For some parents, hiking with kids sounds like an activity that blends two amazing things into one special outdoor excursion. It’s easy to envision you and your little one(s) trudging through the forest and soaking in the wilderness that surrounds you. For others, hiking with your children sound like a terrible time that shoots shivers down your spine. Images of a mid-trail toddler meltdown burn into your mind. Personally, I’m somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.

But after taking our toddlers on a handful of day hikes throughout the Inland Northwest, my wife and I have learned a few things that I’d like to share with you. We’re still learning something new every time we go out, but I’m now less likely to crawl into the fetal position when my wife suggests hiking with our 3-year-old son and 4.5-year-old daughter. If just one of these tips helps you, I consider that a win. And feel free to share your tips and tricks with other parents in the comments below. So let’s kick it off with #1!

#1: Choose the Perfect Child Carrier

This is number one for a reason. I once made the mistake of foregoing a child carrier on a day hike up Mineral Ridge, a 3-mile loop trail with a 767-foot elevation gain that overlooks beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene in North Idaho. I found myself carrying our 3-year-old up the switchback trail and it was no bueno. The dude is of average weight, but he felt like a sack of potatoes on my hip and back. He cried. I cried (more like a whimper). Ah, memories.

But with the right child carrier, you can make easy work for carrying your kid on the trail. There’s a massive variety of carriers out there. You can choose from simple, ergonomic carriers that are ideal for occasional day hikes and others suited for more frequent excursions. Many offer additional storage pockets for supplies, and the boujee ones even have sun protectors for your little adventurer! Here are a few highly-rated carriers that you can find on Amazon:

• WIPHA Child Backpack Carrier – This bad boy offers weight distribution and collapses down for storage. It’s a little pricey, but I’d consider it if I wasn’t such a cheapskate.
• Vaude Backpack Carrier – This is what I stick my kid in and he seems to enjoy it. It’s lightweight and provides ample storage for day excursions. This thing’s old school, so I can’t find a link for it.
• ClevrPlus Crosscountry Baby Backpack Carrier – If you’re a baller on a budget, this may be a good option for you and your family. It’s highly rated and comes in at just over $100.

Quick Tip: Although carriers are super handy, I suggest you encourage your little one to walk on his or her own two legs. This will give them the full hiking experience while saving your back.

#2. Start Small (Baby Steps)

“Go big or go home” is not a phrase that applies to hiking with your kids. That’s why, if you’re just getting into the hiking thing, I humbly suggest starting with a smaller hike to ease into it. If you go too big too fast, your little might call it quits and go home early. Consider starting off with a small, local trail with minimal elevation gain to build your kid’s confidence. Baby steps.

We’ve done a few short hikes with our minions, each progressively bigger or more challenging than the last. It started with snowshoeing at English Point (I carried our girl the whole way), Mineral Ridge (still suffering from my self-diagnosed post-traumatic hiking disorder), then Hidden Lake where both kids did well considering the distance and notable altitude gain at the beginning of the hike.

#3: Safety First

I’m realizing that I should have listed this one first on the list… Regardless, I’m sure you’re fully aware of how important it is to consider safety in any child-related event. Here’s a quick list of safety suggestions you may consider for your little monkey. (This is not an all-inclusive list so use your momma/dadda judgement.)

“Review with the kids – each hike – what to do if they should become separated from you. Ensure that they know stay put and blow their whistle in 3 sharp bursts.” – AmericanHiking.org

• Whistle – Trisha’s thoughtful aunts gifted two necklace whistles to our kids at the Hidden Lake trail head. A whistle is ideal if – God forbid – a child loses their way and needs to alert others of their location.
• Pre-trail Education – It’s important to lay the ground rules of hiking. Explain how important it is to stick together and always staying within eyesight of each other.
• Wear Bright Colors – Consider dressing your son or daughter in bright or neon colors for easy visibility. The goal is to make them look like a walking traffic cone. For bonus points, wear the bright stuff, too!
• If you have safety tips for other parents, feel free to share them in the comments! 🙂

#4: Be Prepared

The Boy Scouts know what’s up. It’s crucial to be prepared for any adventure. Research your destination, including trail specs, and check the forecast to shoot for a window with mild weather conditions. And if your adventure is in a national or state park, check with the park employees or rangers for any specific details or to field your specific questions/concerns. I’ve also found AllTrails helpful because, apart from the trail specs, the comments section may contain current information about the trail from other hikers. For example, one person commented that they’d spotted a grizzly bear near the base of the Scotchman Peak before we ventured up there. Here’s a few extra quick tips to prepare for a kid-friendly hike:

• Pack snacks! Consider healthy, energy filled snacks that you know your kid will eat.
• Water for the Win. We all know how important it is to stay hydrated, especially when we’re exercising.
• All of the Things. Bug spray, first aid kit, sunscreen, phone with pre downloaded maps if available, GPS, bear spray (depending on your location), rain gear, diapers/pull-ups, wet wipes, toilet paper, hats, rain gear, emergency space blanket, water filter, fire starter, etc.

#5. Fabulous Footwear

Nobody like a blister the size of Texas. To prevent foot pain, be sure to equip your kid with a good pair of hiking shoes or boots. Some hikers swear by tennis shoes while others prefer ankle high boots. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a struggle to get our kids (especially our son) to even wear something other than Spiderman pajamas, so shoving their feet into a pair of tennis shoes is a small miracle. So I’m not an expert on kids hiking footwear, but the folks at LearningEscapes have done their homework.

Quick Tip: Have your little guy or girl wear their new shoes around the house or local area to break them in before a full-fledged hike. And pack an extra pair of socks in case theirs get wet.

Bonus Tip: Be Flexible

We have learned to be open-minded about our goals for the day. Kids may be having a rough day or the trail could be harder than expected, so it helps to stay flexible with your plans. Don’t be afraid to adjust your schedule on the fly to make the day more enjoyable. We spent a fair amount of time just hanging out at Hidden Lake. We could have hiked around the lake, but we chose to stay near one of the campsites at the water’s edge to lay in the hammock, fish for rainbow trout, and relax with the kids.

And that caps off our five tips to hiking with children. As mentioned before, feel free to share your tips and tricks with fellow parents in the comments below! Thanks so much for spending time on our family-run Pacific Northwest outdoor website. If you’re interested in helping support our local blog, please visit our Etsy shop here and be sure to subscribe to our blog at the bottom of this page. Happy hiking!