Canyon backpacking trip with toddlers

[kee.2885]

Hello! Looking for a 2-3 day backpacking hike with 3 and 4 year old boys in southern Utah in late April or early May. Would like to avoid carrying water or rope. Thanks for your ideas!

 

[Bob]

First.... Always carry water

 

[regehr]

it's hard to imagine 3-4 year olds doing a realistic desert backpacking route, so what I imagine you're really looking for here is something that would normally be a day hike, that ends up at a reliable water source. which in some cases will be problematic this year since it's dry out there.

perhaps something like parking near where Highway 12 crosses the Escalante, walking the use trails along the river upstream as far as you're interested in going, and then finding a place to camp.

or perhaps Boulder Mail Trail just to Sand Creek.

in any case if I were you I'd be scouting the route by myself first, before committing with kids of that age.

 

[Bob]

Goblin Valley

 

[TrailScot]

perhaps something like parking near where Highway 12 crosses the Escalante, walking the use trails along the river upstream as far as you're interested in going, and then finding a place to camp.

I think that's a great idea ... there is an arch, a natural bridge, a large ruin, and some rock art, all within 4 easy-walking miles of the Escalante River Trailhead ... and if you wanted to get off the sandy trail, there would also be lots of fun to be had walking in the river along this stretch, although the water may be a little chilly at that time of year ...

 

[regehr]

I think that's a great idea ... there is an arch, a natural bridge, a large ruin, and some rock art, all within 4 easy-walking miles of the Escalante River Trailhead ... and if you wanted to get off the sandy trail, there would also be lots of fun to be had walking in the river along this stretch, although the water may be a little chilly at that time of year ...

when my kids were little we spent soooo much time just hanging around near water in the desert.

one of my favorite (more recent) memories was car camping at Hidden Splendor when it was a bit too warm out and we just carried our camp chairs over to the Muddy and hung out in the shade with our feet in the water, while my buddy's kid stacked rocks and floated sticks and all that kid stuff.

 

[RyanP]

Goblin Valley

Yeah, I was thinking along the same lines. I know it's not what the OP was asking for, but car camping near goblin valley is perfect for kids of any age (tons of short-ish day hikes of various difficulty levels in the vicinity)

 

[Bob]

That and hit Wildhorse

 

[kee.2885]

it's hard to imagine 3-4 year olds doing a realistic desert backpacking route, so what I imagine you're really looking for here is something that would normally be a day hike, that ends up at a reliable water source. which in some cases will be problematic this year since it's dry out there.

perhaps something like parking near where Highway 12 crosses the Escalante, walking the use trails along the river upstream as far as you're interested in going, and then finding a place to camp.

or perhaps Boulder Mail Trail just to Sand Creek.

in any case if I were you I'd be scouting the route by myself first, before committing with kids of that age.

We took them on a trip down coyote gulch and it went great! They have also been on some backpacking trips around Mt Shasta. Yes, they are usually day trip mileage broken into multiple days. We are just looking for a 2-3 day trip (8 miles maybe max?) That has water.