One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is an appreciation of the outdoors, and one of the easiest ways to do this is taking them hiking. You won't get many miles under your belt, but you will be laying a foundation for a lifetime admiration of the natural world.
The key is to allow kids to go at their pace, allowing plenty of time to go short distances so they can take pleasure in the little things like wildlife, flowers, plants and rocks.
Up to the age of 3 or so, hiking with kids is fairly easy. For the most part they'll walk a short ways on their own, get tired and then you can put them in a child carrier-backpack or front pack and on you go. Once they are too heavy to carry, the real work begins. You'll want to keep them moving and interested in their surroundings so the trail becomes an exciting adventure.
Besides an eagerness to explore, children need a few things for hiking. Most you already own: comfortable, yet rugged clothing that you can layer, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a whistle for around each child's neck and either hiking boots or sneakers with good tread. Add their favorite snacks, water, and for many kids, each one's favorite small stuffed animal or doll.
Parents have better luck when they select trails based on their children's interests and abilities. Best bets are short loop trails that have a variety of things to see, or destination hikes like those to a waterfall, a great viewpoint or even a field of boulders to play on. A quarter-mile trail could easily take an hour for some kids to look at rocks and lizards, where some kids just zip along with eyes only on the destination. Setting unrealistic goals is a mistake I have made many times, and I have paid for it by carrying a heavy and unhappy child miles back to the trailhead.
Boredom may kill any hike but can be beat with a few tricks. Older kids might want to learn how to use a compass or a Global Positioning System, or read a map. All ages enjoy a contest such as who can find the biggest cactus, rock, or tree; or who can spot the first jackrabbit, raven or lizard.
A laminated regional field guide to Southwestern desert life may have color pictures of familiar plants and animals in our area. No matter where you hike you will find at least one cactus, plant or bird listed. When they identify something on the sheet, mark the date and location with a Sharpie and after just a few outings your child will have a simple diary. These field guides fold up flat and are available at park visitor centers and bookstores.
You might want to invest in what all seasoned hikers now use, a water-hydration pack. They serve many purposes, most importantly keeping your child's hands free. You'll also find that children drink more from these handy gadgets, so they're less likely to become dehydrated. If you are not familiar with hydration packs, they are small backpacks containing an internal reservoir that you fill with water or other drink. A tube with a valve runs from the top of the pack over your shoulder and lies on your chest. You bite down on the valve and the water flows freely. They come in dozens of sizes and have pockets for extra items like binoculars, food, extra clothing.
It works best to repeat the family safety rules -- and announce any new ones for the specific hike -- at the trailhead. Some good ones are always staying on the trail, no running ahead, wearing a whistle, and never putting hands and feet into holes and crevices. So you don't overload them all at once as other issues come up, explain in a positive way why we can't do some things on the trail.
The patience you'll need to hike with children is great but the payoff is worth it. Before you know it, your child will be willing and eager to head out on the trail at the next opportunity.
A great hiking area for all ages is the nature trails at Corn Creek Field Station, in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. There are many interconnected and loop trails and you are never more than five minutes from the parking area. The highlights are grassy trails, canopied trees, spring-fed ponds, small creeks and some of the best bird watching around. You can also take a look through the windows of the Refugium, a small building that houses an aquarium for the endangered Pahrump poolfish.
The trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset and the visitor center is staffed Friday through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Deborah Wall is the author of "Great Hikes, A Cerca Country Guide," published by Stephens Press. She can be reached at Deborah@hikingthewest.com.
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