If you love to hike, hiking is likely something that you would enjoy sharing with the people in your family that you love. However, if their hiking abilities aren’t at the same level as yours, whether it’s because they’re young children or older adults who may be living in an assisted living community, you’ll want to make sure that any hiking experience you take them on will be safe and enjoyable for them as well.
To help ensure that you’re able to meet this expectation, here are three tips for planning a family hike that everyone will enjoy.
Choose Your Hike Carefully
The first thing you want to consider before taking your family on a hike with you is which hike in your area will be best suited for everyone you’ve invited.
If you’re going with people who’ve never really hiked before but that you know are pretty physically fit, choosing a longer or more strenuous hike, especially one that has great views or a fun atmosphere, could work out just fine. But if you’re going with little kids, older people, or those who may not be physically fit, you’ll want to start off with a relatively short hike. Then, depending on how well this first hike goes, you might be able to choose something a little more challenging in the future.
Find Ways To Keep The Energy Up
While you might love hiking for the payoff that you get when you finally reach your destination, when you’re going hiking with family, you’ll have to plan on taking many more breaks than you might be used to.
With little kids, it’s very likely that they’ll get distracted by everything along the trail and want to take some time to check out bugs, trees, and anything else that might grab their attention. And if you’re hiking older people, taking breaks to catch their break, rehydrate, and have an energy-giving snack will be vital. So while this might frustrate you, these are breaks that you’ll need to plan for.
Make Sure Everyone Has The Right Gear
The last thing you want to have happen when taking your family hiking is for someone to get a blister, not have a sweatshirt, or get caught in the rain unprepared. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure that everyone has the right gear before you take off.
While no one needs anything fancy for a short hike, having good shoes that will support their feet and ankles, a light layer to put on if they get cold, and a poncho or umbrella if rain is in the forecast will help to ensure that no one gets uncomfortable and winds up having a horrible time.
If you’re ready to take your family on a hike for the first time, consider using the tips mentioned above to help it be a success.
