Hiking with Kids
Scroll down for a list of kid-friendly hikes
In my experience, most parents underestimate how far their kids can hike. Humans, after all, evolved as nomads. From a very young age, children needed to walk along with everyone else. The photo on the left shows my 5-year old backpacking on the Pacific Crest during a family vacation in the 1990s. On the most intense day of the trip he walked 8 miles, climbing 2,200 vertical feet. We had started him hiking in the Catskills when he was 3, and by age 4 he was comfortably completing day hikes of 4-5 miles and 1,000+ vertical feet.
Now my son is 33, 6’5″, and kicks my butt whenever we hike together (right). But these early walks inculcated a life-long love of the outdoors, and established an activity we still share.
The best hikes for kids aren’t necessarily easy, but they do need a “payoff”. It can be a great view, a waterfall, a cave, or a ruin: something that gives them a goal to reach, and intrigues them. Throughout we’ve listed some of the hikes which we think kids are likely to find intriguing. Note they are of all different challenge levels — including some advanced hikes — so read the full review before deciding whether to take your kids along.
| Click on Title for Full Review | Gravitas / Map |
|---|---|
| Baldpate Mtn: Eastern Trails Kids will love the stream crossing and the farmhouse ruins off the west branch of the Copper Hill trail. |  Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Baldpate Mtn: Overview and Summit Trail Kids will be fascinated by tornado damage, enjoy scramble up rock fall, boulders | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Baldpate Mtn: Pine Grove Hike Fun, mysterious hike for fit, motivated, reasonably experienced kids. Too long for beginners. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Berry Picking in Local Parks Pick delicious, wild raspberries and blackberries along the trails, usually in mid July. | |
| Bowmans Hill Tower Hike Steep climb for serious hiker-dude kids only. Or skip hike and park near tower for the view |  Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Bowmans Hill Wildflower Preserve Fabulous for a kid with the right interests; will bore others silly. |  Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Dry Run Creek / Rockhopper Trails Engaging, intermediate hike. Nothing spectacular, but fun twisty bits particularly Rockhopper. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Goat Hill Preserve: Family Hike Easy walk to spectacular views of the Delaware. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Greenway Meadows / Stony Brook Trail Go in late spring or summer with water shoes and plan to splash | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve Unique landscape, and lovely variations. Though no stunning payoffs other than the views. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Hamilton Veterans Park An alternate network of woods trails and large lake makes this an OK walk in the woods; viewing a real tank, jet fighter, or helicopter gunship may be an exciting addition. |  Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Hartshorne Woods Park NJ's mystery spot: a forest and 200 ft tall ridge right next to Sandy Hook. Highly recommended! | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Haycock Mountain Superb, intense scramble for experienced hiker kids and parents only. Trail is poorly marked. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Jacobs Creek Trail Easy hike along a stream. Go in warm weather, wear water shoes, and plan on splashing | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Laurie Chauncey Trail Kids will want to splash in Stony Brook as well as walk. Back loop through ETS a yawn. Exit the way you came. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Morisville Levee Walk Fascinating walk along river and two bridges (not to mention the NJ Capitol) | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Mount Rose Ridge Fun little climb up, over, down, and back up a 120' ridge | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Mt. Tammany / Water Gap Spectacular hike to an amazing view. Steep. Hiker dude kids only: see Notes for Parents about alt hike to water fall | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Musconetcong Gorge Preserve Serious hike for experienced kids. Fun, very steep climb out of Scout Run. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Omick Woods at Rocktown Preserve Woods hike with a panoramic view and multiple, small stream crossings. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Point Mountain Preserve Great for hiker dudes: varied terrain, gorgeous river, corn fields, steep scrambly climb to panoramic views. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Schooleys Mountain County Park Great for hiker dudes and dudettes, if you park low and climb up. Pack a lunch and explore the views and Electric Brook gorge. Park at top for less challenge. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Sourland Mountain Preserve Big boulders are fun, but require mile+ walk plus 300 ft. elevation gain | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Teetertown Preserve One of the nicest, closest places to take your kids camping. Little used except when the Boy Scouts show up | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Tohickon Valley Trail System Exciting, at times challenging area with spine-tingling views | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Valley Forge NHP: Mt. Joy / Misery Hike Lovely hike, with lots of interesting variations, and serious history you can explore in bits. Only 45 minutes away. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Watershed Reserve Lots of kid-focused events, tots to teens. Arts, sciences, and games too! | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| White Oak Trail Short, interesting path with good footing and moderate elevation gain. The old quarry pit adds interest, and if you return via Quarry Rd you can view it from another angle. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Wickecheoke Creek Preserve Challenging in parts, but gorgeous and entertaining. Even a truly old cemetery standing in the middle of a field. | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Witherspoon Woods / Mountain Lakes In Princeton. Charming trails and mysterious boulder formations including the "Devil's Den", which is close to trail head | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Woodfield Reservation Compact trails to some cool boulders. Can get muddy in spots, and little used (wear long pants, even in summer) | Trail Map GeoPDF |
| Woosamonsa Ridge Preserve Fun, hilly trails with multiple, well-designed stream crossings. | Trail Map |
| Zega-Lockatong Preserve Sophisticated kids will love the geology; everyone will love the crystal clear water & climb | Trail Map GeoPDF |