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Hiking with kids: our top tips for success
Do you want to start hiking with your kids? Then, stop thinking and start hiking. We’ve been hiking with our kids since they were born. By the age of 6 they were hiking mountain trails. By 10 they made day trips. Here’s what’s worked for us.
Start young
The sooner you take your kids hiking, the more natural it feels. By starting early with short, easy hikes, you make it just another part of life like swimming or bike riding.
Even if it’s only a simple walk, let them get used to hiking, nature, moving around in the woods and everything that lives outdoors. Our kids always saw nature as one great playground. They could play for minutes with some water, sand or branches. Try to make every hike a small family adventure.
© Maaike Meerman
Make it fun
One of the best ways to make hiking fun for kids is to choose trails with interesting features. In Austria there are lots of family friendly hikes with playgrounds along the way. You can even take a cable car to the top of a mountain and hike from playground to playground. This makes hiking fun because after every few kilometres there is some kind of reward. But don’t overdo it.
That said, avoid we tried to avoid trails that are more like amusement parks than nature trails. Our goal was to help them build a genuine connection with nature exactly as it is. Climbing a tree along the trail, building some dams in a creek or stopping at a mountain hut for some fresh cheese are also great features.
© Maaike Meerman
Dress them well
Hiking is fun, as long as you’re not too cold nor too hot and as long as you don’t get wet. Weather can shift quickly, especially in mountains. The right clothing makes all the difference. Focus on the essentials: hiking pants, hiking socks, a baselayer and a rain jacket. Layers are the best because they’re easy to adjust with changing temperatures.
For kids, comfort is key. We’ve found that even the coolest trails can be ruined by something as cold feet or wet clothes. With layers, your kids can enjoy the experience no matter the weather.
Start small
Hiking with kids it is not so much about the distance, it’s more about the elevation. 5 kilometres is just an hour in the flatland. But 5 km AND 1.000 meter in altitude take at least 3 hours. So start small, by taking an easy route to a cosy mountain hut.
Take time along the way to point out some interesting plants, wildlife or views. This slower pace lets kids connect with nature and might spark their curiosity.
© Maaike Meerman
Pause and eat (a lot!)
Kids burn energy fast and knowing what to bring on a hike can make a great difference. For us, it all about drinks and snacks. Well, drinks meaning lots of water. We love to bring some homemade cake or dark chocolate. But also veggies like carrots and cucumber make great snacks for hiking trips. These little snacks help boost their energy and give them something to look forward to on the trail.
Fun hiking trails for kids in Austria:
To get started, here are some trails in Austria we’ve loved at different ages:
Ages 4–6: Hopsiland at Planai, Schladming—short paths, fun stops.
Ages 6–8: Geisterberg, Sankt Johann—play areas with easy-to-follow trails.
Ages 8–10: Kodok, Saalbach—great for budding adventurers with gentle inclines.
Ages 10–11: Schmugglerpfad, Gargellen—longer trails with fascinating sights.
Ages 12+: Now the mountains are your playground! Try full-day hikes with summits and views.
