Winter Hiking With Babies

Last year, Mark and Mason went on a father/son trip in search of epic hot springs. Over the course of a week, they visited four hot springs in Oregon. It was nice to have a break from parenting, but the jealousy I had from their amazing pictures made me realize how I never would have thought to go on a hot springs tour with Mason. (His dad is the creative one when it comes to thinking of big adventures.) While some people are nervous about babies in hot springs, we have found over the years there are varying degrees of springs – from very rustic to well established. But all of these, in our opinion, are kiddo-friendly. Here’s a handful of springs west of the Rockies to consider if you find yourself nearby.   7 Kid-friendly hot springs west of the Rockies 1. Saratoga Hot Springs, Utah County GPS: N40° 21' 11", W111°, SD-53, SD Saratoga Springs is a very family-friendly hot spring that you can get to with maybe half a mile hike. Located on the border of Utah County and Salt Lake County on the northwest side of Utah Lake, it’s close to Inlet Park. “The water wasn’t stinky and was relatively clear. My son loved the copious amounts of roly polys along the way,” said Katie Rains. Make sure to bring a plastic bag to put your clothes on, especially during shoulder seasons, as it can get pretty muddy around the edge of the springs. This springs stays relatively untrafficked, so other than maybe weekend evenings, you should be able to soak easily. 2. Miracle Hot Springs Address: 19073A U.S. 30, Buhl, ID 83316 While natural hot springs always make for a fun adventure, it’s also nice to visit established springs as well, especially if you are nervous about how your kiddo will do in the hot springs. Miracle Hot Springs is a very kid-friendly establishment in between Twin Falls and Boise that you can visit for the day or stay over. They have fun dome tent-like structures and camping options available. One of the reasons we like this springs is because it definitely feels clean and well taken care of. The design of the pools is adobe-style and feels more like New Mexico than Idaho. There are hot, medium and super kid-friendly temps. There are also private rooms you can rent to get away from the crowds and tub alone. Random side note: Don’t miss out on visiting the massive caged alligator located on the hot springs grounds. Fifth Water Hot Springs 3. Fifth Water Hot Springs Address: Diamond Fork Rd, Springville, UT 84663 Located at the three forks trailhead in Diamond Fork Canyon, this popular natural soaking area is a bit of a hike (2.5 miles one way) so plan on carrying kiddos or only consider if they are good walkers. The road in is closed during snowy months, so this is not an all-season stop unless you have a 4-wheel drive and then it’s still questionable. This hot springs has a number of pools varying in temperature. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends, so if you are able to visit midweek, consider this. Nudity is frowned upon in this area, so please respect this. 4. Crystal Crane Hot Springs Address: 59315 OR-78, Burns, OR 97720 Southern Oregon has a handful of amazing hot springs to visit, with Crystal Crane being one of them. This tub is a big pond with affordable cabins and rooms scattered around it. There’s a community cook area and lounge, as well as a campground if you want to go super budget. The nice thing about this spot is it’s one place that would be hard pressed to fill up because the pond is truly a pond in size. It’s also right off the side of the highway and an easy-to-get-to springs, which makes it great for family adventures with little ones. 5. Alvord Hot Springs Address: 36095 E Steens Rd, Princeton, OR 97721 Located in the middle of a flat cracked desert that has a moon-like appearance, you drive out across the open land to the hot springs and rustic campground. This is a small hot springs that could potentially fill up quickly on a busy weekend; but during the week it’s quieter. This one is pretty remote, but you won’t be alone out here. Plan on bringing everything with you as civilization is not nearby. Do not visit this area if it has recently rained or might rain. You are guaranteed to get stuck as the desert turns to mud quickly.   Hart Mountain Hot Springs 6. Hart Mountain Hot Springs 42°30'05.9"N 119°41'22.3"W This is a remote hot springs that you have to travel down a dirt road for a while, but it can be done in a 2-wheel drive. There’s free camping and an outhouse, so plan on making this an overnighter. It’s in the middle of a wildlife refuge so you might catch a glimpse of an antelope or see coyotes playing in the fields surrounding the springs. Wild Willy's AKA Crowley Hot Springs 7. Wild Willy’s / Crowley Hot Springs Located near Bishop, CA, a popular rock climbing mecca and just down the road from Mammoth Ski Area, this hot springs is an Instagram regular for “vanlifers,” but it’s also super accessible, making it a family-friendly hangout. To get to this one, follow Benton Crossing Road about 2.5 miles until you get to a parking area. There’s a short boardwalk that will take you to the springs. The pool is big enough to hold about 30 people. You can also camp here if you so desire. Tips for Springing with Baby 1. If you visit a "wild" hot springs, check for updated info on any known bacterial issues in the area. BLM and U.S. Forest Service offices are a good resource for this info. 2. Bring a large plastic bag (or two) to put stuff in and on and to change baby. Also be awesome and hike any trash you see out at the end with that huge bag you brought! 3. Start with hot springs that are easier to get to versus going for one that is a hike out. This way you can gauge how your child will do in the hot springs. 4. Please use a very secure swim diaper and be conscious of the fact that warm water often makes kids poop! If your little one hasn't had a bowel movement for the day, consider this and keep a close eye on them. 5. Be aware of the "energy" in the hot springs and if you have a crying baby, maybe go for a walk and come back in a bit. People are often at hot springs for the quiet, meditative experience. Read More: How to navigate desert hiking 3 Amazing hikes for young children in Oregon What are some of your favorite hot springs to visit? We'd love to add hear in the comments below. ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

This article should be titled: Why it's awesome to be a part of HIB and get good discounts on gear. But since that's not a sexy title, I am calling it Mommy Fail.  A few months ago I went to Anchorage to visit family and while I had heaps of random gear that I threw in my bag, once I got there everything I brought seemed all wrong. Temperatures were in the teens and twenties and Mason hated everything I tried to put on him. "No hat Mommy. No jacket," he screamed at me as I tried to dress him. "No outside. No snow." Forget about the gloves. They were impossible to get on a screaming, wiggling toddler. His jacket was too tight over the layers I put underneath. The boots that seemed so awesome at home were a struggle to get on over the two pairs of wool socks. As I sat there in the car looking at the mishmash of clothes strewn about the backseat, I realized I had gotten it all wrong. I'm sure I'm not the only parent to wake up with this feeling in the morning when looking outside at a shift in weather. Still, in that moment I felt like a total mommy failure. The hardest thing about growing kids is biting the bullet and buying gear that will work for more than a month or two. It seems impossible right? As a parent you are so busy planning life, that adding "dressing for outdoor fun" in the mix is yet another thing to put on the ever growing list. However, I realized on this trip I ended up wasting time borrowing clothes and spending money on things I didn't really like. Had I just thought about the fact that winter was approaching and sought out what I really wanted, I wouldn't have had to make purchases twice. So if you are sitting there wondering what you need this year, here are my suggestions based on trial and error from this winter and last with my now 2 and a half year old. 1. BRANDS MATTER - If there is a brand you like as an adult, chances are they also make great gear for kids. I am a big fan of Columbia, Patagonia and North Face in adult brands so I always keep an eye out on what they are making in kids gear. Look at what you wear a lot of in your closet and try to find those brands used or new for your kids. 2. SHOP OFF SEASON - There are many ways to get discounted high quality gear. Look for sales in the off-seasons or end of a season for the following year. Last year I purchased 2T and 3T long underwear from REI for Mason that was normally $21 for $4. I bought ahead, put in a box for this year so I knew where to find it when this winter rolled around. That was the one thing I wore to death while in Alaska and am still putting on Mason every day. 3. TOASTY HANDS - We often get super caught up in jackets, pants, snowsuits, rain suits and forget what's going on a baby's hands. Think about the gloves you own for your little one. Big bulky gloves aren't necessarily warm. Put a finger in there and think about how those gloves feel compared to yours. Remember if you have a crawler they will have very wet hands. Waterproof/water resistant gloves matter. If you have fleece gloves you can wash them in things like Nik Wax to make them more water resistant. Fleece will pick up dirt, mud and water, so think about something with a shell if in damp, mucky weather. Look for a few different gloves depending on conditions. If you have a very fussy kid who won't wear gloves look for gloves with "action" on them. Sharks, superheroes, bright colors. 4. SOCK IT TO YA - Cotton is not a good choice in the winter on a child's foot for many reasons. Kids often have boots on and off over and over. They will run around in a wet hallway then put their boots back on and head outside with wet feet. Think wool and polyester blends. Double up the wool. Wear tights under the wool socks. Anyway you can keep those little feet from getting cold is important. If you are allergic to wool look for down booties for littles and get serious about your boots as your kid ages and starts walking. 5. BOOT CHOICES - Where do you live? Are you in Oregon and only go up to the mountain everyone in a while? Are you in Alaska and need to cover rain, snow, sleet and muck? How about Texas? My suggestion is one good pair of solid rain boots. You can look for used, but make sure they aren't filled with holes. Once you have rain covered think seasons. If you plan on being in snow a few times even, plastic boots without liners will be cold. Look for something that is rated for cold and even if you only get a few wears out of them, you can re-sell at a premium price. Again this is a great thing to look for in the off-season for the following year. Ask friends with older kids if they want to unload their last year boots. Look for a soft fleece or felt liner inside a good rubber boot. There are even boots that can be both rain and snow out there if you remove the liner. 6. HEADWEAR - Mason hates hats. This is something I am still struggling with. When they are little if they hate hats look for something like a balaclava where they can't pull the hat off of their head. A tie under the chin can also be great. Sometimes Velcro work, but my kiddo tears that off. Look for hats with animals on them or other things that might be fun for them to put on. My son strangely enough seems more excited to wear my hats than his own so I always travel with two in case he is in one of those moods. 7. LAYER IT ON - Full body rain suits can double as snow suits with the right layering under them. Consider looking into getting one of these for a 12 month to 5 year old. The nice thing about a full body rain suit is when the weather shifts from snow to rain, you can zip them in and send them out to swim in mud puddles without concern (if you get the right brands). The downside to rain suits is that you have one piece so when it's wet, that's it. It needs to dry out. This is where I honestly think if you can pull it off consider one full body rain suit, a pair of rain pants and a shell jacket. This will leave you with a lot of options and the ability to go out again on day 2 when you forgot clothes in the car and they are still wet. 8. BASE LAYERS - Long underwear are key. Tights, can go under those. Then socks over the tights. They make tights for boys too. If your child can do wool, there are some excellent brands out there for base layers for little people. Polyester is possible too but I haven't found many brands who make base layers for littles. They are spendy, but honestly base layers have been one of my best investments of all from 6 months old on. 9. TOP SHELF BUYS - Pick and choose what you buy at a premium. For us that was a down jacket. I came home from my Alaska trip and bought a down jacket for Mason. We had owned one previously that lasted us from when our son was 6 months to 24 months (that was pushing it). It was one of our most expensive and best purchases. Mason loved this jacket so much he often slept in it for naps because I couldn't get him off of it after coming inside so it was straight into crib with jacket on. Think about what pieces you are willing to buy top end and look for the sales, and if you can't find one, know that buying a good quality product means you can re-sell it or gift it and someone will be super stoked to get that expensive item. You don't have to go this route for everything, but think about where it really matters and how much that item will get used. 10. ASK YOUR FRIENDS - What is working for your friends? Ask around. While there are lots of brands that are popular, make sure they aren't just popular because they are cheap. Find out why your friend bought something. Did they buy it based on price or quality? Assess how much time they spend outside and if that product would really work for you. Be realistic. Do you go out a lot? Are you aspiring to be out more and finding you just aren't out because of your gear. Look at friends who go out a lot and see how they are doing it. Don't be shy to admit you aren't sure how to get out! I came home from Alaska with gear I'll now be gifting away to friends whose kids it might work for. Over the last few weeks I have been online and went to stores in search of gear that I knew would really work for Mason and would get us outside. While good kids gear can feel like a big expense because they are growing so fast, I guarantee that when you have a happy, warm toddler or baby outside on a long rainy hike or a cold late in the day snowshoe session, your experience will be much more pleasant if your child is dressed well. Shanti is the founder of Hike it Baby and mom to Mason River, a very strong willed 2 and a  half year old boy. Please share any winter tricks you have found for making outside time more pleasant with your little ones to shanti@hikeitbaby.com Check out some of our 2016 partners for awesome gear: BODY and HANDS: Oakiwear, Ella's Wool, Simply Merino, Cozey 7 FEET: KEEN, Stonz Wear, MyMayu