Getting outside with little ones

I’ll be the first to admit that life undeniably changes when you have a little one.

But that doesn’t mean it has to stop.

When our son Mason was born, my husband and I were used to a life of hiking, biking, rafting and snowboarding whenever we felt like it. Now, with a 2-year-old, we still get out as much as we once did, and probably even more -- but where we go and how we do it is from a 30-pound little walker’s perspective. Hiking is our favorite activity these days, because it allows us to see the world through our little guy’s eyes, and he can lead the way.

Here are five Mason-approved selections, all within or on the edges of The Intertwine:

Tryon Creek State Natural Area

Level: Easy

Hands down our all-time favorite walk inside Portland. I hiked Tryon Creek the morning before Mason was born, and was back there by the time he was a few months old.

It's good on both a rainy day and a super-hot summer day because of the tree cover, nature center with heaps of books and toys, bathroom with a changing table (women’s only), friendly rangers and covered outdoor gathering spot.

Tryon offers paved upper trails excellent for new little walkers and alter-abled kids with walkers and wheelchairs, along with nice flat loops that can work well for parents just getting back at it. Drop down into the canyon for a little more challenging rolling landscape, bridges to cross over, and hollow trees to explore in.

This is an excellent all-family location for infants to grandparents.

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Wildwood Trail

Level: Moderate

Looking for a challenge for your family this year? Hike all 30 miles of Forest Park's Wildwood Trail in bite-sized pieces. This trail spans the length of Portland and divides inner-city Northwest Portland from the ‘burbs.

Start at one end of the park in the middle of the city, and work your way to the far north, ending up on the outskirts of town. With all the out-and-backs, you'll put 50 to 70 miles under your belt. Pick a stretch of it to cover every month, and ask some friends to join you.

The Wildwood is a fairly easy trail for the most part, and generally has a rolling feel. There are some uphill climbs when you dip out of the trail to get back to your car. After big storms, keep an eye out for washed-out portions of the trail and fallen trees. These areas are maintained fairly quickly by volunteers, so it’s almost always hikeable all the way through.

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Horsetail Falls

Level: Moderate to slightly challenging due to uphill climbs

One of my family’s all-time favorites, Horsetail Falls is a Columbia Gorge classic.

Park at the mouth of Oneanta Falls, and head up a switchback that quickly levels out and rounds a bend to Horsetail Falls. This waterfall is always gushing at a high level, with a shelf tall enough to walk under taking you behind the falls. You can either turn around here, or continue another mile to make a loop.

The second part of the hike takes you across a beautiful bridge (one person at a time due to weight restrictions), and gives you another small waterfall view. One more climb up, then meander down to the road and back on the shoulder through one tunnel.

Mason really likes this hike and is almost guaranteed to fall asleep in the carrier for at least an hour every time we do it. He usually crashes just after Horsetail Falls, giving us a nice quiet spell without toddler rumble in the ear.

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Wahclella Falls

Level: Moderate to slightly challenging

This is the perfect impress-your-out-of-town-friends hike, because it’s only one mile to the falls but feels like you have accomplished something significant. With how lush and secluded it is, I liken it to something you would see in Maui.

The hike starts out on a flat, wide road. It’s perfect for new walkers and for kids who want to run and play. It travels along a shallow creek filled with salmon during spawning season, so be sure to stop and look for fish fighting their way upstream.

Pass by a small dam, and the trail starts to climb. There is definitely some uphill on this one, but it’s a short hike and completely doable for most people. There are steep ledges, so kids who are runners should either be worn or kept close at hand. One set of stairs gives you an awesome bum burn.

Eventually you will come to a split in the trail. Take the right fork. Both forks take you to the waterfall, but in my opinion, the view is more spectacular coming in on the right. In the summer, just before you arrive at the waterfall, you can hike down to the river on the left and wade in the waterholes.

Keep hiking, and you cross under a rock ledge, over a bridge and arrive in paradise. This is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Gorge for such a short hike. It feels completely cut off from civilization (other than the fact that there are always people here because it’s so accessible), and the sound of the water spilling down from the falls is thundering. Move close to get a great picture and feel the spray. There’s a nice flat area to meander around and have lunch.

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Oxbow Regional Park

Level: Easy to slightly moderate

Oxbow is one of the best hikes in the summer because you get a swim hole reward at the end of a hot hike. There are also lots of amenities along the way like bathrooms, water faucets at various points, and a playground at the start of the hike.

Drive into the park ($5 entry fee), and go until you see a playground on your left. This is a great place to park and wait for others, or give your kids a chance to unwind as you get ready to hike.

Walk to the trail just behind the playground. The path travels along a cliff and has a nice wood fence providing a mommy-appreciated safety barrier for toddlers who like to run when you least expect it.

This is an easy, wide trail with lots of room for child exploration. Don’t be surprised if you come across a deer nursing her doe on the trail, as this park is jam-packed with critters. This is especially the case March through May, before the summer crowds start showing up to camp, hike and swim. Because this park is a popular swimming destination, you can find empty trails even on a crowded day.

Meander about 1.5 miles, and you end up at the parking lot for the main swimming hole. An excellent rocked-in, shallow wading pool is perfect for toddlers and shady most of the day.

Alternate route: If the park feels particularly crowded, head away from the playground and up toward the hills that rim the park. You'll rarely find anyone on this trail, which eventually leads to the campground at the end of the park. This will also loop you back around to the swim hole.