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Getting Families Outside, One Adventure at a Time

tips for hiking with kids

HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How to Be Prepared when Desert Hiking with Kids
- February 26, 2019
Hiking with kids is one of our all-time favorite activities. It can be done nearly anywhere, doesn’t require fancy gear or weeks of planning and can be adapted for kids of all ages. No wonder it’s one of the first activities that most parents resort to when getting their kids outdoors. And while it may sound (and be) relatively easy, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared…especially when hiking in locations such as the desert. Today we have Chelsea Bowden from Las Vegas, NV here to share all her tips and advice on hiking with two little ones in the desert.

Desert hiking with kids

We live right outside Las Vegas, NV and enjoy finding beauty in the desert. I have two kids (four and three years old) who love to be outside exploring. They need their daily dose of fresh air and outdoor fun. Even on days when I feel too tired or overwhelmed to do anything or go anywhere, my kids encourage me to get out of the house, which is something I never regret afterward.

One of our favorite family activities is hiking. I use the term “hike” loosely, though. To us, hiking can be something as simple as a walk around our neighborhood or as complex as a planned adventure through the mountains. We love hiking along paths we discover while playing at the park and hiking middle-of-nowhere desert trails. There’s no one way to hike and so many great places to go, especially in the Nevada desert. Today I’m sharing some of tips, advice and recommendations on how to be prepared when hiking with kids in the desert.

What to pack

For any desert hike, water is essential. On short hikes at a local park or around the neighborhood, I typically just carry one large water bottle for all of us to share. Otherwise, a good size water pack (we use CamelBak) with room for lots of ice water and lots of pockets.

In addition to water, we always keep the following essentials in one pocket for hikes:
- a utility knife
- compass
- small sunscreen
- small first aid kit with baby wipes (for cleaning off scrapes or wiping hands before snack)
- medicine (such as Neosporin)
- Band-Aids
These are things we’ve kept in our pack ever since we bought it years ago. No need to unpack! Just replace as needed. I also like to keep a towel and an extra pair of clothes handy in the car for each kid. It’s hard to stop my son from jumping in a muddy puddle when he occasionally finds them.

For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families.

Don’t forget the snacks

Kids constantly need to refuel, so make sure to bring snacks. If traveling on a longer hike, I use one pocket in our backpack dedicated to snacks. My kids love snacks, as do most kids. They would honestly eat snacks all day long and have no sit-down meals if it were up to them! I usually let them help pick one or two things that will go in the bag to get them more excited about our adventure.

We use snacks as motivation on our hikes and it keeps them going when they start getting tired (which will happen). Whenever they say they are getting tired, they want us to pick them up, or we hear any kind of whininess, we motivate them to keep going by saying something like, “when we make it to that bench (big rock, sign, tree, or whatever landmark we can point out ahead) you get to pick out a snack and have a drink of water. We save “treats” (like small chocolates or gummies) for the very end.

Here’s a list of the most common snacks we’ll bring with us:
- Clifkid zbars
- mixed nuts
- dried fruits
- fruit snacks
- apple sauce pouches
- Nature Valley granola bars
- Nutrigrain bars
- pretzels
Pro tip: Don’t leave home with an empty belly – make sure your kids have some food in their bellies before beginning any adventure.

Where to go

Know your kids, but still start small. Kids have a surprising amount of energy, but they still get tired quickly. We’ve gone on enough walks around the neighborhood to know our children’s limitations. They can handle around a 2 ½ mile hike on their own without us needing to carry them a lot. If we go any longer distance, I need to be prepared to carry someone at least part of the way. For those distances, I try not to go with the kids by myself. I’ve been using the app AllTrails for some time now and always look at the difficulty level and length of the hike before deciding where to go.

We’ve also found that a lot of parks we go to have trails within them, as well. These trails won’t necessarily be labeled a “hike,” but as I said earlier, we use the term hike loosely. A new path of any kind where we might discover new plants, flowers, animals, rocks, etc. is exciting for the kids. And it’s a bonus when I say we are going to the park and then we get to add on additional time there for a newly discovered hike.

As the kids get older, it will be fun to explore more challenging hikes. But for now, we are in the “easy zone” and try to make hikes pleasant for everyone. Hikes with little kids should be fun for them and not stressful or scary. Because if the kids are having fun, they’re much more likely to want to go hiking and exploring again in the near future.

How to make it fun

Walking to/from the park, climbing a mountain (or small hills), going through a tunnel, seeing a river, lake, waterfall (or any sort of water, for that matter) makes hiking a little more exciting! These elements make hiking trails more of an adventure and are a great way to keep kids motivated to keep going. My kids love exploring new places and are so excited to see what’s around the next corner. Along the way, we often find ourselves singing songs, looking for different colored rocks, pointing out what kinds of animals live along the trail, and finding “good picture spots.” My kids really like to run, so we often have races along the way to see who can make it to our next “benchmark” first.

Handling the weather

We’re very lucky in that 9-10 months of the year we experience pretty great weather. For most of the year, we don’t really have to worry about what time of day we are going to be outside. However, in the middle of the summer, it can become dangerously hot, with temperatures up to 118° F. If you want to do any outdoor activities during this time of year, its best to be up with the sunrise and get your activities in early.

Also if you’re adventuring in the summer, be prepared with lots of extra water, sunscreen, and shade. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it gets colder in the desert than people may think. You may need gloves, hats, and an extra jacket during cold weather, especially if traveling up to the mountains. Here in Nevada, Mt. Charleston is where we usually head each year to get our snow fix and go sledding. It’s only about an hour away with lots of good sledding hills for kids of every age.

Hazards on trails (cactus/critters)

Hiking in the desert comes with its own hazards in the form of cactuses and desert critters. My son once picked up a large piece of cactus that had broken off along a trail, which embedded spines into his hand. Thankfully, it was close to our house, so I was able to run home and grab a pair of tweezers to get all spines out. Needless to say, he’ll never touch a cactus again and tells everyone else not to touch them either. Lesson learned, I guess! Make sure to warn children of the dangers of cactuses before your little one makes the same mistake.

As far as critters go, we usually don’t see too many on the trail. However, if you venture a bit off the beaten path, it’s not unusual to run into snakes, scorpions, or spiders. Most of them tend to avoid main paths and trails, so if you’re hiking with little kids, keep your eyes open and stay close to the trails.

What we’d do differently

I think everyone probably has a story about an adventure that went wrong. While they can be very scary, they also teach us valuable lessons. Recently, we went on a hike without being too aware of the weather. As I mentioned before, our weather is usually good and doesn’t catch us off guard too often around here. We usually check the weather before leaving the house, but this time we didn’t. There were gusts of wind up to 40 miles an hour! They could almost blow my children over! Needless to say, we learned our lesson and called it a day. If you find yourself in a similar situation, know when to turn back and be ok with not finishing what you started. There’s always another time to come back and try that trail or hike again.

Also, when hiking with little kids, you’ve got to time it right. You know your child’s schedule best. If they have the most energy in the morning when they wake up, try going for a hike early. If they get afternoon antsy, then try going after lunch. Need to burn energy after being cooped up all day, try an early evening hike. However, always make sure to give yourself enough time to be done before it’s dark out.

Wrap it up

Hiking with kids is always an adventure and gets a little bit easier every time you go out. We have so many great memories from our family hikes and have such a great time exploring together. Hopefully, these tips and advice will help get you and your kids out the door and on the trail. Because when we plan ahead a little, it makes for a much happier hike!

About Chelsea

I was born in Orange, CA, but raised in the small town of Boulder City, NV (about a 30 min drive from Las Vegas), the youngest of 4 with older brothers. Early on I took dance classes but eventually turned to sports to be like my brothers. I played everything from basketball, softball, volleyball, and track and field. My parents always encouraged us to be active. I met my husband at 20 and we married the next year! Immediately thereafter, the Navy stationed him near Seattle, WA. We spent the next four years in the Pacific Northwest. I grew to love the different climate and all the hiking trails we discovered there.

In 2014, we had our daughter, Chloe. One year later, my husband was ending his career in the Navy and I was 6 months pregnant with our son Logan, when we packed up to head back to Las Vegas. We stayed with my parents while saving to buy our first home. After getting settled, I ended my 8-year career with Starbucks to become a full-time stay at home mom. We are now expecting our third child in September. Even though my energy is low these days (pregnancy wipes me out) we still love to explore the outdoors as often as we can, even if it can only be for 15 minutes some days.

You can find Chelsea on Instagram at @Mrschelseab
HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking with Kids
- November 13, 2018
Lately, I’ve received a lot of questions about how to get started hiking with kids. Parents want to know how old kids should be when they start, what to pack, where to go and how to motivate their kids. I’m here to provide some answers! My husband and I have been hiking with our kids since the time they could walk. Actually, we started well before that with babies in carriers! We’ve definitely learned a thing or two about hiking with small kids over the years. Hopefully, this post will inspire you to get out on the trail with your kids, no matter what age they are. If you have a question that I don’t answer, please leave it in the comments below and I’ll respond.

Benefits of hiking with kids

Hiking is such a wonderful way to get children outdoors, immersed in nature and burn some of that boundless energy. It can teach them so much about their surroundings and instill an appreciation for nature deep in their soul. Hiking can build confidence, foster independence and encourage curiosity in children. It gives them opportunities to explore your local area, learn about local plants and animals and other natural teaching opportunities. Hiking can help push kids out of their comfort zone and accomplish something they can be proud of. Plus, hiking provides a distraction-free environment for quality time with your children…and what could be better than that?

Easy or hard hikes?

Depending on the parent’s definition of hiking, it can be one of the first or last outdoor activities that parents want try with their kids. If a parent thinks hiking is merely a walk through the woods, they’re probably more inclined to try it than a parent that views hiking as scaling steep mountains. Luckily, hiking is both of those things and everything in between.

Hiking can be done nearly anywhere and (a lot of times), you don’t need any fancy gear or very much experience to do it. However, there are a few things you should know/do before you go to ensure you have the best possible experience. The more fun the kids have hiking, the more likely they (and you) will want to do it again. We’re here to set you up for hiking success, which we hope will lead to even more outdoor adventures for you and your kids.

When to get started hiking with kids

There’s no perfect age to start hiking with kids. The perfect age is RIGHT NOW. You can get kids started hiking any time, from baby to teen. I think a lot of parents will tell you that it’s always beneficial to start them young, but that’s certainly not always the easiest. Every age has its own difficulties to consider and challenges.

On the one hand, babies are relatively easy to hike with. For short hikes, all you really need to do is put them in a wrap or backpack carrier, strap on your shoes and go! Most babies love being outdoors and close to a parent. However, hiking with babies can be intimidating for beginners and new parents and logistically difficult depending on how much you need to pack to feed, clothe and diaper them. The good news is that every hike with your baby will get a bit easier. You’ll soon figure out what you need and what you can leave in the car. The hard part is just getting out of the house in the first place.

Hiking with toddlers

Hiking with toddlers is a bit easier and more difficult, simultaneously. Personally, I think this is the hardest age to hike with (see above) Toddlers can walk on their own (less for you to carry), but they usually can’t go very far and tire quickly. Some toddlers also have very strong feelings about what they wear, where they go and how things are done. They wear out quickly and aren’t easy to coax when you’re ready to move. Meltdowns on the trail will happen, but trust us, it does get easier. If you check your expectations at the door, hiking with toddlers can be done successfully. After the age of 4, hiking with kids gets much easier!

Choose the right hike for kids

One of the most important things you can do when starting to hike with children is to choose the right hike. In order to set them up for success, you want to choose a hike that won’t be too long, difficult or dangerous. If your kids are small or you’re just getting started, don’t overestimate how much they can do. While they seem to have endless energy, hiking will take it out of them in a whole new way. Choose a short trail with easy terrain. Paved trails are great for little ones and unstable walkers who have a tendency to trip over things. There’s a lot to look at other than where their feet are going. Expect a few spills and plan accordingly.

As your kids get older and more experienced, you can do longer and more difficult hikes. With school-aged kids, we love going on hikes with rocks/boulders to climb, creeks to play in and more rugged terrain. The kids like the challenge and are extra proud of themselves when we get to the end of a hike. Don’t be afraid to challenge them! They might surprise you with how well they do and quickly they catch on. But also don’t be surprised if you end up carrying one of them for a while if they’re having trouble keeping up. You just never know!

Also, consider choosing a hike that has a destination or goal to get to (a creek, waterfall, lake, swimming hole, or picnic area). Kids are motivated by the end reward. Give them something to look forward to and strive for.

Dress appropriately for your hike

The right clothing and shoes will go a long way ensuring your hike is a success. Nothing will make your kid hate hiking more than being uncomfortable in their clothing, too hot/cold or getting blisters on their feet from wearing the wrong shoes. Layers work great for kids so they can adjust the amount of clothing to the outdoor temperature. Tennis shoes with socks are great for hiking, but not so great if they get wet or dirty. Consider bringing a back-up pair or some water shoes if you know they’re going to jump in the creek the first chance they get!

And be sure to keep a set of dry clothes in the car for each kid to change into before getting in their car seat to go home. I can’t even tell you how many times my kids have ridden home naked because I forgot to restock after our last adventure!

Hike early

The best time of day to go hiking with kids is usually in the morning. Everybody’s energy level is full and you can beat the heat of the day by getting an early start. Kids are usually at their most hyper in the morning, so taking a morning hike gives you a breather and lets them channel their energy productively. While I can’t guarantee it won’t happen, there’s usually less whining and fewer demands to be carried in the morning than if you go later in the day as the kids get more tired and cranky.

Plus, the earlier you start, the fewer people you’ll have to deal with out on the trail. And getting an early start means you won’t have to rush the kids through their hike to make it back before dark.

Let your kids set the hiking pace

When you first start hiking with your children, let them take the lead. Hiking with kids is very different than hiking with adults and you have to go at their pace or they’ll hate it. Children walk much slower and need lots of stops and time to explore. If your kid is more interested in climbing rocks and chasing butterflies than making it to the next mile marker, that’s ok! It may take you two hours to walk a half-mile, but at least you’re outside having fun! Be patient with them and always give yourself WAY more time than you expect to take. And just remember, the goal when hiking with children is not to get to a destination, it’s about the journey.

Let them explore

Giving your kids plenty of space, time, and independence to explore out on the trail will help them fall in love with hiking and nature. Try to find trails with interesting features or have a lot of varying terrains. Natural elements like creeks or rivers, waterfalls, boulders or caves will keep kids entertained and occupied. In addition, bridges, stairs, rock formations, boardwalks, ladders, and fallen logs can encourage adventure and imaginative play while you’re hiking. As long as these things are all safe for your kids to play on (and permitted in the area), allow them ample time to play and explore off the trail.

Trails are teaching opportunities

Use hikes as a way to teach them about their surroundings and how to respect the environment. Teach kids which plants to avoid and which are safe to touch. Point out the stingy, itchy, scratchy plants, so they know to stay safely away from those. If you’re not sure, get a book at your local library or download a plant ID app and learn together! Take in all the nature you see around you on your hike. Identify flowers by their colors and trees by their leaves and bark. Look for animals, bugs and birds. Pay attention for animal tracks on the ground.

And just as importantly, teach children to leave no trace. Always take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints. Take all your trash to a trash can or home with you and leave none on the trail. If you have older kids that can safely pick up trash they find on the trail, encourage them to clean up after others when you’re out hiking.

Play to their strengths

As the parent, you know your kid better than anyone. Consider their personality and strengths when planning your hike and play to those to make it enjoyable for them. If your child loves being the leader, let them walk up front and lead the way. Give one kid the job of reading the map and choosing which direction you’ll hike. Have a kid that needs extra motivation? Give him the role of the encourager/cheerleader to get everyone else motivated. Let your voracious snacker choose when and where you’ll stop for snacks. Have a singer? Let her pick the songs you’ll sing along the way. Give your artistic/creative kid control of the camera and have him document the adventure. It’ll be fun looking back at those images and seeing the hike from his perspective.

Know their weaknesses

Along the same lines, watch for their signs to head off any issues before they happen. Watch for signs that they’re getting tired and know when it is time to head back home. Exhausted kids are more prone to accidents, so be aware of their energy level. If you have a child that gets tired easily or gives up quickly on adventures, bring a carrier and expect that going into the hike so you’re not disappointed.

Pay attention to their cues to avoid meltdowns before they start. Children can have meltdowns over all kinds of thing: exhaustion, boredom, injury, frustration, jealousy, etc. If you have little ones, it’s like to happen. But it doesn’t have to end your hike. Address the situation and move on quickly. Children can feel your stress and anxiety, so don’t sweat the small stuff and try not to dwell. If you have to turn around and go home, that’s ok!

Play games, all sorts

Hikes are a great opportunity to really get to know your kids and have some really wonderful conversations with your child. If you keep their minds engaged while they’re hiking, you’ll get more miles out of them and it’ll go by in no time at all. Here are a few simple games you could play while you hike that lets you get to know your kids and their amazing imaginations:
- Play “I Spy” with a variety of clues (something red, something that eats worms, a place where an animal lives, etc.)
- Play “Would you Rather” with everyone taking a turn asking and answering (Would you rather live in a place with a lot of trees or live in a place near the ocean? Would you rather be funny or smart?)
- Use hikes as an opportunity to have more intimate conversations about their friends and school or their accomplishments and struggles
- Help your kids work through some math word problems without them realizing it’s studying! (If we hike 0.75 miles west, then 0.5 miles north and then hike back, how far did we go in total and in which directions?)
- Let your kids get creative by asking them open-ended questions (Describe your ultimate birthday party. If you could create your own holiday, what would it be like?)
- Teach your kids your favorite silly camp songs and sing along the way.
- Do a nature scavenger hunt on your hike (there are tons of free printable ones on Pinterest) or pick 5 items to look for before you begin the hike. Winner gets a prize!
- Geocache one your hike! You’d be amazed at how many caches are hidden along popular hikes and perfect for little ones to find. If you need a primer on geocaching, we’ve got a great Beginner’s Guide to Geocaching with Kids on the website!
Bring snacks on your hike

Food and water are imperative to have on hand when hiking with (or without) kids. Little ones burn fuel and get dehydrated quickly, so stop frequently for breaks. Hiking burns lots of energy for kids and adults, so it is important to replenish it regularly with nutritious food and lots of water. We like fruits, nuts, bars, jerky, granola bars, graham crackers and maybe a little chocolate (for mom). If your kids are old enough to carry their own packs, let them make/carry their own snacks and water bottles, too. They’ll feel extra responsible having their own gear and refreshments. (Although you should definitely supervise to keep them from eating it all in the car before you even get to the hike! Speaking from experience.) Small treats also make handy bribes if you need to coax a kid to do just 10 more minutes!

Be prepared

We hope nothing bad will happen out on the trail, but it’s best to be prepared for anything. This could mean a scraped knee, an insect bite, or a sudden change in the weather. Make sure you pack your first aid kit with the standard supplies and any medications you may need. Hopefully, you won’t ever need anything more than a band-aid, but better to be prepared. Also consider packing bug spray, sunscreen, poncho, spare, cell phone and a map. And before you go, always let someone know where you’ll be hiking.

For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families.

Take a friend hiking

Allow your child to bring a friend along on a hike and double the fun. Having a buddy there to play with and talk to will make any hike more enjoyable for your kids. The kids will challenge and encourage each other to keep up and the miles will fly by. Bonus points if another adult comes along as well! If you don’t have friends that enjoy hiking, check out a local Hike it Baby branch and go on a group hike.

Hike often

While hiking with kids may sound intimidating at first, the more you get out on the trails with your kids, the easier it’ll get. Every time you make it a priority to your kids out into nature gives them an opportunity to fall in love with it. Your first hike (or even your first 10 hikes) may not go according to plan, but they’ll be an adventure and fun. Give it a shot! Get outside!

More resources for hiking with kids

If you’re interested in more great content about hiking with kids, be sure to check out the following posts:
What’s your best advice for hiking with kids?
FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Arches National Park – 8 Easy Hikes for Kids
- June 26, 2018
Arches National Park in Utah is one of those picture-perfect iconic places that’s destined to be on your bucket list. While hiking through the desert with kids might not sound fun or easy, we’re here to assure you that it is! Today, Stacy Bressler of The Crazy Outdoor Mama is sharing all kinds of wonderful info and advice on visiting Arches with kids, along with 8 Arches National Park hikes with spectacular views that little kids and toddlers can easily do. Happy hiking!

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is just north of Moab in the state of Utah. Bordered by the Colorado River in the southeast, it’s known as the site of more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks. This red-rock wonderland also contains a variety of hiking trails, many of which are considered easy to moderate. Trails provide access to outstanding viewpoints and arches not visible from the road. In some cases, trails travel under arches, affording quite a unique perspective on the park’s namesake features.

When to visit Arches National Park

Overall, the most ideal time of year to visit Arches National Park is probably in the spring or fall. I visited in early April and the weather was perfect! Cool in the mornings, and warmer but cloudy the rest of the day. Summer in Utah can get pretty hot and winters are very cold. If you’re going to do a lot of hiking with small children, I recommend you choose a season with more moderate temperatures.

In terms of time a day, it’s best to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Again, it’s the desert, so it can get really hot in the middle of the day. Also, the line can be ridiculous to get into the park, so it’s not worth wasting your kids energy or time sitting in line all day. Particularly if you are only in the area for a short amount of time. I suggest getting there before 9 A.M, or choose to go later in the afternoon, after 3 or 4 p.m.

I personally liked going early as it wasn’t as busy. We were often in the park at around 8:00 a.m. and got a jump start on the hikes before they got busy and crowded. There is a decent amount of driving to get to most places, around 20-30 mins once you’re in the park. Don’t forget to account for this when planning your day!

Cost of visiting Arches National Park

The National Park Service website has a full list of prices for each national park, but for quick reference, the Arches entrance fee is $25.00 for seven day access (as of 2018). If you want to visit the nearby Canyonlands National Park, there is a Southeast Utah National Parks pass that is $50.00 and also includes entry for Natural Bridges National Monument. We decided to buy the “America the Beautiful” pass that gives access to all U.S. national parks for $80.00. It’s a great deal if you plan on visiting more parks!

To save time, buy your pass online. That way you just have to show your park pass at the entrance and move on instead of buying it there. I think that’s partly where the giant line comes from.

Park maps & Junior Ranger program

You can pick up a map of the park and all the trails at the Arches National Park Visitor Center, or download it here. As of 2018, the hours for the Visitor Center are 7:30 – 5:00 daily except for Christmas. Be sure to also get a guide to the park. This will include some fun facts about how the arches in the park were created, as well as more in-depth info about all the trails.

Don’t forget to pick up the Junior Ranger Guide so that your child can get the chance to earn a badge! Most national parks have a Junior Ranger Program, which allows your child to get an activity book from the visitor center and complete it as you explore the park. Return to the visitor center at the end of your visit to be awarded an official Junior Ranger badge from a park ranger. The activities are typically designed for kids 4 and older, but even younger kids can participate. It’s a really motivating way for them to have something to work toward as we hike and explore. Plus, it’s a great way to encourage your kids to learn about the place you’re visiting!

Here’s a little secret: even if your kids are younger than the recommended age for Junior Ranger, take them to the visitor’s center anyways to talk to a park ranger. They love to see little kids excited about hiking and will often give your toddler a badge anyways!

Arches National Park hikes with kids

With enormous sandstone sculptures in every direction, freestanding arches framing snow-capped mountains, precariously balanced rocks, Arches National Park is truly one of the most impressive national parks in the world! It’s also the perfect place to explore with the whole family. We especially love it because there are a lot of fun easy hikes for kids and each one has at least one great reward and breathtaking view. Some of the best hikes in Arches National Park are pretty easy, making it the perfect park for kids.

At the time I visited Arches National Park, I had three children under three. That’s right, a toddler and two twin 8 month old babies! We hike all over and got to know the area pretty well. I promise, it can be done. I’m going to give you the scoop on which arches in Arches National Park are the easiest to get to with young children, and which ones are worth the extra challenge.

Eight easy Arches National Park hikes for kids

Today I’m sharing 8 easy hikes that are all doable distances with big rewards to keep your toddler or little kid pumped about hiking! While we adults might enjoy longer and more challenging hikes to get away from the crowds, I found it very important to keep the hike distance minimal for the kids in order to maximize the fun! This might mean stopping a couple of times on a 0.5 mile hike; that’s ok! You’re setting them up to love hiking as they get older!

Though you should never step off trail (it ruins the very delicate bio-soil that takes years to form!) most of these hikes have many turn offs and rest areas since they are so popular. These areas make the hikes PERFECT for little ones – they can stretch their legs, climb on little rocks, play in the sand, and have a snack to recharge for the rest of the hike!

Just remember, hiking with kids is fun, but it’s also very SLOW. I always think we are going to have time to do more than we actually can accomplish. If you’ve got babies, toddlers or even preschoolers with you, plan to double (or triple) whatever amount of time the park brochure says a hike will take. Take your time and don’t rush everyone. You’ll enjoy the views and the hikes so much more. If all else fails, bribe them with snacks to keep going and you’ll be fine!

1. Balanced Rock hike (0.3 miles round trip)

At only 0.3 miles, this hike is a great hike to begin with and an excellent way to gauge how far the kids can go! It’s a big reward for little effort; what kid doesn’t love rocks?! You can see the giant balanced boulder while driving, but it’s worth getting out of the car and hiking out to look at it up close.

Balanced Rock’s off-balanced shape is something that you’ll need to see to believe! It’s probably Arches’ most unusual attraction! The rock is always eroding away, and one day Balanced Rock will not be balanced anymore! In fact, there used to be a smaller formation called “Chip Off the Old Block” that fell down in 1976.

There is a covered picnic area and some restrooms here so it’s also a great pit stop on the way in an out of the park, if you want to save it until the end.

2. Sand Dune Arch hike (0.3 miles round trip)

Sand Dune Arch hike is probably the BEST hikes in Arches National Park for kids of all ages! It’s surrounded by a giant sandbox! It’s only a 0.3 mile hike in, and it’s tons of sandy fun.

Sand Dune Arch is nice, but all the sand really is what makes this area a must for little kids. There were toys available that someone generously left there, and lots of easy climbing and exploring to be done. The babies got a nice break from the backpack, and our 2 1/2 year old got some much needed free time! (There was a lot of “Let’s go” and “Let’s keep going” on our hike! :P)

We spent probably around an hour in here, and easily could have spent more just letting the kids all play. There are some cool slot-y areas nearby and fun rocks to climb for the adults, so if there’s someone to watch the kiddos, explore around for yourself!

Bonus: If everyone is in a good mood, head over to Broken Arch, which is accessible from the same trail head as Sand Dune Arch. It’s about 2 miles round trip and takes you through some fun rock formations and includes slick rock scrambling! It’s really fun!

3. Skyline Arch hike (0.4 miles round trip)

A short, sandy hike through some cool fins bring you to Skyline Arch. This arch, framing the sky way high up in a tall red rock fin, can be viewed from a scenic half mile trail. A big moment in it’s history was in 1940, when a huge boulder fell out of the arch, doubling it’s size to what is is today!

While not as picturesque as some other arches, it’s a nice short hike for kids as they get their reward (the arch!) quick and easy!

4. & 5. Double Arch + Turret Arch hikes (1.2 mile loop)

This is one of the best “bang for your buck” arch viewing hikes in the park. Only a 25 minute drive from the visitor center, there are multiple arches to choose from here; North and South Windows, Double Arch and Turret Arch. Double Arch was one of my favorite arches in the park and the ENTIRE loop trail is only 1.2 miles!

There is a “primitive trail” marked by cairns that is much less traveled and very scenic you can take if you choose. This is a little longer (1 mile roundtrip) but it’s worth it if you want a more authentic hiking experience. We had our two babies in backpacks and our toddler in tow, and we all made it! I think our toddler only took 2 breaks the whole time this hike. There’s a lot to look at.

There is a staircase and some slight uphill hiking, but it’s pretty doable for everyone. The trail is gravel, so that makes for easy walking. Once you climb up into the base of the arch, the views become even more impressive. You will not want to ever leave this place!

Cool facts about Double Arch – it’s the tallest in the park at 112 feet and the second longest at 144 feet! You might also recognize it from the beginning of Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade movie.

6. Landscape Arch hike (1.6 miles round trip)

The Landscape Arch hike is another iconic arch at the end of a surprisingly easy hike. It’s possibly the most imposing arch in the whole park and is unbelievably long and narrow! The irregular shape of the arch makes it hard to believe how long it has survived through so much crazy weather.

This hike starts at the Devil’s Garden Trailhead, by entering a narrow canyon. A hard packed gravel path turns into a sand trail with little elevation gain making this a perfect Arches National Park hike to take the kids on that has a little more distance.

Landscape Arch is the longest arch in the world and conveniently near other lesser known arches such as Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch. Though people were allowed to walk underneath this arch in the past, it is now blocked off due to the delicate nature of the arch.

7. Double O Arch hike (4.2 miles round trip)

The Double O Arch hike is also accessible from the Devil’s Garden Trailhead. The hike out to Double O Arch is 4.2 miles, so it’s a bit long for little kids, but much less crowded and great for older kids that want a longer challenging hike. It has a very primitive trail, meaning it’s much less crowded and leads to some pretty spectacular views.

8. Delicate Arch hike (3.0 miles round trip)

Finally, we’re to the big daddy of all the arches. If you’re in shape and up for a little more challenge, you HAVE to see Delicate Arch!

The Delicate Arch hike is a fun walk through a canyon, over slick rock and close to some 3-foot cliff edges (it’s not as scary as it sounds; promise!). The hike ends in an amphitheater with the Delicate Arch in view! This is the quintessential arch – that iconic famed arch that is on the Utah license plate!

It can be very crowded, so be aware of that in advance. Go as early as possible and take lots of water. The crowds pick up significantly as the day goes by. However, when I was there everyone moved out of the way of the arch so that each group got a picture in front of it without others around. I hope that you’re as lucky!

The amphitheater is a good resting spot; there is plenty of seating with views of Delicate Arch. Our toddler enjoyed this break, and I was able to take the babies out of their backpacks to feed them! There is hardly any cover from the sun, so this would be a good hike to do at the start of the day so as to beat the heat and the crowds! Also, there are very steep parts of this hike, so it might be necessary to carry very small kids part of the way.

BONUS: Don’t miss the original homestead historic house and several-hundred year old petroglyphs on your way back down!

Now go hike!

Arches National Park is a great place to introduce young kids to hiking. There are many trails that are short with big rewards, as well as lots of areas to take a break! Whether your baby is on your back or holding your hand, get out and explore Arches National Park with your kids!

Or…if you’re in the area and not all that into hiking, check out Stacy’s post on 6 fun things to do with kids in Moab, Utah (that aren’t hiking).

Stacy Bressler is an avid outdoorswoman, wife, and mother of three under three (the youngest being 10-month-old twin girls). She writes about all things motherhood, including surviving it with (most) of her sanity intact, as well as raising mini adventurers. Navigating life through the lens of humor and positivity, she chronicles it all in her blog, The Crazy Outdoor Mama.