One of the silver linings of the 2020 pandemic is that it has pushed and inspired more people to recreate in nature. On our previous blog, Trail-Hiking in 2021, we talk about how it affects our daily lives, which includes our past time outdoors. We also talked about some thoughts to help the hike “children and nature-friendly”.

Walking on a flat dirt road is boring, and it’s not as intriguing as walking on a narrow winding trail. It’s better if the hiking trail has a lot of trees or boulders along the way that a kid can climb on. Hiking near rivers or lakes or alongside an ocean gives the kid a target at which to throw rocks.

In this blog, let’s explore some naturally preserved environments that will interest the kids. And here are some of the best spots to hike, together with them:

St. Louis Canyon and Wildcat Canyon in Starved Creek State Park – Utica, Illinois

Difficulty: A pair of moderate out and back hikes with an elevation of 514 feet

Amenities: Toilets, changing tables, water play

Parking/Admission fee: None

Bluff Point Hike – Groton, Connecticut

Difficulty: Easy 3.6-mile loop with no elevation

Amenities: Toilets, benches, stroller-friendly

Parking/Admission fee: None

Green Trail in High Rock Park/Greenbelt – Staten Island, New York

Difficulty: Moderate, 2-mile out-and-back trail with some elevation gain

Amenities: Nature center, recreation, and carousel nearby (not at the trailhead)

Parking/Admission fee: None

Black Creek Preserve Trail – Esopus, New York

Difficulty: Easy 2-mile loop with an elevation gain of 440 feet

Amenities: Unfortunately, no toilets or benches

Parking/Admission fee: None

Heceta Head to Hobbit Trail in Carl G. Washburne State Park – Florence, Oregon

Difficulty: Moderate 1- or 4.4-mile out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 400 feet

Amenities: Toilets and benches

Parking/Admission fee: Varies

Door, Window, and Notch Trails in Badlands National Park – South Dakota

Difficulty: Easy 2.5 mile out-and-back round trip if you do all three of the routes (Add an extra mile round trip if you venture the to end of the Notch Trail.)

Amenities: Toilets and benches

Parking/Admission fee: Park fee varies depending on age/type of vehicle, length of stay.

Green Loop in Cheesequake State Park – Old Bridge, New Jersey

Difficulty: Moderate 3.2-mile loop trail with an elevation gain of 315 feet

Amenities: Toilets, benches, and family activities

Parking/Admission fee: Seasonal per-car fee

Caw Caw Interpretive Center – Ravenel, South Carolina

Difficulty: Easy 2- to 3-mile loop hike with no elevation

Amenities: Toilets with changing tables, benches

Parking/Admission fee: $2 per person

Rock Cut State Park– Harlem Rd, Illinois

Difficulty: Moderate 9.5-mile loop trail with an elevation gain of 492 feet.

Amenities: Lifeguards, sand volleyball courts, paddle boat rentals, concession items, and a changing room.

Parking/Admission fee: $3 per person

Cypress Swamp Trail in Highland Hammock State Park – Sebring, Florida

Difficulty: Easy 0.5-mile loop hike with no elevation

Amenities: Toilets, benches, playgrounds

Parking/Admission fee: $6 per vehicle

We at High Stream Gear, know that finding the right spot to hike with kids is always tricky. You need to prepare a lot. Safety is an utmost concern. It should also not be too strenuous but interesting enough to keep their attention. On our next blog, we will help you go into detail one-by-one with the places mentioned above. From the best spots, wildflowers, great mountains, picturesque-scenic view, and to the unlimited fun-activities you can do!

Don’t miss out on experiencing nature, tune out for our next blog!