by Jeff Aguilar
Hiking is usually not a favorite outdoor activity of children, but that does not mean that you can’t find hiking trails in the USA that won’t be fun and memorable for the whole family. Nearly every park and region of the US has an assortment of trails that are suitable for even young walkers (or parents carrying young ones in a backpack until they are old enough to walk on their own).
Three ingredients make a hike “family-friendly”. It should be of a reasonable length (generally less than 5 miles maximum round-trip), reasonable elevation change (less than 1000 feet), and feature enough items of interest along the way (natural features like lakes, waterfalls, wildlife, etc), to break the feeling of monotony that comes with hiking. The following are the Top 10 best hikes that I’ve found for enjoying family fun on the trails.
Most of these trails would classify as easy, to very easy, so I might soon make yet another list for slightly more challenging family hikes.
I’m not ranking these hikes, so any trail in this list will be both family-friendly and keep the kiddos interested and eager for more.
- 18. Hickman Bridge, Capitol Reef National Park
- 17. Arthur’s Rock Trail, Lory State Park, Colorado
- 16. Signal Hill, Mount Magazine State Park, Arkansas
- 15. Rio Celeste Falls, Tenorio Volcano NP, Costa Rica
- 14. Hidden Lake Overlook, Glacier National Park
- 13. Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha, Rocky Mountain National Park
- 12. Moro Rock Trail, Sequoia National Park
- 11. Hanging Lake, Colorado
- 10. Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon
- 9. Alum Bluff Cave Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 8. Notch Trail, Badlands National Park
- 7. Freedom Trail, Boston, Massachusetts
- 6. Boardwalks, Everglades National Park
- 5. Hoh Rainforest Loop Trail, Olympic National Park
- 4. Crystal Forest Loop Trail, Petrified Forest National Park
- 3. Medano Creek and Sand Dunes, Great Sand Dunes National Park
- 2. Geyser Basin Boardwalks, Yellowstone National Park
- 1. Big Trees Trail, Sequoia National Park
18. Hickman Bridge, Capitol Reef National Park
Hickman Bridge is the most popular trail in Capitol Reef and at two miles roundtrip it’s very family-friendly. The scenery along the way is terrific and the rock ledges and colorful formations make the hike interesting and fun.
The only caveat I have for this hike is that the day we hiked to Hickman Bridge it was 100 degrees Fahrenheit in June. The extreme temperatures were the result of an unusual heatwave in the early summer. But do plan to carry water and apply sunscreen.
17. Arthur’s Rock Trail, Lory State Park, Colorado
Colorado has lots of trails that are great for family hikes. A good one in the Front Range nearby Fort Collins can be found at Lory State Park. The Arther’s Rock trail leads to the top of a rocky bluff that overlooks the Horsetooth Reservoir. The trail is 3.4 miles round trip, and while it does rise over 1000 feet, there is a surprising amount of wildlife and a fun final ascent up the rock face to entertain kids.
16. Signal Hill, Mount Magazine State Park, Arkansas
My kids and I had a good time hiking to the highest point in Arkansas in the autumn. The trail is only 1.5 miles round trip from the Mount Magazine Lodge with a moderate elevation of two hundred feet. The trail passes through woodlands so there is no particular view on arrival at the summit, but after returning to the lodge there is a nice overlook as a final reward.
15. Rio Celeste Falls, Tenorio Volcano NP, Costa Rica
Initially this page included only trails in the United States. But now we exploring trails outside the USA too, and can start to include them as well.
Tenorio Volcano is one of many national parks in Costa Rica and has a pretty extensive trail system. This hike of about 4 miles roundtrip I did with my two sons on a May morning and it was a great experience. Walking through the steamy rainforest was as cool as the beautiful falls themselves.
You have a good chance of seeing howler monkeys, sloths, and possibly capuchin and spider monkeys so keep your eyes open!
14. Hidden Lake Overlook, Glacier National Park
The Hidden Lake Overlook trail is a relatively short, mostly boardwalk trail across Glacier’s high-altitude tundra starting at Logan Pass. Parking at Logan Pass is challenging and not accessible without a GTTSR pass from 6AM – 3 PM (hint, drive up at 7 PM in the summer when there is still plenty of sunlight).
This is a great trail for spotting wildlife and we saw bighorns and ptarmigans, but were surprised to not find mountain goats (they typically frequent the Logan Pass area). It was unseasonably warm and the goats retreated to higher ground.
The trail to the lake itself is usually opened but was closed due to bear activity.
13. Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha, Rocky Mountain National Park
The hardest thing about these lake trails in Rocky Mountain National Park is finding parking in the Bear Lake area. A large percentage of the park visitors are concentrated in this area of the park because of the number of trails that originate there. In the summer you’ll probably need to use the park shuttles, and even worse you’ll have to make special road access reservations just for this part of the park.
Having said that, these are shorter, easier trails in a park with some fairly challenging hikes for kids. Emerald Lake is shorter, but Lake Haiyaha is the most impressive of the kid-friendly hikes. It’s even better now than the photo shows because glacier deposits have turned it turquoise.
My then 8-year-old had no trouble doing both the Emerald Lake trail (which includes Dream Lake and Nymph Lake) and Lake Haiyaha all in one hiking trip of about 5 miles.
12. Moro Rock Trail, Sequoia National Park
This is a short trail at under 1/2 mile with a fair amount of stairs, but the views are great. My then 2 year old was able to mostly walk to the top on his own. The guardrails keep the young ones safe from the sheer drop-offs on either side.
11. Hanging Lake, Colorado
Hanging Lake is possibly the most beloved lake in Colorado and one of the most hiked-to destinations. The trail is a steep (and very worn) one mile ascent, but the appearance of the unique lake makes it worth it.
We did this hike as a family when my youngest son was three years old. I had to carry him a few times, but it’s definitely a enjoyable and rewarding family hike.
10. Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon
The trails from the Bryce Canyon rim are short but steep. Chances are your kiddos will be winded from the ascent, but the hoodoos will keep them interested anyway. Vibrant colors and unique rock formations will surely help to avoid boredom.
9. Alum Bluff Cave Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
At 2 miles uphill this hike is really borderline family-friendly. But if you can get a parking spot (arrive very early in peak season) this hike is a lot of fun. You’ll cross rivers, climb through caves, feel the sprinkle of waterfalls, and clouds will part to reveal sweeping vistas only to close again in seconds. Fall colors are particularly beautiful.
8. Notch Trail, Badlands National Park
Kids love to climb and explore and the Badlands is a great place for them to do so. Along the way there is a log ladder and more. The Badlands can get plenty hot in the summer so be sure to bring plenty of water and find cool, shaded spots to rest along the way.
7. Freedom Trail, Boston, Massachusetts
Rather than a wilderness trail, this is a 5-mile urban pathway that links historic sites in Boston. You’ll really want at least two days to cover all of the sites (Old North Church, USS Constitution, etc). There is so much and see and do along the way that no one will complain of being bored.
6. Boardwalks, Everglades National Park
The Everglades boardwalks (and accompanying trails) are flat, relaxed and full of wildlife. Kids will be too awed by the sight of a resting alligator to care that they are hiking.
5. Hoh Rainforest Loop Trail, Olympic National Park
At only a flat 1-mile in length, the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park is great for every age. In such a unique environment every tree and plan is fascinating. Moss drips from the trees, toadstools cling to the tree trunks, and even giant clover will leave the kiddos in awe.
4. Crystal Forest Loop Trail, Petrified Forest National Park
All the trails are short mile long loops in Petrified Forest National Park. While the summer temperatures might be extreme, kids will be too amazed by the petrified trees to care. When trees over 200 million years old still look like trees of today with bark included, you just can’t not be amazed.
3. Medano Creek and Sand Dunes, Great Sand Dunes National Park
There are no real trails in Great Sand Dunes NP that lead into the dunes. If there were, they’d disappear in a day. But you are free to traverse the dunes any way you like and slide or tumble down as you choose.
In early summer a Medano creek runs at the edge of the dunes, providing a beach environment that is endless fun for kids. Just be careful on cloudless summer days as the sun can turn the sand into burning embers of pain for bare feet (not a problem in the creek).
2. Geyser Basin Boardwalks, Yellowstone National Park
There are dozens of boardwalk trails throughout Yellowstone and they wind through endless wonders for young ones to enjoy. Kids won’t care how much they walk while they are captivated by erupting geysers, colorful hot springs, and bubbling, sulfurous mud volcanoes.
1. Big Trees Trail, Sequoia National Park
And my final choice is the Big Trees Trail in Sequoia NP. At less than a mile in length on flat ground it’s a piece of cake for all ages. The enormous sequoia trees make everyone feel small and as if you’ve entered an entirely new world.
