Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails Near Popular RV Destinations
Nothing beats spending time in nature with your family, especially when you can travel in an RV! But finding trails that are fun and easy for everyone can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Plenty of kid-friendly hiking trails near popular RV destinations exist across the country, offering manageable distances and enough excitement to keep young adventurers happy.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Michigan
Just a few hours from Detroit, this trail offers something magical for kids. The Dune Climb provides a unique hiking experience where children can scramble up sandy slopes and roll back down.
Incredible Views
The 1.5-mile round trip can be the perfect playground for traditional hiking. Views of Lake Michigan reward families who make it to the top, and the descent becomes pure joy for kids who love sliding down sand dunes.
Waterloo Recreation Area in Chelsea, Michigan
Located 45 minutes west of Detroit, the Oak Woods Trail spans just 1.2 miles and features wooden boardwalks over wetlands. Your kids will love spotting turtles, frogs, and various bird species along the way.
Learn Along the Way
The relatively flat terrain works well for younger hikers, while interpretive signs teach children about local wildlife. You also have multiple picnic areas where you can take snack breaks when energy levels dip.
Emerald Lake Trail at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
This 3.2-mile out-and-back trail near Estes Park offers stunning mountain views without excessive elevation gain. Children often spot chipmunks and marmots along the path, turning the hike into a wildlife watching expedition.
Explore the Lake
The trail ends at a beautiful alpine lake where kids can skip stones and explore the shoreline. Many families take modern RV and camper van accessorieswith them, like portable camp chairs and collapsible water bottles, to enhance their outdoor experience.
Angel’s Landing Lower Trail at Zion National Park, Utah
Skip the famous chains section and stick to the lower part of this trail with children. The Riverside Walk and lower Angel’s Landing trail provide 2.4 miles of paved and well-maintained paths.
What Your Family Will Love
Your family would love the towering red canyon walls and the Virgin River, which runs alongside much of the route. The trail offers plenty of shade and several turnaround points for families with varying energy levels.
Caddo Lake State Park in Karnack, Texas
The 1.5-mile Forest Trail takes families through diverse ecosystems, including pine forests and cypress swamps. Children can act as detectives in nature as they search for armadillo tracks and listen for woodpecker calls.
Explore the Boardwalk
The boardwalk sections over wetlands give safe opportunities to spot alligators from a distance. Multiple loops allow families to customize their hiking distance based on the group’s stamina.
These kid-friendly hiking trails near popular RV destinations prove that family adventures don’t require extreme distances or challenging terrain. Each location offers unique features that capture children’s imagination while providing manageable distances. Your next family hiking adventure awaits just around the bend from your favorite RV campground.
