I love where we live. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains we are surrounded by miles and miles of hiking trails. Our family enjoys exploring new trails together and over the past year spending time outdoors has become even more important. Some people are surprised to find that we regularly hike with six kids age 10 and under in tow. Well, I’m here to tell you that with a little bit of planning you can enjoy the best family hikes together. Keep reading to the end for our list of some of our favorite family hikes or ones that are on our bucket list! This post is sponsored by GOOD THINS at Raley’s, all opinions are my own.
4 tips for the best family hikes:
Don’t forget the snacks.
Yes, snacks are the number one tip because when hiking (especially with kids) this is probably most important. Not only are snacks a great motivator, but they help give you energy to keep going. Our family loves GOOD THINS Snacks available at Raley’s! They’re the perfect addition to some fresh produce and a great reward for a hike well done.
GOOD THINS Snacks are gluten free and come in a variety of flavors. I can feel good about our family snacking on them because they’re made with real ingredients that we can actually pronounce! We recently picked up both corn and rice GOOD THINS Snacks to try on a family hike. I love the Garden Veggie crackers and my kids are big fans of the Sea Salt rice crackers. Bonus? They are convenient to pick up via Raley’s curbside pickup on the way to your adventure!
Wear comfortable, layered clothing.
Whether the weather is warm or cool, your needs will change when you’re hiking. When we start early in the day, we often quickly shed our outer layers. But when we take an evening hike, we usually start to get chilly by the end. Nothing can ruin a hike faster than kids that are complaining about being too hot or cold. Remember your sunscreen as well and you might want to consider wearing a hat. Again, headwear can both help to shield you from the sun or keep in your body heat when it’s cold.
Know your child’s abilities and limits.
Make sure that you do your planning ahead of time! Is the trail in shade or sun? That will determine what time of day you should leave. How steep is the trail and how long? That will determine if you can hike the whole thing or need to turn around halfway. If you’re trying to have an enjoyable hike for the whole family now is not the time to test them and push your child. If you hike together regularly their endurance will gradually increase and you can always do that harder hike down the road! And just because you’re not ready for a snack or water break when they are doesn’t mean they don’t really need it.
Pick an interesting location.
The best family hikes happen in amazing places! If you pick a beautiful hike or a unique location that will hold their interest, your kids will do better. When there’s exciting things to look at, or the incentive at something incredible at the end of the hike you’re less likely to have whiney kids who “can’t walk another steeepppppp…” Not sure where to start? Check out the list of some of our favorite hikes in the United States and some bucket list hikes below!
great U.S. hikes
Below you’ll find some of the best family hikes in the United States. Several of the trails we’ve done with our own kids, some are on our bucket list!
california
- Lower Yosemite Falls. Lower Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park is a great hike for families. If your little hikers are wilderness explorers in training, no worries–the path is short and fairly level. If you have a sturdy stroller the path is also paved and accessible which is a bonus. The base of the falls is the perfect place to stop for a snack and water break but be sure to stay on the trail and stay off the slick rocks.
- Western States Trail (Auburn SRA portion near The Confluence). As I mentioned, we live in a beautiful area with miles and miles of hiking trails. In fact, Auburn is known as the Endurance Capital of the World! One of our favorite easy hikes to do with the kids is to park down by the Confluence of the American River and hike a portion of the Western States trail. It starts over the Mountain Quarries Bridge and then soon diverts down to the river, or you can continue hiking to Calcutta Falls and beyond.
- Bumpass Hell. If you’re on the west coast like me and can’t make it to Yellowstone consider one of our family’s lesser-known favorites–Lassen Volcanic National Park. The hike to Bumpass Hell is roughly 3 miles roundtrip and is the largest hydrothermal area in the park. The hike is fairly easy but make sure to lecture your children about staying on the boardwalk before you begin–many visitors have been badly burned when they stray from the trail or try to go around barriers.
western united states
- Nisqually Vista Trail. Located in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park Nisqually Vista Trail explodes with wildflowers in late summer. This is another paved trail that is accessible for strollers although and at just 1.2 miles is doable for even little hikers. Take your time and remember your insect repellent and you’ll enjoy a peaceful stroll and breathtaking view of Mount Rainer and a real-life glacier!
- Diamond Head Summit Trail. If your family is visiting Oahu hiking the Summit Trail at Diamond Head State Monument is a must. The appeal of hiking through old bunkers and caves to be rewarded with breathtaking views of Honolulu and the Pacific Ocean is an incredible experience. However, this hike is not for newbie hikers. It is steep going up and there is not a lot of refuge from the hot sun. Start early in the day, bring plenty of water, and plan for a picnic breakfast at the top.
- The Narrows (Riverside Walk). Zion National Park offers many incredible trails but none as iconic as The Narrows. This is the perfect hike for little ones because there’s no formal stopping point (when you start bottom to the top). Just hike in as far as your kiddos are able and then turn around! Safety is a top priority when hiking in The Narrows. Check water levels and conditions beforehand and make sure you have proper shoes for hiking through water.
central united states
- Sand Dunes Loop. File this hike found in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve as a major bucket list item. Plan your hike for late Spring so your kids can splash around in the Medano Creek at the base of the dunes. It’s over 3 miles total but supposedly an easy hike for the whole family.
- Geyser Basin Trail. I haven’t visited Yellowstone National Park since I was a kid, but I can’t wait to visit again with my own family. This trail is flat and will take you past plenty of hot pools and geysers–be sure to check the schedules for Old Faithful, Castle, and Grand geysers for the biggest wow factor while you’re hiking.
eastern united states
- Cape Florida Nature Trail. Another bucket list hike next time our family is in the sunshine state. This nature trail is located in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Although it’s not stroller friendly it is an easy hike for even your littlest walkers and includes a historic lighthouse site.
- Gorge and Indian Trail. One more hike for my east coast readers, this one in Watkins Glen State Park in New York. This state park was voted the third best state park in the United States back in 2015 and it’s easy to see why! On this short hike you’ll be able to hike behind, over, and next to waterfalls. Check out the pictures and I’m sure you’ll add it to your best family hikes bucket list too.