Hiking with Kids... - ultimate guide to everything

This post is dedicated to two amazing girls. Michelle and Natalie. For being two amazing hiking buddies, and great fun in the trail, just waiting for the next adventure.

Going into nature, going hiking us amazing by itself. It is even better, when we believe the crowded, big city like New York (which I call home), and escape even for a day, to forest and mountains. The ability to breath fresh air, the ability to do not hear any city noise, to not see any card, or cell phone ringing all the time, it is priceless. Especially in the different times we, found ourselves living now. There is a worldwide pandemic going on, and it is Scarry. That is why, me and my friend, found an escape way. Going back to the nature, even for one day. The weather is getting chilly, and the day are much shorter. Mother Nature is getting ready for snow season, and there is nothing we can do it about, except enjoy it. I personally love it. I live snow, I love cold and winter. Somehow my brain works better then. But that is the story for a different time.

So, getting back to the main subject, myself, my friend, and her 8-year-old twin girls, become hiking buddies, and we love it …

We are not externally experienced yet, but we are learning with every outing. We still figuring it, what is works for our team, and what is not.

Well, I tell you one thing. Living in New York City has its advantages. We have a lot of wild nature upstate, close as 2 hours away. And believe me when I say, it is like being completely in a different world.

So far, we have visited 3 parks, and I will focus on them today, but we already planning a lot more adventures in farther places.

1. Mohonk Preserve

The Mohonk Preserve is a nature preserve in the Shawangunk Ridge, 90 miles (140 km) north of New York City in Ulster County, New York. The preserve has over 8,000 acres (32 km2) of cliffs, forests, fields, ponds and streams, with over 70 miles (110 km) of carriage roads and 40 miles (64 km) of trails for hiking, cycling, trail running, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding. It is also a major destination for rock climbers, hosting 50,000 climbers each year who enjoy more than 1,000 climbing routes.

2. Minawaska State Park Preserve

The Minnewaska State Park Preserve is a 22,275-acre (90.14 km2) preserve located on the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County, New York on US 44/NY 55, five miles (8.0 km) west of New York State Route 299. The park, which features scenic overlooks of the nearby Catskill Mountains, is primarily used for picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and swimming. The park is managed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Four of the five sky lakes on the Shawangunk Ridge lie within the preserve: Lake Minnewaska, Lake Awosting, Mud Pond (also known as Lake Haseco), and Lake Maratanza; Mohonk Lake is on the property of the Mohonk Mountain House to the north of Minnewaska. Lake Minnewaska is a bit less than one-half mile (0.8 km) long by one-eighth mile (0.2 km) wide at its widest point. Lake Awosting is roughly three times as large, with a length of about one and an eighth miles (1.8 km) and a maximum width of about one-quarter mile (0.4 km) mile.

3. Harriman State Park

At 47,527 acres (192.33 km2), Harriman State Park is the second largest state park in New York State. Located in Rockland and Orange counties 30 miles (48 km) north of New York City, it is a haven for hikers with over 200 miles (320 km) of hiking trails. The park is also known for its 31 lakes, multiple streams, public camping area, and great vistas. The park’s hiking trails are currently maintained by volunteers from the New York – New Jersey Trail Conference. On its northeastern edge, Harriman State Park borders the 5,000-acre (20 km2) Bear Mountain State Park as well as the United States Military Academy’s 16,000-acre (65 km2) forest reserve. To the southwest, it partly borders the state-owned 18,000-acre (73 km2) Sterling Forest reserve. These areas, together with the state’s Storm King forest reserve of 1,900 acres (7.7 km2), amount to contiguous protected forests that are substantially larger than Harriman alone.

**Tips on hiking with kids**

You need food. Lots of snacks, that give the kids lots of energy to walk.

We are trying to keep it healthy and vegan, but there is always a chocolate (to boost the morale), and their favorite snacks.

Make sure to pack high energy food, and snacks, not only sugary empty calories.

We always pack baby bell cheese, cheese sticks and beef jerky sticks.

If the weather allows, we always have thin blanket, or even plastic picnic tablecloth, to spread in the ground so we can sit, and eat lunch, while having break.

Kids usually have their own, small backpacks with their favorite plush animal friend, so it also can be included in the hike.

Always have an extra clothes, socks, gloves, and hats (in colder seasons). that is applied to grown up as well.

Wear ankle high shoes, to prevent sprains. Shoes should have a good grip bottoms (hiking boots, outdoor shoes). Especially in colder season have a warm, wool socks.

I love to read, so I am trying to share my knowledge with everybody. That is how my blog came to life. And believe, me sharing bits and pieces, and teaching city kids about trees, forest life and looking out for bugs, and collecting leaves, it is a great fun, for me as well.

Always take under consideration the length and degree of difficulty when it comes to choosing next trail to climb. You might be ok with 10 miles up the hill, the little climbers may be not!

Completely flat terrain will get boring soon. Change of scenery is good. Little climbing the rocks here and there, little tight passages, stream, or river or even the waterfall, is great.

Always have a camera or phone, charged and ready for pictures. And believe me. Take plenty of them!

Take your time. It is not a race. The little feet walk slower. This time you, as a grownup must adjust.

And finally, make it a team effort, and make it a great outdoor activity for everybody.

**Food and snacks **

Energy bars / energy balls