Hiking has always been an enjoyable pastime for me and my husband.  We were so excited to have our boys get out and enjoy nature on the trail.  It wasn’t that hard when they were little, just pop them in the Björn or Kelty carrier and remember to bring enough diapers, a bottle, extra clothes and a hat.  Other than the stops required to use the “baby” supplies, our hiking range and style didn’t change that much from our pre-kid days.  But once our aching backs let us know that the boys had outgrown the carriers, our hiking style would alter dramatically.

It is true that you don’t have to give up the activities you love when you have children.  But if you want to take your kids hiking, you might have to make some changes and it can be tricky trying to figure out what works in your situation.  I thought I’d share some of the things that have worked for our family.  Of course we know to try to pick short, kid-friendly hikes for starters.  But to get them down the trail with minimal whining and complaining is HARD!  Time to get creative…

• Give your child their own little backpack and water.  We have had great success using a kids CamelBak.  With their own CamelBak, they can drink as much as they want while hiking and you don’t have to keep stopping to take out a water bottle.  I also add a little electrolyte mix on hot days.  This works great for keeping them hydrated, but they tend to need more potty breaks too.  And they think it’s great to carry their own snacks.
• Give them a camera.  This has been one of our greatest discoveries.  Imagine getting to see a hike from their perspective, literally.  Our son’s first trip with his camera produced many shots of hikers knees, which he thought were fascinating.  Since kids tend to stumble a lot, make sure the camera fits in a protective case that allows EASY access.
• Find an activity for them to do along the trail, since the “peace and quiet” of the woods doesn’t mean as much to them yet.  We have a set of Bird Sleuth game cards that fit in their pack.  We look for flowers, bugs and rocks, and we often stop to smell the trees (Ponderosa Pines remind us of butterscotch candy).
• Pack a pair of kid-sized binoculars.  We’re still working on finding a nice pair that’s their size, stands up to kid use and is affordable, in case they need to be replaced (see above note on stumbling a lot).
• Use a special little “treasure pouch” for items they find along the trail.  With the pouch attached to the backpack, we have seen a BIG decrease in the number of items going into pockets and the laundry machines.
• Pack a little notebook and pencil.  This comes in handy for drawing, writing and making rubbings of anything they find interesting.

I know many of you share outdoor time with your youngsters.  So while I search for the perfect kids hike (downhill both ways) I’d love to hear your tips for keeping kids happy while on the trail.