Hiking Colorado: Hiking with Kids

Hiking with kids should be kept simple and open-ended. A good planned hiking excursion is one that appeals to a child’s sense of exploration and adventure. It helps if you are familiar with the trail before you go hiking with kids, so that you can plan short scenic rest stops for munchies and water breaks and fun destinations to explore along the way, like waterfalls and caves, or even wildlife trees to observe. This will keep the children’s interests alive and their energy levels excited with anticipation. Encourage imaginative games that work into the context of a hike. Take a child's friend along; they'll be more likely to stay entertained. Make hiking with kids a family tradition so that when your child grows up, they will have experience and knowledge to pass on to friends and family for generations to come.