Families Go Hiking: Introduce Kids to Great Outdoors

SEATTLE – Why would you want to take your kids hiking with you? Think about this: Would you prefer your kids remember a childhood playing video games, texting their friends and watching sports on TV? Or would you like to give them the opportunity to hike beneath a waterfall, swim in an alpine lake, or walk among old-growth trees?

To children, nature is a place of wonder and curiosity, waiting to be explored. To help families get on the trail happily and safely, Washington Trails Association (WTA) is hosting family hiking activities this summer through its Families Go Hiking program. Offerings include free guided hikes to local family-friendly trails and interactive clinics that deliver all the tools you need to take a hike with kids.

“Our family hiking program is all about helping families enjoy time together on the trail,” said Krista Dooley, youth programs coordinator with Washington Trails Association. “Hiking is a really wonderful way to combine quality family time with exercise and exploration of the natural world. And it’s pretty easy – anyone can do it.”

If you were an avid hiker before children, hiking to you may have meant how fast you can hike, how far you can go, or bagging peaks.  Warning:  Hiking with children of any age is different in many ways.  This page provides some tips and tricks to increase your chances of a successful hike - and make the kids beg to go on another one.

Planning a Hike with Kids

First, you need to get your head in the 'hiking with kids' zone.  It takes a little more planning to have a successful trip when little ones are along. Some suggestions:

·         Modify your goals:  You may not reach the end of the trail.  You may not even hike a mile! Be prepared to adjust your hike to the enjoyment and comfort level of children. 

·         Pack patience and flexibility:  If you see a frog dart across the trail, be prepared to stop and wait to watch for that frog to dart across the trail again. Use teachable moments to explore the natural world.

·         Know what features are ahead:  For starter day hikes, choose short trails that do not have much elevation gain, but do have features like lakes, ponds, or waterfalls along the way.  Children are fascinated with water.

·         Dress for success:  Check weather conditions before you head out the door. Children get cold much easier than adults, especially if they get wet.  Be ready with an extra change of warm clothes.

Make it a Great Hike

A good hike is one that appeals to a child’s sense of exploration and adventure. Every trail has some kind of adventure in it.

·         Look for discoveries along the way. Bring a magnifying glass and kid-friendly field guide.

·         Teach kids to be good observers by looking for signs of wildlife (feathers on the ground, claw scratches on tree trunks, animal tracks, bird holes in dead trees, fur along the trail, slugs. Water striders on lakes, sand dollars along the beach, frogs in pond).

·         Choose a trail with features that interest kids as destinations or turnaround spots.

·         Remember a child’s sense of time. Have patience when they stop to ask questions. They may be seeing their first trillium or woodpecker.

·         Put yourself in their boots. Their legs are short and it takes three of their steps for every one of yours. Let the kids set the pace. 

·         Call for rest stops before they ask for them and praise them for how well they are doing.

Tips and Tricks for Hiking with Kids

·         Create a checklist of essentials to use over and over again:  First aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, stuffed animal, extra clothes, special walking stick, etc.

·         Energy stops - As in “when we get to the big tree ahead we’ll need to have an energy stop.” Snacks provide great motivation to keep kids moving on trail.

·         Hike with a friend - as kids get older they would rather spend time with friends than with their family.  Allow your child to invite a friend along. They can share a fun experience and entertain each other.

·         Keep kids occupied - count how many ……we see. Look for something rough. Touch something fuzzy. Find something purple.

·         Rotate leaders - When hiking with more than one child make sure that everyone gets to be a leader and set the pace.

Suggested Kid-Friendly Hikes

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge- South Puget Sound 1/2-5.5 miles no elevation gain 

Contact: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (360) 753-9467

Twin Falls State Park- I-90 Corridor 3 miles 300ft. elevation gain

Contact: Washington State Parks (360) 902-8844, www.parks.wa.gov

Ebey’s Landing- Whidbey Island 3.5 miles 200ft. elevation gain

Contact: Nature Conservancy (206) 343-4344

WTA’s “Families go Hiking” Guided Hikes

WTA hosts a series of interactive, educational guided hikes for families with children. Each hike includes fun trail activities that youth and adults alike will enjoy. All hikes begin at 10am at the trailhead. Please note that these hikes are designed for families that are new to hiking. Space is limited, your RSVP is required at www.wta.org or (206) 625-1367.

Fragrance Lake Trail- Fantastic Forest Fun

Saturday, June 14. Larrabee State Park near Bellingham. 3 miles round trip, 600 ft elevation gain

Have you ever wanted to get up close and personal with the gentle giants of the Pacific Northwest? Take a hike with WTA and get familiar with the trees that make this region so magnificent.  We will investigate the forest and identify some common native species while making our way up to peaceful Fragrance Lake.  Children will enjoy exploring the shoreline trail and climbing over nurse logs. It’s almost guaranteed that by the end of the hike you and your kids will feel reconnected to the forest and have hugged at least one tree.

Rattlesnake Lake – A Hike to the Ledges

Saturday, July 19. Rattlesnake Lake Recreation area near North Bend. 4 miles round trip, 1,160 ft elevation gain

This hike is part of TrailsFest, a free one-day outdoors festival for all ages hosted by Washington Trails Association. www.trailsfest.org

Hamilton Mountain Trail to Hardy Falls - The Wonders of Water

Saturday, September 13. Beacon Rock State Park, Columbia River Gorge. 3 miles round trip, 600 ft elevation gain

Bring your raincoat just in case you get a little wet as you take in the sites and sounds and refreshing mist from the alcove of the Pool of the Winds. During this hike your family will welcome fall colors starting to make an appearance while we follow the trail up to Rodney and Hardy Falls. Hikers will experience the spectacular views of the Columbia river gorge on the way and enjoy the fluid movements of Hardy Creek as it cascades down over the cliff face.   

Lord Hill Regional Park – Where the Wild Things Are

Saturday, October 4. Off Highway 2 in Snohomish County. 4 miles round trip, 400ft elevation gain

Fall is a great time to get outdoors and search for wildlife as the temperatures and seasons start to change. Hikers will be busy looking for evidence of beaver activity along the wetland ponds and springs. We will listen and watch for songbirds as the flit around the park. Kids will also be on the lookout for chipmunks and other animals scampering throughout the forest as they prepare for the cooler weather to come.

Families Go Hiking guided hikes are free, but require pre-registration. Pre-registration for each hike begins about four weeks prior to the date of that hike. Register online at www.wta.org or by phone at (206) 625-1367.

WTA’s Family Hiking Clinics

Our Families Go Hiking clinics teach the basics of hiking with kids of all ages, including planning a fun trip they’ll enjoy, the best trail food, safety tips, and what to bring along. We’ll share the ten best trails for kids in Washington, plus how to choose your own hiking trail that is suited for small children. Kids activities provided too, so children are welcome to attend the clinics!

    Thursday, May 22- Redmond REI Clinic 7pm

    Tuesday, June 25- Seattle REI Clinic 6pm

    Saturday, July 19- at TrailsFest in North Bend

For more information on WTA’s Families go Hiking program, contact Krista Dooley, Youth Programs Coordinator, at krista@wta.org / (206) 965-8566.