Planning a family hike this Saturday on some local trails. Kids are 4 and 7 so keeping it short and easy, maybe 2 miles max. Any tips for keeping them entertained and not complaining the whole way? Thinking of making it a scavenger hunt type thing where they look for different animals and plants. Also packed like way too many snacks.
Bring way more water than you think you need and maybe some little rewards at the halfway point to keep them motivated. The views will be worth it when they're exhausted at bedtime.
Short hikes are the way to go with those ages. Pro tip: bring way more snacks than you think you'll need. We did a two mile hike with my 4 and 7 year old and we burned through everything by mile one.
The 4 year old is going to be the wildcard. Bring a carrier just in case - my daughter decided halfway through that her legs didn't work anymore.
Saturday morning hikes are basically my favorite thing now. There's something about getting the kids outside that just resets everything. Make sure you've got good hiking snacks and maybe a surprise toy for the halfway point.
Which trails are you thinking? If you're in Denver area I've got some recommendations that work great for little ones. Nothing brutal but enough to feel like a real adventure to them.
Sign in to join the conversation.
Two miles is perfect for that age range, snacks and frequent breaks are your friends. My twins are 4 and I learned the hard way that they get hangry fast on the trail.