Anonymous wrote:I have a kindergarten daughter and we would like to go on some hikes this summer. Last year, we went to Muir Woods in California and loved it. Am considering Bar Harbor Maine or Antelope Canyon in Nevada but not sure how hard it would be for her. My daughter loved her stroller and if we would allow, she would probably still sit in it.

Can you recommend beautiful scenic easy hikes with a kindergartener?

We went to Hawaii last year and was able to hike Diamond Head. 1 mile would probably be her max.

Acadia has a ton of wonderful hikes. Probably the Beehive and Precipice might be a bit much, but many others are labeled as easy to moderate, which should be fine. Get a good guide to the hikes of Acadia and enjoy.

If you go to the Canadian Rockies there's a good book called something like "walks and easy hikes in the Canadian rockies". We did a bunch with a very small child.

Anonymous wrote:Deep creek for a long weekend is fun in the summer- we went in August and it was cool - hiking to waterfalls etc. Kids ages ranged from 3 to 5.

This. You will love Swallow Falls State Park in Oakland for easy hiking and waterfalls the kids can go in the water.

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Anonymous wrote:Get your kid a Fitbit or some kind of tracker to count their daily steps to work up their stamina to over 1 mile. 1 mile is not much at all and they can probably do more as long as they aren't too hot, thirsty or hungry.

As a counterpoint, even if a kid is capable of walking more than a mile, it may not be desirable to venture much further out on a trail when it’s hot and/or unshaded and kids’ moods are unpredictable when traveling. I favor hikes when I know, worst case, I can grab them and haul ‘em back without exhausting myself. Especially when I am far from home. So 1 m makes sense as a practical option in general for small kids who don’t hike a ton.

You can turn back at any point. You don't have to do the complete out and back trail. But 1/2 mile out and back will barely get you of the parking lot of some hikes. Just walk as far as everyone is able and turn back when necessary. You don't need to find a trail that is specifically 1 mile.

Well yes of course ….

I think OP can figure out when she needs to turn back, it's not like she would got 5 miles out and forget they have to go back, this isn't that hard to figure out. But 1 mile is nothing. Thousands of kids that age are probably logging 10 miles a day at Disney. There's no reason a healthy kindergartener is being sold so short here.

Then start a different thread about how far kindergartners can walk. this one is about short hikes.

So go ahead and suggest one. I don't see any suggestions from anyone. Because such a hike really doesn't exist.

I suggested lots at Acadia.

And I’m suggesting how to get the most out of these places and hikes. I have a 7yr who hikes often.

I love examples of people who are in the "well my kid can do it" camp. You don't know OP or her kid, so just chill with the death march you want her to take.

Get a grip. You're bizarrely aggressive about something that isn't even for you. Lots of kids can walk a little ways. I hike a lot, with my family, and see lots of families. It's a pretty normal family activity. If OP is going to go to some of these national parks and such it would be a shame to miss out by underestimating her daughter. Especially if it turns out that by the time she actually goes the kid will do just fine because so many do. By going on some practice hikes and walks her daughter can build stamina. If you don't like my advice, move along.

Anonymous wrote:Locally, Weverton Heights on the AT in Maryland is a great kids hike. It’s a moderate one mile to the top with a great view. My 2-year-old did it, but I think it would be fun for kids any age. To her it felt like scaling Everest- fun time.

Agreed. Tough for a little kid but great payoff. Other local-ish hikes my kids liked included the Cucumber Falls and Ferncliff trails at Ohiopyle State Park (waterfalls and rocks to climb on and give me heart attacks), Cunningham Falls (smaller, but closer), and Virginius Island and Schoolhouse Ridge at Harper's Ferry (they loooove ruins).

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Anonymous wrote:Get your kid a Fitbit or some kind of tracker to count their daily steps to work up their stamina to over 1 mile. 1 mile is not much at all and they can probably do more as long as they aren't too hot, thirsty or hungry.

As a counterpoint, even if a kid is capable of walking more than a mile, it may not be desirable to venture much further out on a trail when it’s hot and/or unshaded and kids’ moods are unpredictable when traveling. I favor hikes when I know, worst case, I can grab them and haul ‘em back without exhausting myself. Especially when I am far from home. So 1 m makes sense as a practical option in general for small kids who don’t hike a ton.

You can turn back at any point. You don't have to do the complete out and back trail. But 1/2 mile out and back will barely get you of the parking lot of some hikes. Just walk as far as everyone is able and turn back when necessary. You don't need to find a trail that is specifically 1 mile.

Well yes of course ….

I think OP can figure out when she needs to turn back, it's not like she would got 5 miles out and forget they have to go back, this isn't that hard to figure out. But 1 mile is nothing. Thousands of kids that age are probably logging 10 miles a day at Disney. There's no reason a healthy kindergartener is being sold so short here.

Then start a different thread about how far kindergartners can walk. this one is about short hikes.

So go ahead and suggest one. I don't see any suggestions from anyone. Because such a hike really doesn't exist.

I suggested lots at Acadia.

And I’m suggesting how to get the most out of these places and hikes. I have a 7yr who hikes often.

I love examples of people who are in the "well my kid can do it" camp. You don't know OP or her kid, so just chill with the death march you want her to take.

Locally, Weverton Heights on the AT in Maryland is a great kids hike. It’s a moderate one mile to the top with a great view. My 2-year-old did it, but I think it would be fun for kids any age. To her it felt like scaling Everest- fun time.

Lots of good recs on here already. I also recommend Acadia. HOT places are NOT good with little kids hiking; it will be miserable.

Wonderland and Ship Harbor trail are wonderful, Jordan Pond is great but it is over 3 miles and my kids did get tired probably 2/3rd through, so breaks and encouragement are definitely needed. It's an early morning hike with snacks, not afternoon!

We also like Jesup path---super easy but beautiful.

There's some others that we liked, but I can't remember the names! We try to avoid any with significant cliffs because the kids like to hike ahead and explore a bit and it's less stressful for us.

Anonymous wrote:When our kids were little we did try to stick to ~1 mile for most hikes. It really depends on how far you you can carry a kid back to the car.

Specifically Wonderland and Ships Harbor trails at Acadia. We also did Jordan Pond when they were little, but didn't make it all of the way around. And walking out to Bar Island at low tide. Not exactly a hike, but kids loved it.

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Anonymous wrote:Get your kid a Fitbit or some kind of tracker to count their daily steps to work up their stamina to over 1 mile. 1 mile is not much at all and they can probably do more as long as they aren't too hot, thirsty or hungry.

As a counterpoint, even if a kid is capable of walking more than a mile, it may not be desirable to venture much further out on a trail when it’s hot and/or unshaded and kids’ moods are unpredictable when traveling. I favor hikes when I know, worst case, I can grab them and haul ‘em back without exhausting myself. Especially when I am far from home. So 1 m makes sense as a practical option in general for small kids who don’t hike a ton.

You can turn back at any point. You don't have to do the complete out and back trail. But 1/2 mile out and back will barely get you of the parking lot of some hikes. Just walk as far as everyone is able and turn back when necessary. You don't need to find a trail that is specifically 1 mile.

Well yes of course ….

I think OP can figure out when she needs to turn back, it's not like she would got 5 miles out and forget they have to go back, this isn't that hard to figure out. But 1 mile is nothing. Thousands of kids that age are probably logging 10 miles a day at Disney. There's no reason a healthy kindergartener is being sold so short here.

Then start a different thread about how far kindergartners can walk. this one is about short hikes.

So go ahead and suggest one. I don't see any suggestions from anyone. Because such a hike really doesn't exist.

I suggested lots at Acadia.

And I’m suggesting how to get the most out of these places and hikes. I have a 7yr who hikes often.

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Anonymous wrote:Get your kid a Fitbit or some kind of tracker to count their daily steps to work up their stamina to over 1 mile. 1 mile is not much at all and they can probably do more as long as they aren't too hot, thirsty or hungry.

As a counterpoint, even if a kid is capable of walking more than a mile, it may not be desirable to venture much further out on a trail when it’s hot and/or unshaded and kids’ moods are unpredictable when traveling. I favor hikes when I know, worst case, I can grab them and haul ‘em back without exhausting myself. Especially when I am far from home. So 1 m makes sense as a practical option in general for small kids who don’t hike a ton.

You can turn back at any point. You don't have to do the complete out and back trail. But 1/2 mile out and back will barely get you of the parking lot of some hikes. Just walk as far as everyone is able and turn back when necessary. You don't need to find a trail that is specifically 1 mile.

Well yes of course ….

I think OP can figure out when she needs to turn back, it's not like she would got 5 miles out and forget they have to go back, this isn't that hard to figure out. But 1 mile is nothing. Thousands of kids that age are probably logging 10 miles a day at Disney. There's no reason a healthy kindergartener is being sold so short here.

Then start a different thread about how far kindergartners can walk. this one is about short hikes.

So go ahead and suggest one. I don't see any suggestions from anyone. Because such a hike really doesn't exist.

I suggested lots at Acadia.

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Anonymous wrote:Get your kid a Fitbit or some kind of tracker to count their daily steps to work up their stamina to over 1 mile. 1 mile is not much at all and they can probably do more as long as they aren't too hot, thirsty or hungry.

As a counterpoint, even if a kid is capable of walking more than a mile, it may not be desirable to venture much further out on a trail when it’s hot and/or unshaded and kids’ moods are unpredictable when traveling. I favor hikes when I know, worst case, I can grab them and haul ‘em back without exhausting myself. Especially when I am far from home. So 1 m makes sense as a practical option in general for small kids who don’t hike a ton.

You can turn back at any point. You don't have to do the complete out and back trail. But 1/2 mile out and back will barely get you of the parking lot of some hikes. Just walk as far as everyone is able and turn back when necessary. You don't need to find a trail that is specifically 1 mile.

Well yes of course ….

I think OP can figure out when she needs to turn back, it's not like she would got 5 miles out and forget they have to go back, this isn't that hard to figure out. But 1 mile is nothing. Thousands of kids that age are probably logging 10 miles a day at Disney. There's no reason a healthy kindergartener is being sold so short here.

Then start a different thread about how far kindergartners can walk. this one is about short hikes.

So go ahead and suggest one. I don't see any suggestions from anyone. Because such a hike really doesn't exist.

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Get your kid a Fitbit or some kind of tracker to count their daily steps to work up their stamina to over 1 mile. 1 mile is not much at all and they can probably do more as long as they aren't too hot, thirsty or hungry.

As a counterpoint, even if a kid is capable of walking more than a mile, it may not be desirable to venture much further out on a trail when it’s hot and/or unshaded and kids’ moods are unpredictable when traveling. I favor hikes when I know, worst case, I can grab them and haul ‘em back without exhausting myself. Especially when I am far from home. So 1 m makes sense as a practical option in general for small kids who don’t hike a ton.

You can turn back at any point. You don't have to do the complete out and back trail. But 1/2 mile out and back will barely get you of the parking lot of some hikes. Just walk as far as everyone is able and turn back when necessary. You don't need to find a trail that is specifically 1 mile.

Well yes of course ….

I think OP can figure out when she needs to turn back, it's not like she would got 5 miles out and forget they have to go back, this isn't that hard to figure out. But 1 mile is nothing. Thousands of kids that age are probably logging 10 miles a day at Disney. There's no reason a healthy kindergartener is being sold so short here.

Then start a different thread about how far kindergartners can walk. this one is about short hikes.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get your kid a Fitbit or some kind of tracker to count their daily steps to work up their stamina to over 1 mile. 1 mile is not much at all and they can probably do more as long as they aren't too hot, thirsty or hungry.

As a counterpoint, even if a kid is capable of walking more than a mile, it may not be desirable to venture much further out on a trail when it’s hot and/or unshaded and kids’ moods are unpredictable when traveling. I favor hikes when I know, worst case, I can grab them and haul ‘em back without exhausting myself. Especially when I am far from home. So 1 m makes sense as a practical option in general for small kids who don’t hike a ton.

You can turn back at any point. You don't have to do the complete out and back trail. But 1/2 mile out and back will barely get you of the parking lot of some hikes. Just walk as far as everyone is able and turn back when necessary. You don't need to find a trail that is specifically 1 mile.

Well yes of course ….

I think OP can figure out when she needs to turn back, it's not like she would got 5 miles out and forget they have to go back, this isn't that hard to figure out. But 1 mile is nothing. Thousands of kids that age are probably logging 10 miles a day at Disney. There's no reason a healthy kindergartener is being sold so short here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get your kid a Fitbit or some kind of tracker to count their daily steps to work up their stamina to over 1 mile. 1 mile is not much at all and they can probably do more as long as they aren't too hot, thirsty or hungry.

As a counterpoint, even if a kid is capable of walking more than a mile, it may not be desirable to venture much further out on a trail when it’s hot and/or unshaded and kids’ moods are unpredictable when traveling. I favor hikes when I know, worst case, I can grab them and haul ‘em back without exhausting myself. Especially when I am far from home. So 1 m makes sense as a practical option in general for small kids who don’t hike a ton.

You can turn back at any point. You don't have to do the complete out and back trail. But 1/2 mile out and back will barely get you of the parking lot of some hikes. Just walk as far as everyone is able and turn back when necessary. You don't need to find a trail that is specifically 1 mile.

Obviously but if the intent is to see great views then this person wants trails that have a quick payoff. Not trails where you go 2+ miles before you get your vista/photo op.