Family travel 5: Hit the trails

Take to the trail with the family. Here are five ideas to consider.

San Juan Islands, Washington

Venture to the picturesque islands you’ll find between Puget Sound and Vancouver Island for a landscape that offers adventures for every appetite. From easy rambles to challenging routes, there is much to discover on San Juan and Orcas islands. Bell Point Trail, on San Juan Island, loops within two miles, meandering through woods and along the edge of Garrison Bay. Extend the hike along a short spur trail and enjoy a sea-to-table lunch at Westcott Bay Seafood Company.

Another popular option is the four-mile Mount Finlayson scenic loop. Hikers are lured through open grasslands, past lagoons, and along coastal bluffs, with dramatic views of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Baker as a bonus.

Consider a stay at Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes, where cabins, lodge rooms, yurts and RV hook-ups offer choices at various price points.

For more: www.nps.gov/sajh; www.lakedale.com

Mickelson Trail, South Dakota

Join the likes of Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp, Crazy Horse and Custer by spending some time on the historic George S. Mickelson Trail that cuts through the heart of the Black Hills. Originally built in the 1890s as a gold-rush railroad line for the Burlington Northern, the corridor was transformed into a recreational trail and officially dedicated in 1998. Carve out your own piece of the 109-mile rail trail, which includes four stone tunnels and more than 100 bridges as it passes through highland meadows and towering stands of ponderosa pine trees. Near Deadwood, Whistler Gulch campground offers tent sites, RV hook-ups and cabins and is a convenient and affordable overnight stop for those beginning or ending their experience at this juncture.

For more: www.whistlergulch.com; https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/george-s--mickelson-trail/

Paul Bunyan Trail, Minnesota

It’s not just for hikers or bikers. It’s a 120-mile recreational path that attracts, skaters, snowshoers, snowmobilers and naturalists, all eager to enjoy the woods and watery wonderland of north central Minnesota. Explorers using manual and electric wheelchairs can also access the nation’s longest accessible trail. Families might want to include a visit to Paul Bunyan Land, vintage amusement park that offers a miniature train, carnival rides, a pioneer village and a giant-sized lumberjack. For those interested in learning about or extending their geocaching skills (that’s the outdoor high-tech treasure hunting sport), note that there are now more than 1,000 caches hidden along the Paul Bunyan Trail from Brainerd to Bemidji.

For more: www.PaulBunyanTrail.com

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Known for its geothermal attractions, Lassen Volcanic National Park features all three types of our national trails: scenic, historic and recreational. Seventeen miles of the Pacific Coast Trail also passes through the park. Visitors can look forward to hiking amid lush forests, high mountain lakes and scenic meadows. Venture along the Boiling Springs Lake trail to observe mud pots, incense cedar, ponderosa pine and colorful wildflowers. Thanks to the steam vents under the lake, the lake’s water temperature remains at about 125 degrees.

For more: www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Historic Park, Maryland

Once a lifeline for those who lived and worked along the Potomac River, the C&O Canal is now a pathway for steeping in our rich history while enjoying the surrounding natural beauty. From April through November, families can learn more about life in the 1870s aboard a boat pulled by mules. Presenters in period clothing provide a glimpse into a time gone by for the people living, working, and floating on the canal. Your crew will also learn how locks were used to navigate the waterway and how coal and agriculture products floated their way to markets. In the same area, you can opt for interpretive trails as well as the popular Billy Goat trail. Be on the lookout for herons, hawks and bald eagles along the Potomac River.

For more: www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm

_____

_____

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.