Mt. Storm King Hike-Olympic National Park
If you're looking for views of beautiful Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Park then Mount Storm King might by your hike. It's a 4-mile round trip but with a hefty 2065 FT of elevation gain! This hike is better suited for older kids or experienced littler hikers! Read on to find out about this adventurous hike and why bagging this peak might be better suited for older kids. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Mt. Storm is a beautiful spot for getting the most amazing views of Cresent Lake. That being said, it's hard work getting to the summit. Luckily there are several spots that you can gain fantastic views of the lake and surrounding landscape without going all the way to the top. We recommend checking out this hike, even if you don't want to summit ( and if you have small children, it's probably better to avoid going to the summit until they are older and more experienced) .
Towards the top, the trail gets really steep with very limited tread. This isn't suited for younger children as you'll need to hang on to ropes to get yourself to the summit and the ropes are very close to the edge of the mountain. Certainly not for the faint of heart and inexperienced hiking families with small children.
The feedback we've received from families who have completed this hike is that the ropes are challenging and dangerous if you are not sure what you're doing. Therefore it's best to check out Lake Cresent from one of the lower outcroppings, the views are still stunning but you can avoid the steep summit and ropes.
PROS
Really well maintained trail
Epic views
Beautiful landscape surrounding the trail
Wildlife viewing opportunities
Beautiful spots for nature photography
Cons
Ropes at the summit are hard to navigate
Very challenging terrain towards the summit with slippery tread.
Challenging elevation gain ( which makes it difficult for smaller kids)
Resources:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/mount-storm-king
https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/mount-storm-king-trail.htm
Other kid friendly Olympic National Park Reviews:
Have you hiked Mount Storm King with your kids? What did you think? Add your thoughts below to help our community of adventurous PNW families! Let us know in the comments below!⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do you have an awesome Pacific Northwest kid-friendly outdoor adventure you want us to feature? Let us know here! Also, make sure to follow us on Instagram here!
