5 Stroller-Friendly Hikes Around Spokane

I have always loved hiking, so when I had kids, naturally I wanted to bring them with me to share in my hobby. But this meant I had to rethink hiking a bit. Since moving to Spokane from Sweden in 2021, I have been on the lookout for trails that work when you’re pushing a stroller. It’s been a lot of trial and error and I quickly found that not many trails work with one.

Our family started hiking regularly when our youngest daughter was about one-year-old and our oldest three, which meant bringing a stroller. We got a double stroller that seats two for this and that has worked really well for us. I’ve rounded up five of our favorite spots for those who desire to hit the trails with young kids in tow. Here are five great stroller-friendly hikes around Spokane.

Rimrock Drive (Palisades Park)

Located at 5200 W Greenwood Rd and offering a beautiful view of downtown Spokane, Rimrock Drive, part of Palisades Park, is a great hike for strollers! It’s a gravel trail, but very flat and wide, and not a looped trail, so you can feel out how far you want to go. There are free parking spots at both starting points. Since the trail is on top of a meandering ridge, you will have a good view of downtown, the Spokane River, and Mount Spokane in the distance.

Ben Burr Trail

Ben Burr Trail is another gem located on the South Hill North of E Spokane Falls Blvd and East 57th Ave on Moran Prairie. You can walk this trail from Underhill Park to Liberty Park. It follows along the basalt rock wall that is typical for Spokane and offers some nice views of the city. It’s great for strollers because it’s paved all the way. Midway, you’ll cross a pedestrian bridge over South Altamont street, always fun for the kiddos. A cool thing about this trail is that the Liberty Park library and its playground is at one of the starting points, adding extra fun to the outing and a chance for the kids to let out some energy. Parking is free at both starting points.

Lincoln Park Loop

A more simple walk, but with great views plus playground, is the Lincoln Park Loop on the South Hill located at 2221 S Southeast Blvd. This park has two parts, an upper and a lower part. Start at the upper park where the free parking is. The upper loop has amazing views over Spokane. Then, you can take the trail (all paved) leading down to the lower part of the park which has swings and a playground as well. Lincoln Park Loop truly checks all the boxes.

Centennial Trail (Carlson Road Trailhead to Mclellan Trailhead)

The Centennial Trail is perfect for strollers (and it's long!). It stretches from Coeur d’Alene to Nine Mile Falls. There are so many beautiful places on the trail and it’s all paved, which makes it easy breezy with a stroller. I would say the best spots of this very long trail are the ones located in Riverside State Park where the path runs closer to nature. Walking on the hanging bridge by Bowl and Pitcher is definitely a must-see, though not as stroller friendly. If I had to choose one section to reign supreme though, it would be the stretch from the Carlson Road trailhead close to Nine Mile Falls, as you walk south towards the Mclellan trailhead. Turn left on West Charles Road off SR 291 at the Nine Mile Dam. Proceed south on Carlson Road, up the hill and turn right to the trailhead on west side of the road.

You will need a Discover pass for most trailheads along the Centennial trail. These can be purchased online or at several local licensed vendors. The trails meander along the Spokane River and this section is very lush with lots of trees and greenery. There is also a steel bridge that you will pass over, which goes over the stream releasing from Deep Creek Canyon (another cool place but not so stroller friendly). My kids thought this bridge was really cool since you can go down to the water where there is a small beach perfect for rock skipping.

If you want a physical map of the trail, there are a few options, but I recommend getting one from The Friends of the Centennial Trail, the main non-profit caring for the Centennial trail. You can buy it online on their website or through one of their local partners in town.

Medical Lake Loop

Follow I-90 W and WA-902 W to 4th St in Medical Lake and you will see the perfect trail for your family, looped, paved and ready for strollers. You can park for free at the south end of the trail which also has a beach area and a playground making for an easier jog ahead. Being a looped trail, it follows the lake, which is gorgeous. At the northeast part of the trail you will have to walk through the town of Medical Lake a bit before the paved trail continues again and brings you back to the parking lot and beach area at the south end of the lake. I recommend taking a detour to stroll through town to check out some local shops. Last time we went, in late summer, the Blue Water Bluegrass Festival was in full-swing, which was awesome! 

See Also: A Guide to Seattle’s Best Day Hikes and Stunning Views

On any of the trails, don’t forget to bring lots of snacks and water. We like to throw in some hot chocolate if it’s cold! We’ve brought lunch several times, oftentimes something easily made like sandwiches. Definitely don’t complicate it. We also bring a change (or several) of clothes for the kids in case there are accidents of different kinds.

Remember to take your time. Rushing the hike takes the fun out of it. Being a more of a task-driven person, this is something I have had to work on, since I want to get from point A to B as soon as possible, but when you have kids you have to take it at their pace. Apart from snack breaks, remember to take time to explore. The mindset should be that you are on an adventure! Let the kids lead the way if they want to take a closer look at something. Listen in on birdsong and let them collect rocks, sticks, pinecones and whatever else they find. It makes the hike more fun for everyone.

Hiking, even if for just a little while, is a chance to learn about the beautiful area we get to live in and nature sets a positive precedence that encourages kids to spend more time outdoors. These are just five of the wonderful spots to hike with kids. There are many more great hikes that work for strollers, so keep your eyes open, and get out and explore!