Guide

10 Family-Friendly Hikes in National Parks

By Margaret Littman

Pulitzer Prize-winner Wallace Stegner is known for saying, “National parks are the best idea we ever had.”

That’s hard to argue with. There are 433 different sites in the U.S. National Park System (NPS), covering more than 85 million acres. Since 1916, these protected lands have allowed people to get outside, and many of these parks are open at low- or no-cost, with additional fees for lodges, inns, and activities.

In February 2025, close to 5 percent of total National Park staff were removed from their jobs. Though some have been reinstated, it’s more important than ever for children to understand the importance of the National Park Service.

Below is a list of 10 kid-friendly hikes in U.S. National Parks. These hikes have been selected as good, introductory walks for younger kids, with various compelling features. Knowing your kids’ endurance levels and interests will help you pick the right trips for your family.

Pro-tip: U.S. fourth grade students (and their families) can nab a Every Kid Outdoors pass to get free admission to those sites that do charge, and visiting a National Park first-hand can help instill principles of responsible stewardship.

  1. A pathway winding through a landscape of green trees, in the distance the light is brighter creating a glow further along the trail.

    Photo By: NPS Photo/Dave Boyle

    Kīpukapuaulu, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i

    At just 1.2-miles, this loop trail is a short one. But on it, your kids can see some of the rarest plants and animals in the 50th state. In fact, some folks call this a “bird park,” due to the variety of birds you may see and hear. The trail is flat, with a forest growing from soil from the lava flow from Mauna Loa. Native butterflies weave their way through blooming nasturtium.

    Learn More

  2. View of a waterway produced by a glacier surrounded by trees.

    Photo By: NPS Photo/C Grobelny

    Exit Glacier Overlook Loop Trail, Kenai Fjords, National Park, Alaska.

    The eight-hour guided Exit Glacier excursions require patience and crampons. They are not for the new hiker or those who can’t carry their own packs. But you and your family can walk on this 2.2-mile paved loop trail at the glacier’s base and see the glacier and even touch snow and ice. In the summer, you’ll do so with many other visitors (the road to the glacier is closed to cars in the winter). Stop to check out signage showing how the glacier has retreated over time, a great visual representation of the effects of climate change. Check the schedule of Ranger-led walks for more in-depth and age-appropriate info.

    Learn More

  3. View of the ende of a lkaeleading into a snow crop of trees with looming mountains toped with snow rising above the foiliage and water.

    Photo By: National Park Service

    Alpine Lakes Loop, Great Basin National Park, Nevada

    The 2.7-mile Alpine Lakes Loop is one of the most popular trails in Great Basin, but Great Basin is one of the least-visited parks in the system, so you’re not signing up for extreme crowds when you take the family on this walk. This is a relatively easy year-round trail, with an elevation change of about 400 feet, winding by two lakes and going through both meadow and forest landscapes. It’s even doable at night (with the right gear) if you have a group that likes to stargaze.

    Learn More

  4. A photograph of a deep orange, red, and pink sun rise meeting the blue and striped lancscape of Bryce Canyon.

    Photo By: Sridhar Saraf via Flickr CC-BY-SA-2.0

    Sunset Point to Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.

    The 1-mile portion of this rim hike along Bryce Canyon Amphitheater is up high and provides jaw-dropping views of the hoodoos below. This section is paved (and leashed pets are welcome) and is the easiest in the park, with an elevation gain of 200 feet. It’s a great way to get started in Bryce.

    Learn More

  5. View of a mountain rising above the dark green foilage of trees. Both the motuanin and the landscape have snow on the ground.

    Photo By: Russ Images via Flickr CC-by-2.0

    Montville Nature Trail, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado.

    The dunes themselves in this park don’t have trails. You and your kids can explore anywhere on the 30-square-mile dunefield. But sand can get hot in summer and the high elevations can be a challenge for those who aren’t used to it. The Montville Nature Trail is a shady, forested trail that offers a respite from the sand and the sun. Grab a brochure before you head out to help interpret the historic signage about the 1800s settlement that once stood here.

    Learn More

  6. A paved pathway curves slightly through a thicket of brightly colored green trees.

    Photo By: Ken Lund via CC-BY-SA-2.0

    Rainy Lake Recreation Trail, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota.

    This paved 1.5-mile trail welcomes families, cyclists, and even leashed pets to walk through its forests, marshes, and past rock outcroppings. In the winter, this is a popular snowshoeing route. In the autumn, fall foliage can be rich and colorful.

    Learn More

  7. A white bridge over a river surrounded by green trees.

    Photo By: Tim Evanson via Flickr CC-BY-SA-2.0

    Station Road Bridge, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio.

    Pack the binoculars when you hike this 1-mile trail. You may see bald eagles in their nest, and you’ll definitely see the restored 1881 railway bridge that is now open to walkers, cyclists, and horses. Photographers like this spot because the arches of other rail bridges visible from here frame the landscape well. The park also has three short walks specifically designed for individuals with autism.

    Learn More

  8. View of the rolling hills of the Shenandoah across an exapnse of green grass with a thicket of dark green trees at the horizon line.

    Photo By: Andrew Mace via Flickr by CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0

    Tanners Ridge Road, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

    While some kids have hiked the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail with their families, for the most part, those hearty youth are outliers. But if your kids want to say they’ve done a section of the AT, this is a fairly flat (about a 175-foot elevation gain) option. Take the 2.1-mile round trip trail and see a former homestead site and take your photo by the signage for the AT.

    Learn More

  9. View of a sunset, rays of lights peaking through clouds of blue with a golden aura over a landscape of grass and water that make up the Everglades.

    Photo By: DianaRobinson Flickr NC-ND-2.0

    Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida

    A wheelchair accessible, 0.8-mile trail winds its way through a sawgrass marsh. In winter in particular, when birds have moved south for the season, you’ll see egrets, herons, and anhinga, plus alligators and turtles.

    Learn More

  10. A view of the rocky surface at the top of Cadillack Mountain leading into a blue sky with banks of clouds.

    Photo By: Priya Chhaya

    Cadillac Mountain Summit Road, Acadia National Park, Maine

    People like to get to Cadillac Mountain very (very) early so they can be the first people in the U.S. to see the sunrise on a given day. If your kids are ready to be up-and-at-‘em at 4 a.m., great. If not, you can still take in the views from the highest point on the eastern seaboard any time of day. The windy road is about 3.5 miles long and you’ll have plenty of company with other visitors.

    Learn More

Margaret Littman is a Nashville-based journalist who tells the stories of people and places. Follow her work on socials @littmanwrites.

10 Family-Friendly Hikes in National Parks

10 Places
  1. 1
    A pathway winding through a landscape of green trees, in the distance the light is brighter creating a glow further along the trail.
    A pathway winding through a landscape of green trees, in the distance the light is brighter creating a glow further along the trail.

    Kīpukapuaulu, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i

    At just 1.2-miles, this loop trail is a short one. But on it, your kids can see some of the rarest plants and animals in the 50th state. In fact, some folks call this a “bird park,” due to the variety of birds you may see and hear. The trail is flat, with a forest growing from soil from the lava flow from Mauna Loa. Native butterflies weave their way through blooming nasturtium.
  2. 2
    View of a waterway produced by a glacier surrounded by trees.
    View of a waterway produced by a glacier surrounded by trees.

    Exit Glacier Overlook Loop Trail, Kenai Fjords, National Park, Alaska.

    The eight-hour guided Exit Glacier excursions require patience and crampons. They are not for the new hiker or those who can’t carry their own packs. But you and your family can walk on this 2.2-mile paved loop trail at the glacier’s base and see the glacier and even touch snow and ice. In the summer, you’ll do so with many other visitors (the road to the glacier is closed to cars in the winter). Stop to check out signage showing how the glacier has retreated over time, a great visual representation of the effects of climate change. Check the schedule of Ranger-led walks for more in-depth and age-appropriate info.
  3. 3
    View of the ende of a lkaeleading into a snow crop of trees with looming mountains toped with snow rising above the foiliage and water.
    View of the ende of a lkaeleading into a snow crop of trees with looming mountains toped with snow rising above the foiliage and water.

    Alpine Lakes Loop, Great Basin National Park, Nevada

    The 2.7-mile Alpine Lakes Loop is one of the most popular trails in Great Basin, but Great Basin is one of the least-visited parks in the system, so you’re not signing up for extreme crowds when you take the family on this walk. This is a relatively easy year-round trail, with an elevation change of about 400 feet, winding by two lakes and going through both meadow and forest landscapes. It’s even doable at night (with the right gear) if you have a group that likes to stargaze.
  4. 4
    A photograph of a deep orange, red, and pink sun rise meeting the blue and striped lancscape of Bryce Canyon.
    A photograph of a deep orange, red, and pink sun rise meeting the blue and striped lancscape of Bryce Canyon.

    Sunset Point to Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.

    The 1-mile portion of this rim hike along Bryce Canyon Amphitheater is up high and provides jaw-dropping views of the hoodoos below. This section is paved (and leashed pets are welcome) and is the easiest in the park, with an elevation gain of 200 feet. It’s a great way to get started in Bryce.
  5. 5
    View of a mountain rising above the dark green foilage of trees. Both the motuanin and the landscape have snow on the ground.
    View of a mountain rising above the dark green foilage of trees. Both the motuanin and the landscape have snow on the ground.

    Montville Nature Trail, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado.

    The dunes themselves in this park don’t have trails. You and your kids can explore anywhere on the 30-square-mile dunefield. But sand can get hot in summer and the high elevations can be a challenge for those who aren’t used to it. The Montville Nature Trail is a shady, forested trail that offers a respite from the sand and the sun. Grab a brochure before you head out to help interpret the historic signage about the 1800s settlement that once stood here.
  6. 6
    A paved pathway curves slightly through a thicket of brightly colored green trees.
    A paved pathway curves slightly through a thicket of brightly colored green trees.

    Rainy Lake Recreation Trail, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota.

    This paved 1.5-mile trail welcomes families, cyclists, and even leashed pets to walk through its forests, marshes, and past rock outcroppings. In the winter, this is a popular snowshoeing route. In the autumn, fall foliage can be rich and colorful.
  7. 7
    A white bridge over a river surrounded by green trees.
    A white bridge over a river surrounded by green trees.

    Station Road Bridge, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio.

    Pack the binoculars when you hike this 1-mile trail. You may see bald eagles in their nest, and you’ll definitely see the restored 1881 railway bridge that is now open to walkers, cyclists, and horses. Photographers like this spot because the arches of other rail bridges visible from here frame the landscape well. The park also has three short walks specifically designed for individuals with autism.
  8. 8
    View of the rolling hills of the Shenandoah across an exapnse of green grass with a thicket of dark green trees at the horizon line.
    View of the rolling hills of the Shenandoah across an exapnse of green grass with a thicket of dark green trees at the horizon line.

    Tanners Ridge Road, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

    While some kids have hiked the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail with their families, for the most part, those hearty youth are outliers. But if your kids want to say they’ve done a section of the AT, this is a fairly flat (about a 175-foot elevation gain) option. Take the 2.1-mile round trip trail and see a former homestead site and take your photo by the signage for the AT.
  9. 9
    View of a sunset, rays of lights peaking through clouds of blue with a golden aura over a landscape of grass and water that make up the Everglades.
    View of a sunset, rays of lights peaking through clouds of blue with a golden aura over a landscape of grass and water that make up the Everglades.

    Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida

    A wheelchair accessible, 0.8-mile trail winds its way through a sawgrass marsh. In winter in particular, when birds have moved south for the season, you’ll see egrets, herons, and anhinga, plus alligators and turtles.
  10. 10
    A view of the rocky surface at the top of Cadillack Mountain leading into a blue sky with banks of clouds.
    A view of the rocky surface at the top of Cadillack Mountain leading into a blue sky with banks of clouds.

    Cadillac Mountain Summit Road, Acadia National Park, Maine

    People like to get to Cadillac Mountain very (very) early so they can be the first people in the U.S. to see the sunrise on a given day. If your kids are ready to be up-and-at-‘em at 4 a.m., great. If not, you can still take in the views from the highest point on the eastern seaboard any time of day. The windy road is about 3.5 miles long and you’ll have plenty of company with other visitors.
  1. 1
    A pathway winding through a landscape of green trees, in the distance the light is brighter creating a glow further along the trail.
    A pathway winding through a landscape of green trees, in the distance the light is brighter creating a glow further along the trail.

    Kīpukapuaulu, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai’i

    At just 1.2-miles, this loop trail is a short one. But on it, your kids can see some of the rarest plants and animals in the 50th state. In fact, some folks call this a “bird park,” due to the variety of birds you may see and hear. The trail is flat, with a forest growing from soil from the lava flow from Mauna Loa. Native butterflies weave their way through blooming nasturtium.
  2. 2
    View of a waterway produced by a glacier surrounded by trees.
    View of a waterway produced by a glacier surrounded by trees.

    Exit Glacier Overlook Loop Trail, Kenai Fjords, National Park, Alaska.

    The eight-hour guided Exit Glacier excursions require patience and crampons. They are not for the new hiker or those who can’t carry their own packs. But you and your family can walk on this 2.2-mile paved loop trail at the glacier’s base and see the glacier and even touch snow and ice. In the summer, you’ll do so with many other visitors (the road to the glacier is closed to cars in the winter). Stop to check out signage showing how the glacier has retreated over time, a great visual representation of the effects of climate change. Check the schedule of Ranger-led walks for more in-depth and age-appropriate info.
  3. 3
    View of the ende of a lkaeleading into a snow crop of trees with looming mountains toped with snow rising above the foiliage and water.
    View of the ende of a lkaeleading into a snow crop of trees with looming mountains toped with snow rising above the foiliage and water.

    Alpine Lakes Loop, Great Basin National Park, Nevada

    The 2.7-mile Alpine Lakes Loop is one of the most popular trails in Great Basin, but Great Basin is one of the least-visited parks in the system, so you’re not signing up for extreme crowds when you take the family on this walk. This is a relatively easy year-round trail, with an elevation change of about 400 feet, winding by two lakes and going through both meadow and forest landscapes. It’s even doable at night (with the right gear) if you have a group that likes to stargaze.
  4. 4
    A photograph of a deep orange, red, and pink sun rise meeting the blue and striped lancscape of Bryce Canyon.
    A photograph of a deep orange, red, and pink sun rise meeting the blue and striped lancscape of Bryce Canyon.

    Sunset Point to Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.

    The 1-mile portion of this rim hike along Bryce Canyon Amphitheater is up high and provides jaw-dropping views of the hoodoos below. This section is paved (and leashed pets are welcome) and is the easiest in the park, with an elevation gain of 200 feet. It’s a great way to get started in Bryce.
  5. 5
    View of a mountain rising above the dark green foilage of trees. Both the motuanin and the landscape have snow on the ground.
    View of a mountain rising above the dark green foilage of trees. Both the motuanin and the landscape have snow on the ground.

    Montville Nature Trail, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado.

    The dunes themselves in this park don’t have trails. You and your kids can explore anywhere on the 30-square-mile dunefield. But sand can get hot in summer and the high elevations can be a challenge for those who aren’t used to it. The Montville Nature Trail is a shady, forested trail that offers a respite from the sand and the sun. Grab a brochure before you head out to help interpret the historic signage about the 1800s settlement that once stood here.
  6. 6
    A paved pathway curves slightly through a thicket of brightly colored green trees.
    A paved pathway curves slightly through a thicket of brightly colored green trees.

    Rainy Lake Recreation Trail, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota.

    This paved 1.5-mile trail welcomes families, cyclists, and even leashed pets to walk through its forests, marshes, and past rock outcroppings. In the winter, this is a popular snowshoeing route. In the autumn, fall foliage can be rich and colorful.
  7. 7
    A white bridge over a river surrounded by green trees.
    A white bridge over a river surrounded by green trees.

    Station Road Bridge, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio.

    Pack the binoculars when you hike this 1-mile trail. You may see bald eagles in their nest, and you’ll definitely see the restored 1881 railway bridge that is now open to walkers, cyclists, and horses. Photographers like this spot because the arches of other rail bridges visible from here frame the landscape well. The park also has three short walks specifically designed for individuals with autism.
  8. 8
    View of the rolling hills of the Shenandoah across an exapnse of green grass with a thicket of dark green trees at the horizon line.
    View of the rolling hills of the Shenandoah across an exapnse of green grass with a thicket of dark green trees at the horizon line.

    Tanners Ridge Road, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

    While some kids have hiked the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail with their families, for the most part, those hearty youth are outliers. But if your kids want to say they’ve done a section of the AT, this is a fairly flat (about a 175-foot elevation gain) option. Take the 2.1-mile round trip trail and see a former homestead site and take your photo by the signage for the AT.
  9. 9
    View of a sunset, rays of lights peaking through clouds of blue with a golden aura over a landscape of grass and water that make up the Everglades.
    View of a sunset, rays of lights peaking through clouds of blue with a golden aura over a landscape of grass and water that make up the Everglades.

    Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida

    A wheelchair accessible, 0.8-mile trail winds its way through a sawgrass marsh. In winter in particular, when birds have moved south for the season, you’ll see egrets, herons, and anhinga, plus alligators and turtles.
  10. 10
    A view of the rocky surface at the top of Cadillack Mountain leading into a blue sky with banks of clouds.
    A view of the rocky surface at the top of Cadillack Mountain leading into a blue sky with banks of clouds.

    Cadillac Mountain Summit Road, Acadia National Park, Maine

    People like to get to Cadillac Mountain very (very) early so they can be the first people in the U.S. to see the sunrise on a given day. If your kids are ready to be up-and-at-‘em at 4 a.m., great. If not, you can still take in the views from the highest point on the eastern seaboard any time of day. The windy road is about 3.5 miles long and you’ll have plenty of company with other visitors.

This May, for Preservation Month, we’re celebrating the power of place—and the countless ways, big and small, that preservation creates. Preservation Month is our chance to show why our work matters!

Celebrate!