Your Perfect Hiking Plan

Did you love exploring as a child? If you want to share that joy of hiking with your kids, we’ve got some tips to make your family hike successful. Here’s how to plan a perfect hiking trip that everyone will love.

Plan Smart

Good planning is key to a fun hike. The main thing to remember is not to push your kids too hard. The hike should be enjoyable, not a test of endurance. One rule is to keep the hike length at ½ -1 mile per your child’s age depending on their activity and experience level.. For example, 4-7-year-olds can handle about 2-4 miles. While 8 and up could possibly hike 6-10 miles. Plan your hike based on the slowest person in your group, and be ready to adapt as needed.

Pick an Exciting Route

Choose a destination that will excite your kids such as a waterfall, a sparkling river or beautiful lake.  You can make the hike more engaging by turning it into a treasure hunt.  Choose trails that have diverse landscape, elevation gain or rock bouldering if you feel your child is ready for that type of challenge. Let your child lead the way sometimes.

Take Plenty of Breaks

Hiking works up an appetite, so plan frequent breaks to give kids a chance to rest outdoors. Kids love healthy snacks and will appreciate spots where they can sit on a tree trunk, a big rock, or next to a stream.

Discover Nature’s Treasures

Ask your children to notice the little things. Look for giant anthills, interesting rocks, or colorful leaves. Make a game out of finding the coolest stuff along the trail. In summer and autumn, you might find blueberries to snack on or mushrooms to collect for a tasty meal later.

Learn as You Hike

Nature is itself an amazing classroom. So, use the hike to teach your kids about the environment. Look at tree rings to guess a tree’s age, identify animal tracks, or listen to the sounds of birds. Bring a magnifying glass to examine plants and insects up close.

If you enjoyed these tips, you might also like What Can You See on a Hike? by Kris Davis. This book offers activities to do before, during, and after your hikes. It includes checklists, trail etiquette, and fun ways to practice reading and math skills while exploring. It’s the perfect companion for making the most of your outdoor adventures! So don’t forget to grab a copy of this book the next time you go hiking as a family!