When hiking with children, a successful day begins with trail selection. By considering the scenery, distance, elevation gain, and trail conditions, you can dramatically improve the odds that your outing will be a relaxing and fun filled experience.
Photo Credit: ginamig276 via Flickr.com
Action Scenery
When you plan a hike with young children, select one that has a high probability of an encounter with action scenery.
Adults can enjoy an unchanging landscape for hours, but the novelty wears off quickly for younger children. Action scenery could involve waterfalls, wildlife viewing, or even an even a meteor shower. The key is to engage your child by directing their attention to a special, unusual, and memorable event.
Distance and Elevation Gain
Little legs wear out fast. If your children will be hiking on foot, you need to find a distance and elevation gain within the capabilities of the youngest member of the family.
Most hiking guide books provide a measurement of elevation gain/loss. If you don't yet have the experience to judge weather or not the distance and elevation gain associated with a hike is within the capabilities of your family, start small by finding one less than 2 miles round trip with a somewhat flat elevation gain (0-250 ft). Use this introductory hike as a starting point and work up from there.
Trail Conditions
While elevation gain and a measurement of difficulty are commonly documented in trail guides, the actual conditions of the trail are often not. Most guide books are written for a broad audience and not toddlers and children. A relatively flat trail can have patches of frustrating trip hazards.
Sometimes you can plan for these by researching the trail and asking questions. Other times you will need to be flexible. Identify and be prepared for any features of the trail that might pose a safety hazard for members of your group. For example, if you are hiking a trail to see a waterfall you can be assured that you will encounter a water hazard and you will need a supervision strategy for younger children.
Trail selection is only one element of planning a trip, but by taking the time to select the right trail for your family you can increase the likelihood that your trip will be safe, fun, and memorable.
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