Is it worth going to these parks if you can only do easy short hikes?
which are the scenic easy hikes under 1 mile round trip in these parks? preferably if you can see waterfalls or lakes or any other scenic easy ones?
Which of these 3 parks, Rainier, Olympic, and Northern Cascades is your favorite by how scenic they are? and which of the 3 is your least favorite?

We did an easy hike from Lake Quinault into the rainforest. Olympic National Park. Gorgeous. You walk for as little or as long you want.

When would you be visiting? Conditions are not the same from one season to another; for example, visiting Olympic National Park is (probably, depending on your priorities) best in the spring to early summer, while Mount Rainier usually has snow on the ground until mid-July, and really comes into its own in August. Olympic NP's highlights are spread around the periphery of the park, often long drives (hours) apart through rather boring, and sometimes depressing countryside outside the park boundaries. You need at least three days to do it justice.

North Cascades NP is a wilderness park, with no visitor facilities to speak of within the park. It too is often snowbound until mid-summer. I think with your priorities it's the least favorable match.

A park ranger in the visitors center can provide you a map of the short trails that fit your interests and abilities. Plus, there are road overlooks that provide views of the scenery.

Does it have to be a national park? I ask because the North Cascades is an incredibly beautiful region. I like the towns of Mazama and Winthrop, and the Methow River area. There are lodges, cabins, camping. You don't have to hike at all. You don't even 'have' to go into the national park to enjoy the stunning, dramatic scenery.

I've gone to both Mt Rainier and ONP without going hiking. Just easy walking paths are available both places. They are huge parks, especially ONP so you really do need to plan ahead for your route and itinerary.

Welcome!
suze, seattle

In North Cascades, can we drive to lookouts over the water for: diablo lake vista point, maple pass overlook, and blue lake, or is hiking required and how much for all 3? what about ladder creek falls?

In Rainier, just wanted to confirm that Reflection Lake- we can drive to it, no hiking required to see the lookout? is Narada Falls- a steep walk or lots of steps- is Myrtle falls better? Can we do part of the Tipsoo Lake Loop or is that too hard and we won't see the lake unless we walk a lot? How is Paradise Valley- can we walk part of it?

In Olympic, I read that sol duc falls is a short easy hike, can any of you confirm? Besides this and Lake Crescent, are there any other scenic areas to visit in Olympic park?

do you have any other suggestions of short easy hikes under 1 mile (where you can either see lakes, falls, wildflowers) or lookouts or must see places?

also are there any wildfires in any of the above national parks or seattle?

No wild fires reported at the moment. There are never fires in the city of Seattle proper.

I saw online that part of olympic park has fires? If we go to sol duc falls and crescent lake, will it be smoky there?

You still haven't said when you're visiting. Things can change in a hurry, for better or worse.

At present the big Bear Gulch fire in the southeastern part of Olympic National Park is 13% contained and has consumed around 9,000 acres. This fire is more or less diagonally opposite to the Sol Duc and Lake Crescent areas, maybe 50 miles away, and while winds can shift, it's probably unlikely that you'll get a lot of smoke in that part of the park.

You can drive up to Hurricane Ridge


and on the west side walk as much as you want in the rain forest:


Two different days.

Not sure yet, thinking about next week.

Deleted

Washington State is incredibly beautiful. Everyone seems to only want to go to the three huge national parks. But that is really limiting yourself, unless you are collecting national park badges. Especially if you don't hike, why not explore by staying in lodges or cabins in the general area and enjoying the small towns and scenic drives and short walks you can find simply off the main roads or along a river.

zxcybnm - We are in Port Townsend right now after spending a week in Sol Duc campground. I am writing a TR called North by Northwest that has some pictures. Sol Duc falls is an easy walk in my opinion. It is about 1.5 mile hike from the parking lot, but the trail is pretty wide and there is some elevation. I didn't find it strenuous. I think Olympic is amazing, Lake Crescent is the prettiest lake and there are plenty of easy hikes around the park. I can't speak for the Cascades and Rainer because I haven't visited them yet. You can drive up to Hurricane Ridge and there are some easier hikes from the first parking lot.

thanks. going to check your TR. Btw, is there smoke in any part of the park? It looks like the map shows more wildfires.

Even in the city (Seattle) we have some smoke right now and the air quality is considered "poor".