3 Trails to explore in Missouri 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-friend hiking trails around the country. In this article, we share three breathtaking hikes in Montana to explore with babies and young children while considering the unique ways young children hike, wander, dawdle and explore. McDonald Creek, Glacier National Park Glacier National Park’s landscape feels sacred thanks to mountains jutting up toward the sky and big animals roaming freely in spite of the area’s popularity on the national park circuit. No matter where you go in Glacier, you can’t go wrong for capturing beautiful scenic mountain moments wherever you look. If you pick your trails wisely, you’ll still experience all the vastness Glacier has to offer without feeling limited with little walkers. McDonald Creek is an easy trail with many spots along the way to stop and nurse, change a diaper or for adventurous toddlers and kids to climb rocks and trees. There are several waterfalls along the way, and the trail overlooks the creek as it winds through the mountains. The bridge is a gathering spot, as there are several big rocks to hang out on and have a picnic. The less crowded spots are just past the bridge as the trail continues up along the creek. A bit farther and you can even access a small beach-like area that is nice and secluded and is a perfect place for lunch, swimming and skipping rocks. Most of the trail is level along the creek with lots of fun things to look at and explore. I loved McDonald Creek best because there were so many waterfalls and the trail winds along the creek at the upper end of Lake McDonald. All of the running water helped get baby to sleep. We also found a great rock to change him at the viewpoint. We hiked that one twice and walked along the lake, too. Great views of the surrounding mountains. It was beautiful! – Angela Malson Tips: To avoid the crowds, go past the bridge where the trail gets narrower. It goes through a beautiful forest and has more secluded spots to access the creek. This trail also intersects a horse trail, and kids will enjoy seeing horses on trail. Keep your eyes open for fish in the creek and chipmunks along the trail. Other wildlife you can expect to see regularly are deer, hawks, and signs of beavers and bears. Parking is at the trailhead, down by the north part of the lake. There is also parking by the bridge in the middle of the trail, but that may get full as the bridge is also a viewpoint for people who don’t hike the trail. St. Mary Falls, Glacier National Park If you follow Going To The Sun Road and head east to the other side of Glacier from McDonald Creek, you’ll reach the trailhead to St. Mary Falls. But if you’re coming into the park from the St. Mary Entrance Station, the trailhead is 10.5 miles westbound from the entrance. St. Mary Falls is one of Glacier’s most spectacular waterfalls. St. Mary Falls has three tiers of rushing glacial waters, with the bottom tier being the smallest. The trail is only 1.7 miles roundtrip, but offers amazing views of surrounding mountain peaks. It winds through a dense conifer forest, fields of wildflowers in summer and a burn area from the 2015 fire. Along the way you can also see Baring Falls at just 0.7 mile from the trailhead. Once you reach St. Mary Falls, there’s a foot bridge over the waters you can cross to get a full view of the falls. Tips: Due to its popularity, the parking lots fill up quickly, so plan to arrive early, come later in the afternoon or take the shuttle from Sun Point or Rising Sun. If you have time, continue on the trail for another mile to see the impressive Virginia Falls. Come prepared with sun protection as the trail brings you through scorched areas with little shade. Pine Creek Falls, Gallatin National Forest (Park County, MT) Pine Creek Falls offers beautiful views of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness with views of Black Mountain, which is the second highest mountain in Montana at 10,941 feet. The 2.5-mile out-and-back trail leads to a waterfall and narrow footbridge where you can cross the creek below the falls. If you have time, stop and let the kiddos play in the pool of water and small rocks that have been swept down by the fall. But be careful of little ones drinking water on this trail as giardia, the microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, is ever present in this area. Expect a little bit of climbing, but nothing a toddler can’t do – but bring the carrier in case. The trail is dog-friendly and fairly well trafficked most of the day. However, if you plan to hike alone first thing in the morning in the summer, consider bringing bear spray (but to be safe, always have bear spray on you). There are bears and other large animals in the area, so making noise can help remind animals of your presence and encourage them to move on before you arrive on the trail. The trail extends a lot farther to a popular but very hard hike called Pine Creek Lake if you want to go beyond the 2.5 miles. This is a favorite hike for our family, both just as a day trip and also when we camp at Pine Creek Falls Campground. While it does get crowded in the middle of the summer, it’s nice in the spring and fall too. The trail is a bit rocky and has some elevation gain, but in general, it is really kid-friendly. It’s shaded well in the summer and the views of the falls are pretty at the end. – Amelia Mayer Tips: Remember this trail is near Yellowstone National Park, so expect to see a lot of people on the trail in the warmer months. If you’re looking for more solitude, consider visiting in winter when you can hike and snowshoe. You can also hike out on various side trails from this main trail to get a little more mileage in. Want to make it an overnighter? Check out the 25 single camping sites at Pine Creek Campground. They are first come, first served. The campground has water and is handicapped-accessible. The road to the trailhead is located a short drive through the camping area. There are several parking areas (which become full on a busy summer day) and the trailhead is clearly marked. What are your favorite hikes in Montana for families with babies, toddlers and young children? Leave a comment below! More Resources for Families with Young Children Montana offers an abundance of trails for families with young children. For more family hike ideas, see: Hike it Baby calendar (or connect with local branches) Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide Montana state parks National Park Service Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers – by Hike it Baby Founder Shanti Hodges Read more: 10 Unforgettable things to do in Glacier National Park with kids 3 Memorable hikes in Colorado for families with young children 3 Amazing hikes for families with young children in Wyoming 10 Fun things to do with kids in Yellowstone Trails contributed by Angela Malson, Amelia Mayer and Shanti Hodges. Photos courtesy of Angela Malson, Amelia Mayer and Steven Smith.

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 hiking trails around the country. In this article, we share three kid-friendly hikes in Oklahoma to explore with babies and young children. Hiking with young children (under 5 years old) is different from hiking with school-age children. These three unique places in Oklahoma offer families of young children exciting adventures while considering the unique ways young children hike, wander and doddle.  Gloss Mountain State Park (Fairview, OK) Located two hours west of Oklahoma City is Gloss Mountain State Park, a series of mesas that jut out from the landscape in the middle of nowhere. The red dirt welcomes visitors in the distance long before you reach the entrance. Once you enter the park, there’s a parking lot with some picnic tables and a restroom – which is the only restroom, so be sure to use the restroom before your ascent to the top as there are no restrooms on top of Gloss Mountain. The trailhead starts at a short bridge and continues on a boardwalk before taking hikers up a series of metal stairs. The hike up the stairs may not seem intimidating at first, but don't be surprised if you find yourself out of breath. Fortunately, there are benches along the trail for anyone who needs to catch their breath or to let faster hikers pass. The stairs end for the last few feet of the hike, where some scrambling is necessary to reach the top. There's also a hand rail for those who need extra assistance. Once you reach the top, the views are amazing as far as the eye could see and the trail continues as far as you're willing to hike. Tips: If you’re carrying a baby, make sure you have some help to get over the last few feet. If you have a kiddo who can walk, it’s a good spot to let them down and practice their climbing skills here. Bring sunblock and wear a hat as there’s not much shade on top. Make sure you watch young kids and keep them away from the edges. The Gathering Place (Tulsa, OK) While it’s not a traditional “trail,” The Gathering Place is a great option for getting kids outside and playing in a huge outdoor classroom. Located east of the Arkansas River and south of Downtown Tulsa, The Gathering Place offers five acres of attractions that are hands-on, interactive and nature-related. Kids of all ages will enjoy hours of climbing, sliding, swinging, collecting, banging, balancing, skateboarding, biking, boating and anything else you can imagine. If you stay long enough and have the energy, go across the street and walk a bit of the River Parks Trail and catch the sunset. The paved trail is 10 miles and is used for walking and biking year-round. From The Gathering Place, you can avoid traffic by traversing the above-street walkways that connect The Gathering Place to River Parks Trail. Tips: Park hours are 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and offers programs and activities throughout the day and evening. Street parking is limited, but there’s a large free lot across the street. Just be careful to keep young kids close as the streets around The Gathering Place are busy. Due to its popularity, the park gets crowded so make sure you locate restrooms on the park map so when the kiddos need to go, you know where to go. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (Lawton, OK) Located in southwestern Oklahoma, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge spreads out over 59,000 acres with buffalo, Texas longhorn cattle, prairie dogs, elk and deer. Various outdoor activities are available for outdoor enthusiasts, such as hiking, camping, mountain biking, rock climbing and more. For something more organized, the refuge also offers guided tours. There are nine trails to choose from that vary in distance from 0.3 mile and goes up to just a little over 5 miles. Or if you’re looking for something longer, combine all the trails for 10 miles. But because hikers share the trails with wildlife, pay attention to the trails as animal trails can be mistaken for hiking trails. Tips: Because the trails are in full sun, wear sunscreen and hats. And bring lots of water to avoid heat stroke. As the terrain is rocky, make sure you wear sturdy shoes to help maintain your balance. Cell phone coverage is spotty, so either bring a map of the trails or take a picture of the map on your phone so you don’t get lost. Photo by Lisha Newman from www.travelok.com. What are your favorite hikes in Oklahoma for families with babies, toddlers and young children? Leave a comment below! MORE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN Oklahoma offers an abundance of trails for families with young children. For more family hike ideas, see: Hike it Baby calendar (or connect with local branches) Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide Oklahoma state parks Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers – New Book by Hike it Baby Founder Shanti Hodges If you’re traveling through Oklahoma and need more information or recommendations on trails or would like to join a group hike, the nearest Hike it Baby branches are Tulsa and Oklahoma City. READ MORE 3 Exciting trails in Texas to explore with young children 3 Family-friendly hikes in Arizona 3 Kid-friendly trails in Kansas for young children Photos by Vong Hamilton and Lisha Newman.