So you’re the sort of person who hears the irresistible call of the wild, and you can’t wait to share your love of nature’s wonders with your kids! Great! But like most parents, you probably realized shortly after junior’s arrival that adventuring with children in tow can be quite the challenge. Honestly, I’ve been parenting for nearly eight years and I still think taking them to the grocery store is too much hassle. How can you possibly take your kids on legit hikes in majestic places when it takes them forty minutes just to tinkle and put on their shoes?
Well, I have good news. Over the past several years, my husband and I have done all the hard work for you so that you can learn from our failures and have a great time outdoors with your wee ones. Here are our family’s tried and true basics of successful and enjoyable hiking together!
Make a Plan
When you were young and carefree, it was cute to be spontaneous. If you’re hiking with your kids, you have got to plan ahead.
- Be practical in your choice of trail, considering both the degree of difficulty and the length of the hike. As a rule of thumb, figure hiking with children at a pace of about one mile per hour. A four-mile trail might sound like an easy jaunt to you, but it’s much farther on short legs.
- Hikes through densely wooded areas can quickly turn monotonous. You might lose your little trailblazer’s interest if there isn’t much to see. Choose a hike with points of interest along the way, such as waterfalls, creeks, and boulders.
- Find areas near home with short hikes. This will allow you and your kids to get acclimated to hiking together in a low-stakes setting. You’ll learn a lot about what they enjoy and what they need on a hike through these brief excursions, and it’s easy to pull the plug and head home if things turn sour.
To hike happily with your children, you must get their buy-in. You cannot simply haul them along with you like an extra piece of gear.
Put the Kids in Charge
To hike happily with your children, you must get their buy-in. You cannot simply haul them along with you like an extra piece of gear. Let your children be responsible for as many aspects of the hike as their ages and maturity will allow.
- Children can help choose a trail to hike by studying maps with you as you prepare, and they can help read the maps and trail markers as you travel.
- Get your children geared up with compasses and binoculars so that they are doing the work of exploring while learning how to use these very practical tools.
- Have your child carry his or her own gear, either in a standard backpack or a cool hiking pack.
- Give your child a camera to document your hike together. Taking photographs helps engage children in hiking because it encourages them to notice things around them and seek out what they find interesting. You can buy your child a kid-friendly camera or simply re-purpose an old point-and-shoot that you have lying around the house.
Gear Up
You don’t want to get a half mile into your hike and discover that you don’t have something you need! Here’s our basic list of don’t-leave-home-without-its:
- Proper hiking clothes: Physical comfort is key when hiking with your kids. Temperatures can change rapidly, so prepare by dressing your children (and yourself!) in lightweight layers, including waterproof or quick-drying clothes in most climes. A blister will absolutely ruin the day, so make sure everyone has comfortable, properly-fit shoes that are durable enough for your plans. We always carry extra pairs of socks and never regret it!
- Plenty of water and snacks: We love my husband’s gourmet trail mix, which includes a variety of nuts, dried fruits, and of course, chocolate. Apples are also great for hiking because they aren’t too fragile and are hydrating.
- First-aid kit: My hiking kit contains all kinds of emergency supplies, like bee sting ointment and burn gel and tweezers, but all I’ve ever actually needed are the bandages and antibiotic ointment. The healing power of a bandage on the infinitesimally tiny scratch on your toddler’s pinkie will save the day for the whole family, so don’t skip it.
- Hiking carrier: If you are hiking with baby, splurge on a quality hiking carrier. A standard carrier or sling will leave your back aching, but these framed packs will have you and baby hiking comfortably all day.
Adjust Your Expectations
When adults hike, we often plan to reach a certain destination — the awesome peak, the breathtaking overlook, the stunning waterfall. When we hike as a family, we need to adjust that expectation. The primary goal is that our kids enjoy the experience. We’re not here to scale new heights; we’re here to spend time exploring together as a family, and that should be fun for everybody in the family. Make sure you have ample time, and be prepared to turn back whenever your kids are ready. Don’t force them to carry on toward a goal that’s meaningless to them.
- Stop and play along the way. Hiking with your kids is not about the destination. Be willing to stop (often) and enjoy the things that catch your child’s eye. Throw rocks in a creek, climb on boulders, examine a hollow tree. Take time to let your children be explorers. If they are engaged in something along the way, don’t rush them on to the next leg of the trail.
- Focus on the little things. We love a good waterfall or a scenic outlook, but when we hike as a family, we spend most of our time checking out rocks, wildflowers, birds, and butterflies. We hiked to Cathedral Spires in Custer State Park, and my kids spent twenty solid minutes watching chipmunks. Let your children enjoy the small things that spark their interest, and try not to be too flustered when they ignore a sweeping vista to watch a line of ants marching along. Children are born naturalists. If you let them feed their curiosity, it will grow into a lifelong love of being outdoors.
Children are born naturalists.
If you let them feed their curiosity, it will grow into a lifelong love of being outdoors.
Will brake for butterflies. 
If a trail has a fallen log to climb on, that’s going to be the highlight. 
At five years old, my son just sat and watched this waterfall for ages. So zen. 
Are there rocks we can throw in water? Count us in! 
Different species of conifers make different types of cones. Science lesson for the day! 
My daughter’s appetite for rock-collecting is limited only by her ability to carry the rocks. 
Who notices sprouting acorns along the trail? People with eyes closer to the ground. 
We never, ever take the easy way.
The world of hiking holds an endless variety of adventures for you and your family. With a little preparation and the right focus, you’re ready to head out and enjoy nature’s wonders while also enjoying the time spent together!