10 Tips to Make Hiking Fun For Kids
10 Tips to Make Hiking with Kids More Fun and Memorable
Hiking with kids can be a joyful adventure, full of laughter, exploration, and discovery. However, it also comes with unique challenges—shorter attention spans, snack demands, and the inevitable "Are we there yet?" To make the journey as fun as the destination, here are 10 tried-and-true tips to keep your little’s happy hikers on the trail.
1. Choose Kid-Friendly Trails
Pick trails that are short, but a little challenging, and packed with features like streams, rock formations, or waterfalls to keep it fun and engaging. My kids tend to get bored and loose interest on flat easy trails. Look for trails with loops to avoid backtracking, and aim for a manageable distance based on your child’s age and experience.
Pro Tip: Let the kids help pick the trail! Giving them a choice can boost their excitement.
Pro Tip: Let them hold the map and “navigate”.
2. Turn the Hike into a Treasure Hunt
Turn the trail into an adventure with a scavenger hunt. Bring a list or create one on the spot, and see how many treasures you can find together. Look for things like:
Interesting leaves or rocks
Animal tracks in the dirt or snow
4 Different shades of green
Litter
Unusual tree shapes or fungi
Flowers of every color
Items that start with every letter of the alphabet
Pro Tip: Give them a special baggie or container to collect treasures in
3. Pack Plenty of Snacks
Snacks are the secret weapon to a successful hike with kids. Pack a variety of energy-boosting treats like granola bars, dried fruit, trail mix, or even a few surprise treats that you don’t normally have at home. Don’t forget to bring water to keep everyone hydrated.
Pro Tip: Have small treats like M&M’s or marshmallows to pass out at timed intervals or distances for some positive motivation to keep them going.
4. Play Games Along the Way
Keep boredom at bay with simple trail games:
I Spy: Look for colors, shapes, or animals.
Bubbles: Bring bubbles for them to chase after and keep them moving down the trail.
20 Questions: Take turns thinking of an object, and others guess with yes-or-no questions.
Trail Bingo: Create bingo cards with items like pinecones, birds, or streams to check off as you hike.
Sing Songs
Unfortunately / Fortunately: Work together to tell a story, with each person saying one sentence at a time but each sentence must start with either “fortunately” or “unfortunately,” always alternating.
Clean Up: Whoever can find the most litter and pick it up wins!
ABCs : Starting with the letter “A,” everyone has to find something along the trail that begins with “A” before moving through the rest of the alphabet.
Categories: Think of a specific category, such as state capitals, foods, countries that begin with “M,” sports teams, et cetera. Everyone takes turns naming something that fits into that category. Play rotates through the group until a player can’t think of something within a 5-second time limit or an answer gets repeated.
5. Let Them Lead
Kids love to feel in charge! Let them take turns being the “trail leader” and setting the pace. It gives them a sense of responsibility and helps them stay engaged. Let them set the pace allowing them time to stop and explore.
Pro Tip: Use the time to teach them how to read trail markers or simple map navigation.
6. Bring Friends or family
Invite friends or other families along. Hiking with friends adds an element of social fun and gives kids someone to share the adventure with. Kids ALWAYS hike better win friends!
7. Create Challenges and Mini Goals
Break the hike into smaller segments by setting mini-goals.
“Let’s see what’s around the next bend.”
“We’ll take a break at that big tree.”
“Can you find five different types of leaves?”
8. Encourage Creativity
Use the trail as a canvas for creativity. Don’t rush them, let kids stop and explore. Encourage kids to:
Build a small rock cairn.
Collect (and leave) sticks to form fun shapes.
Create a story about what animals live in the forest.
Let them document the hike with a camera
9. Bring Field Guides or Nature Apps
Turn the hike into a learning experience by bringing along a field guide or using a nature identification app. Kids will love identifying birds, plants, or bugs they see along the way.
10. Celebrate the Adventure
When the hike is done, take time to celebrate! Share what each person’s favorite part was or let the kids take a photo to remember the day. Small rewards like stickers or a special snack can also add to the fun.
Hiking with kids doesn’t have to be about getting to the end of the trail—it’s about enjoying the journey together. By turning the hike into an adventure full of games, exploration, and discovery, you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime. So grab your gear, embrace the outdoors, and make every step a fun-filled adventure! Share your favorite ways for making hiking more fun with kids in the comments!
