Weekly Hiking in Seattle: Paradise Valley
Finally, we’ve started hiking with the kid again! Last week, we warmed up at Bridle Trails, and this weekend, we headed to Paradise Valley. It was our first time here, and the vibe is quite similar to Bridle Trails—forest trails, easy paths, minimal elevation gain, suitable for walking, horseback riding, and even biking. After half a year of not carrying the kid, I can definitely feel the weight increase. With the backpack, water, and snacks, it’s probably around 40 pounds now. It’s getting harder to carry, but the kid still enjoys sitting in the carrier. Yesterday, they scraped their knee, which gave them an excuse not to walk, saying, "I can’t walk, Daddy carry me." As usual, they fell asleep while being carried. We’re currently potty training, and thankfully, there were no accidents.
Drive & Parking: About a 15-minute drive. The parking lot is quite spacious, but there are some potholes inside, so drive slowly if your car has a low clearance. Not sure if a pass is required. Address is in photo 2.
Trail Data: We didn’t follow the AllTrails route but instead made a clockwise loop based on the map. My watch recorded 5 miles, 285 feet elevation gain, and 2 hours 25 minutes, including a break while waiting for others (photo 3).
Trail Conditions: The paths are generally good, mostly through the forest. Some sections had puddles but weren’t muddy.
Clothing: Temperature was around 20°C, cloudy. Top: quick-dry hoodie + hardshell. Later, it got a bit warm, and since it didn’t rain, I took off the hardshell. Bottom: quick-dry pants. Shoes: Speedgoat + gaiters.
Gear: Deuter Kid Comfort Pro Child Carrier, water, snacks.
Scenery: Forest views.
Traffic: Not too many hikers, but quite a few bikers. We gave way to them several times, and they were all polite—no reckless riders without signals.
Weekly Hiking Plan