There are probably a lot of hikes that a heavy-duty, off-roading stroller can conquer, but the following hikes offer an immersive nature experience on a path even your beloved Doona could handle. So download that Merlin Bird ID app, unfold those wheels and let’s stroll someplace pretty.
Tualatin Hills Nature Park
This place is great for strollers and, being mostly flat with very few fall hazards, toddlers who are just learning the art of the hike. Beware of poison oak though! Pro tip: This summer, swing by the Nature Center on Wednesdays at 11:45 to catch a free story time and bookmobile event, thanks to the Beaverton City Library. And on weekends starting in September, a free, drop-in nature preschool will open at the park.
Mt. Tabor Park
No matter the season, Mt. Tabor Park offers an amazing opportunity to learn about the geology of the Pacific Northwest. And with paved paths and smooth-ish unpaved paths, there are a lot of options for you and babe to get some fresh air. Plus this park has a playground, covered shelters, picnic tables and benches, and several view points. Each Wednesday, Mt. Tabor is also closed for car traffic. Baby-friendly outing for the win!
Powell-Butte Nature Park
Some bits of the trails get a tad gravelly, but, for the most part, this is a well-paved winding pathway with plenty of signage to get kids excited about the wildlife in the area. There are many chances to adjust your hike to your desired distance—stay close to the visitor’s center or gradually ascend the summit for views of Cascade Mountain peaks.
Gabriel Park
Let your little one tire themselves out on the inclusive playground before a nice, relaxing stroller walk on the trail. This 89-acre hybrid park just completed a trail improvement project in 2024 that erected better signage and fixed problematic areas on the trails. Pro tip: It’s only a 6-minute drive to Boulevard Tap House, a charming mountainside taphouse and restaurant with great fish ‘n’ chips and a wonderful play area upstairs.
Starvation Creek Waterfall Trail
This trail is flat, paved and totally stroller-friendly from Starvation Creek Falls until Hole-in-the-Wall Falls. Visiting subsequent falls will require traversing rockier terrain. And just a 15-minute drive farther up the Gorge, you’ll find the Hood River Waterfront Park, which serves as the best waiting room ever for the several kid-friendly restaurants across the street.
Mitchell Point Tunnel
These huge basalt cliffs offer a historical restoration of the beautiful tunnel-with-a-view that was partially destroyed to create I-84. With modern interior stonework and support structures, it’s now open to the public as of this March. There’s a small parking lot (only 18 spaces) which you can access from eastbound I-84 at exit 58. You can also access the tunnel by foot walking east from Viento State Park, but it’s not ideal for wheels. (This one is also about a 15-minute drive from the Hood River Waterfront.)
Banks-Vernonia Trail
The farthest out on this list, the Banks-Vernonia Trail is worth the trip when you are ready to switch it up and go on an adventure. It’s a gorgeous trail following an abandoned railroad bed stretching between the two cities of — you guessed it — Banks and Vernonia. The trail also connects to L.L. Stub Stewart State Park, where you can camp year-round or enjoy the picnic shelter and Discovery Depot at the day-use area.
And when you’re ready for more hikes, sans stroller, check out these fun, family-friendly trails.