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Hiking Essentials for Family Day Hikes

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My family does a lot of hiking together. We enjoy exploring new trails with our kids. Sometimes we go on short day hikes and other times, the hikes may take all day long. It just depends on where we go.

You don’t need to take along a ton of hiking gear for simple day hikes with children. I have learned from experience that mom and dad usually wind up carrying everybody else’s stuff! So we now plan out exactly what we need to take and leave the rest behind. Every family member has a small backpack of hiking essentials to carry.

The latest tweak to our family’s hiking gear are the hydration backpacks. We recently went on a hike and I ended up carrying multiple water bottles for the kids and myself. It isn’t much fun to hike with your hands full of water bottles. I decided there had to be a better way for us to bring water on hiking trips. And hydration backpacks are the answer! This kind of backpack holds water plus has enough room for smaller items.

hiking essentials family day hikes

Water is our #1 hiking essential. It is important to stay hydrated. Other hiking essentials we bring on the trail include:

Other Helpful Tips:

*Don’t forget to wear the right kind of shoes for your hike. Flip flops and sandals may work on easy trails, but they are not always the best choice. Lightweight hiking shoes are good for shorter day hikes.

*Check the weather forecast on the day of your hike. If rain is in the forecast, you will need to be prepared with rain gear. Remember to check temperatures and dress appropriately.

banana boat sunscreen

For my kids’ faces and ears, I love to use the Kids Stick Sunscreen. The sticks are an easy-to-carry size and don’t take up much room in our backpacks. We have to remember to re-apply our sunscreen every 1-2 hours as recommended while we are out hiking. It is so important to me to protect my children’s skin from sunburn, long-term sun damage and skin cancer. I am also a fan of Sunscreen Spray because it is so quick and easy to apply. I use that a lot for myself and the kids, too.

Do you like to go for day hikes with your family? What hiking essentials would you add to this list?

See our hike to Delicate Arch at Arches National Park.

Check out our day trip to see the Great Salt Lake, Utah at Antelope Island State Park. We also had a fun summer trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado.


Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Nicole says

      I bet you go through lots of sunscreen in AZ! Hope you aren’t melting this summer. I hear it has been super hot there!

  4. Tammy Roy says

    I love going on hikes with my family. I always remember to pack Insect Repellent and Sunscreen. Staying hydrated is so important when you are getting exercising.

    • Nicole says

      Hi Sarah! My family enjoys going on hikes, it is a great way to get active together. Since you are just starting out, I would suggest looking for a short (less than half mile) hike that ends somewhere fun – like a nice view, a waterfalls, etc. if possible. My kids like having a “reward” at the end of the trail and it keeps them going. Have a great summer! -Nicole

  7. Liz Mays says

    I’ve never tried a stick sunscreen, but I would like that in the under eye zone/cheekbone area where I always burn. I’ll look for this.

    • Nicole says

      Hi Liz, Yes, the stick sunscreen makes those small, hard to reach areas possible. I started using the stick sunscreen last year, and it is a must-have for us now. –Nicole

  11. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    I love hiking! Sunscreen and bug repellent are definite must haves!

  12. Jeannette says

    This is a great list of essentials! Living in the mountains we do a ton of hiking and the two things we never go without are water and sunscreen. With those two things you can really make it work!

  13. Jennifer says

    You’ve got to have sunscreen, water, and snacks! It’s hard to enjoy any outdoor activity when you’re fried to a crisp, parched, and starving.

  14. Dawn says

    Going hiking for the day is fun, but you really need to have your bases covered. Whenever we go on any sort of extended walk, I bring sunscreen and a mini-first aid kit. You just never know!

    • Nicole says

      For sure! We always bring sunscreen (Banana Boat spray is so convenient to use) and our mini “survival” kit includes band-aids, which are great for scrapes and blisters.