5 Stress-Free Tips For Family Hikes This Fall

We’re a hiking family, and we LOVE to get outdoors. Although we’re dealing with many more nature nuts on trails these days, we’re out there. And we’ve got five tips for family hikes for this Fall that’ll help you navigate the trails in a fun, stress-free way.

Well, as stress-free as you can get with kiddos enjoying life outside the home.

After all, 2020 has been an insane year for kids and parents alike. We all need a break. Fall hikes are the BEST way to get a dose of fresh air, a change of scenery and a fun adventure before winter starts.

To make it a great experience, some preparation is always involved. That’s the reality of being parent, right? Always be prepared!

So here’s how we make it happen each and every time. We’re sharing our tips, along with a mini-review for our favourite footwear brand, which you should consider looking into for yourself and the kids before you hit the trails.

Where We Hiked

Before I delve into the nitty-gritty tips, a little side note for parents living in and around the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe.

There are conservation areas (that require reservations for entry), and national and provincial parks. We’re blessed to have one awesome provincial park close to where we live: Bronte Creek Provincial Park. It’s a day pass of $18 for one vehicle and it’s perfect for our needs.

Look for trails close to home. There’s Darlington Provincial Park in Oshawa, if you’re east of Toronto. It could be a city park such as High Park, or the Don River Valley Park trails. There are MANY of them. You don’t have to travel far to get a Fall hike in with the family.

TIP: Head out earlier in the morning to avoid crowds. I mean early. Unless your kids are top-notch at social distancing with people, you’ll want to keep to trails that are super quiet if you have little kids.

Now the tips!

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1 // Prepare For Temperature Fluctuations & Changing Weather Conditions

We hiked at Bronte Creek for the photos you see in this post. It was a windy late September morning, and despite the temperature showing 19 C, it was feeling cooler than that.

The breeze was chilly and comfortable as we walked the gravel trails at Bronte Park.

You’d think that at 19 C it would be warm enough to have just a t-shirt. Instead, we were zipped up as in the open fields, the wind quickly cooled down any sweat.

Unless you have sweat-wicking clothes, it’s always good to have a t-shirt on and a hoodie.

Why? Because when you get hot, unzip the hoodie. If it starts to get hotter as you go, wrap the hoodie around your waist.

The same applies for kids. They overheat just as fast as adults do.

TIP: If it’s hot when you set out, pack your hoodies in a backpack. It’s bulky and a nuisance, but it’s better to be over-prepared for the conditions.

TIP 2: Hats are always a good idea when the sun starts to climb into the sky. Protect your head and skin from UV rays!

TIP 3: For late Fall hikes consider fingerless gloves for chillier conditions and a crew or mock-neck top to keep your body warm enough.

2 // Wear The Right Footwear!

Although many trails near city centres are maintained for easy walks, some are a bit more challenging.

Little kids LOVE to climb up rocks and on stumps. They’ll do silly stuff like balance on roots and other things they find on the trail.

Making sure everybody is wearing proper foot wear that’s comfortable, fits and doesn’t create blisters is KEY to having a good time hiking.

Who wants to hear a kid moaning about how their feet hurt?

Or that they’re tired because their shoes are heavy clunkers.

We tried out KEEN’s Targhee III line for adults and the Targhee boot for little kids on the gravel and rough trails.

What made it easier for us with these boots was:

• They are made out of light materials so they don’t tire our feet out
• The interior is spacious (for adults, you can order regular, mid or wide sized footwear based on your needs) so our feet weren’t cramped.
• The ankle support is awesome. These boots fit like a glove and keep your feet protected.

At the end of our hike, our little guy was still running around in the field by the parking lot.

Footwear can make or break a hiking excursion.

TIP: If you’ve got the wrong footwear, plan on bringing bandaids or other blister protection.

3 // Bring Something To Eat And Drink

Even if you’re hiking close to home and plan to be on the trail for only an hour, never underestimate the effects of fresh air on a kid’s appetite.

ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS bring snacks and a bottle of water or juice to feed your ravenous kids.

If yours is anything like ours, he or she will bug you until you’re ready to cut the hike short, if they want something to eat or drink.

We packed trail mix and each of us had a bottle of water.

4 // Choose Short Trails For Little Kids

Unless your kids have a crazy endurance and can keep their pee in for long periods of time, always choose short trails.

Think of it: your legs can take a longer stride than a little kid’s legs. They’re usually doing double the amount of work you are on a trail.

So consider shorter trails for kids, especially if you haven’t been out on longer hikes for a long time. This way you’ll avoid the chance of having to carry your child back to the car.

TIP: If your trail is super easy, consider bringing a stroller with you. If your kid still fits in it, it’s the best way for you to enjoy a longer hike without the whining.

5 // Bring A Bag With You

Chances are your child will find some amazing treasures along the trails.

Leaves, acorns, pine cones, sticks and rocks are all treasures that little kids want to bring home with them.

Instead of saying NO to them (because who needs more stuff to clutter up the home), and starting World War III on a hiking trail, let your kids bring their finds home.

Place them in a designated bag that you have stored in your day pack or backpack.

TIP: Collect cool stuff with your kids and use them for Fall craft projects.

Why We Love KEEN Footwear

We always feel that a great hike begins with the right footwear. We also love to work with brands that are doing good.

If you don’t know KEEN Footwear, this is your time to find out more about this awesome brand. It’s a family-owned business, focusing on outdoor footwear, clothing and accessories.

The company’s mission is doing good for local communities and the environment, supporting people and outdoor places that bring people to nature.

Our KEEN Review

Here’s what we tested out:

Our son Mikey tried out the KEEN Little Kids’ Targhee Waterproof Boot.

This boot is awesome for a few reasons:

• It’s super light – for little feet, you don’t need a heavy boot.
• The treads offer traction that’s awesome for rougher terrains.
• Ankle support means you aren’t getting so many twisted ankles on trails.

Mikey enjoyed how the boot felt on his feet, but in typical 4-year-old fashion, was in love with the cool treads on the bottom.

TIP: They have KEEN Big Kid’s Targhee boots as well if your kids are a bit older.

My husband tried out the KEEN Men’s Targhee III Waterproof MID Boot. This is KEEN’s classic hiking boot that’s been updated with the newest tech and style.

He likes it for a few key reasons:

• It has a waterproof leather and mesh upper and is lightweight, making it not only durable but super comfortable to wear.
• The ankle support and more importantly how the shoe felt with his flat feet. Good support and comfort are key for him and this KEEN boot does the job.

His key review: “It feels like an extension of my foot.”

I tried out the women’s version: the KEEN Women’s Targhee Waterproof MID boot.

Personally, KEEN boots and shoes are my go-to footwear for anything from hikes to grocery shopping. I even wore them daily throughout my pregnancy.

With this new Targhee style, there are a few key things I like:

• Since my foot is wide, I like to have more room in my hiking boots. The option to buy a MID sized means I can make sure the top part of my foot isn’t squished up.
• What I also liked was the quality: the leather is firm (especially around the ankle) and overall the boot is light and well-made. I know I’ll have these hiking boots for many excursions to come!

Want to buy a pair of KEEN Targhee boots for yourself? You can purchase them directly from the Keen website.

So Get Hiking!

Get your gear together, get the kids and get outside!

Although you’ll have to make sure you practice social distancing on the trails, it’s still a GREAT way to get in exercise and fresh air.

Not to mention, a fantastic way to beat “Cabin Fever”.

Happy hiking!

QUESTION: What are your best Fall hiking tips for families? I’d love to hear from you!

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