This will come as no surprise, but with so many incredible state and national parks, the United States has some of the best natural scenery in the world. The big surprise for new parents is that there are tons of amazing family hikes allowing hikers of all ages and skill levels to enjoy this captivating American scenery. Many of these enjoyable USA hikes are very kid-friendly hikes, so we’ve asked parents just like you to share their favorite family hikes with us. We now present them to you as the best baby-friendly and toddler hikes in the USA.
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Quick Tips for Hiking with a Baby or Toddler
To find good toddler hikes, we usually look for hiking trails that are relatively flat and offer something that will interest little hikers. This might be a creek or stream to throw rocks in or large rocks to climb on.
Toddler hikes are fun, easy hikes and can be a great family adventure. Although the pace will be much slower hiking with a toddler, just remember this is a great time to slow down and experience the wonders of nature through your toddlers eyes.
Baby-friendly hikes are a little easier to find, since most hikes can be done while carrying your baby in one of these best baby carriers for hiking. Of course, these baby-friendly hikes can make good toddler hikes too if your little hiker is willing to be carried for some or all of the hike.
In our experience, toddlers tend to be happier on hikes when they can see what is going on, so rather than have them in a chest carrier, we preferred to use a hiking backpack carrier for toddlers and babies.
See more of our recommended toddler hiking gear which also includes a toddler hiking checklist.
If you are new to hiking with a baby, we have all the tips you need to be fully prepared for a hike with a baby here. And of course, our toddler hiking tips will be helpful for those little hikers who want to do most of the walking.
Now it’s time to find the best hiking trail for your family adventure. For young children like toddlers, look for easy or short hikes to start. From stroller-friendly hikes in Utah to more difficult hikes like Rough Ridge along the Blue Ridge Parkway, we are certain you’ll find a great hike on this list that your whole family will enjoy!
If you want to keep hiking with a baby or toddler while you travel, don’t miss this list of Best Hikes with Babies and Toddlers Around the World.
21 Best Baby-Friendly and Toddler Hikes in the United States
While we’ve done our share of family hiking in the US in many of the incredible National Parks, we always like to get opinions from other parents like us. Here are some of the best baby friendly hikes and toddler friendly hikes in the United States as recommended by parents.
1. Maroon Bells in Colorado
Submitted by Matthew of Sudran Family Adventures
Maroon Bells in Colorado is quite possibly one of the most scenic spots our family has been to. Something about the way the sun and the sky and the landscape reflects off the water makes it something out of dream. There are multiple dirt paths around the Maroon Bells area making it easy to get around but it would be difficult to navigate with a stroller. A toddler could easily walk this but if you have a little one I would definitely recommend a baby or toddler carrier.
The area around Maroon Bells near the water is just a short walk but there are options for longer kid-friendly hikes in the area.
An extra little tip: most can only get to the Maroon Hills by shuttle bus but if you have a child under the age of 3 you can take your own car.
2. Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs
Submitted by Corritta of Itz a Family Thing
The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs is one of the best hikes with a baby. We stumbled on the Garden of the Gods park during our time in Colorado Springs with our toddler. Not only are the views unbelievable, but it is easy to navigate. Did I mention it is also free?
If you aren’t an avid hiker or wish to hike with your stroller, then the Garden of the Gods is the perfect place for your family adventure with your little ones. Most of the hiking trails are paved making it easy to navigate a stroller if needed. You can walk without worrying about the terrain or having to navigate obstacles. Our little guy had a lot of fun running along the trails and chasing passing rabbits.
The pathways through the Garden of the Gods take you on a leisurely family walk around the park to take in amazing geological formations. The rock formations are unbelievable in person.
Most of the walking trails through the Garden of the Gods are considered very easy, with the most difficult hike being classified as moderately difficult. The easiest walking trail is a ½ mile loop, at a slightly increased elevation. The most difficult trail is only 3 miles and circles the entire park giving you amazing views of the entire Colorado Springs park.
If you are lucky you may encounter some local wildlife during your hike. When we returned to the car we spotted a few bighorn sheep on the top of the rocks. If you want to take your little hiker to see the indescribable beauty that nature has to offer, the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs is the best place.
3. Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park, Montana
Submitted by Margie of DQ Family Travel
Trail of the Cedars is a very easy, gentle and scenic toddler hike located near the entrance of Glacier National Park in Montana. This is a perfect hiking trail in Glacier National Park with toddlers, especially for the very little ones and families hiking with strollers.
The Trail of the Cedars is a one mile boardwalk hike through a gorgeous tall cedar tree forest. The hike is looped and located just across from the Avalanche Lake Campground and there is parking at the trailhead. It is considered one of the easiest hikes in Glacier National Park and also one of the most frequented due to its low elevation and access.
The first time we visited the Trail of the Glaciers, our youngest was 3 and after hiking the boardwalk, we went a little further and stopped at Avalanche Gorge which marks the beginning of another very popular trail called Avalanche Lake.
Our kids loved the viewpoints from the boardwalk and the sound of the rushing water and streams along the trail. I highly recommend this fun toddler hike if you are traveling to Glacier National Park with kids.
4. Boquillas Canyon Hike in Big Bend National Park, Texas
Submitted by Melissa of The Family Voyage
We absolutely love the Boquillas Canyon hike at Big Bend National Park, deep in the heart of west Texas. This kid-friendly hike is just 1.4 miles out and back along the bottom of a deep canyon surrounding the Rio Grande River.
While it’s not a stroller friendly hike, it’s an easy family walk with beautiful scenery and an emerald green river surrounded by desert vegetation. Kids will be fascinated by looking just a few feet across the river and seeing a whole different country! We also spotted lots of wildlife including great birds, turtles and even some horses coming up for a drink.
Getting to the Boquillas Canyon hike requires staying in or near Big Bend National Park, which is quite remote. I recommend staying in the national park for at least three full days, as there’s plenty to do for kids of all ages! Once you’re at the Big Bend National Park, plan to spend a full day exploring the Boquillas area of the park, which also includes a historic hot spring, Native American rock art, and a nature trail that’s perfect for birding and watching the sun set.
5. Limberlost Trail in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
Most hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park begin along Skyline Drive, which intersects this tall & skinny national park. Skyline Drive runs along the top of a series of mountain ridges, which provides easy access to many of the scenic lookouts that Shenandoah National Park is famous for.
Although a ridgetop scenic drive makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the grand views of Shenandoah National Park, the impact this set-up has on hiking trails is that most Shenandoah hiking trails start at the top of a mountain ridge.
Starting a hike at the highest elevation point means the hiking trails start downhill, resulting in an uphill trudge back to the trailhead. If you are willing to carry your baby or toddler back up to the car, the element of downhill hiking makes these Shenandoah hiking trails excellent for hiking with a toddler or baby.
We don’t recommend bringing a stroller on many of these family hikes in Shenandoah National Park as they are ungroomed wilderness trails, with rocks and roots, and the changes in elevation will make it a tough to push the stroller back up.
If you don’t like elevation gain, there is one notable toddler-friendly hike in Shenandoah National Park which is quite flat. The Limberlost Trail is a short 1.3 mile family walk through a forest section of Shenandoah which takes advantage of a flat plateau along the top of a mountain. The Limberlost Trail is a flat, manicured gravel pathway making it a great option for families hiking with a stroller or hiking with a toddler.
The Limberlost hike is well-known for its beautiful walk through a deep Virginia forest, wildflowers and wildlife viewings. Hikers often see deer, butterflies and birds.
Get more toddler friendly hikes in Shenandoah National Park here.
6. Rough Ridge Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
The Blue Ridge Parkway has a similar physical dynamic to Shenandoah National Park. The Blue Ridge Parkway also winds its way through some incredible scenery along the top of a series mountain ridges. This makes it hard to find an easy kid-friendly hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Rough Ridge Trail is a very popular hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway (milepost 302.8) with an incredible viewpoint. Our Airbnb host said the views would make us weep; we didn’t quite cry, but the vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains were pretty amazing.
Rough Ridge Trail is a short 0.3 mile (0.5km) hike to the viewpoint. The beginning of this short Blue Ridge Parkway hiking trail has lots of tree roots and rocks, making it impossible to bring a stroller. Before long, the hiking trail transitions to a long wooden boardwalk with many viewing platforms and benches.
It’s a short enough hike that toddlers should be able to easily manage the full length of the Rough Ridge hike and parents won’t mind carrying their babies.
Beware some of the viewpoints atop the Rough Ridge Trail are on large, flat rocks with no safety rails. There’s tons of room on them, so you can enjoy the views safely as long as you watch your little hikers very closely.
If you visit the Blue Ridge Parkway in late summer, be sure to visit Graveyard Fields to enjoy the wild blueberry and blackberries!
7. Great Woodland Adventure Trail in Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
A short drive from Asheville, NC, the Chimney Rock State Park is the perfect place to visit while in Asheville with kids. Chimney Rock State Park is home to a lot of great family-friendly hiking, including one that is a especially fun for toddlers.
The Great Woodland Adventure Trail is a super short 0.4 mile (0.6km) forest loop trail which has many fun and educational stops along the way. Grady the Groundhog is your guide through these 12 discovery stations.
The discovery stations are interactive, making it a fun way for kids to learn about nature. For example, one station shows how far a jumping spider could jump if it was human sized (the length of a school bus!). It then encourages kids to see how far they could jump in comparison.
Another fun station allows kids to climb into a large turtle shell and play turtle. We stopped at every single station along the Great Woodland Adventure Trail and played every game – our kids loved it.
Despite being very short, the Great Woodland Adventure Trail is not a stroller-friendly Chimney Rock State Park hike. The trail is easy with only 65 feet of elevation gain, but the trail has a series of wooden steps which would make hiking with a stroller difficult.
The trailhead is located right next door to the Animal Discovery Den where kids get a chance to see some of the Chimney Rock State park animals up close. Your kids will have a chance to see cute local wildlife such as opossums and chipmunks, and some slithery & slimy ones like snakes and toads.
8. Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
A short drive from Gatlinburg, TN, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States. These iconic mountains get their name from the ever-present morning mist which gives them ethereal effect and are on our list of the best places to visit in with a toddler in the US.
A great opportunity to see the majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains with kids is to visit the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower. At 6,600 feet above sea level, it’s the highest point in the Smoky Mountains. The best part? You can drive almost right to the top!
The walking trail from the Clingmans Dome Visitor Center to the Observation tower is 0.6 miles long, with a moderate incline. The trail is paved and has benches along the way for those who struggle with the altitude. Despite being a paved trail, strollers are not allowed.
Anytime you visit the top of a mountain, be sure to dress for any weather. The day we visited Clingmans Dome there was only a 20% chance of rain, but it was pouring rain by the time we arrived, and the low clouds blocked the views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Oh well, the only way to guarantee failure is to not try, besides kids love being outside in the rain. We saw some black bears on the drive up and the walk up the spiral observation tower was a fun experience. Rain or shine, Clingmans Dome is a great kid-friendly hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
9. Wormsloe Historic Site in Savannah, Georgia
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
The Wormsloe Historic site is home to one of the most iconic images of Savannah, Georgia and a must-see when visiting Savannah with kids. Chances are you’ve seen pictures of Wormsloe’s long road of towering oak trees, dripping Spanish moss. Planted on both sides of the road, their massive limbs cover the roadway creating a truly special visual effect.
Ok, to be fair, the row of oak trees is on a road into the Wormsloe Historic Site and it is not itself a hiking trail. But given the Wormsloe Historic Site is a must-see attraction in Savannah, you may as well stay for the kid-friendly hiking trails!
There is an easy and interesting 3-mile (4.8km) hiking trail through the Wormsloe Historic Site. The trail winds through a deep forest with many different types of plants and mushrooms. The trail leads to a Colonial Life Area with an old blacksmith’s shop and a replica house from the plantation era.
A stroller with big wheels should be able to navigate the flat dirt trail.
10. Manoa Falls in Hawaii
Submitted by Clara of Petite Capsule
Manoa Falls in Hawaii is one of the best hikes with a toddler in the USA. The beautiful, scenic rainforest trail has you walking through eucalyptus trees and a bamboo forest towards a 150-foot tall waterfall.
It is an easy and short 0.8 mile one way hike to the waterfall, or 1.6 miles return. This makes it a fantastic hike for toddlers to walk, or if you are wearing your toddler in a carrier or child backpack. However, the trail is not stroller-friendly as there are a few large steps, a staircase, some rocks just before the waterfall, and can be muddy in parts.
The toddler-friendly hike to Manoa Falls takes about 1 to 2 hours to do, depending on your pace. One of the best things about this kid-friendly hike is that it is mostly shady due to the lush vegetation. This makes it ideal for keeping toddlers cool and their skin safe from the sun. You can get to Manoa Falls by car, or you can catch the Oahu bus. Manoa Falls is an excellent hike with a toddler in Hawaii.
Need to travel with your hiking backpack carrier? Get all the details for flying with a hiking backpack carrier for babies and toddlers.
11. Makapu’u Lighthouse in Hawaii
Submitted by Melissa of The Family Voyage
Another great hike for kids in Hawaii is the Makapu’u lighthouse trail. Located on the Windward coast, the Makapu’u lighthouse trail is the perfect stroller-friendly hike on Oahu!
The total distance is 1.6 miles out and back and it’s steep with 800 feet of elevation gain, but the entire path is beautifully paved. Since there are no hazards, it’s also a nice opportunity for new walkers to try out on their own for a few minutes. If you prefer using a baby carrier, make sure to take one with good ventilation in the warm months as the trail offers no shade and can get very sunny.
The Makapu’u lighthouse trail is a popular workout for parents with young kids, and at the top you’ll be rewarded with lovely views up the coast. For kids who love wildlife, in the winter it’s also a great place to spot migrating whales in the Ka’iwi Channel separating Oahu and Moloka’i.
After you finish the Makapu’u lighthouse hike, head to the local-favorite “baby Makapu’u” tide pools – the entrance is just across from Sea Life Park. It’s a lovely secluded spot for babies and kids to splash and parents to do a little snorkeling.
Getting to Makapu’u Lighthouse is simple from Honolulu/Waikiki or Kailua if you have your own rental car – it’s a 20-30 minute drive depending on your starting point.
12. Lone Star Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Submitted by Melynda of Traveling Mel
One of our favorite kid-friendly hiking trails to add to any Yellowstone itinerary is an outing to the Lone Star Geyser near Old Faithful. This easy Yellowstone National Park hiking trail is 2.4 miles each way and easily traversed with a stroller. The trail is more of an old fire road and almost perfectly flat as it follows the Firehole River to Lone Star Geyser. When visiting the Lone Star Geyser with our kids, we often ride bikes and pull a bike trailer, as this is one of the few trails in Yellowstone where bikes are allowed.
Lone Star Geyser is so named because it is far from other geysers, not because of any relation to Texas. The nearest large geyser (Old Faithful) is three air miles away. It erupts every 3-4 hours, so there is a good chance of catching an eruption. In addition to the geyser destination, it’s fun for little ones to explore the creek, listen for frogs, and play in the trees.
We started taking our kids on the Lone Star Geyser trail when they were babies (in a sling or bike trailer). As they got a little older they could ride their own bikes. Park at the Kepler Cascade/Lone Star Geyser parking area just east of Old Faithful.
13. Bell Rock Trail in Sedona, Arizona
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Baby Can Travel
We were drawn to have a family vacation in Sedona by it’s dramatic red-rock landscape. Surrounded on all sides by striking red-rock buttes, Sedona, AZ is one of the most beautiful landscapes in America.
Our trip to Sedona was our very first trip for our 2-month old son. While our baby was perfectly happy to be carried everywhere, our 2-year old toddler was walking up a storm. This was a perfect place to visit with kids as it is home to many very scenic easy hikes in Sedona.
One of our favorite toddler-friendly hikes in Sedona was the Bell Rock Trail. The scenery on the Bell Rock Trail is breathtaking. The trail leads you towards the Bell Rock and the Courthouse Butte, which are considered two of the most beautiful rock formations in Sedona.
The Bell Rock Trail is easy and flat enough that any toddler will be able to walk it. As with most kid-friendly hikes in Sedona, expect your toddler to get dirty due to the red shale gravel on the pathway.
You can use a stroller along the entire length of the Bell Rock Trail. We recommend a stroller with larger wheels due to the gravel pathway. There are a few bigger rocks jutting out here-and-there which would give small wheels some issues.
14. Skull Rock Trail in Joshua Tree National Park, California
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
The Skull Rock Trail is one of the best baby and toddler-friendly hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. Hordes of tourists stop to take pictures of Skull Rock, a huge roadside boulder which looks like a human skull. Most people park, walk a few feet to take a picture of Skull Rock and then hop back in their car.
This is a shame as there is a great little interpretive nature walk which starts right below Skull Rock! The Skull Rock Trail is one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park for kids. It’s a reasonably flat 1.7 mile (2.7km) loop trail. The terrain isn’t ideal for strollers, so a carrier for hiking with a baby is best for this trail.
The Skull Rock Trail is so fun for kids as it is basically a big playground of rocks, with lots of granite boulders along the trail for older toddlers to climb on. You’ll also enjoy the scenery of the surrounding granite monoliths which grace this area of Joshua Tree National Park.
15. Razor Point Trail in San Diego, California
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Baby Can Travel
The Torrey Pines Natural Reserve is one of the most beautiful natural spots in San Diego. Perched upon ocean cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean, this natural reserve is home to the beautiful, yet endangered Torrey Pine tree. You’ll love the feeling of being in a forest, despite being in the middle of San Diego.
In addition to beautiful forest and spectacular views of the ocean, the Torrey Pines Natural Reserve is home to the world-famous golf course of the same name (home of the 2021 U.S. Open Championship).
The Torrey Pines Natural Reserve is a great place to explore one of the many scenic kid-friendly hikes in San Diego. Our favorite kid-friendly hike in the Torrey Pines National Reserve was the Razor Point Trail, a short downhill hike to a lookout with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and the coastline.
Due to an uneven trail with occasional wooden steps, the Razor Point Trail is not stroller friendly. We recommend hiking with your baby in a carrier instead.
Our toddler had great fun hiking down leg to the viewpoint, but the 160-foot elevation gain back to the trailhead was a bit much for her, so we put her in a toddler carrier for the way back up.
There’s lots of additional easy hikes in the Torrey Pines Natural Reserve. We also enjoyed the Guy Fleming Trail, a 0.7-mile loop with two scenic viewpoints.
16. Palm Canyon Trail in Palm Springs, California
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
If you are looking for some shade to escape the heat in Palm Springs, you should try the Palm Canyon Trail. Located on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation just south of the airport, the Palm Canyon Trail is truly an oasis and wonderful hike with kids in Palm Springs.
The Palm Canyon Trail follows a small creek through a canyon. Here you’ll be treated to a walk through a grove of massive palm trees, which follow the banks of the river. The palm trees go on-and-on, making the Palm Canyon Trail one of the largest palm oasis’ in the entire world.
The Palm Canyon hike is quite easy and has no noticeable elevation gain through the palm oasis. The length of the palm oasis in the Palm Canyon is approximately 1.25 miles (2.5km).
We hiked this kid-friendly Palm Springs hike around 11am on a hot day and the palm trees provided wonderful protection from the midday sun. We recommend a carrier for this family-friendly hike as the terrain isn’t stroller-friendly.
Read more on visiting Palm Springs with a baby or toddler!
17. Salt Flats in Badwater Basin in California
Submitted by Supriya of Fun Travelog
Even though Death Valley National Park is not among the first travel destinations that most families pick for a holiday with a baby, we’re glad to have chosen to explore this otherworldly landscape with our daughter who was five months old.
Death Valley National Park has hikes for all capabilities, and we found that the salt flats in Badwater Basin were ideal for hiking with a baby. There are a few salt flats around the world and hiking with a baby in such an area is stress-free because the surface is flat and mostly even.
It is easy to reach the entrance to the basin by driving, and there is a decent-sized parking lot with an accessible ramp. We chose to carry our daughter in our baby carrier and in hindsight, realized that we could have possibly taken her in a stroller as well.
While it is up to parents to decide how long they wish to walk for, in order to reach the quieter, virgin parts of the flats, it is better to walk further. The total hike took us about 45-50 minutes, with stops for photos.
It can get quite hot on a sunny day so it is advisable to wear light, but covered clothes. We enjoyed getting our baby to touch mounds of salt and can’t wait take her to other salt flats once she starts walking.
18. Park Avenue Trail in Arches National Park, Utah
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
There are lot of baby & toddler friendly hikes in Arches National Park. One of our favorite easy hikes in Arches National Park was the Park Avenue Trail. It’s a short, but incredibly beautiful Utah hike – a must do in Arches National Park with a baby.
We had passed Park Avenue Trail on the road several times and every time we said, “Wow!”. We knew that we had to make time to hike it with our kids, and we are glad we did. It turns out that Park Avenue Trail has some of the most spectacular Utah scenery in all of Arches National Park.
The Park Avenue Trail runs through a gap between two absolutely massive stone walls. These walls are straight up and gigantic – it’ll make you feel so small.
The Park Avenue Trail is not stroller-friendly due to a long set of stairs at the south trailhead descending into the valley. Once you are in the valley, the Park Avenue hike is flat enough that little hikers should be able to walk the short 0.9 mile (1.5km) one-way distance.
If you plan on hiking the full there-and-back Park Avenue hike, start at the north end and walk south to the bottom of the steps, then turn around and go back. If you are hiking Park Avenue Trail one-way (someone will have to drive the car to the other trailhead), start at the south trailhead and walk downhill all the way to the north.
19. Capitol Gorge Trail in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
The Capitol Gorge Trail is one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Capitol Reef National Park.
There’s something about canyon that turn toddlers into energetic little hikers! The Capitol Gorge Trail will captivate toddlers with very impressive colorful rock walls looming overhead on both sides of this mighty gorge. In addition to the beautiful scenery, adults will enjoy getting a glimpse of 100-year-old graffiti, petroglyphs and some cowboy history.
The Capitol Gorge Trail is a great Utah hiking trail for toddlers. The hiking trail surface is sandy and very flat, making it fun and easy to run on. Parent’s will also love the Capitol Gorge hike as your toddler is hemmed in by the towering rock walls, so they can’t really get lost. While your toddler will love the sandy trail, your stroller will not.
Your family can go as far as 2.2 miles (3.5 km) into the gorge before hitting the outer boundary of Capitol Reef National Park. We only hiked to the 0.9 mile (1.4km) mark where the trail to the old cowboy water tanks begins.
Do yourself a favor and and hike the Capitol Gorge Trail with your kids early in the day. On your way, stop at the Gifford House and buy some freshly made fruit pies before they sell out for the day!
20. Pa’rus Trail in Zion National Park, Utah
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
Despite being one of the easiest kid-friendly trails in Zion National Park, the Pa’rus Trail offers some of the best views of Zion Canyon anywhere in the park. It’s the ideal choice for a hike with a toddler or baby in Zion National Park.
The Pa’rus trail begins right at Zion National Park Visitor Center, meaning you can skip the long lines for the shuttle buses deeper into the park. This flat & easy trail is paved the entire length, making it a super stroller-friendly Zion trail and easy for your toddler to walk on (just watch for bikes).
You can actually start and/or end the Pa’rus trail hike at any of three locations (also shuttle stops 2 & 3). If you walk the full length of the Pa’rus Trail with your kids from the Visitor Center to Shuttle Stop 3 and back, the distance is 3.5 miles (5.6km).
On the Pa’rus Trail you’ll enjoy walking up the center of and into the mouth of the Zion Canyon. Being at the bottom on the canyon in the middle provides an excellent opportunity to see the Watchman and the Towers of the Virgin – two of Zion National Park’s most famous rock formations.
The fact that it runs alongside the beautiful Virgin River for most of the way is a nice bonus. This is a must-do when visiting Utah with a toddler.
If you love hiking with your dogs too, note that the Pa’rus trail is the only trail within Zion National Park which allows dogs.
21. Panorama Trail in Kodachrome State Park, Utah
Submitted by Celine and Dan of Family Can Travel
Kodachrome Basin State Park is about 30 minutes south-east of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. There is a massive layer of white sediment atop the hoodoos and cliffs here, which makes for a really interesting visual effect.
The Panorama Trail is an easy 3.1 mile (5km) loop trail which winds through the beautiful red rock monoliths found in the west side of the park. The views of the red rocks with the towering white cliffs beyond are stunning.
You’ll pass a lot of interesting rock formations on this trail including the Mammoth Spire, the Hat Shop and the Ballerina Spire. There’s even a Secret Passage through a small canyon to the base of a red-rock mountain.
The Panorama Trail is very kid-friendly trail as it’s nice and flat with little elevations gain. You could probably use a big-wheeled sport stroller on the loose gravel trail, but a backpack carrier would be a better experience. There is not much shade on this trail, but ensure you have sun-protection planned for the entire family.
If you have the time, we recommend visiting Kodachrome Basin State Park while in Bryce Canyon National Park with kids, toddlers or babies.
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This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.