Fall hiking ideas to get you out the door

The Daylight Hours Are Getting Shorter As the days wind down and head toward the settled nature of winter, as daylight itself becomes less and less each day, many families find themselves 'getting outside' less and less. It's as if our subconscious takes over and pulls us into a latent, sometimes cozy winter hibernation mode. Well, Good News! We don't have to go with it. We can make plans and hold ourselves accountable to continue to get out. Because fall and winter hold such wonders! And missing them would just be a shame. So what can we do? How do we ensure that we're still making the most of nature as longer nights encroach on our warm and sunny hours? We've got you. With our quick (and sometimes dirty) list of outdoor excursions that take 30 minutes or less. Outdoor Excursions in 30 Minutes or Less Everything below can be accomplished around your own block... apartment complex, neighborhood, etc. No need to pack up the car and drive anywhere. Remember, a fun-filled five minutes (as opposed to a frustration filled hour) can make the difference between enjoying your outings and dreading them. 1. Count the number of leaf colors you can find. 2. Collect fallen leaves in a variety of shapes and/or colors. 3. Sniff and try to identify smells. A bonfire. A neighbors dinner. A skunk. The coming rain. 4. Turn your walk into a scavenger hunt. This HiB post has several ideas on that. 5. Turn down a new street you haven't explored yet. 6. Eat outside before it gets too cold to do so (a picnic in the back yard can be all you need). 7. Do a family nature bingo walk. Work together to fill the sheet instead of competing against one another. 8. Put those rain boots to good use and stomp puddles for FIVE minutes... yes, even in the rain. 9. Collect a few things for a special activity. This HiB post has a few tips for what to create. 10. Hug every tree you can and thank them for their fallen leaves. Ten ideas to get you outside, no matter how much time you have, and an extra tip! Do a search on our HiB blog for 'hiking activities' or 'trail activities'. The posts you get might inspire your next favorite family tradition. Like this one focused on infants. Looking for a few more quick ideas? Check out this HiB post with 30 Things You Can Do Right Outside Your Door in 30 Minutes. See you on the trail! Or in the neighborhood... ya know. Whatever you find time for ;).     Photo courtesy of Kim Ives. About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.   Editors Note:   We hope you enjoyed reading this article from Hike it Baby. 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.

The Fall is for Hiking There is no better time to hike than the fall. The crisp autumn air cuts through the trees, creating sweeping views of changing foliage painting the landscape like fire all across America. The crowds of summer are gone, leaving you enough elbow room to walk trails in peace and relish in the light and brilliance of the deciduous leaves as they grow old. As summer collapses into fall and Mother Nature prepares for the colder months, we polled Hike it Baby branches throughout the United States and Canada asking their favorite family-friendly fall hikes. Here are the trails the Hike it Baby community shared! West Banks-Vernonia State Trail  Banks, Oregon Located an hour west of Portland, with 21 miles of paved trail over trestles and bridges and incredible views of ash and maple trees, the Banks-Vernonia State Trail offers some of the best fall colors on the entire West Coast. This trail was a former railroad! Blue Lake Trail in Stehikin, WA - Photo Credit: Christine Buchanan Blue Lake Trail Stehikin, WA Take this moderate walk through the sub-alpine forest to the luminous waters of Blue Lake on this out-and-back style hike in the North Cascades. Keep an eye open for Washington’s iconic Larch trees and their vibrant yellow needles. Hope Valley  Hope Valley, CA The yellow and orange Aspen groves of Hope Valley, just 30 minutes south of South Lake Tahoe, are a sight to see. This 4-mile out-and-back stroll takes you through thick of it. Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail Idyllwild, CA This out-and-back in the San Jacinto Mountains is a wonderful way to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in the yellow, orange and red colors of the fall. Oxbow Nature Study Park Reno, Nevada Walk along the scenic Truckee River, listening to the sounds of birds and the rustle of the changing leaves of cottonwood and aspen trees and you will forget that you are in the city!  Spencer Glacier in Seward, AK - Photo Credit: Liz Birkos Spencer Glacier Seward, AK Take the Alaska Railroad and hike to this remote destination which features a massive wall of ice sliding into a lake surrounded by the colors of the fall.  Mountain West Garden City River Walk Garden City, Idaho Take a stroll along the north side of the Boise River Greenbelt and marvel in its dazzling fall colors on this city-walk. Double its distance by crossing the river and hiking back along the south bank.  Aspen Trail in Mueller State Park, CO - Photo Credit: Monica Heathcoat Aspen Trail Mueller State Park, CO Just under an hour west of Colorado Springs, this high alpine loop in Mueller State Park is filled with the gold and yellow color of aspens.  Southwest Norski Cross Country Trail in Santa Fe, NM - Photo Credit: Jamie Lynn Norski Cross Country Ski Trail Santa Fe, NM Take this cross-country ski loop trail in the Santa Fe National Forest through meadows of aspen groves at over 10,000 ft! Lost Maples State Park  Vanderpool, Texas The 2-hour drive west of San Antonio is worth it for this loop hike. The trail meanders along the Sabinal River and among some of the most concentrated numbers of maple trees in Texas! Get there early because the park tends to fill up in the fall.  Southeast Opelika Sportsplex Opelika, AL Take a walk in the woods along a disc golf course and enjoy some of the best fall colors in town!  Catawba Falls inOld Fort, NC - Photo Credit: Shelly Russell Sineath Catawba Falls Old Fort, NC The Blue Ridge Mountains have some of the best fall colors in the US. This waterfall hike, located in the Pisgah National Forest just east of Asheville, follows the cascading Catawba River along a mossy trail laden with hues of red, yellow and orange.  Midwest Emmenegger Nature Parkin St. Louis, Missouri - Photo Credit: Ashley Newport Emmenegger Nature Park St. Louis, Missouri Take the Bluff Creek Trail on this easy stroll. Shuffle your feet through a sea of deciduous tree leaves, exploring a creek, river, bluffs, and bridges along the way.   Cherry Hill Nature Preserve Ypsilanti, MI Your kids will love trouncing through the mud and harvesting hickory nuts along the way on this hike.  Northeast Chickies Rock Overlook Columbia, PA This flat, loop trail has a big payoff with a beautiful view of the Susquehanna and its river banks which catch fire with reds and yellows in the fall. To extend your hike, explore the various deer and side trails on the way.  Rock Creek Park, Rapids Bridge Hike inWashington DC - Photo Credit: Genevieve Spanjer Wright Rock Creek Park - Rapids Bridge Hike Washington DC This 2- mile loop hike takes you through the forest and then parallels the scenic whitewater section of Rock Creek before heading back uphill. The trail is identified by orange tape on wooden posts.  Reed Brook Trail Kingfield, ME Take a walk through the woods on this out-and-back trail in a fairytale setting in western Maine which features a waterfall, an old cement bridge, and fall colors as far as the eye can see.  Giant Washbowl via Ridge Trail in Keene Valley, NY - Photo Credit: Valerie Gregory Giant Washbowl via Ridge Trail Keene Valley, NY This hike in the Adirondacks is a real butt-kicker as you huff it nearly 700 ft UP the Ridge Trail in less than a mile to Giant Washbowl Lake. Enjoy the serene lake and views of hillsides painted in red and yellow as your reward!  Canada Ginter’s Mansion inPrince George, BC - Photo Credit: Meagan Dale Ginter’s Mansion Prince George, BC Hike amongst the remnants of a local famous brewer’s mansion in this iconic Prince George favorite. Enjoy the many aspens and birch trees in fiery color as you explore the grounds.  Lime Kiln Trail Ottawa, ON This flat, lollipop trail with sections of woods, boardwalk, and ruins of a 19th-century kiln is great for the entire family in the fall. Don't miss the chance to feed the chickadees who will eat straight from your palm. From the trailhead walk about a half a mile and turn onto the Chipmunk Trail, then continue in a counter-clockwise fashion back to the intersection with the Lime Kiln Trail. Connect with other trails on the Greenbelt to make longer loops.  Comment below and tell us your favorite fall hikes! Looking for a new hiking trail to explore near you? Check out Hike it Baby's Family Trail Guide to find your next favorite hike!