Whether you’re exploring public lands or hiking a trail at a state park, don’t forget these easy, fun, and free hiking activities your kids will absolutely love! Get ready to embrace the outdoors with five must-try ideas for your next trip.
This article contains five hiking activities for kids you won’t want to forget!
Always be Safe
First off, if you’re one of our regular visitors, you know we’re big on safety! We typically mention safety in most of our articles, so if you would prefer to jump straight to the five actives for kids just click here!
As your Nature Consort, our number one priority is to make sure you remain safe during your outdoor adventures. Being safe entails prepping the right equipment, knowing your area, understanding your limitations, and having a safety plan. Let’s touch on some basics before you jump into our five fun hiking activities.
Pick the right trial.
Check out trail maps, ask park rangers, or other hikers about trail conditions. Refer to maps and estimate the distance. How far would your kids be willing to go, and are you prepared to monitor their energy and abilities as you hike? Make sure you incorporate the return distance as well. Will your trail be a hike out, and a hike back? Or does it circle back to the trailhead as a loop? Do your best to estimate how long your hiking adventure will take. Will you need to pack a lunch, snacks, or only water? Use your best judgement here, especially while hiking with little ones.
Know your weather.
Will it be hot or sunny? Cold, rainy, or snowy? Make sure you bring the appropriate gear. No need to make things overly complicated here, just keep your packing list simple. We recommend to you, as the adult, to carry all of the items for the hike. This way, your kids have the freedom and mobility to explore at their own pace. Make sure your backpack stays lightweight, comfortable, and accessible.
Plan your full day.
Plan your entire day, including your drive to and from the trailhead. Gage the energy and capacity your kids will have while enduring outdoor adventures. Do you want to have a fun trailside lunch break in the shade? If you complete the trail early, is there another trail nearby your kid wants to try? Take mental notes of the area and see if there are places to take a break if legs get tired, or if there is a cute spot where you can enjoy lunch.
Go slow, have fun, and there is never a need to rush while enjoying a hiking adventure. Take your time to notice the small details around you. Now, let’s get right into our fun, free, easy hiking activities for the kids!
5 Fun and Free Hiking Activities for Kids
Make sure to take your time and seek out fun activities during your hiking adventure. You’ll be able to teach your kids about the natural environment that surrounds them. Although there are bountiful activities ways to play in nature, here are five activities you can easily apply on any adventure.
1. Find a Pinecone, Acorn, or Seed
Keep your eyes open for cool seeds and plants. You’re likely to find these treasures right on the trail itself! Make it a fun game and see how many different types of pine cones or seeds you can find on each hike.
Ask your kids if they know which tree pinecones and acorns come from. What do the leaves look like? What types of animals might use those trees and seeds?
2. Look for Wildlife
Always do your best to keep an eye out for animals. There is never a guarantee if you’ll spot certain wildlife during your trips. Seeing wildlife largely depends on the time of day you are out, how close to any main trails or water you may be, and how quietly you move through wildlife habitat.
Still though, you never know when you’ll get lucky! Keep an eye out for birds during your hike and any animals that are common to your area. Sometimes if you sit quietly and take a break, it is easier to notice squirrels or rodents. Other times, you will get lucky and elk or deer may pass right by you! Stay positive, hopeful, and try not to be disappointed if you don’t see any animals. By planning a hiking trip outside, you’re already greatly increasing your chances of seeing wildlife!
If on a mission to search for wildlife, don’t forget to look for signs of wildlife. Most of the time we find only tracks on our hiking adventures. Don’t forget to also look for scat and try to guess which animals left them behind. If you’re near a water source or if it recently rained, you may be more likely to find wildlife footprints.
3. Collect a Cool Rock for Your Collection
If you don’t already have a rock collection, now is a great time to start! Pick up a rock as a memoir of your hiking trip. If you haven’t already read our article about the importance of your child’s rock collection, check it out here!
An important note: Always be mindful of the rules in the area you’re visiting. Most State Parks have rules in place where you cannot take anything home with you, and you cannot pick the flowers. Be respectful of the rules. They are in place to protect nature so that we can come back again in the future to enjoy it’s beauty.
4. Find a Beautiful Plant or Flower
Spring time is when you’ll find most flowers blooming, although some plants will flower throughout summer. Try to find a plant or flower close by the trail and see if you can identify it. Some trails will have signs that label and identify plants. This is a great target activity to engage in. Encourage your child to learn about at least one new plant for each outdoor activity.
5. Take Photos
Since you’re not likely to be able to remove items from special wilderness areas or state parks, you can certainly take photos! Take pictures of those rocks, flowers, or pine cones you weren’t able to collect! If you see something you’re unfamiliar with, take a photo of it. Having a picture to refer to later can help your recognize and identify something during your next hike.
Capture a moment or memory with your phone camera. Practice your photo taking skills of beautiful areas you find while outside. It’s so much fun to see what your kids like to take pictures of too! They will always be able to appreciate and remember their outdoor hiking adventures with the photos.
Finally, don’t forget to take a picture of yourself and your kid together. There is nothing more beautiful than of a photo of your kid outside with a captivating natural backdrop.
So next time you’re outside, don’t forget these easy fun activities. You can try them all or just pick one and start there. Either way, have fun, be safe, and always encourage children to explore the outdoors.