35 Useful Beginner Hiking Tips for Safe Family Fun

Teach your kids to love nature and take advantage of what this fantastic Earth has to offer. Hiking removes them from the couch and transports them into the wilderness. Hiking strengthens the family bond and soothes the soul.  Breathe the fresh air, exercise your body, and spend time with nature. Here are 35 essential beginner hiking tips for moms to guarantee fun for the entire family.

Plus of course, I made you a day hiking checklist.

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35 Beginner Hiking Tips for an Epic Adventure with Your Family

#1 Ninja Beginner Hiking Tip is to start them early. For the littles, a quick hike through your neighborhood or a local bike path is a perfect way to ease them into a love of hiking. Continue to build upon this foundation.

2) Plan ahead. Preparing for your hike will ensure safety and comfort so everyone enjoys the experience. And it minimizes your effect on the environment.

Here are a few things to do to prepare for your first family hike:

• Know before you go.
• Plan to visit during the low season, especially if you are looking for peace, solitude, and less exposure to crowds.
• Check the terrain of the trails before you head out.
• Know what the weather will be and prepare for rain, snow, or shine.
• Bring a map, GPS, or compass, or all of the above.
• Be aware of the rules of the hiking trail.

3) Have realistic expectations. When planning your first real hike with your family, it is critical to know your family’s skill level and limitations. If you know that your child will suffer if the hike is longer than 20 minutes, then don’t do that to them (or to you) the first time.  

4) Do your research to find a hike that is a perfect fit for your family’s strengths and weaknesses. Pick a hike that is easy and quick and perfect for all skill levels. And guess what? They will be begging for more. And your experience will be a happier one, too. 

5) Choose a hike with a fantastic treat at the end — such as a stunning overlook, a swinging bridge, a cave, or a waterfall.

6) Bring a map with you on your trek. Teach the kiddos how to read it and navigate the trails.

7) Take it slow—plan for lots of stops for the kids and photo-ops for mom. You’re on vacation, so you don’t need to be anywhere anytime soon. Take your time and let the kids explore and play.  

8) Pack it in and pack it out. Leave nothing except your footprints. Teach your kids not to leave a trace. Dispose of all of your waste properly.

9) Bring a large ziplock back to collect any trash you may have used. 

10) Make it fun. Choose a hike with fun terrain that involves climbing rocks, crossing bridges, taking the stairs, or maneuvering through boulders.

11) Protect your family from the sun. Wear sunscreen, a cap or hat, and shades to protect your eyes.

12) Sometimes it’s good to overprepare. Pack more water than you think you will need.

13) And, pack more snacks than you think you will need.

14) Brag on your brave and strong kiddos. Boost their self-esteem by telling them how amazing they are, how brave, strong, and fast they are, and how they are naturals at this hiking thing. Kids love praise, and your S.O. may need a little bit of this, too. 

15) Let them lead. Let the kids be the leader of the pack and set the pace for the family hike. 

16) Wear comfortable and sensible shoes. My daughter is notorious for showing up in crocs. While she does perfectly fine with them, I would not recommend crocs as a shoe choice.

17) Find a stick. Try to find a hiking stick (AKA a Trekking Pole) for them; kids love sticks.   

18) And binoculars are cool, too.

19) Pack a small first aid kit — bandaids, blister bandages, antiseptic spray or wipes, antibiotic ointment, and Benadryl ointment. 

20) Dress in layers. You can peel off your jacket and tie it around your waist or roll it up and tuck it in your backpack.

21) Purchase a whistle for each family member. Teach the kids how to use the whistle. And to use it if they get lost.

22) Invest in a light, practical, and durable backpack.

23) Pack an extra charger for your cell phones.

24) Share your plan with someone. Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.

25) Stay on the marked trail. Teach your kids to always stay on the trail, stay with the family, and never run too far ahead.

26) Leave it all behind except pictures and memories. Don’t take anything from the trail with you except your waste. Don’t remove that pretty rock or log. And don’t carve your initials in the tree trunk. Leave it as you found it.

27) Fire safety. Learn about fire impact and safety and know if it is legal to make a fire where you will be hiking. Use established rings for your fire. Never leave a fire unattended. And make sure the fire is completely distinguished before you leave.

28) Teach your children to respect the wildlife. You are a visitor in their home, so be a good one. Keep down the noise. Don’t get too close. And don’t feed them.

29) Pup tips.

• Make sure pups are permitted on the trails before you head out.
• Teach your dog respect for other people. Not everyone likes a jumping pup.
• Don’t let them chase the wildlife.
• Pack out their poop.

My Favorite Beginner Hiking Tip — Pack Plenty of Healthy-ish Snacks for the Family Hike

Always pack more snacks than you think you need. Hangry hikers aren’t pleasant and can ruin a beautiful day. So be prepared with plenty of healthy snacks.

Tips to get those snacks prepared and packed.

30) Get the kids involved. Have them choose a few snacks they would like to pack. Or even make homemade snacks with them the night before your hike. I have a few ideas for you below.

31) Use grab-and-go individually wrapped snacks.

32) Pack more snacks than you think you will need.

33) Include a few emergency backups, just in case.

Savory snacks are my favorite.  

• Beef Jerky ~ Many make this homemade, so if you find a simple recipe go for it. And let me know your secret.
• Goldfish ~ A crowd favorite.
• Pretzels.
• Plantain chips.
• Nuts ~ If no nut allergies in the family.

Sweet snacks.

• Protein bars ~ Be careful when choosing your protein bars as many are full of sugar and ingredients that no one can pronounce. Make sure to select all-natural ingredients and a low amount of sugar when packing protein bars. Lara Bars are minimally processed and are my favorite.
• Raisins
• Fig Newtons.
• Dried fruits.

Now for fun, the homemade treats. Ask the kids for their input and have them make the goodies with you.

• Chex Mix ~ Combine Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Wheat Chex (add chocolate Chex if you want), nuts (optional), mini-pretzels, tiny bagel chips, Bugles, melted butter, and salt. Spread out on a roasting pan and cook on 250 for an hour.
• Rice Krispie Treats ~ The recipe is on the Rice Krispie Box, and it is so simple. Rice Krispie treats can be cut into squares and packed individually for each hiker.
• Trail Mix ~ Nuts, seeds, dried fruit, dark chocolate chips. Maybe for fun, add M&Ms, marshmallows, or granola.
• Popcorn with a twist ~ Melt butter and mix with a Hidden Valley Ranch packet. Mix it with your popped popcorn for a savory, crunchy snack. Fill up those baggies and pack away for when the cravings hit. Plus, popcorn provides fiber and a bonus carb boost.
• Mini-muffins ~ Banana bread or pumpkin spice are the all-time favs in this family.

And if you plan on a picnic, here are a few light lunch ideas. These will require a small cooler.  

• Turkey and cheese rollups with spinach wrap.
• Ham and cheese or Pepperoni and cheese on Hawaiian rolls.
• Pita pocket sandwiches ~ Canned tuna, lettuce, and tomato. Or stuff with turkey, cheese, and your homemade hummus.
• Bagels and cream cheese. Pack some Lox for something special.

34) Ninja Beginner Hiking Tip ~ Freeze a bottle of water to use as your ice pack. Then you will have extra water to drink when it defrosts.

The “Ten Essentials” to Pack for Your Family Hiking Expedition

What are the “ten essentials?” You may already know about the ten essentials, but if you are new to the world of hiking, I can explain.  

“The Mountaineers Ten Essentials” is a packing system created by outdoor skills instructors and used by hikers for more than fifty years. It is the standard for mountaineering education around the world.

Here are the ten essentials to pack according to the Mountaineers. These are crucial beginner hiking tips.

1. Items for navigation: map, compass, most phones have GPS.
2. Headlamp, you never know.
3. Sun protection.
4. First aid kit.
5. Knife.
6. Something to light a fire: matches, a lighter, 
7. Lightweight shelter.
8. More food than you think you need.
9. More water than you think you need.
10. Extra clothes, in case you get stuck overnight.

Beginner Hiking Tip #35: Be kind.

Be mindful of other hikers on the trail and consider how you are affecting their experience. Keep your voice down. If you love music, use headphones or earbuds. Don’t bring your boombox as many won’t appreciate your music. People are there to listen to the sounds of nature, not your tunes.

Here is a comprehensive day hiking checklist you can tailor to your specific needs.

Let me know what you would add to the day hiking checklist to make your family hiking expedition the best.

And, let me know if you have a beginner hiking tip I can add to the list.