3 Stunning South Carolina Trails for Families with Young Children

Whether you’re new to hiking with your baby or toddler, or you’re looking for a new trail to explore, the Hike it Baby community is a valuable resource for finding family-friendly hiking trails around the country. In this article, we share three beautiful hikes in South Dakota to explore with babies and young children. What does the great outdoors in South Dakota bring to mind? The Great Plains, the Badlands, the Black Hills? Arid or semi-arid and forbidding landscapes where a person can get lost and never be found? It is a big state, with plenty of space to get lost in, but getting away and lost for a while isn't always a bad thing. Also, Hike it Baby members know that the Badlands aren't bad at all. With this in mind, they've chosen three perfect South Dakota trails for families with young children. Parents and kids of all ages are sure to love these, so enjoy hiking Dakota country! Trail 9 to Black Elk Peak (Rapid City, SD) Trail 9 is a moderate difficulty trail with an elevation gain of 1,630 feet. That said, the incline is not bad, and this is the easiest and most traveled way to Black Elk Peak, formerly known as Harney Peak. Cell reception may be spotty, but for better or worse, you will not be alone on this hike. Pick up the trailhead at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park for the 7-mile roundtrip and allow 5 hours or more, depending on breaks and toddler speed. Despite uneven terrain and some drop-offs, kids can walk a lot. There are also a lot of great places to stop and play. On Black Elk Peak itself, there are spots to sit, rest, eat and explore. Just mind the drop-offs. Along the way you'll be able to glimpse the peak. In particular, stop at the bench on the first section of the trail, which is opposite the peak and gives you an excellent view. However, it's from the peak where you'll get the best view. Even the kids will find it breathtaking! This was our first peak as a family, and it was perfect! The trail isn’t overtly technical. It’s well maintained and beautiful. We made it to the top of the peak and enjoyed the view. While the peak was great, on the way down, we stopped and had a picnic lunch. Sky loved walking near the edge and exploring around the mountain. She was able to walk most of the way down without help since the path is well worn and not technical. As we were walking, we noticed that the path seemed to shimmer and shine in the sun due to the minerals there. – Jessica Featherstone Tips: A Vehicle Pass costs $20 and is good for seven days, or get an annual pass for $30. There is plenty to do at the Sylvan Lake day use area, making it the perfect area to start and end in. Activities include swimming and boating. Toilets and drinking water are available at Sylvan Lake, but do bring plenty of drinking water on the trail. Dogs are allowed on leashes. Watch for ticks. Don't forget the sunblock! Trail review and photo contributed by Jessica Featherstone. Door, Window and Notch Trails (Interior, SD) Door, Window and Notch Trails are three out-and-back trails near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center in Badlands National Park. Together, they make for an easy-to-moderate 2.5-mile roundtrip in three sections from their shared parking lot. Each trail has its own unique character that you will not find anywhere else in your travels, which will fascinate both kiddos and adults. Starting with Door Trail, this hike begins from the northernmost trailhead. It gets its name from the "door" in the Badlands Wall at the end of the first quarter-mile of flat boardwalk. At this overlook, you'll find benches, interpretive signs and the Badlands stretching out before you. From the end of the boardwalk, there is a step down to the hard cracked mud of the Badlands and the start of the best part of the trail. Numbered markers lead you out and away from the crowds for another half-mile. Feel free to wander a bit – you'll feel like you are walking on the moon! However, getting lost is not impossible, so it's best to keep a numbered marker in sight. Returning to the parking lot, Window Trail is the next in line. Wonder how it got its name? You won't have long to wait for the answer. The quarter-mile roundtrip is on a flat boardwalk leading to an opening in the Badlands Wall looking out over a canyon and the craggy formations of the opposite wall. Benches are available here for resting, nursing and snacking. And if you're still wondering how the trail got its name, take your time here! The third and final trail from the parking lot is Notch Trail. (Guess how it got its name!) At the end of the trail, like the other two, there's a view across the White River Valley. However, Notch Trail is more strenuous and is considered moderate in difficulty. It includes a climb up a steep log ladder, but you can make the base of the ladder your turnaround point for an easy and still worthwhile hike. At the base of the ladder is an open area with some great large rocks for toddlers to climb on. In addition, the first section of this hike follows a creek bed that has water in the rainy season, making a small oasis with the most plant life of the three trails. Beyond the ladder, the trail follows a ledge with drop-offs, so putting kiddos in a carrier is an excellent idea, and if you're afraid of heights, you may want to join them. The Badlands is one of our favorite destinations. It is compact and accessible enough to be a great half-day detour on a road trip and varied enough to be worthy of a longer stay. Wildlife and overlooks are plentiful, and many of the trails are great for toddler legs. If you venture far enough, you will feel like you have been transported to the moon or Mars, and you do not have to go far to find solitude with an eerie quiet. If you have the chance to camp here, the night sky is not to be missed. – Jennifer Bradwin Tips: A Vehicle Pass costs $25 and is good for seven days. There are restrooms at the parking area. Drinking water is only available at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Bring plenty with you! Same goes for sunblock, a hat and sunglasses. The park is hot, dry and exposed. Do not count on cell reception. Do count on getting lost if you wander too far off trail. Bring a map! A stop at Wall Drug as you exit the park is a must. Photo and trail review contributed by Jennifer Bradwin with Christel Peters. Iron Creek Trail (Spearfish, SD) Iron Creek Trail in Black Hills National Forest poses a stark contrast to the Badlands above. It's easy to moderate as well, but there's plenty of vegetation along Iron Creek, which generally has running water year-round. First, find the trailhead between Spearfish and Savoy. It's not marked, but driving from Spearfish, there will be an area on the right to pull over after Bridal Veil Falls (another great place to go see, hint, hint!) and just before Iron Creek Bridge. The hike follows the creek for most of its length at approximately 2.5 miles. Imposing cliffs look down on you from above, while giant boulders litter the creek below. It's sobering to think that those boulders must have once also been high above, but the kiddos won't be thinking about that. They'll be having fun exploring. At the end of the trail is Iron Creek Lake, a great place to swim, rent a kayak or canoe, or simply relax. Or if you want a longer hike, add a mile by going around the lake. Heading eastward on the way back, be on the lookout for Iron Creek Arch, a natural rock formation that can only be seen on the return trip. Get more information on the trail in the Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide. It's a beautiful and peaceful hike. It's a fairly easy hike even though it's 3 miles one way. The scenery can't be beat! First, you're in the canyon with the beautiful creek and rock walls, and then the scenery keeps changing, and it's breathtaking. If you hike 3 miles from the start, you'll end up at the beautiful Iron Creek Lake, where you can relax, fish or take a swim. – Ginger Tips: Iron Creek Lake Store rents kayaks and canoes and sells some supplies. Bring plenty of water, snacks or other food, and anything else you know you'll want. Dogs are allowed at Iron Creek Lake, but they must stay on a leash and off the swimming beach. As always, don't forget the sunblock! Photo courtesy of hillsrealestateteam.com. MORE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN South Dakota offers an abundance of trails for families with young children. For more family hike ideas, see: Hike it Baby calendar (or connect with the local branch) Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks Hiking page Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers – by Hike it Baby Founder Shanti Hodges If you’re in South Dakota and need more information or recommendations on trails or would like to join a group hike, the nearest Hike it Baby branch is in Rapid City. READ MORE: 3 Hikes in Wisconsin to Explore With Young Children 3 Kid-Friendly Hikes in Iowa to Explore With Young Children 3 Trails in Nebraska Young Children Will Enjoy Exploring What are your favorite hikes in South Dakota for families with babies, toddlers and young children? Leave a comment below!  

The clear, crystal blue colors of Lake Tahoe’s waters beckon the call of outdoor enthusiasts nationwide. The nation’s second deepest lake, Lake Tahoe sits at the base of some of the most impressive mountain peaks the Sierra Nevadas has to offer. Lake Tahoe is one of California’s and Nevada’s most popular family vacation destinations with an abundance of outdoor family adventures, including camping, hiking, kayaking, bike riding, fishing, river rafting, paddleboarding, waterskiing and much more. The sights, sounds and smells of Lake Tahoe make up a large portion of my childhood summer memories. As a California native, Lake Tahoe was my family’s primary vacation destination every July when my sisters and I would spend a week fishing for crawdads along the shores of Sand Harbor and eating ice cream runoff out of our sunburned belly buttons. As I grew into adulthood, Lake Tahoe became the place where I first learned to backpack, where I was married, and now, where my son first put his toes in the sand. If you are considering a trip to Lake Tahoe, here are some tips from a local. Tips for visiting Lake Tahoe Traveling by plane, the closest major airports are Reno or Sacramento. The AMTRAK California Zephyr Train makes daily stops in nearby Truckee and runs from San Francisco to Denver if you'd like a different experience. If you choose to drive, Lake Tahoe is, on average, 3.5 hours from the San Francisco Bay Area, 2 hours from Sacramento and 1 hour from Reno. And once you've made it to Lake Tahoe, there are many ways to get around the Lake by public transportation. Lake Tahoe sits at an average elevation of 6,200 feet. In order to account for high-elevation conditions, precautions should be taken to avoid any risk of altitude sickness, including easing into any physical activity, using ample sun protection and staying hydrated. Sleeping at higher altitudes can be the best way to mitigate the change in elevation. The symptoms of altitude sickness include headaches, vomiting, dizziness and fatigue. When packing your clothes, be sure to bring warm clothes for the evening as the mountains get cold quickly when the sun sets. Also, be sure to bring plenty of breathable UV-protective layers, strong sunscreen and/or a sunhat. The traffic around the Lake Tahoe Basin can be painstakingly slow at times with lots of construction and, therefore, visiting during the week is strongly encouraged, if possible. There can be lines of cars stacked up prior to beaches’ open times on summer weekends. There is a high concentration of black bears in the Tahoe Basin. Do not leave food in plain sight in your car when parked, and use proper bear receptacles in campgrounds and rental properties. If you are planning a stay, be sure to reserve a campsite, cabin or hotel at least six months in advance. 15 Fun things to do with kids in Lake Tahoe in the summer 1. Visit Emerald Bay With some of the best views of the Lake, Emerald Bay is a popular stop for vacationers. Park at the Eagle Falls Trailhead and you can choose to make the quick (but steep) 15-minute jaunt to the bridge overlooking Eagle Falls. Or if you are feeling even more adventurous (and in shape), continue walking to Eagle Lake and into Desolation Wilderness, the prime backpacking spot in the Tahoe area. You may also choose to park across the street at the Vikingsholm parking lot and hike down (another steep trail) to Emerald Bay Beach where there is shade, picnic tables and a restroom. Kayaks or paddleboards are available for rental and you can head out to Fannette Island, the Lake’s only island! Photo courtesy of Joyce Thao. 2. Hike to Monkey Rock Monkey Rock is a 2.6-mile out and back hike on Tahoe’s East Shore outside the town of Incline Village is named after the simian-like rock feature at its terminus and includes one of the best views of Lake Tahoe. There is no parking at the trailhead for this hike, so park next to the Tunnel Creek Cafe. The hike climbs 500 feet overall and can be done gradually or by taking a lung-busting shorter route to the summit. Photo courtesy of Shari Charron. 3. Bike ride along the Truckee If you aren’t rafting the Truckee, try riding a bike along its banks on the Historic Truckee River Path from Tahoe City to Squaw Valley. This easy ride is great for the entire family and can be done by renting bikes on either end. Rent a bike at Olympic Bike Shop in Tahoe City and ride south and enjoy lunch at River Ranch or north from Squaw Valley at Sqaw Bikes to Tahoe City and stop to watch the trout run under Fanny Bridge. 4. Truckee river rafting You will not be facing any Class III rapids on this lazy ride down the Truckee River. Book a reservation with the two local river rafting companies in Tahoe City (Truckee River Rafting or Truckee River Raft Co.) and commandeer one of their large rafts with shuttle service or bring your own raft and float at your own risk! The ride down the Truckee River takes around 2-3 hours and requires that you pull out at River Ranch where you can sit on the deck and enjoy a plate of loaded nachos after your journey. Make sure to bring sun protection! 5. Echo Lakes West of Echo Summit on US Route 50, Echo Lakes are the gateway to Desolation Wilderness. Hiking the shores of Upper and Lower Echo Lakes is a beautiful way to get there, but why not skip the 2.5 miles and take a boat taxi! The boat taxi runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, barring any big snow years. If you have the time and the legs, try taking a boat taxi to the Lower Echo outlet and then hiking an extra 3 miles to Lake Aloha, one of Desolation Wilderness’ most iconic features. Photo courtesy of Joe Linehan. 6. Hike to Eagle Rock Located on Tahoe’s West Shore just off Hwy 89, the hike to Eagle Rock is a .7-mile moderately steep trail with a big payoff! The views from Eagle Rock span across the entire Lake. With its short distance, this hike is great if you are looking for a quick activity to kill some time. Photo courtesy of Cindy Vue. 7. Treetop Adventure Park at Granlibakken Treetop Adventure Park - Tahoe City is a self-guided ropes course located just outside of Tahoe City on the North Shore. This adventure park offers 97 platforms and 10 different courses varying in difficulty all within a secluded pine forest. There are two other Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park locations in Squaw Valley and Tahoe Vista. Safety gear is included with the $50 admission fee. For more information, go to Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks. Picnic tables and hiking trails are available for those who do not wish to participate. 8. Fishing for crawdads There are over 300 million crawdads in Lake Tahoe. That’s almost 1 for each U.S. citizen! So why not try your luck at one of my favorite childhood Tahoe pastimes. No need for a fishing pole here. To catch a crawdad, all you need is string, bacon/hot dog/chicken livers, and a bucket. Tie your bait onto the end of the string and throw it off your nearest dock or place it under any large submerged rock until you get a bite! 9. Kayaking and paddleboarding Lake Tahoe’s clear and deep azure blue waters make stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking the perfect activity for the entire family. Numerous beachside rentals dot the entire Lake. Some of the best places to put in include Sand Harbor, Zephyr Cove, D.L. Bliss State Park, Emerald Bay and Cave Rock. Take note of the weather, especially the wind on the day you plan to embark, as the Lake can sometimes seem like an ocean in the afternoon. Photo courtesy of Nick Her. 10. Hike Taylor Creek Located 3 miles northwest of South Lake Tahoe, Taylor Creek provides four outstanding, easy nature trails for families with children. Walk the boardwalks over marshes with views of the nearby Mt. Tallac, listen to an educational talk by a ranger at the amphitheater, or look through the Stream Profile Window which provides an underwater window of Taylor Creek and its inhabitants. If you are visiting in the fall, salmon run the creek so keep a lookout for bears! Photo courtesy of Steven Yang. 11. Hike Rubicon Trail / D.L. Bliss State Park The Rubicon hiking trail (not to be confused with the ORV Rubicon track) is by in large one of my family’s favorite hikes around the Lake and for good reason. This trail connects two of the most beautiful state parks in the area: D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay. The trail is 5 miles one-way and for that reason, it is my recommendation to start at D.L. Bliss and end at Emerald Bay so you can enjoy a swim, a popsicle at the visitor’s center, and relax on the beach when you are done. This trail skirts above the shoreline with amazing views of the clear blue water along the way. There are a few sections where the trail hugs cliff lines but there are rails for your safety. Nonetheless, you will want to keep your kiddos close on these sections. If you do not want to shuttle cars, you can always hike up to the highway once at Emerald Bay and take the Emerald Bay Trolley back to D.L. Bliss. Photo courtesy of Joe Linehan. 12. Go to the movies on the beach in Tahoe City Enjoy a movie while sitting on the beach on the North Shore at Tahoe City’s Common’s Beach. Movies are family-friendly and a great way to spend the evening outside. There is a playground right next to the beach, too! Just remember to bring your warm clothes as it can get chilly at night! Come early for seats, food and prizes! 13. Take the Gondolas at Squaw Valley or Heavenly Many of Tahoe’s winter ski resorts have summer activities as well. Two of which, Squaw Valley and Heavenly, make use of their gondolas to bring families higher into the mountains and give them access to some pristine hiking trails and mountainside retail and restaurants.The Heavenly Mountain Gondola is a 2.4-mile ride with panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. If you want to access a series of hiking trails, take the Tamarack Express chairlift. Squaw Valley’s Aerial Tram climbs over 2,000 feet to High Camp where you can dine and enjoy many different trails. 14. Visit Fallen Leaf Lake Located just one mile south of Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake is a hidden gem behind the shadow of Lake Tahoe. Fall Leaf Lake is a great location for camping, day hikes and access to Desolation Wilderness, and water activities like water skiing, sailing. kayaking, wakeboarding, rowing, stand-up paddleboarding and even pedal boating. Photo courtesy of Shari Charron. 15. Go geocaching at Squaw Valley What better place to do a real outdoor treasure hunt than in the Sierra Nevadas. For those interested in geocaching, take the Aerial Tram at Squaw Valley to the High Camp, download the Geocaching App, and look for 10 different caches hidden in the mountains. Each cache contains a prize and a log sheet for you to sign. The treasure hunting is free, but you will have to buy a $10 ticket to take the tram. Record each cache's box number and code on a “passport” from Guest Services at High Camp to receive discounts at the High Camp retail shop or other participating Squaw Valley stores. Trails to geocaches are rated moderate to above-moderate level. Kid-Friendly Beaches Lake Tahoe has over 70 miles of beaches, but for a list of those beaches which are kid-friendly, start with the five beaches below. Remember to get to these beaches EARLY as the parking lots fill up fast, especially on the weekends. Sand Harbor (East Shore) King’s Beach (North Shore) Camp Richardson / Pope Beach (South Shore) Meek’s Bay (West Shore) Common’s Beach (North Shore) Sand Harbor Beach. Photo courtesy of Nick Her. Have you been to Lake Tahoe with your family and want to share some of your favorite kid-friendly activities? We'd love to hear them! Please share with us in the comments below. Planning Resources Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Hike It Baby Family Trail Guide Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Bureaus Read more: 10 Fun things to do with kids in Yellowstone 15 Fun things to do with kids in Colorado Springs 10 Unforgettable things to do in Glacier National Park with kids 3 Unique hikes in California for kids of all ages   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.