After four years as a fulltime travel family, we’ve put some serious miles on hiking trails as a family. When we first started out, our kids wore their regular outdoor play shoes to hike. But without a doubt, investing in quality kids hiking boots was the best thing we could have done to uplevel our family hikes! Well, that and simply…practice!
So today I wanted to share our kids hiking boots recommendation with you all because I feel strongly about these boots. We even bought the exact same boots in a size up for this year’s hiking adventures! That’s how much we love them. Before we get into the boots details, here’s some of our favorite family hiking gear and a whole post with hiking with kids tips if you’re looking for more advice. I also have many of our favorite family hikes blogged here.
Without a doubt, we are absolutely obsessed with our kids’ KEEN Targhee hiking boots. We have them in two different colorways, shown here and here!
I’m going to get into some pros and cons down below, but just for context: we hike hundreds of miles every year in these boots. We’ve worn them from Arizona desert treks to climbing glaciers in Alaska. Our kids have worn them starting at 3 years old and up to almost 9 (so far!). We max out at about 8 miles of day hiking currently, and we have never.once.had.a.single.boot.complaint. If you have kids, you know that they can find just about anything to complain about (wrong color bowl! I hate that spoon! too much milk in my granola! not enough milk in my granola!). So the fact that our kids have never once complained about these boots tells you something.
Kids rocking their KEEN Targhee kids hiking boots in Valley of Fire State Park
Kids Hiking Boots: Targhee Pros
Okay, so let’s talk about why we love these kids hiking boots:
They’re extremely comfortable. Like I said above, we’ve hiked for hundreds of miles in these boots with three kids of varying personalities and foot shapes. Not one blister or shoe complaint. This is worth any amount of money to me hahaha.
They have amazing traction. We noticed our kids’ scrambling abilities immediately improve when we switched from regular sneakers to these hiking boots. Our kids never slip in these boots, even on slippery creek crossings or slick rock climbing. We tackled a challenging bouldering hike in Las Vegas, and these boots kept them safe the whole time. I really appreciate the incredible traction on these boots, and our kids do, too. When they first started wearing them, they called them superhero boots!
Ankle support. Many kids hiking boots are shorter and don’t provide enough ankle protection for the types of hikes we do. For rocky terrain and scrambling, we appreciate that these boots are tall and sturdy enough to provide excellent ankle protection.
They’re waterproof/water-resistant. We frequently have stream crossings or deep mud on our hikes, and our kids’ feet stay dry. My old hiking boots are leaky, but the kids’ boots never let them down! True, we don’t completely submerge feet for minutes at a time, so I can’t speak to that level of waterproof. But for normal hiking conditions, these boots are waterproof in our experience.
They’re durable. Like I said, we’ve worn these for hundreds of miles, and they still look new. Our big kids’ boots have been outgrown before showing any signs of wear, and they’ll be handed down to our youngest. We will absolutely get our money’s worth out of these boots wearing them for literal years. I have no doubt that we’ll be able to pass them down to another toddler after we’re done with them, too. Seriously impressive.
No laces. We have a kiddo who doesn’t know how to tie shoelaces yet, and this kid can still get these boots on. So nice that these boots help kids be more independent!
They’re cute. Okay, this isn’t a primary motivator. But they really are cute on our kiddos. I love how outdoorsy and cute they look!
Kids Hiking Boots: Targhee Cons
Okay, so you’ve heard why we love these kids hiking boots. What are the cons?
They’re not cheap. The only major con of these boots is the price, in my opinion. They’re not cheap, and I won’t lie about that. Full price, they cost about $75 each, and that really adds up when you’re multiplying it by several kiddos. But they do usually go on major sale for Black Friday, so consider stocking up at that time of the year. You can also sometimes catch other sales, too. For instance, the gray pair is currently 20% off as of writing this post. Keep an eye out, and you can probably score them for less than full price if you’re not in a hurry. Even if you pay full price though, I think these are more than worth it for how much wear you can get out of them (especially across multiple kids!).
If you’re interested in learning how to camp off-grid and get closer to those incredible trailheads, we have an e-book for that!
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
I hope our kids hiking boot breakdown was helpful as you plan your family hiking adventures together! Feel free to let me know in the comments if you’ve tried these boots or are looking for other kids hiking gear recommendations!
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more posts about how we travel with kids, check out these posts:
When we first visited Utah in 2021, my mind was absolutely blown. It didn’t take much Utah hiking for this East Coaster to feel like I’d been dropped on another (gorgeous) planet!
As a full time travel family for four years (this week!), we’ve spent a total of almost six months living and hiking in Utah altogether. And I’m so excited to share some amazing hikes with you today! These are all hikes that we’ve completed with our three young kids, but some of them are more challenging than others. It’s a great list for anyone looking to do some Utah hiking.
There are so many incredible free places to camp in Utah, as well. If you own an RV and want to learn how to camp off-grid, check out our Boondocking 101 Guide:
This 10-page guide will assist RVers in learning the basics of boondocking, or camping off-grid! We share everything we’ve learned as a family living off-grid and boondocking in our RV.
Now let’s get into some amazing Utah hiking, shall we?
17 Utah Hiking Trails We Love
Buckskin Gulch
I started with Buckskin Gulch because it’s probably my favorite hike in the Lower 48. I’m a sucker for slot canyons, and this one doesn’t disappoint. You can hike the whole canyon if you’re a hardcore hiker, but families will find it more accessible to start at the Wire Pass trailhead, and you’re at the confluence with Buckskin in under 2 miles. The drive in is bumpy, but 2WD accessible if it isn’t wet. Definitely check the weather to be sure that there’s no rain in the forecast (slot canyons are deadly in flash floods!), and purchase a $6 per person permit online before you go. There’s one easy ladder to climb down; our 3 year old made it. I recommend starting this one in the afternoon so that you’re not hiking out of the wash in the brightest sun of the day.
Lower Calf Creek Falls
The hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls is flat, but long in the warm sun (we went in April and it was already hot!). The payoff is AMAZING, though. We’ve seen a lot of waterfalls, and this was one of the prettiest. Pack suits to swim in the (chilly!) water, and definitely wear sunscreen because there’s a lot of sun exposure on the trail. The parking lot gets crowded, but they’re working to expand parking this summer, so hopefully that gets better soon! If you’re wanting to camp, the campground there is gorgeous and right at the start of the trail. This is one of those Utah hiking trails we’ll never forget!
Zebra Slot
Zebra Slot is not too far from Lower Calf Creek Falls, but is a totally different vibe. A long, but beautiful walk through exposed wash takes you to the narrowest slot canyon we’ve yet attempted. It requires being either very small or very strong, preferably both. I decided I didn’t want to scale the walls of the slow to go any further, so I let my husband and oldest kiddo finish the slot without me. They came back with breathtaking photos! The walls of the slot really are as striped as they look in pictures. I’d recommend this hike if you’re willing to scale walls to see. Keep in mind that the last half a mile to the slot is difficult to navigate and very warm, so watch your AllTrails map to stay on course!
Fifth Water Hot Springs
The Fifth Water Hot Springs trail is the only Utah hiking trail on this list that’s not in Southern Utah. If there’s one hiking trail near Provo to try out, though, I’d highly recommend this one. It’s a moderate hike to the most gorgeous hot springs imaginable, especially in fall with the changing foliage. Seriously storybook pretty. Bring suits to soak in the pools! Don’t be like us and underestimate how long this hike will take, though. It’s only a couple of miles with low total elevation change, but it’s rocky and rolling hills, so it took us a lot longer than we expected. The parking lot is tiny, too, so consider doing this one on a weekday! Check to make sure the road in is open; you can hike this one in winter too, but it involves extra mileage to hike in.
Neilson Wash
The Neilson Wash trail doesn’t appear on Google Maps or AllTrails, so I’ll share the coordinates to the start of the trail here. You just park your car on the side of Factory Butte Road and walk down into an amazing looking wash for as far as you want, then walk back. This is a fabulous short hike if you’re in the Hanksville area, as it’s on the same road that leads to Factory Butte and the Moon Overlook. More about all of that in my Hanksville post!
Cassidy Arch
Cassidy Arch is in Capitol Reef National Park, and would definitely be my pick for the trail to do if you’re only doing one. It’s got a fair amount of elevation change, so definitely on the harder site of moderate in my opinion. It also doesn’t have much shade, so choose your timing wisely! That said, this is one of the coolest arches we’ve seen. It’s sort of like Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, but without the crowds! We had the arch to ourselves for a bit mid-day, which would never happen in Sedona. Bonus points for taking baked goods from the homestead up there with you to eat. Don’t take the road to the trailhead if it looks like it might rain!
Delicate Arch
Speaking of arches, there’s no way you can miss Delicate Arch if you’re a fan of Utah hiking. It’s so famous, it’s on the license plate! This is not a terribly difficult hike, but it is very sun exposed (are you sensing a theme here?). One thing I wasn’t expecting about this hike was how slick the rock up top by the arch would be. Fine for grownups, but a little stressful trying to keep kiddos from sliding down off the cliffs. That said, I’d still do this hike again, and we loved watching sunset there (with 250 of our closest friends haha). Next time, I’d love to take head lamps and wait for the stars to come out before hiking back down!
Corona Arch
Corona Arch is Delicate Arch’s less popular cousin down the road. But don’t let its lesser popularity fool you, Corona Arch is gorgeous in its own right! The arch is less…well…delicate, but absolutely grander. And the hike is way less crowded. It’s a moderate hike that involves a ladder and a short chain section, but our kiddos did it just fine at 5 and 7! Start this one early if you can because it gets warm and sunny! Luckily the arch itself provides a shade break for you.
Mill Creek North Fork
We think that the Mill Creek North Fork trail in Moab is like a mini version of The Narrows in Zion. This hike is a stunner, and you get to walk through water just like in The Narrows (only less deep!). The parking lot at the trailhead is small so be prepared to wait for a spot or circle back. But that means that this trail is very uncrowded! The end of the trail features an amazing waterfall and pool that you can swim in if its warm enough!
White Pocket
There’s no established hiking trail at White Pocket, but you could wander around this gorgeous rock formation all day. This is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen, but it does require over two hours of off-roading each way. It’s not for the faint of heart! Definitely don’t attempt this adventure alone without 4WD and self-recovery tools. You can take a tour if you don’t feel comfortable driving it yourself! Either way, it’s absolutely bucket list worthy Utah hiking. I’d like to go back and camp overnight there!
Navajo Loop & Queens Garden
The Navajo Loop and Queens Garden combo is one of the most popular options in Bryce Canyon National Park, and for good reason! It’s breathtaking and surreal. We hiked in at Sunrise Point and out at Sunset Point, and that last uphill section was a real slog. Not for hikers unwilling to climb up switchbacks for half an hour! You’ll be rewarded with otherworldly beauty for your effort, though. Our kids even got a special sticker from the Rangers at the Visitor Center for hiking into the canyon.
Arches Trail
If you’re looking for Bryce Canyon type views without all of the crowds, the Arches Trail right outside Bryce is your ticket! It’s an easy trail, and we had it completely to ourselves. Plus the scenery is almost as good as in the National Park! I definitely would recommend this short gem to anyone.
Red Reef Trail
The Red Reef Trail in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is a stunner, especially considering it’s on the easy side of moderate. You can go as far as you like and then turn back, making it a great option for kids or beginning hikers. Depending on the time of year, there are even gorgeous little waterfalls and pools. There is a fee to enter the conservation area, but this is a great option for Utah hiking near Zion but without the crowds.
Valley of the Goblins
Valley of the Goblins in Goblin Valley State Park is a short, easy hike with a massive payoff in scenery. At just a flat mile, it couldn’t be easier to enjoy the amazing rock formations in Goblin Valley! There is a $20/two days fee to enter, which is a bit steep, but totally worth the views. Parking is easy on weekdays, and still doable on weekends.
Zion Canyon Overlook
Zion Canyon Overlook is a short, but steep trail to an amazing view of Zion National Park. It’s on the east side of the park, so it doesn’t require a shuttle ticket. But like everywhere in Zion, it’s crowded. AllTrails lists this is easy, but it is steep and has giant dropoffs, so keep a close hand on kiddos. The view at the end of gorgeous, though!
Toadstools Trail
The Toadstool Hoodoos Trail is an easy hike with amazing hoodoo views that kids (or the young at heart!) will love. It’s a great stop off on a journey from Southern Utah to Page, Arizona, and you might even have the whole trail to yourself. This otherworldly landscape will take your breath away, particularly at sunrise and sunset! That alone would land it a spot on our Utah hiking list.
Sorry those last two don’t have photos! We hiked them in 2021, back before I was overdocumenting everything haha.
I hope this post helped you as you plan your Utah hiking adventures! If you try one of these hikes, leave a comment and let us know 🙂
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more about how we travel with kids, check out these posts:
I’m so thrilled to share our favorite picks for hiking Las Vegas with you today! As a fulltime travel family, we’ve spent a few weeks in Vegas on separate trips. There are fun things to do in the city, but it’s also totally surrounded by gorgeous outdoor adventures! These are the four hikes we tried out during our time in Vegas, and honestly it’s hard to choose a favorite. They were all fantastic hikes!
Without further ado, let’s get to the hiking Las Vegas ideas!
Hiking Las Vegas Trail Suggestions
Bowl of Fire
Bowl of Fire
The Bowl of Fire hike is a huge bang for your hiking Las Vegas buck. There’s not much of a designated trail, mostly wander around where you want once you get to the slick rock. We walked 3 mostly flat miles, and it was absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful red rock formations, flowering cacti (in the spring), and fun caves for the kids to explore.
There is very little sun on this trail, so keep that in mind when planning when to go. The trailhead is down a wash where 4×4 is recommended, but a friend in her minivan made it just fine. There’s one hill that was the hardest part of the drive.
This hike is also located within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, so you’ll need an America the Beautiful pass (National Parks) to get in free or pay to enter. This is the closest of all of the hikes on this list to downtown Vegas!
Anniversary Narrows
Anniversary Narrows
The Anniversary Narrows hike is a really unique looking slot canyon that’s super fun for the kids and/or photography buffs. It’s also about 3 miles if you start from the furthest trailhead option, which requires a couple of miles of driving down dirt/gravel road.
4×4 is also recommended to access this trailhead, but I don’t think it’s strictly necessary. Use your best judgment and stop and park wherever you feel you should (we parked here). You can simply walk the wash for longer if you don’t feel comfortable driving the whole way, but there’s no shade and that wash section is a bit boring.
Once you get into the slot canyon section, it’s shady and cooler. This hike is also located within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area!
Valley of Fire State Park: Fire Wave, White Dome, Seven Wonders Loops
Valley of Fire State Park
Everyone recommends the hour+ drive out to Valley of Fire State Park, and for good reason! It’s absolutely stunning out there. There are a lot of places to get out and hike in the park, but we chose the Fire Wave, White Dome, Seven Wonders loops.
I highly recommend this hike because it’s also around 3 miles and mostly flat, but it packs a real punch. There are cool geological features throughout the whole hike that kept our whole group in awe. There’s very little shade on this hike, so I recommend visiting early or late in the day. I would choose golden hour if possible!
There is a fee to enter the state park, but if you’re hiking Las Vegas, this is a don’t-miss.
Gold Strike Hot Springs
Gold Strike Hot Springs
The Gold Strike Hot Springs hike is by far the hardest hike on this list. AllTrails has it listed at 5 miles, but my phone clocked it at 7. Regardless, it has tons of bouldering, rope and ladder obstacles, and a fair amount of elevation loss/gain. It closes in the summer because it’s actually dangerous to do when it’s too warm out.
If I haven’t scared you away yet, I do still highly recommend this hike if you’re a strong enough hiker! It’s gorgeous to hike down into the canyon and end up at the base of the Hoover Dam, plus there are fantastic hot springs to soak in at the bottom (don’t submerge your head underwater!).
We loved this hike! We made it with 3/6/8 year olds, although we do hike every week so we’ve been training. Bring sandals and swimsuits!
I hope this list of ideas helps you enjoy your time hiking Las Vegas! The strip is fun, but I’ve been really blown away by how much outdoorsy beauty there is just outside the city, too. For all of these trails (especially Gold Strike!), bring way more water than you think you’ll need. Hiking in the desert is thirsty work! We’ve got the hydration packs our kids use linked here.
Disclaimer: Product links in this blog post may be Affiliate links, and I will earn a small commission for each purchase made through these links at no extra cost to you. Affiliate income helps fund our family travel and allows me to keep creating inspiring family travel content for you. I so appreciate when you use my links to make purchases you would have made anyway.
For more about our travel and hiking adventures, check out these posts:
Sedona doesn’t normally top the list of family destinations, but there are so many things to do in Sedona with kids! Our family of five has been full-time traveling for over three years now, and Arizona is a place we keep coming back to. It has such diverse and amazing landscapes, and the weather from Fall to Spring is pretty lovely, too.
This was our first time in Sedona, though, and we enjoyed our time here a lot. The obvious downside to Sedona is that it’s crowded because everyone else enjoys it, too! But the worst of the crowds can be avoided or mitigated with some planning and utilizing off-peak hours. Plus, although I wasn’t a big fan of the shuttle system to some of the hikes (mostly because they don’t run often enough IMO), our middle child loved the shuttle ride more than the hikes. So if you have a bus-loving kid, there’s that!
Let’s talk about all of the wonderful things to do in Sedona with kids though!
Things to do in Sedona with Kids: Hiking
Most visitors to Sedona are probably here to experience the absolutely epic hiking. I’ve shared some hikes here that range from “not really hiking” to “moderately challenging even for our experienced hiking family.” If you’re new to hiking as a family, check out my 10 best tips for hiking with kids to get started!
Raven Caves
Raven Caves is a perfect very short hike for families that want to do some cave exploring. The caves are so amazing for kids to climb in and around, and they’re so close to where you park. It’s also way less crowded than the more popular Sedona hikes. Just be sure to hold onto little ones’ hands! And bring a headlamp.
Airport Mesa Vortex
You can hike a moderately challenging loop around Airport Mesa, or you can just watch the sun set at Airport Mesa Vortex. For the vortex, park at the lot on Airport Road and walk a few minutes to a perfect sunset view. Get there early because the lot is small and it’s a popular sunset spot.
Bell Rock
Bell Rock is another relatively short and easy hike that’s perfect for children and grandparents alike! The views are gorgeous, and the hike is less than a mile long. Do this one early or later in the day because the sun is relentless here.
Subway Cave
Now we’re on to the more challenging hikes! Subway Cave was probably the hardest hike we did for two reasons. One, it was just long at over six miles. Two, the scramble into the cave was the trickiest we’ve done so far as a family. We made it, though! Definitely wear toddlers. The view in the cave is unbelievable, but you’ll want to hold kiddo hands tightly. The cave is reached via Boynton Canyon Trail; use the map so you don’t miss the Cave Spur (turnoff)! Parking is challenging here, but there’s more parking on Boynton Pass Road. Your America the Beautiful Pass on your dashboard counts as paying for parking!
Devil’s Bridge
Devil’s Bridge
The Devil’s Bridge hike is one of the easier “iconic” Sedona hikes in my opinion. It’s 4 miles round-trip, and you can shave off half that with a 4×4 vehicle that you’re brave enough to drive on Dry Creek Road to the trailhead. We saw people doing it in older SUVs and trucks, but we also saw someone rip their truck’s step off. I wouldn’t take our F350, but I would definitely drive it in a rented Jeep! We just hiked to the official trailhead from Dry Creek Vista Parking, which is very small. There is more parking on Boynton Pass Road, or you can take the free shuttle. Just pay attention to when that last shuttle arrives!
Soldier Pass
Soldier Pass is another iconic Sedona hike (and the main picture for this post is from there!), and it’s one of the shorter ones. The round-trip hike to the cave is under 4 miles. You can also hike just 15 minutes to the stunning Seven Sacred Pools if you’re not up for a longer hike. This hike was probably the most scenic we did on the actual hike itself and not just the end destination. The parking lot is tiny, and it’s completely closed Thursday-Sunday when you have to take the shuttle.
Cathedral Rock
Cathedral Rock is one of the most famous Sedona hikes, and one of the more challenging vertical climbs on this list. It’s a short 1.5 mile hike, but it gains more than 700 feet of elevation and involves lots of scrambling. We turned around about 2/3 of the way through because I wasn’t comfortable with the kids, but it’s doable for the adventurous family with kids 7+! And the views are amazing. This parking lot is also tiny, and it’s completely closed Thursday-Sunday when you have to take the shuttle.
West Fork of Oak Creek
Oak Creek is just north of Sedona, and it’s different from the rest of these hikes for a few reasons. One, it’s not a “red rocks” hike, but the canyon is still pretty. Two, it would be a great hike for really hot days because it’s shaded and you follow the creek to splash in. And three, you can do less than the whole hike and still find enjoyable views. Similar to the other hikes though, the parking lot is busy. Go early because it only opens to allow new cars in a few times a day once it’s full. Parking is $12. I’ll be candid and say that this was by far not my favorite hike we did, but I did include it here because I think it’s a good option for hot days.
Things to do in Sedona with Kids: Sightseeing & Exploring
For those who don’t want to or can’t hike, there are still beautiful options for things to do in Sedona with kids. Here are some of my suggestions!
Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel of the Holy Cross at sunset is not to be missed, in my opinion. We are not a religious family, but the sunlight streaming through these glass windows and the architecture of the building are both breathtaking. Respectful reverence is appropriate when entering, as with most places of worship. But it’s otherwise totally kid-friendly to walk in and sit for a few minutes. My kids enjoyed taking turns standing in the place where it appears the Jesus statue is looking at you.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Jeep Tour
If hiking is too challenging or not your family’s thing, there are many Jeep tours in the area that can get you out to similar red rocks views. We didn’t take any to recommend, but the Pink Jeep Tours looked fun!
Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole
There are a few places around Sedona with fun swimming holes for hot days, and Grasshopper Point is one of the most accessible. A short walk takes you to a fun swimming hole, where you’ll probably want water shoes if you have them! This is also the perfect place for a picnic. $12 for parking.
Sedona’s Rainbow Trout Farm
The Rainbow Trout Farm is a fun excursion for kids who’d love to catch a fish! You pay by the fish you catch (and $1.50 per person to fish). You can grill them yourselves, or you can take them home. There is no catch and release.
Tlaquepaque Stroll Arts & Shopping Village
This is a charming upscale arts and shopping area that might be fun for families to walk around. They have really unique stores, art galleries, and outdoor sculptures, and the Spanish-inspired architecture is gorgeous. There are also really special outdoor events for things like Dia de los Muertos and a December lantern walk. Check for events during your visit!
Watch sunset from Javelina Cantina or Molé Sedona
These two Mexican restaurants are casual enough for families and boast incredible red rocks sunset views. Enjoy the view after a busy day and get some delicious food to go with it.
Oak Creek Native Goods Stalls
On your way back from the Oak Creek hike, stop in this parking lot and browse authentic Native arts and crafts for sale. My kids were enamored by the beautiful beadwork and immediately wanted hair clips and bracelets.
Oak Creek
Sedona Public Library
You know we love a library when we travel (have you read my library cards for non-residents post yet?). I’ve included the library on this list because it would be a great option to cool off or stay out of a stormy day!
Harkins Theatres Movie Theatre
There is a small movie theatre in Sedona that would also be a great option for inclement weather days. Or if your legs are too tired from all that hiking!
Things to do in Sedona with Kids: State Parks & National Monuments
Slide Rock State Park
Slide Rock State Park should top the list of things to do in Sedona with kids if 1. It’s warm enough to be in chilly water and 2. Your kids are big enough to swim. You can absolutely visit with smaller kids, but the rock water slides are the best part. Wear water shoes for traction, and be prepared for it to be busy in the summer. $20 for a car to enter.
Red Rock State Park
Red Rock State Park is one of the most beautiful state parks ever. There is a small visitor center, cool guided ranger programs, and lots of family-friendly trails with stunning red rocks views. Entrance fees are $7/adult, $4 for 7-13, and free for 6 and under.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Montezuma Castle is a neat national monument site in Camp Verde, not too far from Sedona. Check out the massive cave dwellings of the Sinagua People and an educational visitor center with a Junior Ranger program. $10/person or free with an America the Beautiful Pass.
Tuzigoot National Monument
Tuzigoot National Monument is another Sinagua pueblo dwelling in Cottonwood, and it makes for a quick, uncrowded stop. Really interesting museum with the indigenous history of the area, and a pretty view of Jerome in the mountains. $10/person 16+ or free with an America the Beautiful Pass.
Palatki Heritage Site
Palatki Heritage Site is another cliff dwelling that also features petroglyphs. You will need a reservation to visit, and it’s down a rough 6 mile dirt road. But it is stunning! Tours are free.
Camping on the road to Palatki
Things to do in Sedona with Kids: Day Trips
If you want to stay in Sedona on your Sedona trip, I wouldn’t blame you. But since we stayed in the area for months, I feel it would be irresponsible of me not to mention the other fun family activities around here! Here are some things to do within 90 minutes of Sedona if you’ve exhausted all of the things to do in Sedona with kids.
Jerome
Jerome is such an adorable little ex-mining town in the mountains. You can visit Jerome State Historic Park, stroll the artsy downtown, and take in the breathtaking views. For more Jerome ideas, check out my friend Mel’s post on one day in Jerome.
Verde Canyon Railroad
For your train lovers, the Verde Canyon Railroad in Cottonwood is not cheap, but it is a fun (and scenic!) excursion. Some say it’s more scenic than the Grand Canyon railroad, and there is a December holiday train.
The Science Vortex
The small but fun Science Vortex is an affordable outing for families who love science or need an indoor break. It’s only open on Thursdays and the weekend, but if you can catch it, it’s a blast. Family admission is only $15, or free with an ASTC reciprocal membership.
Out of Africa Wildlife Park
The Out of Africa Wildlife Park is not a cheap experience, but may be worth it for animal lovers. It’s a walking or driving safari style zoo in Camp Verde that also features a zip line for older kids and adults. Tickets start at $28.
Flagstaff Snow Park
If you’re visiting in winter months, Flagstaff Snow Park looks like a blast. Tubing starts at $25 a person for a half day.
Meteor Crater
Meteor Crater
This amazing Meteor Crater is northeast of Sedona, and it really is an impressive natural wonder. Tickets are $27 for teens and adults, $18 for kids, free for 5 and under.
I hope this post helps you plan by giving you lots of ideas for things to do in Sedona with kids! If you visit, let me know in the comments 🙂
For more about how we travel with kids, check out these posts:
It is such a bummer when I hear that someone went to Alaska and missed doing one of the unbelievable Hatcher Pass hikes. For whatever reason, it doesn’t make many Alaska itineraries, and that is an absolute shame. Our hikes in Hatcher Pass were in the top three experiences of our entire summer in Alaska, and that’s saying something.
We spent over a month in the Palmer and Wasilla area, and Hatcher Pass hikes were a big reason for that. We think Palmer is a charming place in its own right. It’s also conveniently located within commuting distance of Anchorage so the cultural experiences there are accessible. Anchorage wasn’t our favorite location of the summer, so we preferred being outside of it.
If you need help planning your Alaska trip, check out my e-book guide to RVing Alaska. It’s written for families who are RVing, but it’s useful for anyone! Scroll down to keep reading about Hatcher Pass hikes.
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
I’ve shared these trails in order of difficulty, from easiest to harder. We hiked them with a toddler in a carrier and kids aged 7 and 5 (do you need hiking with kids tips?). Keep in mind that trail conditions will have a HUGE impact on the difficulty of these trails. We underestimated how much snow would still be on Hatcher Pass hikes even into late June! We were post holing up to our hips in spots.
Also make sure you check to see that the road up is even open! The road is closed for most of the year except July to September, depending on snow conditions. With that said, welcome to three of the most beautiful hikes on the planet.
Easiest & Most Beautiful Hatcher Pass Hikes:
1. April Bowl Trail
The April Bowl Trail is 2 miles long and climbs 800 feet. I’ve listed it was easier than Gold Cord Lakes because you can climb just half a mile and 300 feet in elevation and stop there. That lake view is beautiful all by itself! But if you have it in you to climb higher, you’ll be rewarded with stunning 360-degree mountain peak views that stretch all the way to Matanuska Glacier on a clear day. My kids found it really fun that there was still some traces of snow to play in around one of the lakes in August. I would love the dogs home for this one.
2. Gold Cord Lake Trail
The Gold Cord Lake Trail is about 2 miles long (AllTrails says 1.5, but doesn’t include the walk from the parking lot at the mine) and climbs 500 feet in elevation. When we went in late June, there was still several feet of snow on the trail. It is a mostly gentle (but steady) climb to the lake, with one short section of scrambling that my young kids did fine with. The mini goldendoodle made it, but it was a bit sketchy! The trail is often muddy, even when there’s no snow. Definitely wear boots. You can even take a dip in the (freezing!) lake if you want to.
3. Reed Lakes Trail
The Reed Lakes Trail is by far the hardest of these three hikes. The full trail is 8 miles long and climbs 2,000 feet, but you can stop at the lower lake if you’re worn out. Just hiking to the lower lake is 6ish miles and less elevation, but it will still challenge you. This hike makes it onto so many people’s “best hikes in Alaska” list if they make it here. It’s doable with adventurous and energetic children, but inexperienced hikers will want to start with the other hikes.
Click to read more about the rest of our favorite hikes in Alaska. For everything we’ve written about our experiences in Alaska, check out these posts:
An action-packed 7 day Alaska itinerary filled with bucket list adventures like glacier hikes, dog sledding, and gorgeous Alaska views!
One of my superpowers is travel itinerary planning, and today I’m sharing some of my superpower with a sample 7 day Alaska itinerary! I took my in-laws on a trip to Iceland back in 2017, and my father-in-law recently confessed that when he learns someone else has been to Iceland, he immediately feels bad for them because their trip can’t have been as amazing as the one I planned for us. Hilarious and sweet.
Even I found planning a trip to Alaska to be a challenge, however, and I learned so much spending a whole summer here that I want to share with you! So I’ve put together this 7 day Alaska itinerary for those of you thinking about planning a trip up here. If you want more details on how to plan the best Alaska trip ever, please feel free to check out my e-book about RVing Alaska! It has longer itineraries for those of you with more time, 20+ pages of activity ideas, a thorough packing list, and more! You might also like my blog posts on our favorite camping in Alaska spots and the best hikes in Alaska with kids (or without!). Now, let’s get to the itinerary!
7 Day Alaska Itinerary
Day 1: Fly into Anchorage and head to the Palmer/Wasilla area, where you’ll spend the next two days. Visit the Iditarod Headquarters museum in Wasilla and take a short dog sledding ride for $10 a person (or a longer, pricier one if you can!). Grab a picnic at the grocery store and drive up to Hatcher Pass for a sunset hike and picnic. I recommend the April Bowl trail.
Day 2: Get an early start and rent ATVs from Alaska Toy Rentals for a trip out to the Knik Glacier if you’re comfortable driving off-road. If you’re not, an hour drive out to Matanuska Glacier offers glacier hiking tours or ice climbing.
Day 3: Stop at Alaska Chicks in Wasilla or Palmer for a cute hoodie. Then start the drive south through Anchorage on the scenic Seward highway. Stop at every viewpoint on the Turnagain Arm, including Beluga Point! It’s breathtaking, and you might catch a tidal bore coming in if you time it right. Drive up Portage Road to hike Byron Glacier or take a boat tour to Portage Glacier. Sleep for the night in Alyeska if you don’t have an RV, Moose Pass if you do.
Day 4: Finish the drive to Seward, stopping at Bear Creek Weir on your way if it’s summer and the salmon are running. Have a more relaxed day walking the waterfront park, scoping out the local murals, and taking a walk on Fourth of July Beach. Then get to bed early for the next few days of big adventures because you’re more than halfway through your 7 day Alaska itinerary!
Day 5: Spend the whole day on a kayaking tour to Bear Glacier Lagoon with Liquid Adventures. If you don’t love kayaking, take a wildlife boat tour. Have dinner at one of the cute local restaurants and head to bed for an early start tomorrow.
Note: This 7 day Alaska itinerary assumes you’ll be flying in and out of Anchorage, as most people do. It also assumes you’ll be staying on the road system. If you’re comfortable driving something as large as a U-haul truck, I’d recommend renting an RV for this trip because you’ll be able to camp in gorgeous spots. If not, there are plenty of hotels and airbnbs available. This itinerary also does something somewhat controversial and skips Denali National Park. I know, I told you it was controversial. Denali is gorgeous, and you should go there if Denali is on your bucket list. However, it wasn’t my favorite part of our summer because of the crowds and the plethora of amazing views and wildlife elsewhere. I think heading to Kenai Fjords National Park in Seward is better if you only have a week.
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
After three years of almost weekly hiking with kids, we’ve learned a few things about how to have an enjoyable family hike! After I wrote my last post about the best places to hike in Alaska with kids, I realized that we’ve only been able to enjoy Alaska hiking so much this summer because we’ve practiced and re-practiced how to keep everyone in the family enjoying themselves. So I thought I’d do a little series with our best tips and tricks for hiking with kids.
1. Start Small
We hiked 8+ miles and 3000 feet of elevation at Exit Glacier a few weeks ago, and our kids did So well. But we sure didn’t start that way! Our first year hiking with small kids, we aimed for 2 miles or less for a good hike. Even just last year, I was only aiming for 4 mile hikes! There are so many incredible short hikes, that I would recommend starting very small if you and your kids are new hikers. That way, you can build success and confidence in their stamina and your preparation skills. Plus, their little legs will just get bigger each year!
2. Tailor Hikes to their Interests
My kids are so much more likely to be cheerful and motivated on a hike if they know the payoff includes a feature that they’re excited. This might include a tidepool, a waterfall, an abandoned vehicle, or a likely animal sighting. So one of my best tips for hiking with kids is to choose your hike wisely according to their interests and get them hyped up about what you’ll see!
3. Pre-game the Flora & Fauna
No matter where you are in the world, there are interesting plants and creatures to observe. Hiking with kids is so much fun when you’ve prepared ahead of time and can identify what you find! We’ve started collecting field guides (the Peterson Guides are among our favorites — starting with this birds guide and this reptiles and amphibians one would be fun!), and the kids get a real thrill every time they correctly identify something as small as a moth or type of fungi. If you’re visiting a National or State Park in an unfamiliar area, the visitor’s centers will often have posters displayed or field guides available for purchase in the gift shop.
4. Make It a Game
In this picture, my middle is hiking with a giant stick between his legs because he was pretending to be a quidditch player in Harry Potter (we’ve been reading the books out loud together lately!). This kept him from complaining that his legs were tired on a hard hike for almost a mile. We play silly games while hiking with kids alllll the time. Some ideas: pretend you’re cars that need to take gas breaks or visit the mechanic every few hundred feet, hike like a local animal that you love and make their silly animal noises, or act like that water crossing is actually a lava crossing and you can’t fall into it! This can turn a hike where we’re on the struggle bus into a fun family memory.
5. Bring More Snacks
This is one of my number one pieces of parenting advice no matter the location: bring more snacks than you think you’ll need. This is especially true while hiking with kids and burning extra calories. All the snacks. Alllll the snacks.
6. Invest in Good Shoes
It’s less important if you’re new to hiking with kids and learning to love shorter hikes, but as you hike longer distances as a family, good hiking shoes are a must. Our kids have these Keens hiking boots this year in Alaska, and we’ve been so happy with them. Investing in quality hiking gear can be expensive, but we bought the big kids their hiking boots on sale around Black Friday. Our youngest got hers from a thrift store since her feet grow so fast as a toddler. My boots also are thrift store finds since my feet grew after every pregnancy. I’m hoping to upgrade for Christmas this year, though! Your local Buy Nothing group might be another option for finding hiking boots if budget is a concern.
7. Grab Fun Hiking “Toys”
Our honorary Aunt Clare introduced a bunch of fun hiking toys last winter that have proven to make our kiddos much perkier on hikes. Some of these are dollar store finds and inexpensive, but they are often only available there seasonally, so I’ve linked similar ones here:
Sudden temperature changes, an increase in the wind speed, or an unexpected drizzle are all extremely common on a hike. And nothing ruins a fun trip hiking with kids faster than a kiddo being uncomfortably cold. Unless it’s literally 85 degrees out, we always hike with our favorite Columbia fleece jackets rolled up in the backpack or tied around the kids’ waists. If there’s any chance of rain whatsoever, which has been like all summer in Alaska, we’ll also pack a lightweight rain jacket. Those Columbia fleeces can be spendy multiplied by more than one kid, but they take a beating and absolutely everything we’ve thrown at them across multiple years of hiking with kids has washed right out. Pro tip: get jackets in colors that look nice together in photos like the ones above!
9. Take More Breaks
There are a lot of hikes that feel too daunting when hiking with kids if you power straight through like an athletic grownup would. But we’ve found that a great many challenging hikes can be accomplished with kids if you just slow way down and take as many breaks as you need (sometimes every ten minutes!). Pack a lunch and take one long break whenever it’s needed. Then use snacks and hiking toys and the other (plentiful) breaks you may need, especially on trails with elevation or in very hot weather.
10. Let Them Help Choose
Another general parenting tip of mine that translates well to hiking with kids is to let them help you choose what to do. I’ll often pull up my AllTrails app and Google Maps reviews and let them see a couple of hikes I’m considering and what the most appealing features are and give them a say in what we choose. My kids appreciate a beautiful view now and will often agree to push themselves to get to it or another fun feature (like I mentioned above!). But sometimes they’re honest about their capacity that weekend and we take it easier. Just giving them options helps them feel like active participants in the experience, instead of being grouchy about something they’re being forced to do.
What do you think about hiking with kids — love it or loathe it? What’s been your favorite hike with kids? What are the hiking with kids tips I’m missing? Let me know in the comments!
And if you’re considering a trip to Alaska — absolutely DON’T MISS hiking with kids there! Here’s my list of the best Alaska hikes with kids and a travel guide for your time here.
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When you google search “best Alaska hikes with kids,” there are literally no search results for that exact phrase. And that’s exactly why I decided to start my travel e-book collection with RV Alaska with Kids! Alaska is an AMAZING travel destination for families, but there isn’t a whole lot of information online about how to take an Alaska trip with small children. So I made one!
And now I’m setting out to be the first google result for “best Alaska hikes with kids!” So after a whole summer of unbelievable hiking, here are the best Alaska hikes with kids (in our opinion!). I’ll link to the AllTrails listings where possible, because it’s especially important to check trail conditions in Alaska! If you’re in need of suggestions for hiking gear, check out my post Alaska Packing List Summer.
1. Savage Alpine Trail
This hike is located within Denali National Park and I would classify it is moderate. If you do the trail as AllTrails suggests, it’s a 4-mile, 1500 feet of elevation gain point-to-point trail, which means you’ll park at the Savage River Trailhead and need to catch the free Denali shuttle bus back to your car at the end. What we did instead was start and end at the Savage River Trailhead and skipped the last 200-300 feet of switchbacks at the top of the trail to make it a bit easier for our kids who were already tired after a long day. The views were absolutely worth it as soon as you get out of the vegetation and onto the alpine slopes. We loved this trail!
2. Byron Glacier Trail
This hike is located in Portage within the Chugach National Forest, and I would classify it as easy. It’s just a bit over a mile (and relatively flat!) to the point at which an avalanche has made the trail impassable unless you’re a serious scrambler. But it’s totally worth the short hike to a fabulous view of Byron Glacier that even small toddlers can hike themselves.
3. Exit Glacier Trails
These trails are located in Seward, and there is the easy version and the very challenging version. The easy version is the Exit Glacier Overlook trail, which is a 2-mile gentle walk. The challenging version is the Harding Icefield trail where the photo above was taken, and it is 8+ miles and 3,000 feet of elevation gain. There are several stopping points along the way on this trail that make it worthwhile if you don’t want to complete the whole trail, one of which is Marmot Meadows and the other is Top of the Cliffs. Our 5 and 7 year olds made it to Top of the Cliffs with this incredible view, while my husband wore our 2 year old. I won’t lie, this trail is only for intrepid families, but it.is.worth.it.
4. Tonsina Creek Trail
This trail is located in Seward, and I would rate it as moderate. It has mild elevation changes, but it’s not a terribly long trail. It starts off in beautiful Alaskan rainforest foliage and passes several stunning beaches that make the perfect spot for rock throwing or a picnic.
5. Beluga Slough Trail to Bishop’s Beach
This trail is located in Homer, and is really more of a gentle 1 mile walk down to Bishop’s Beach. What makes it special is that the beach views are gorgeous, with mountain ranges and glaciers in the distance, and that you can find amazing tide pools there at low tide. Combine this hike with a trip to the Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge visitor’s center, where the kids can become Junior Rangers or Junior Biologists (ask the rangers!).
6. April Bowl Trail
This trail is located in Hatcher Pass, which is one of our absolute favorite places in Alaska. It’s only 2+ miles, but straight up switchbacks to gain almost 1,000 feet. You can stop at the lake to make that just half the elevation, and stopping there is still totally worth it. We think this hike is massively underrated and was one of our summer favorites.
7. Gold Cord Lake Trail
This trail is also located in Hatcher Pass, and I would classify it as moderate if the snow is completely melted, hard if not. It’s only 2 miles and 500 feet of elevation, but snow on the trail makes it way more difficult and can linger until July, so check the trail conditions! This alpine lake is absolutely stunning, and the hike can be combined with a visit to Independence Mine State Historical Park.
8. Thompson Pass South Trail
This trail is outside of Valdez in Thompson Pass and can be as easy as you’d like to make it. You can walk 50 feet from your truck or walk for miles into the pass. The views are some of the most breathtaking we’ve seen in Alaska. The photo above totally doesn’t do it justice because we had professional family photos taken there and didn’t bother to get too many iPhone photos because of it.
9. Iditarod Trail to Rapid’s Yurt
This trail is in Eagle River at the Eagle River Nature Center, and I would classify this as easy. It’s 4 gentle miles, but you don’t have to complete the whole trail, and it’s perfect for letting young children walk it out. The mountains are stunning, and your chances of wildlife spotting are high! Plus this trail is super convenient from Palmer/Wasilla or Anchorage.
Honorable Mentions:
These are the trails that we didn’t personally do (so I don’t feel comfortable recommending!), but come highly recommended as amazing hikes in Alaska with kids.
If you’re looking for Alaska vacation ideas, you’ve come to the right place! This guide features 20+ pages of what we learned throughout a summer RVing Alaska with Kids.
