaint and beautiful place on the banks of the Hudson River with breathtaking river views and a lot of historical things to see. Best thing to do is to take the Metro North from Grand Central to Cold Spring, and from there its a 7.5 mile round trip hike to and from Mt Taurus. A bit strenuous, and occasionally hair-raising, but if you’re upto it, then the view along the way, with abandoned estates dotting the Hudson River Valley… Let’s just say it’s worth the sweat. Ask around in Cold Spring for directions to Mt Taurus, maps, and any other help you might need.

Then there’s Anthony’s Nose, which offers one of the most spectacular trail views you’ll ever see. Its a 900 ft mountain on the eastern side of the Hudson. From the top, you can see the entire Bear Mountain Bridge (see pic above) exactly below you spanning across the river, which stretches left and right as far as you can see. Again a bit strenuous, but you’ll remember the view for a long time to come. You might also want to make note of Cold Spring as a cozy weekend getaway.

Photo by jothenomad via flickr (creative commons)