Title:
Best Family Hiking Trails In The US
Meta Description:
Check out 10 of the best family-friendly hiking trails in the USA. Excellent for families and kids, these trails provide turnkey splendor across easy trails to get kids adventuring outdoors.
Introduction (150-200 words):
One of the best ways for families to bond is by spending time together in the great outdoors and what better free option than hiking. If the whole family is going for the ride, you will want a scenic and kid friendly trail. To guarantee a great time—and avoid any trees —that means finding a trail that kids and beginner cyclists can enjoy as well. USA has some of the greatest family-friendly hikes, whether your in search for shorter easier paths or trails that provide a view with little effort on your part.
Below, you’ll find the 10 best family-friendly hikes in the USA that are for all ages and abilities. Ranging from easy strolls around our national parks to scenic coastal walks with amazing vistas; these intergenerational trails offer the perfect introduction for families to enjoy outdoor time, learn about nature and have fun together.
1. Laurel Falls Trail: Traget du Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (300 words)
Laurel Falls Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: This is the ultimate beginner trail for families and the best introduction to hiking! This trail is 2.6 miles long and has a relatively flat paved surface that can be manage by both small children and strollers. The highlight of this trail is the beautiful Laurel Falls, an 80-foot waterfall that pours over a rocky ledge.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
This path is mostly paved which is great for little ones or strollers.
It is also a very short walk with a slight incline so perfect for kids.
This completes your hike to the waterfalls for a fantastic photo opportunity.
Best Time to Visit:
The best times to hike Laurel Falls Trail are spring and fall in order to enjoy the wildflowers of early May (less pollen) or autumn colors.
Easy hike with a great waterfall and short making it really kid friendly, great for a family day out.
2. Lower Yosemite Fall Trail in Yosemite National Park, California (310 words)
Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is among the most family-friendly trails in Yosemite National Park. Flat, paved trail that makes for an easy going-kilometer return with little tikes while offering exceptional views of Yosemite Falls – the highest waterfall in North America.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
Well-marked and with easy wheelchair access, this trail is great for families with little ones.
The close proximity makes this a nice short hike to hit quickly but still be happy at.
Great birds-eye view of Yosemite Falls without a hike.
Best Time to Visit:
The park is best visited in late spring when Yosemite falls are at their peak flow. Summertime also guarantees nice weather, but it does tend to be a lot busier.
Not only is it an easy walk to one of Yosemite’s most iconic landmarks but its also a very doable long walk if you have small adventurers in tow so this is a must visit for this fabulous family-friendly trail.
3. Zion National Park in Utah – Riverside Walk (300)
Riverside Walk is a family oriented hike, and perfect for anyone looking to experience Zion National Park. 3 Best Short Hikes in Zion National Park: Riverside Walk (The Narrows)This 2.2 mile round-trip trail follows the Virgin River to the iconic Narrows, with a lot of pretty sights en route as well.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
The trail is mostly paved and flat, so it’s stroller-friendly terrain for young kids.
Kids can even wade in the river a bit and get up close and personal with nature.
A great choice for a nice easy ambling stroll making it virtually perfect for one and all, this tender track’s hidden gem at Zion does not have tough climbs to tire the terrain.
Best Time to Visit:
Late spring and early fall provide the best weather for this trail because you can avoid the blistering summer temperature while still experiencing comfortable temperatures.
Riverside Walk: Easy and Enjoyable This trail has gentle terrain and picturesque beauty, which provides a good entry-point to the park’s natural attractions—and is therefore one of our favorite family-friendly hikes in Zion.
4. Volcanoes National Park-The Island, Hawaii (400 words) Image attribute: Acadia National Park Wonderland- Lightscape
Gentle, Family-Friendly Coastal Walk: Wonderland Trail in Acadia National Park The 1.4-mile out-and-back trail is relatively flat and leads hikers through forest to the breathtaking rocky shores of Maine’s coast.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
The trail is kid-friendly, short, easy and flat.
Toddlers will enjoy looking at the life in the tidepools and finding shells on the shore.
With stunning ocean views is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely day out, there is something for everyone in the family.
Best Time to Visit:
Perhaps the best time to visit Inis Meain is during the summer and early fall when you can enjoy the sunshine while admiring that breathtaking coastline.
Wonderland Trail: This trail has a nice variance of forest and ocean, perfect for families wanting to see Acadia.
5. Hall of Mosses, Olympic National Park, Washington (239 words)
Hall of Moses, Hoh Rainforest, onomatopeic Olympia National Parc — A magical walk in one of the most unique sceneries of the United States This 0.8-mile loop brings you through a historic forest full of towering trees and everything dripping in moss.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
It is a very short and easy hike to walk with children.
A lush, mossy landscape that feels straight out of a fairy tale helps make this an educational visit that is fun for kids.
Many chances to indeed see wildlife as well as learn about the ecosystems of a rainforest.
Best Time to Visit:
The trail is open all year although best visited spring through fall. The humidity due to the rainforest usually cools things down a bit too, especially in summer.
The Hall of Mosses trail is relatively short in length which makes it a great place for families to visit; with beautiful views there should be no excuse not to enjoy the scenery.
6. Shenandoah National Park – Limberlost Trail, VA (300 words)
Limberlost Trail: This peaceful, 1.3-mile hike through hardwood forests is accessible to wheelchairs and perfect for those looking for a short hike off the beaten path in Shenandoah National Park. Great for families with small children or simply an easy nature walk.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
The path is smooth and unobtrusive, so you can easily push your stroller or wheelchair.
A little gentle walk that allows you to get amongst the beautiful surrounding nature without having to be a pro climber.
If you have youngsters in strollers, there are benches along the way to take a breather.
Best Time to Visit:
In spring, wildflowers bloom throughout the canyon (Image: Jo Spencer) The best time to visit is in spring and fall; enjoy a national park packed with wildflowers or enjoy its vibrant fall foliage.
Location: Limberlost TrailAscent: EasyDistance (Round Trip): 0.8 kmTime: 20 minBikes Allowed- NoEasy, family-friendly hike through beautiful forest area.
7. Mossy Cave Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (300 words)
This includes Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park, a short and scenic hike that’s great for families. Passing through a small waterfall and reaching a mossy cave, this 0.8-mile trail is the kind of short trip that kids adore.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
It is a short, flat walk that even young ones will be able to do.
The waterfall and cave are both great natural elements for the kids to explore.
This 38-milelong byway links scenic SR89 to the town at the park’s entrance, passing through a spectacular narrow canyon with views of Bryce Canyon’s red rock formations along the way.
Best Time to Visit:
The waterfall is at its height and the weather warm from late spring through early fall along the Mossy Cave Trail.
This is a minor, one-mile trail that offers some great color and an easy trek for the family with all of the rich beauty of Bryce Canyon without any of the other more challenging hikes.
8. Trail of the Cedars, Glacier National Park, Montana (300 words)
The Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park is a 1-mile loop through the ancient grove of towering cedars. Little Round Top : Short, flat trail connects to Yorktown Bike PathThe short, flat trail also is wheelchair-accessible and has a boardwalk, so can be a fun family hike.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
The paved trail of the Coppermine Pointe Loop is perfect for a stroller or wheelchair and also young kids will be able to enjoy this hike as it is level and minimal elevation gain.
With its vast cedar trees standing guard, the place comes across as pure magic and kids will no doubt be captivated.
The trail ends with the view of Avalanche Gorge, making for a great photo op as this is one of my favorite views along the hike.
Best Time to Visit:
The summer season through early fall is the ideal time to visit, as snow has been cleared from the trail and dense forest provides a background of greenery.
Trail of the Cedars is an easy, shaded trail that highlights to natural beauty of Glacier National Park and great for those with small children.
9. Bear Lake Loop, Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado) 302 words
Bear Lake Loop, Rocky Mountain National ParkThis easy 0.6-mile trail goes around Bear Lake and provides breathtaking views of the mountains and forest. This relatively easy hike through some forest is a great taster for jaunts in the Rockies with younger kids.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
The trail is flat, short,
and are both kid and stroller friendly.
The vistas of Bear Lake and the mountains that encompass it will take your breath away with many opportunities to seize a stellar photo!
The short loop is for households who need to expertise the beauty and majesty of The Rockies with out climbing an extended, steep hill.
Best Time to Visit:
The best weather for trekking is in the summer and early fall, with clear skies and comfortable temperatures.
Families visiting Rocky Mountain National Park will not want to miss the Bear Lake Loop, home to breathtaking vistas in an easy-to-take hike.
10. Séquoia National Park — Big Trees Trail, California (300 words)
The Big Trees Trail — If you want to see giant sequoias without any uphill or downhill, take this 1.3-mile loop through a grove in Sequoia National Park. Great for families and easy to navigate, this flat paved trail has interpretive signs dotted throughout to fill kids in on all there is to know about the ancient trees.
Why It’s Family-Friendly:
There is no elevation gain, so the trail is stroller-friendly and can be easily tackled by even the youngest hikers.
Kids and adults alike walk among the giant sequoias, which is an ethereal experience.
Informative signs on the walkway describe the types of trees you can see and give some info about the park ecosystem.
Best Time to Visit:
Omodos is better to be visited in the summer and autumn, as well as during these months the highest comfort of weather awaits you and unclosed skies. Spring is also terrific, but there can still be snow high up in the park.
It makes for a peaceful hike with the fam amongst some of the biggest and oldest trees in the world.
Conclusion (150-200 words):
One of the best family bonding activities and great way to explore nature is camping/ hiking. Scroll through to see 10 of the best USA hiking trails for families, ranging from behemoth waterfalls to ancient forests that each promise kids an extraordinary slice of the great outdoors.
From leisurely coast paths with beautiful sea vistas, to short jaunts through National Parks these trails are sure to enable family connections and fun in the outdoors. Be sure to pack lots of food and water, as well as a camera to document the memories while you are out and about.
The next time you are thinking of a family outing, these breathtaking trails will ensure a pleasurable and safe experience for everyone in the group.
Family-Friendly Hiking Trails: FAQs
What To Carry For A Family Hiking-Trip?
Pack water, snacks, sun screen hats, appropriate footwear, a first aid pack and a camera for photos.
Wheelchair and stroller friendly?
Several of the trails, like Limberlost Trail and Trail of the Cedars, are work with strollers however some will require a baby provider.
What is the best time of year to hike here?
Depending on the region and climate, many trails are ideal for visiting during spring, summer or early fall.
