Hiking with a toddler can be an amazing experience with a little extra planning. These tips will help you and your family hit the trail with confidence!
Hiking is one of our favorite hobbies, and we didn’t want to give it up once we had a child.
We went on our very first (snowy!) hike with our eldest daughter when she was just 3 weeks old. Now we’re a family of 4, and hiking as a family is a huge part of our lives.
We’re sharing our best advice, tips, and gear that will turn the idea of hiking with a toddler from a daunting one to something you love to do as a family.
Tips for Hiking With a Toddler
Our experience
I can’t even count the number of hikes we’ve been on with our 3-year-old daughter.
And they’re not just easy, kid-friendly hikes, mind you.
- We’ve brought her on epic hikes in the Norwegian fjords, backcountry camping in Glacier National Park, and on a hidden waterfall trail in Thailand.
- We’ve hiked all around the world with her, in the desert, the jungle, the mountains, and the snow.
- We’ve gone backpacking and camped overnight in the wilderness many times with her.
Today, we feel confident doing many types of hikes with her (and our new baby!). But it took a lot of work and foundation-setting to get to where we are today.
So if you feel nervous about hiking with a little one, don’t worry – we’re here to help!
We’re sharing our best advice, tips, and gear that will turn the idea of hiking with a toddler from a daunting one to something you love to do as a family.
→ Related: We have a list of Bucket List Hikes around the world, and I bet there are some you’ve never heard of!
Realistic look at what hiking with a toddler is actually like…
Want to see what it’s actually like to go hiking with a toddler? Check out this short (very cute) video!
Before the hike
Believe it or not, there are many things you can do before you actually hit the trail that will help set you up for success.
1. Start small and build up
Don’t compare your first hike with a toddler to someone else’s 100th.
That’s just solid advice for most things in life. (And advice that I need to constantly remind myself of.)
Start with a hike so small that you are confident it’ll be a success. I’d recommend a trail you’ve done yourself before if possible. That way you know exactly what to expect.
Once that’s in the bag, go a little bigger. And then a little bigger still.
Each time you lace up your toddler’s hiking boots and set off on a new trail, you’ll feel more and more confident.
2. Choose the right trail
There are actually quite a few factors we think about when it comes to choosing trails with our toddler.
- Distance: Personally, we have found that 6 miles total is our max with a little one. More than that gets pretty dang long for everyone. Ideally, we like to stick to around 3-4 miles if possible.
- Elevation gain: When possible, we aim for trails that aren’t crazy steep – though we’ve certainly done a lot of crazy ascents with her (especially in Norway!).
- Fun destination: It’s nice when there is a fun destination, like a lake, a stream, or a waterfall. Views aren’t nearly as impressive to toddlers as a water feature!
Insider tip: Read the reviews on AllTrails to make sure it sounds like a hike that is doable with a toddler. You could even use the search bar to find reviews that mention “toddler” or “child” to see if others have done it with young kids.
3. Talk about hiking often
We’ve found it is incredibly helpful to talk about new things well in advance so our toddler can know what to expect.
If you have an upcoming hike planned, start talking about it a week in advance. Each day, remind them about it and get them hyped up.
- Even if you don’t have a hike in the calendar right now, you can start talking about it so that it’s not a big new thing. Show them photos of yourself on a hike. Normalize it so that when you do plan a hike, it’s not a brand new concept to them.
- Read books about hiking. Ask them what they think about it.
- Watch a video on Youtube of someone else doing the hike you plan to do, and let them ask you questions.
4. Get them involved in packing
Let them help lay out their clothes the night before and explain what each piece of clothing is for.
Let them choose one small toy or snack to put in the bag.
Getting them involved in this process can help them feel more involved in this activity, instead of something where you’re just bringing them along.
This isn’t something we do before each hike (as we don’t always have the time), but it can be good especially if hiking is new to your toddler.
5. Pack right
When packing for a hike with a toddler, you want to:
- Be prepared for any situation
- Have fun items to ensure you have a good time
Essentials
We put a lot more thought into exactly what we pack on each hike now that we have children.
Here are some of the essentials you’ll want to think about:
- Food
- Plenty of water (& a sterilization method if it’s a long hike)
- Layers
- Shoes with good grip (they don’t necessarily have to be hiking shoes)
- Sun protection (regardless of the season or the weather!)
- First Aid Kit
- Navigation
- SOS device (for any trail where you’ll be out of cell signal)
- Headlamp
Be sure to check out our full list of what to pack for hiking with a toddler!
Fun items
For the most part, we rely on nature to be the real entertainment and we avoid packing most toys. There are a few, however, that we like to bring along on hikes!
- Nature scavenger hunt: We created this free scavenger hunt for our daughter, and you can use it with your family too!
Nature kaleidoscope: What a neat way for kids to see nature up close! Place small rocks, berries, leaves, and twigs inside and see them in a whole new light! - Toddler digital camera: Juniper sees us taking photos and videos all the time, so I love that she now has her own camera to capture what she sees on hikes.
- Pocket tarp: It folds down super compact and takes up hardly any space, yet creates the perfect place to take a break or to relax and have a picnic.
Tip: For younger children who will be in the carrier longer, you may want to pack a couple of small sensory toys (like this or this, or this crinkle toy) to have on hand if needed. We recommend making sure you can use a tether to connect it to your hiking pack so you don’t lose it on the trail.
Psst! Click below to see all our favorite gear for hiking with a toddler in one place.
6. Choose the right carrier
Even if your child will be doing a fair amount of walking, it’s a good idea to have a carrier as well for those inevitable toddler moments where they “Just don’t want to walk anymore!”.
There are lots of different carriers out there, each with their own purpose and pros/cons.
We recommend spending a bit of time researching hiking carriers so you can choose the best ones for you and your family.
Here are the carriers we personally own and have experience with:
Osprey Poco Premium
This is kind of the OG when it comes to child hiking carriers, and it has a lot of great features, including a sun shade, plenty of space for packing other hiking essentials, and a water bladder pocket.
It is very comfortable for both parent and child*, but it is kind of bulky and doesn’t compress super well for travel or compact storage.
*Tip: Make sure you adjust it to your toddler’s size, and use the hip belt to take the weight off your shoulders. Practice at home before bringing it on your first hike.
Osprey Poco LT
This is the lighter, more sleek version of the Poco Premium, and probably our most-used hiking carrier these days.
While it’s not quite as robust as the Premium (and slightly less comfy/padded), it has most of the same features and has the ability to compress down mostly flat. This is huge for us as we often bring it in our campervan or along on trips where we have to fly to our destination.
Ergobaby Omni 360
We used this a lot on shorter hikes up until our daughter was around 2 years old. Technically, she can still fit in it, but we find it works best for smaller children. We’ll be using it again for baby #2!
It is really versatile and can be worn on the front or back. Plus, it’s much lighter than some of the more rigid hiking carriers, making it a great option for travel.
Trail Magik
This is a great option for longer hikes (or backpacking trips) with toddlers who will walk part of the way. It is incredibly small and light, but it must be paired with a hiking backpack, so this isn’t a good choice for a short hike since you likely won’t need an entire pack of supplies.
Good to know: While you may need more than one carrier (for different purposes), you certainly don’t need all of these.
7. Dress right
Be sure your toddler is dressed appropriately and don’t forget extras in case of an accident.
Warmer months:
- UV shirts to protect them from the sun
- Sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
- Lightweight shoes with decent grip
- Rain jacket (if needed)
Cooler months:
- Thermals (wool is best, but synthetic is better than nothing – we use both!)
- Wool socks
- Warm shoes or boots with good traction
- Extra layers (more than you think they’ll need, especially if they’ll be in the carrier for part of the time)
- Hat, mittens, buff
Budget tip: Check out your local second-hand gear store, FB Marketplace or a Buy Nothing Group to find many of these items for cheap!
8. Think about safety
When hiking with a child, it’s especially important to put a little more thought into hiking safety.
When I was pregnant with our first child, we did a NOLS Wilderness First Aid course just to feel a little more confident dealing with emergencies when outdoors.
You don’t necessarily have to take a course (especially if you’ll be sticking to shorter hikes within cell rage), but here are some things to consider:
- Always pack a first aid kit, no matter how short and easy the hike (be sure to put in some fun band-aids for your little one to make any small booboo a bit easier to handle!)
- Carry an SOS device if you plan to hike outside of cell coverage
- Look up weather conditions in advance and come prepared
- Pack the 10 hiking essentials
- Never hike without bear spray in bear country
- Listen to your gut and stick to trails within your comfort zone (at least at first)
- Bring plenty of water for all family members, and when appropriate have a plan for filling up and sterilization (you don’t want to run out)
- Look at trail reports from the last few days on AllTrails to see if the trail is muddy, icy, washed away, etc. (this only applies in some areas and some seasons)
9. Manage your mindset & expectations
If you’re already an avid hiker, this is a reminder to dial back your expectations.
Go in knowing you might not get very far or you may even have to turn around before you’d like to. You’ll also be going at a much slower pace than what you’re used to.
Try to embrace all of this and make your goal to be getting out on the trail for quality time with your child rather than completing the entire hike.
As long as you’re prepared for all of the above, you might even be pleasantly surprised!
And if you’re new to hiking in general, try to see this as an amazing opportunity to learn a new hobby together with your child. (Even if it doesn’t go perfectly.)
We all start somewhere.
Remember, each time you get out on the trail, you and your toddler will both get more and more comfortable, allowing you to work up to some bigger hikes.
During the hike
While you’re on the trail, here are some tips to help things go as smoothly as possible.
10. Time it right
The ideal time will vary for each family (and the type of hike you plan to do), but put some thought into it.
Short hikes: For shorter, easier hikes, we prefer to get on the trail mid-morning, after our toddler has had a solid breakfast and before nap time. This way, she can get her energy out and will stay awake for most of the hike.
Longer hikes: Alternatively, we often time longer hikes over her nap time because she falls asleep super well in our Osprey hiking carrier, and it allows us to cover more ground.
11. Let them start out walking
Ever since our daughter was walking pretty well on her own, we start each hike with her walking (unless there’s some sort of obstacle or reason to prevent this).
This helps your child have autonomy and will be a quicker way for them to really enjoy the act of hiking.
If your child is anything like ours, be prepared for a slow start as they will likely stop every few feet to pick up rocks or point out flowers. Going slow is just part of hiking with a toddler, after all!
The other benefit of having them start out walking is that it will get their energy out. Once they start looking tired or you get to a part of the trail where you no longer feel comfortable with them walking on their own, transfer them into the hiking carrier.
One additional tip I’d give on this topic is to set this expectation in advance so they’re not caught off guard when you put them in the carrier.
Before your hike say something like:
- “We’ll all start out walking, but when you get tired you get to ride on Mom’s/Dad’s back, kind of like a piggy back ride! How lucky is that!”
- Or: “You can start walking on the trail, but once we get to the stream, I’m going to carry you on my back because the trail gets a little tricky after that.”
12. Be the hype person
Kids are little sponges and can totally pick up on when you’re having an amazing time versus when you’re stressed.
While it can be anxiety-inducing doing something brand new with a tiny human for the first time, try your best to show up with a calm excitement that is bound to rub off on your little one.
13. Have a plan for the bathroom
I remember the days when I would dread the moment I’d hear, “I need to go potty,” while on a hike. However, we’ve learned a lot and have had a lot of practice, so these days it’s hardly something we think about anymore.
It’s definitely something you’ll want to put some thought into before you hit the trail so you have a plan.
We’ve got a whole guide to teaching your child how to go to the bathroom outdoors (and exactly what to pack!) so that you’re fully prepared.
We’ve hiked many times with our daughters both in diapers as well as after having been potty trained, so this guide has tips for each stage.
14. Bring lots of snacks
If you have a toddler, you know you can never bring enough snacks.
Not only will they stave off a hangry child (or parent!) but they can be a great motivator and will keep your little one happy and occupied.
We aim for mostly healthy, balanced snacks, but we also like to throw in a high-value treat of some sort to encourage when necessary or to make the whole experience more fun!
On longer hikes, you can pack a picnic lunch and a lightweight blanket to make an extra special experience.
Our go-to snacks for hiking with a toddler
We have a whole list of easy toddler travel snacks, most of which are great options for hiking too. Here are some of our favorites:
- Pouches: We do a variety (and get the Costo brand ones a lot), but Juniper’s all-time favorite is the blackberry pouch from Mama Chia
- Beef sticks: like Chomps or Archer Provisions minis
- Dried fruits: usually mangoes or dates
- Freeze dried fruits: Trader Joe’s strawberries are our daughter’s favorite
- Date bars: like RX bars or Lara Bars
- Energy balls: homemade ones or Aussie bites (from Costco)
- Veggie sticks
- Apples or mandarins: reminder to NEVER throw your peels or cores in the woods. It’s not native to the environment you’re hiking in and can be harmful to animals, will take a long time to break down, and isn’t nice for other hikers to deal with. Always follow Leave No Trace principles and teach your little ones about them!
- String cheese: if it’s a short hike (and not too hot outside!)
- Olives: Trader Joe’s has a single serving pouch of olives and our daughter loves them!
Tip: We really like these bags to stash snacks in, and always pack a trash bag for our garbage.
Psst! Don’t forget plenty of water for everyone too!
15. Take breaks
Be prepared to take many more breaks than when hiking without kids.
You’ll have snack breaks, potty breaks, breaks to look at cool rocks, breaks to sit and rest tired legs, breaks to get in the carrier or out of the carrier…
Like I said, lots of breaks!
If you’re an experienced hiker, like us, it might feel a bit frustrating at first to slow down to your child’s pace. Trust me, I get it.
This is where that mindset we talked about is very important.
I’d encourage you to look at it as an opportunity to slow down and be truly present.
Maybe your child will point out a beautiful flower you would have otherwise missed. Maybe they will notice a bird call that you’ll look up together later. Or maybe they’ll find a patch of moss that turns out to be the comfiest thing you have ever laid on.
Your little one may have a lot to teach you, and seeing the world through their eyes is pretty darn magical.
16. Make it fun
Toddlers aren’t necessarily going to crave hiking because of the epic views or solitude like adults do.
So be sure you’re thinking of ways to fill their cup on the hike so that they genuinely have a good experience.
- Play games like “I Spy” and “Red light, Green light”
- Collect rocks or leaves (if allowed on your trail)
- Tip: You can make these into a craft after your hike so that you can reminisce about the experience together
- Do funny dances
- Find them a walking stick
- See how many flowers or animals they can count
- Do a Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Point out landmarks and ask what they think about them: “How old do you think that big tree is?”
- Have family races (if they’re old enough); “I’ll race you to that big rock!”
- Have a contest to see who can pick up the most litter (our daughter loves this!); be sure to have a trash bag for this purpose
17. Know when to bail
When you have a little one with you it’s more important than ever to know your limits and err on the side of caution.
There have been a few hikes that we’ve taken with our child where we’ve turned around before we would have had it only been the two of us (due to weather conditions).
Yes, it’s disappointing, but it’s not worth the risk or the discomfort of getting all of us soaking wet.
After the hike
Now that you’ve completed the hike, there are a few things you can still do to make sure your toddler remembers this as a positive experience and wants to do it again.
If you follow through with these things, it will make getting out there even easier next time!
18. Celebrate your hike
After your hike, be sure to celebrate your wins (even if they were seemingly small).
Compliment your toddler:
“Even though you were tired, you kept smiling!”
“You found so many cool rocks!”
“You are so strong and brave”
Another one of our favorite ways to compliment our daughter is to talk to her stuffed animals when she is close enough to hear us.
We’ll say things like, “Juniper was such a brave girl on our hike today. She walked faster than Mom and Dad, and she even spotted a butterfly!”
Building your toddler’s confidence around hiking after the fact will solidify it as a positive memory and they’ll be more excited the next time you mention hiking.
19. Reflect together
Afterwards, show them pictures of themself on the hike and ask them about their favorite part.
Tell them your favorite part of the hike, and start brainstorming ideas for your next hike together.
This is integral in making hiking a part of your lifestyle together and instilling a love for this hobby in your child.
Hiking with a baby vs. hiking with a toddler
I can tell you from our own personal experience that hiking with a baby and hiking with a toddler are two very different things.
Hiking with a baby
With a baby, you can easily bring them in a carrier and they’ll likely sleep much of the way, allowing you to hike (mostly) as normal.
I breastfed our daughter until she was 2.5 years old, and this was especially helpful on hikes when she was little because it meant we didn’t need to bring bottles. I’d just find a comfortable place to sit and nurse (with views like these, I might add!).
Insider tip: A small mat, like this one, came in clutch many times when there wasn’t a great place to sit. (We actually have this mat and cut it in half so we can use it as a sitting pad as well as a camping sleeping pad for each of us when paired with our ultralight inflatable sleeping pads.)
Hiking with a toddler
Toddlers will inevitably want to get out on the trail themselves, but they’re likely too small for some obstacles and will often tire out before you complete the whole hike.
This means you’ll need to have more of a game plan when you hike with a toddler.
Hopefully this article has helped make you feel more prepared.
Last thoughts
I genuinely hope these tips are helpful to you.
My biggest piece of advice is not to overthink it: Just start! And again, start somewhere well within your comfort zone.
If you have questions, feel free to comment on this article and we’ll do our best to help!
Want more advice for traveling as a family?
We have lots of resources on traveling with children, from newborns to toddlers. Check out our Family Travel Guide for all the answers to your most burning questions, or read some of our favorite articles below!
- Practical Family Travel Tips: The ultimate guide to traveling with a baby or a toddler
- Flying with a Baby: Tried-and-true tips to prepare you for the flight
- Hotel or Airbnb with a Baby: Read this before you book any accommodations!
- Travel Snacks for Toddlers & Babies: Easy + healthy snacks to avoid a hangry child (or parent)
- Best Travel Toys for Toddlers & Babies: Tested + parent-approved toys that will keep your little one entertained (and won’t take up too much luggage space)
- Surviving Toddler Jet Lag: Our step-by-step process for adjusting time zones
- Encouraging Family Travel Tips: Heartfelt advice to boost your confidence!
- Flying With a Car Seat: How-to guide + tips for bringing a car seat on a plane, whether you decide to check it or carry-on
- What to Pack for Hiking With a Toddler: Follow our packing checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your hike (without overpacking!)
- Teach Your Kid How to Go Potty in the Woods Like a Pro: Yup, we even have a guide for that. Be prepared for the inevitable “I need to go” moment.
Psst! If you’re living or traveling in the western US and into outdoor adventures, be sure to check out our sister site, Go Wander Wild. It’s packed with trail guides, hot springs, camping, winter activities and more!
Join our Adventure Baby Challenge!
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We want to hear from you!
We hope these tips for hiking with a toddler are helpful!
Do you have any advice that we should add to this list? What questions or concerns do you still have?
Note: Please be respectful with your comments. Remember, we are sharing tips that have personally worked for us. This doesn’t mean they will work for everyone.