# Gold Creek Pond: Family Snowshoe & Winter Alpine Nature Loop > Place to go for families in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue area (WA). Times are Pacific Time. - When: Open daily dawn to dusk (December through April); Arrive early on sunny winter weekends… - Where: Gold Creek Pond Recreation Area, NF-4832, Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068 - Ages: All ages; flat 1-mile trail loop with zero elevation gain; ideal for sled-pulling toddlers and first-time snowshoers - Price: Northwest Forest Pass ($5/day or $30/annual) or America the Beautiful Interagency Pass required to park; Sledding and walking are free - Schedule: Open daily dawn to dusk (December through April); Arrive early on sunny winter weekends as roadside parking fills by 9:30 AM - Organizer: USDA Forest Service (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest) - Official page: https://www.fs.usda.gov - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/seattle/activities/gold-creek-pond-family-snowshoe-and-winter-alpine-nature-loop--listing-e5f6928b1fbe453042708d99 ## About Gold Creek Pond is widely celebrated as western Washington's most scenic, accessible winter snowshoe trail for families with young children. Located just two miles east of Snoqualmie Summit off I-90, the paved summer trail transforms into a flat, well-trodden 1-mile snowshoe circuit around a crystal-clear mountain pond ringed by frosted willows and towering snowy peaks including Rampart Ridge. Because the trail is virtually flat with negligible elevation gain, parents can easily tow toddlers in plastic sleds or introduce preschoolers to their very first pair of snowshoes. Wooden benches and open gravel beaches along the pond shore provide breathtaking picnic spots for hot thermos cocoa while taking in reflections of snowy crags in the icy water. 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