Hiking with kids is way harder than I thought

3w ago·1 min read

Planned a nice 3 mile hike at a local trail with my boys age 5 and 8. Seemed reasonable. The 5 year old made it about 1.5 miles before meltdown mode. Had to basically carry him the rest of the way which was rough. My 8 year old complained the whole time about his legs. I felt like a failure as a dad for even suggesting it. But we got to the overlook at the top and both kids said it was cool. Gonna try again next month but with like a 1 mile easier trail and more snacks.

3 comments152 views

Comments(3)

JJoshuaNew Dad3w ago

Three kids here and I've been there. The trick is matching the hike to the youngest kid's ability, not what seems reasonable on paper. Next time try a mile loop with something cool at the end like a creek or overlook to keep them motivated.

RRyan M.New Dad3w ago

Man, 1.5 miles with a 5 year old is actually a win in my book. I learned the hard way that their legs are about half the size of ours. Now I plan shorter routes and build in plenty of snack breaks. You'll get there!

RRobertRegular3w ago

I feel this in my bones after way too many failed hiking attempts. The 8 year old probably could've gone further but you gotta stick together, right? Maybe try shorter, more scenic routes where there's stuff to actually look at for the littles.