Family Hiking: How to Get Kids off the Couch and Into the Woods

If there is anything the world has learned in the past few months, it is to appreciate the outdoors and nature. State and national parks have been a pandemic escape for many. Kids can benefit from being out in nature as much or even more than adults. There is no better time than the present to start hiking with kids. Here are tips to cultivate a love of hiking and nature in your kids!

Simply put, hiking makes me happy. Prior to having children, I was a regular hiker and managed to enjoy a couple of vigorous hikes each week. This even included summiting a couple of fourteeners – mountain peaks with elevations of 14,000 feet or higher. As my kids get older — they’re 8 and 12 now — I continue to cultivate them into family hiking buddies.

Hiking is healthy and a proven mood-booster. A family hike is a great way to slow down, enjoy nature and de-stress. The leaves rustling in the wind. Rivers rushing by. Birds chirping. Read on for tips on how to get the kids off the couch, away from the iPad and into the woods. (Hint: Snacks are important!)

But those first hikes with your kids can be challenging. These tips for introducing kids to hiking will help make the first time hiking with kids more fun. Having the right gear helps too.

Why Bother Hiking with Kids?

Hiking offers a long list of health benefits — from lowering blood pressure, to building strength and bone density. Hiking helps us sleep better. A study by Stanford researchers also shows that hiking has mental health benefits. Being in nature lowers stress levels, boosts our mood and makes us happier. Time spent exploring nature also boosts attention spans and creative problem-solving skills.

When I am feeling stressed or having difficulty working through a problem, the first thing I will do is head out the door for a walk, run or hike and it always works. I return either with the problem solved or I’ve put the situation into perspective. Some of my most creative ideas have developed while out in nature when I’ve taken a break from the computer and screen.

Why wouldn’t it be any different for our kids? While they are young is the best time to introduce them to an activity that has so many benefits. But it can be frustrating if you aren’t prepared or don’t have reasonable expectations. Get your young children out hiking now and it will be well worth it!

How to Get Kids Off the Couch

1. Start Hiking as a Family…Early

There is no such thing as hiking too early. Both young children and older kids can enjoy being out in nature. The earlier you start getting your kids hiking, the easier it will be as they grow up. Even a short walk along a bike path or down to wade in a stream can count as a hike when they are young. Just get them outside and moving!

2. Locate Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails

When your kids are young, find flat trails that have interesting areas along the way. Start with a short hike. When my kids were very young, I located a trail near my home that was flat and about a half mile. I would carry our baby in a hiking carrier and our preschooler could trek along at her own pace, smelling the wildflowers along the way. We’d end at a shaded picnic area by the river. Locating child-friendly hikes is the key to success.

As they got older, it became a bit harder to keep their interest. Finding a trail with waterfalls and caves, like Rifle Falls State Park near Vail, Colorado, then became key.

When they have become experienced hikers, then it will be time to graduate to national parks.

TravelingMom Tip: In Colorado it is as easy as renting a cabin, or going glamping to have easy access to all kinds of kids-friendly hiking trails.

3. Have Reasonable Expectations for Hiking with Kids

This continues to be the most challenging for me. While your goal (and mine) may be to summit the top of a mountain to take in the spectacular vista, what motivates kids may be and should be completely different. They may want to pick raspberries along the way, splash in the water or explore caves. Don’t plan on a fast pace on your first hikes and let your kids just enjoy themselves.

If you succeed at instilling a love of hiking, then the challenges of summiting mountains can come later.

4. Make It Fun!

This may seem like an easy one, and it will be if you can follow the previous three steps. Pack a picnic with a special treat.

Play games like I Spy. Spot different animals, animal tracks or even animal scat. Count butterflies. Pick berries. Skip stones. Explore caves.

Bring along a compass, binoculars or magnifying glass and interweave some lessons along the way. Make it a scavenger hunt.  Or, go geocaching. There’s plenty to learn naturally on a day hike.

Just have fun and enjoy your time as a family, taking in our natural environment.

End with a reward. On the way home stop for ice cream or a cold soda. Or, for younger kids, some small treats dispersed along the way may help keep them going.

How to Prepare for Hiking with Kids

In addition to the tips above, there are a few items that can make or break the success of a family hike. So, be prepared.

Bring Lots of Water and Snacks

We like to have everyone bring their own Camelbak hydration system backpack with a full bladder of water. They come in both adult and kid sizes. Having the water so accessible encourages our kids to stay hydrated. They can drink it along the way without having to stop and pull a bottle out of a pack.

But if you don’t have Camelbaks, just be sure to bring a small pack with water bottles. Drinking water is also one of the best ways to prevent altitude sickness if you are gaining in altitude.

We also pack lots of snacks and a picnic lunch. Trail mix, protein bars and granola are easy to pack. (Try this recipe for making your own healthy trail mix.) There is no such thing as bringing too much water or food on a hike.

Keep a First Aid Kit in Your Pack

Ever since our kids did the Kids Adventure Race in Vail, we’ve kept a basic first aid kit in their CamelBacks. Bandaids, antiseptic and antibiotic ointment can make any injury feel better.

Wear or Bring Sunglasses, Sun Hat and Sunscreen

Protecting your skin and eyes from the sun is so important, especially at altitude. You want to stay comfortable and avoid a surprise sunburn. Don’t forget sunscreen, sun hats and sunglasses!

These are our favorite sunscreens for babies and kids.

Wear Quality Hiking Boots and Socks

This is the most important hiking gear, other than food and water. Breathable, no-chafe hiking socks like Smartwool are great for longer hikes.

Hiking shoes could be tennis shoes or a more durable pair of hiking boots depending on where and how long you are hiking. You want to be comfortable and able to manage any rocky terrain without getting blisters.

Wear and Bring Layers

My favorite hiking pants are ones that have legs that zip off to convert to shorts. Bring a fleece and light rain jacket that you can pack in your backpack. Chances are that you will encounter different temperatures along the way, and different weather can roll in quickly.

One of the first Colorado hikes I went on began as a sunny fall day then turned into a snowstorm on our way back to the trailhead.

Leave No Trace!

Hiking is also a teaching and learning opportunity. Set an example and teach your kids to leave no trace.

For more tip on packing for your hike, read these 7 Tips for Hiking in the Desert.

The Payoff of Hiking with Kids

Don’t miss the opportunity this summer to get your entire family outside and hiking through green fields, across sparkling streams, through canyons and up to waterfalls — or even around the neighborhood or in your nearest state park. At the end of the day, you will all sleep better and be healthier and happier. There’s not a better gift you can give your children than a love of hiking.