5 Scenic and Family-Friendly Hikes Near Vancouver, WA
The forests around Vancouver, Washington, offer a wide variety of hikes through lush, mossy landscapes typical of the Pacific Northwest.
There’s a reason people love the Pacific Northwest, from the rugged coastlines to the local farmers markets, and from the wineries and vineyards to the hiking trails we’ll talk about today.
Trails wind through dense Douglas fir and cedar forests, past waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and scenic river overlooks.
You’ll find everything from easy family-friendly walks like Lacamas Lake to challenging climbs like Dog Mountain.
These are a few of my favorites!
The 3 Sites I Use for Every Trip
– For tours: Viator
-For travel insurance: Travel Guard
– For rental cars: Discover Cars
Falls Creek Falls
This is one of my favorite waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest. It’s tiered and towering, like something you’d see in Iceland.
- Drive from Vancouver, WA: 90 minutes
- Hike Distance: 4 miles (round trip)
- Hike Difficulty: Moderate
- Permit/Reservation: Not needed
- Amenities: Vaulted toilets
- Dogs: Allowed on leash
The large trailhead parking lot can fill up on nice days, especially on weekends. You’ll follow a somewhat level dirt path 2 miles to the falls.
The falls are so powerful, they create their own wind!
If it’s rained recently, expect your feet to get wet in spots where the runoff crosses the trail.
Beacon Rock
Beacon Rock State Park is about 45-minutes outside of Vancouver. It’s a great way to spend part of the day if you’re in the area.
- Drive from Vancouver, WA: 35 miles east of the city
- Hike Distance: 2 miles (round trip)
- Hike Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Permit/Reservation: Just pay for parking (Discover Pass)
- Amenities: Parking, restrooms, picnic areas
- Dogs: Allowed on leash
The trail includes around 50 switchbacks as you climb up. It’s family-friendly, if the kids can handle the stair climb!
The hike will deliver beautiful views of the Columbia River Gorge, and the Bonneville Dam.
Beacon Rock is open year-round, at 8:00am each day. The park also has campgrounds, a boat launch, fishing docks, and other trails.
Ape Cave
Nearly 2,000 years ago, lava flowed from a vent near the summit of Mount St. Helens and partially filled the valley below. The surface of the molten river cooled and crusted, creating an insulated tunnel around the flowing lava below. The lava flowed for several weeks, creating the lava tube we can hike through today.
- Drive from Vancouver, WA: 60 miles
- Hike Distance: 2.5 miles total
- Hike Difficulty: Easy, though dark
- Permit/Reservation: Required on recreation.gov
- Amenities: Vaulted toilets and gift shop
- Dogs: Not allowed in the cave
The lava tube was discovered around 1950. A group of scouts, named the Mount St. Helens Apes, explored and mapped the cave, which is how it gained its name.
Make sure to bring a good flashlight or headlamp to Ape Cave!  Plus, even if it’s a hot summer day, the cave temperature remains about 42 degrees.
Trail of Two Forests
Down the road from the Ape Cave is the short “Trail of Two Forests,” which is great, especially if you have kids.
- Drive from Vancouver, WA: 60 miles
- Hike Distance: 1/4 mile loop
- Hike Difficulty: Easy
- Permit/Reservation: Not required
Here, you’ll follow an ancient lava river that spilled down the flanks of Mount St. Helens.
Along this ¼-mile loop trail, you will travel through both an old forest now cast in stone, and an emerald forest of trees, which rose from the black lava.
You’ll have to stay on the boardwalk, but there are spots with ladders for you to climb down to get a look below.
Dog Mountain
Dog Mountain is located about 50 miles east of Vancouver, which is usually just over a one-hour drive.
- Drive from Vancouver, WA: 50 miles
- Hike Distance: 6-7 miles
- Hike Difficulty: Difficult/Hard
- Permit/Reservation: Required on weekends
- Amenities: Toilets. Bring your own water!
- Dogs: Allowed on leash
You’ll hike through shaded evergreens, then climb switchbacks to open meadows. The summit, just under 3,000 feet, delivers views of the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, and Mount St. Helens.
Wildflower season runs from mid-April through mid-June. It’s the busiest time of the year on the Dog Mountain Trail.
There are two options:
- an out-and-back 6-mile trail to the summit along the Dog Mountain Trail.
- a loop trail, about 7+ miles, up the Dog Mountain Trail and down the Augspurger Trail.
About one mile in, you’ll choose the steeper path or a more gradual route, which both meet in the same spot up higher.
On the way down, the slightly longer Augspurger Trail is more of a gradual decline, so it’s easier on the knees!
Permits are required on weekends only; weekdays are permit‑free. Parking is an additional $5 per day, or free with your Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass.
Lacamas Creek / Woodburn Falls
Lacamas Park is in Camas, WA, a short drive from Vancouver. It spans more than 300 acres, and includes a network of looping trails.
- Location: Camas, WA
- Drive from Vancouver, WA: 15 miles
- Hike Distance: Multiple options
- Hike Difficulty: Easy
- Permit/Reservation: Not needed
- Amenities: Parking lots
- Dogs: Allowed on leash
The Lower Falls are a big draw. The trail is easy for kids to walk or bike on, so Lacamas is a great choice for families.
Our favorite is the hidden gem: Woodburn Falls. It takes some extra effort to find it, and your shoes will get muddy, but it’s a great spot in the park. A word of warning: if there’s no rain, the falls slow to a trickle in the summer.
