We started taking our kids out on Yellowstone’s trails when they were tiny, as in four, eight, and fifteen months tiny. They went from being carried to toddling to running ahead and we went from being the pack animals who carried them to trying to keep up. These trails are kid-friendly hikes that our family has taken again and again.
5 Kid-Friendly Yellowstone Hikes
- Artist Paint Pots | 1 mile partial loop beginning and ending at the same trailhead: Off the road and away from the crowds, this thermal basin has long been a favorite of our kids—and us. Mostly flat with one fairly gentle up and down, this earthen trail winds through colorful thermal “pots” ranging from thin to gloppy. According to my youngest daughter, this trail offers a little bit of everything—dense woods, open sky, colorful pools, and thick pots. Also, my twenty-one-year-old daughter told me that I “really ought to move this hike into first position” because that’s where it sits in the minds of her and her siblings.
- Wraith Falls | 1 mile there and back, beginning and ending at the same trailhead: Mostly flat with a short climb up some steps and a good view of the waterfall, this short trek into the wilderness offers plenty of rewards–especially for the young, the weary, or for those wanting to get in just one more hike. Find my friend Joy’s post about Wraith Falls–complete with her lovely photos-–here.
- Natural Bridge | 2.5 miles, partial loop beginning and ending at the same trailhead: Mostly flat with a partial loop, the view is different on the way out than it is on the way in. Engaging for kids, the destination is an unusual feature, a naturally occurring rock bridge in the woods. Note: This trail is located in the heart of grizzly territory, so check for warnings and closures at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Education Center. Also important: The bridge is for looking at, not walking on
- Storm Point | Just over 2 miles, loop beginning and ending at the same trailhead: Flat and fun, we’ve seen both marmots and bison from this trail. This trail winds both through pine forest and along the shore of Yellowstone Lake. Note: Like the Natural Bridge trail, this is located in the heart of grizzly territory, so check at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Education Center before setting off.
- Fairy Falls | Approximately 5 miles there and back, beginning and ending at the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook: If your young hikers are up for a longer trek, consider this one. As with the others on this list, the trail to Fairy Falls is mostly flat. It’s a lovely walk through dappled lodgepole pine forest. The cutoff to the overlook is well worth it. The hardest part of this hike may well be finding a parking place in the lot. For that reason, I recommended setting off on early.
Consider this: While kids seem to have more energy than we adults, their legs are short, hiking takes a lot of energy, and vacationing is its own kind of work. Remember to give them–and yourself–grace along the way.
happy trails ~ Natalie 🥾
Let’s go to Yellowstone! shares posts at these linkups.
Additional Resources
- Find information about Yellowstone’s picnic locations and regulations here and information about planning a visit to Yellowstone can be found here.
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