How old to take DS on Billy Goat Trail?

[Anonymous]

It's a fun hike, but always seems harder than I remember when I do it. How old before a child can do the hike? There are some dangerous drop offs...3, 4, 5? My DS is 2, so it's still early for him.

[Anonymous]

Kindergarten? It depends on the kid though. My DD went for the first time this past Fall and had a great time without issue. Rising K.

[Anonymous]

The main section of the BGT is section A, there are 2 other sections called B and C. I have done the B section and it is a shorter and less strenous section than the main section. It is still fun and involves some clambering. It takes about an hour and 15 mins for an adult with dogs
I would take a 5 or 6 year old on the B section first. If he can handle that without complaining I would do the longer A section the next time.

If you park in the lot opposite the Angler Inn and go across the bridge go left insteead of right. Trail starts about 3-5 mins down there.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I've only done A...though I've heard of B & C, I can never seem to find it. Thanks for the tips, I'll go try B next time. Maybe next year DS will be able to do it with us.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one that thinks 5 is WAY too young for (at least portions of) the billy goat trail? I am 38 and I still get terrified on that thing! There's that part where you basically have to rock climb above the water on all fours. Maybe you are thinking of a more serene portion of the trail, but be forewarned that there is one section that is extremely difficult (and dangerous) even for adults. Don't accidentally get stuck on it with a 5 year old!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one that thinks 5 is WAY too young for (at least portions of) the billy goat trail? I am 38 and I still get terrified on that thing! There's that part where you basically have to rock climb above the water on all fours. Maybe you are thinking of a more serene portion of the trail, but be forewarned that there is one section that is extremely difficult (and dangerous) even for adults. Don't accidentally get stuck on it with a 5 year old!

My thoughts exactly!!

[Anonymous]

OP again. For the last two posters, how old do you think a child should be? I honestly have no idea and that's why I'm asking.

Like I said though, my DS is just 2, so my question is mainly just academic.

[Anonymous]

For me it's not the age so much as leg length. I think a child under 7 or 8 would really struggle with sections of the trail. I agree that the B and C trails would be better. Or the gold mine loop trail. It's on the other side of the canal, so not as scenic, but it's never crowded and ends with a nice, level walk back to the parking lot that overlooks the canal.

[Anonymous]

It depends too on how how time our child has spent in the outdoors. If they have grown up hiking and have learned to scramble and climb then by 5 it would be no problem. If this is their first time out on a trail, then at 5 it could be rough.

My kids go up rocks and tricky sections way easier than the adults do!

[Anonymous]

*your child (not our child!!)

[Anonymous]

I don't know - 10 maybe. Kind of depends on the kid. Me and dh were talking about this and how scared we would be having our kids teetering on rocks above the river. I have done the billy goat trail a lot and kayaked down on the river too. I don't want my kid falling down into the river. It can be swirly down there. But it depends on the kid. For me, as I kid, I would have been safer at a younger age because I was cautious, but my dh says he used to hop and jump around on rocks right near cliff's edge as a kid. Not sure when I would let my kid do the billy goat trail if they were like that.

[Anonymous]

I think 5 could work, but you'd certainly want one adult dedicated to supervising one child.

If you get tired of it there are lots of ad hoc trails back to the towpath.

Then there are the dads wearing 3 yo's in backpack carriers striding past the rest of us as we struggle across the rocks.

[Anonymous]

I think 5 could work too. shoot, my son did Old Rag at 5 and loved it (and he's not very sporty). BGT is one of the most scenic areas in the DC area and a hidden gem.

I would definitely take the route that has you climb UP the rocky ridge.

[Anonymous]

PP, that is *awesome* that your 5 yo did Old Rag! I love Old Rag -- and I didn't "discover" it until I was in my 20s. I haven't tried it in years...I'd love to do it again with DS soon.

Can anyone recommend easy hikes for me and my 2 yo? I have no idea how far he can walk, but he certainly seems energetic when he's running in circles around the house. It doesn't matter though, we don't have to finish any loop. I'd probably stick to 1 mi for his first time out. I'd also be lugging around 3 mo DD in a carrier, so it'd have to be a very easy hike.

This lovely weather is great!

[Anonymous]

See, now, I'd take a 5 year old on Old Rag, but not the BGT. Something about that rock scramble above the river just freaks me out. Sometimes I get stuck there and momentarily paralyzed by fear. The thought of my kid falling into the river would push me over the edge! Old Rag is tiring but there are no places where I'd worry about mortal injury...