Hiking with Young Kids: How Our Family Makes It Work

Getting outside as a family is one of my big priorities for this year. But do you ever feel that hiking with young kids is more effort than it’s worth? Choosing a trail, getting out the door, making it through the hike. I get it. It can feel like there are so many steps to even getting to enjoy a family activity. But over time and with enough practice, I’ve found that hiking, even at a toddler’s pace, has become one of our favorite family activities. 

With work, busy schedules, and feeling like my energy is being pulled in so many directions as a parent to young kids, getting outside has always been one of the ways that I have been able to center myself and feel refreshed. It’s good for mom, dad, and the adults. And it’s good for the kids. 

This past month, we managed to go on four local walks/hikes. For these, my daughter walked a good portion of the way. We are based in the Sacramento area of Northern California and these are the hikes we did: 

• Mix Park to Camden Lake (Elk Grove) – Great paved neighborhood option with playgrounds along the way
• Traylor Ranch Nature Reserve and Bird Sanctuary (Loomis) – Open space, got to see lots of little birdies hiding in the bramble 
• Johnson Springview Outer Loop (Rocklin) – Weaves around a disc golf play area, wanders along a creek, and ends in a playground
• Canyon View and Harrigan Trail Loop (Auburn) – Some elevation, beautiful views, well shaded but great for little legs

Since my three year old daughter has started to outgrow her hiking carrier, we’ve started picking hikes that she can do on her own. My son is still small enough for a front carrier and still occasionally naps along the way. 

Choosing a Trail

My favorite resource to plan our family hikes is the AllTrails app. I look for trails that are within an hour drive from where we live, rated as easy, and between 1.5 to 2 miles. We haven’t quite gotten my daughter to do a full 2 mile hike yet, but are working our way towards it.

Through the app, you can also filter by interest, whether the trail is stroller or dog- friendly, paved or unpaved. Many users of the app also include pictures of recent hikes so you can see what it looks like after a recent rain or in the heat of the summer.

Getting Out the Door

Once we have decided on a trail to go on, the next step is getting the family out the door that day. During the winter and cooler season, we take our time getting out the door. During the summer, when it gets hot earlier in the day, we aim to leave earlier so we don’t end up hiking at the hottest time of the day. 

As we have done more and more hikes together as a family, the process for getting out the door is becoming more and more streamlined. But of course, there are days when it can take a whole hour to get dressed, brush teeth, get the bag packed, get the snacks packed, and mitigate any tantrums.

We have the same set of gear that we use for all of our hikes.

• Baby carrier
• Day pack
• Changing pad pack with a section to store wipes and diapers.
• Silicone reusable snack bags
• Reusable water bottles
• Small packing cube with a change of clothes for the kids.
• Basic first aid kit with basic bandaids, gauze, antiseptic ointment, acetaminophen or ibuprofen

The Hike

Our hikes nowadays are slow with many pauses along the way. It’s a different way of hiking focused on the journey instead of the destination. Instead of hiking as fast as we can, we take time to notice the small details, paying attention to what’s around us. 

The other beautiful thing about this stage of hiking is watching my kids interact with the natural world. Since my son is still little, he may spend a good portion of the hike just staring at my feet with each step that I take or looking up at the trees, watching them sway in the wind. We may pick up a collection of sticks, or leaves, or rocks, or acorns, among the many other things that my daughter finds along the way. My daughter may test her skills by climbing up a tree or balancing on a log. 

We aim to finish most of our hikes according to the trail map on our AllTrails app. Sometimes, depending on what we find or whether we sense one of the kids getting tired or cranky, we may adjust our route cutting off one section or taking a detour to complete the loop. 

Reflections on Hiking with Young Kids

I’ve been so inspired by this new way of hiking. One that focuses on slowing down, observing, being more present and mindful, and doing our version of forest bathing as a family.

I used to pick hikes that would provide a certain degree of distance or elevation challenge. When my daughter was younger and sat in her carrier, that’s what we would choose as well. However, given the season and stage of life that we are in, I’m enjoying these shorter, more mindful hikes. We will get there again but for now, I’m enjoying soaking up these moments. 

Are you hiking with young kids? I’d love to hear your favorite trails or tips! Drop a comment below or join me on Instagram (@GreeningMyWorld)!”