Traveling with young children? I want to share five great, kid-friendly hikes in the unspoiled wilderness of nearby Nevada, Utah, California and Arizona. We live in Nevada so we know that within a few hours of Las Vegas lie areas of breathtaking natural beauty.
To compose this list of kid-friendly hikes, I tapped the memories of three experts: my children, who spent much of their childhoods hiking Southwestern trails with me. These came up as the five places they most enjoyed when they were small.
Badwater, Death Valley National Park, California
Badwater is one of the most popular places in Death Valley National Park. This salt flat will have you walking on the lowest terrain in North America, 282 feet below sea level. It is easy walking on a flat surface, and in the cooler months can even be walked barefoot.
A special treat: Imagine walking on snow, if the sun could warm that snow. Travel as far as you feel comfortable or until the terrain gets too bumpy to walk easily. The salt flat offers spectacular views of the 11,048 foot Telescope Peak to the west. It’s one of the few places you can see such a disparity in elevation and it’s a kid-friendly hike.
Summers are blistering hot; best done November-March.
Riverside Walk, Zion National Park, Utah
This paved and nearly level trail travels along the North Fork of the Virgin River. Hike through a healthy riparian wetlands habitat of cottonwood, box elder, and velvet ash, surrounded by Zion National Park’s signature red and orange sandstone walls. Wildlife commonly seen includes deer, wild turkeys and rock squirrels.
Highlights include: Short unpaved spur trails — all kid-friendly hikes — allowing access to the river where your party can play in the water, picnic, or just relax.
After one mile going upstream, the trail ends at the Gateway to the Narrows. This is the literal jumping-off point where adventuresome hikers drop into the waterway. From here, head upstream using the river as the trail, into the world-famous and spectacular Narrows of the Virgin River. Good year-round, except note that the trail can ice up in winter.
China Ranch Date Farm, Tecopa, California
The China Ranch Date Farm is a rare and lush oasis in the middle of the desert near Death Valley National Park. Hike the trails through the date trees or follow the outer trails that leave from there. One good starter trail for a kid-friendly hike is the 200-foot Creek Trail. This trail takes you through a canopy of riparian foliage along a flowing creek—super for small children. Another good one is the Badlands Trail, about one and one-half mile roundtrip.
Wrap your visit up by visiting the store. There’s a tiny museum dedicated to the Chinese miner (thus the name) who settled and irrigated this land before being forcibly evicted. Do sample the various kinds of dates and date cookies, and buy some of those you like the most.
Tip: Nobody seems to leave (nor should they) without buying one of the famous date milkshakes, handmade on the spot.
Kelso Sand Dunes, Mojave National Preserve, California
No official trail here, it’s just that Mojave National Preserve has great sand dunes for all ages to climb as much as 700 feet to the dunes’ peak. Look for animal tracks in the sand, and perhaps get sandy by rolling back down.
These are “booming” or “singing” dunes, which means they make a peculiar noise when the moisture is just right. Only a few dunes in the world do this. Some think the sound resembles a distant airplane motor, while others compare it to a musical note. All kids—and adults, too—love it. Our family tradition is to start with a kid-friendly hike in and then always fly kites here.
Take Note! While the park’s Visitors Centers are closed, be sure to download the NPS Junior Ranger guide for this park so your kids can work with it. If you mail it in after you get home, the park staff will send back the kids’ badges.
Black Canyon National Water Trail, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada & Arizona
This is usually done as a full-day kayaking or canoe excursion, either guided or self-guided. Embark from the Nevada side of the Colorado River, just below Hoover Dam. You’ll traveling almost 14 miles downstream to Willow Beach, Arizona. Parents will have to do most of the paddling, but there is a good downstream current with no white water. Foot trails beloved by children lead up the side canyons, some of them to hot springs, waterfalls, and sauna caves.
There are several small beaches in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area that are very popular. Bighorn sheep and bald eagles share the habitat with plenty of waterfowl. For this trip, even if you have your own watercraft, you will need to sign up with an authorized outfitter through the National Park Service. They provide transportation through the dam’s security zone down to the launching area. Sundays and Mondays offer the most enchanting solitude and silence for those on a guided trip. That’s because on those days, no motorized boats or personal watercraft are allowed north of Willow Beach.
Note: Restricted access (several park entrances are closed in both states) is designed to reduce crowds and encourage social distancing. If you don’t have the beach to yourself, you may need to paddle farther. You’re heading for a place to stop and relax, or have lunch safely. Followed, of course, by a swim in the chilly, yet refreshing, clear water.
Tips for Hiking with Kids
Family hikes can foster self-reliance and an appreciation for the natural wonders found just beyond the city lights. But you have to be mindful.
- When hiking with children, always carry extra water, jackets and snacks.
- Keep the distances short and brush up on your geologic and animal information so you can comment on what they see as they walk along.
If I’ve inspired you, please pick up a copy of my new book, Base Camp Las Vegas: 101 Hikes in the Southwest
Want more ideas on an outdoors break from Las Vegas? Head to Bonnie Springs Ranch for a Wild West experience.
(Photos by Deborah Wall)
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