Badlands National Park With Kids

We visited Badlands National park as a day trip when camping at Custer State Park in South Dakota. This trip involved a stop at Scotts Bluff National Historic Site, visiting Mount Rushmore, touring Wind Cave, and this day at Badlands.

Depending on where you are coming from, Badlands National Park feels fairly remote. There are some other nearby attractions, like Wall Drugs and the Minute Men Missile National Historic Site (https://www.nps.gov/mimi/index.htm), but overall, this area of south Dakota is sparse. The remoteness of the location adds to the impact of the stark landscape.

Prairie grass and tall rock formation provide a rich contrast in landscape.

Our favorite activity at Badlands National park was walking simple trails that allowed for a closer look at the landscape. The visitor center and diving through the park were also good experience.

Tips for visiting Badlands National Park with Children:

• Think about the season you would like to visit - Summer can be hot and there is little shade. Winter in South Dakota can be quite cold. Plan ahead and be prepared.
• Drink plenty of water and bring snacks.
• Sunscreen and hats are a good idea, as much of Badlands National Park is open and exposed.
• Be careful near steep drop offs - there are many.
• Check with a ranger for a park map and updated information.

Badlands National Park offers a unique landscape.  Depending on your planned activities, you could spend days at Badlands, but for us, a day trip felt long enough.  

If we were to visit again, I would take longer to explore and visit Minutemen Missile National Historic Site. Now that our children are older, I think they would benefit from this piece of Cold War history.

Check the Badlands National Park website for the latest news and updates.  https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm

*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk.  Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly.  If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.
Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite.  Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.

Arches National Park with Kids

Arches National Park in Southeastern Utah is breathtakingly beautiful.  Be warned, it is also often breathtakingly hot in summer. We first visited Arches as newlyweds and have returned to this park a couple times with our children.  It is a beautiful park with a unique desert landscape… and so many arches!

There are many hiking trails at Arches NP, but we chose to stick to shorter hikes with our kids.  The dry, desert climate makes hydration very important.  Most trails are also very exposed with little shade.  

Favorite Arches National Park Activities with Children:

1. Sand Dune Arch - this arch is a short walk from the parking area.  It stands out because, unlike most of the arches, this one is tucked away in the shade… and surrounded by sand.  This is a fun walk with kids and neat place for them to see an arch up close.

2. Double Arch - this is a massive set of arches - zoom in on the photo to see the people!  This set of arches can be seen from the parking lot and reached by a short walk.

3. Balanced Rock - want a short walk with neat rock formations?  That’s the area around Balanced Rock. 

4.  Park drive to identify features and spot arches.  Getting out of the car is going to lead to a richer experience, but there are many neat features that you can see from the car at Arches.

5. Delicate Arch Viewpoint - Delicate Arch is ironic, we have NOT done the hike to Delicate Arch, but the arch can be seen and photographed from the Delicate Arch viewpoint.

Each of these activities offer different views and elements of the park. Our young children enjoyed Sand Dune Arch the most.  When our children were older, Double Arch was the favorite due to it’s massive size.

Regardless of what you choose to do at Arches NP, there are some tips to keep in mind to help you have a safe and enjoyable visit.

Tips for visiting Arches National Park with Children:

• Think about the season you would like to visit - Spring temperatures are more mild, even a little chilly.  Summer is quite hot. 
• Drink plenty of water in the dry desert climate.  Make sure that you fill up water at the Visitor Center as there are limited locations for getting water inside the park.
• Sunscreen and hats are essential in any season, much of Arches National Park is open and exposed.
• Camping is quite limited inside the National Park.  The times we have camped and visited Arches, we stayed at Bureau of Land Management Campgrounds along the Colorado River.  You can learn more about BLM Campgrounds at https://www.discovermoab.com/blm-campgrounds/
• Be careful of the heat, especially in summer.
• Do not stack rocks into cairns or knock over any existing stacks.  Read why here.
• Check with a ranger for a park map and updated information.
• Canyonlands National Parks is national park neighbors with Arches, it would be a great addition to a trip to Arches NP.

Be sure to Check the Arches National Park Website for the latest information on reservations and current conditions.

*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk.  Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly.  If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.
Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite.  Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.

Hiking With Kids at Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park in Northern Colorado is majestic in any season.  The best times to hike at RMNP are Summer and Early Fall (you can read more about when to visit in this post).  On our first visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, our youngest child was barely walking.  On the latest visit, we camped with extended family including children ages 9-15.

General Hiking Tips for the Rockies - 

• Plan ahead - the weather can change quickly and altitude makes hiking more challenging.  Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Rocky Mountains, please keep this in mind when timing your hike.
• Be prepared - extra water and sunscreen are extra important with a higher elevation.  A hat and jacket are also helpful.  Snacks are always a good idea... along with a first aid kit and general hiking supplies.
• Simple and short can still be beautiful.  If you are coming from a lower elevation/altitude, it would not be wise to plan something super strenuous.
• AllTrails and Rocky Mountain National Park website are excellent resources for planning your hiking adventures.   
• It is a good idea to ask a ranger about current conditions and suggestions.
• Park map and section maps for specific park regions are available at visitor centers.  

Hiking with kids adds some additional considerations - what is a reasonable elevation gain and length for the children in this group?  What are park elements that the kids might enjoy?  How comfortable and responsible is each child near water, steep drops, etc? 

With there questions in mind, here are some of our favorite short hikes at near the Eastern and Western sections of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Kid friendly hikes on the Eastern (Estes Park) side of RMNP:

• Sprague Lake - this is a short walk around the lake.  There is a parking lot close to the lake and a park shuttle is available seasonally.  

• Nymph and Dream Lake - this hike starts at the Bear Lake parking lot.  Parking is limited, so the parking shuttle is a great option.  This is a beautiful hike, with some elevation gate.  Nymph lake is peaceful and covered in lily pads.  Dream Lake is breathtaking.  This is a very popular hike.

• Alberta Falls - waterfall hike from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. 

*All of these trails are likely to be snow covered in winter and spring.  

*All of these hikes are located in the Bear Lake corridor and require Park Access+  reservations in the summer and autumn.

Kid friendly hikes on the Western (Grand Lake) side of RMNP:

• Colorado River Trail - this is a flat trail that follows along the Colorado River.  It is an out and back trail, We would just walk along the trail for a little while and turn back.  It is peaceful and with opportunities to spot wildlife.

• Holzwarth Historic Site - this is not really a hike, but more of a walk on a trail across a meadow to the historic site.

• Adams Falls - the trailhead for Adams Falls is near the eastern end of Grand Lake.  This trail leads to a beautiful waterfall.

Along Trail Ridge Road:

• There are short trails/walks along Trail Ridge Road that provide opportunities to experience the park above tree line.  This was in early June 2022 at one of these stops.

Rocky Mountain National Park is an extraordinary place to visit.  You can see much from the car, but a short hike adds to the park experience.  I hope that you are able to enjoy this beautiful park.  Plan ahead, be prepared, and have a great trip!

*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk.  Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly.  If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.

Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite.  Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.

Rocky Mountain National Park Camping with Kids

Group Camping at Glacier Basin

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the parks that we have visited most with our children.  During the years we lived near Denver, we did both day trips and overnight adventures at RMNP.  Our children were all little on our first visit, in fact our youngest child was just learning to walk.  On our latest visit, our older children were both teenagers.

RMNP is a wonderful place to camp in the summer and early fall.  The days are typically warm and evening quite cool… actually rather cold.  

*For a comfortable camping experience, be sure to pack a warm sleeping bag and layers to add as the sun goes down and the temperature drops.  

There are several campgrounds on the eastern side of the park.  We enjoyed camping at Glacier Basin Campground near Sprague Lake.  The views were breathtaking and it was convenient  to hike near Bear Lake.  

Sprague Lake is just a short walk from the Glacier Basin Campground. The trail from the campground to Sprague Lake was quite easy for our entire group.

Timber Creek Campground Summer 2014

Several years ago we camped at Timber Creek Campground on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park.  At the time, nearly all the trees had been cut down from this campground to combat pine beetles.  The trees have begun to regrow, but the campground is still fairly open.  Timber Creek Campground is near the Colorado River.

This campground is convenient to the trails on the western side of RMNP and not too far from Grand Lake.  

Tips for camping at Rocky Mountain National Park:

• Bring layers and be prepared for cold nights, even in summer.
• All of the campgrounds are are higher elevations that most people are accustomed to.  Staying hydrated is important at high elevations (as is wearing sunscreen).
• Pack warm sleeping bags.  We also liked to bring extra blankets, just in case.
• Hats and gloves aren’t a bad idea.
• You can bring your winter coat… even if it is summer

Reservations are available for the campgrounds at Rocky Mountain National Park at recreation.gov. - search for Rocky Mountain National Park to explore camping options.

For more information on visiting RMNP in different seasons, click here.

*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk.  Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly.  If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.

Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite.  Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.

Rocky Mountain National Park - When to go

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the national parks that our family has most frequently visited.  We lived in the Denver metro area for 8 years and RMNP was just a couple hours away. We’ve done day trips and camping trips to the park, both east and west sides.  There is an entry required at the park and reservations are also required in the busy summer and fall seasons. 

Rocky Mountain NP is a great park to visit with children.  There are simple trails to beautiful lakes, along streams/rivers, and through meadows.  Summer camping is quite comfortable with warm days, fewer bugs than some other parks, and nights that are cold enough that you’ll want a campfire.

If you are planning to camping at RMNP, I would recommend summer or very early fall.  Pack your warm clothing - we had sleet during the day while camping at Timber Creek Campground in late June.  Even if you’re just visiting for the day, you’ll want to have jackets for everyone as the weather can and does change quickly and as you move up in elevation through the park.

Wildlife is more active and easier to spot in these warmer months. Elk and moose are active and abundant. 

Rocky Mountain National Park in Early Spring - 

 Our first visit to Rocky Mountain National Park with our children was in late March of 2014.  We were naive as to what to expect at high elevations on this spring break day trip.  The area around Estes Park was clear, but as we traveled deeper into the park, the snow also became deeper and deeper.  This is the trail sign near Bear Lake and the trail around Sprague Lake, both on the east side of RMNP in the Bear Lake area.

Although lovely and majestic, visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter or early spring, especially with children would not be my preference.  It will be cold and there will be snow, particularly as you go up in elevation.  Trail Ridge Road that connects the east and west sides of the park will be closed.  There are some bright spots to visiting in winter and spring - less crowds, SNOW, and sledding opportunities (ask at the visitor center). All of this does mean you’ll need to be very prepared for cold temperature and potentially severe winter weather conditions.

Rocky Mountain National Park in Summer and Early Fall  - 

Even in Summer, your family is likely to still be able to see snow at the higher elevations in the park, while enjoying warmer temperatures at lower elevations.  The pictures below are both from early June 2022.  There was much snow along Trail Ridge Road and near the Alpine Visitors Center, but camping at Glacier Basin near Sprague Lake was snow free.

Summer will be busy at Rocky Mountain National Park.  There are timed entry reservations that will require you to plan ahead and bring along some patience.  There are 2 different types of reservations - more information is available on the park website https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/timed-entry-permit-system.htm

Shuttle buses are available in the Bear Lake corridor from late May until early fall. You can check the park website for specific dates. Shuttles allow for parking at large designated lots and riding to trailheads. 

Summer and early fall are great for hiking. In any season, you’ll want to be weather aware. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Heavy, wet snow is common in spring… which results in muddy conditions. 

Early Fall is a beautiful time to visit, as long as you keep in mind that the weather can be hard to predict.  It might be beautiful and sunny or cold and snowy.  Reservations will still be required and shuttle buses will still be running in early fall. 

This was early September 2015 - leaves are starting to change and the weather was amazing. There were less crowds than summer, but still plenty of people around.

Whenever you choose to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, you can expect beautiful views and opportunities to make great memories. RMNP is lovely and dear to our hearts. 

For more information about camping at RMNP, click HERE.

*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk.  Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly.  If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.

Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite.  Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.

List of National Parks that We’ve visited

Our family has had the joy of visiting a number of US National Parks.  Jordan and I visited several parks on a road trip as newlyweds.  We’ve been able to take our children back to some of those parks as well as continue to add new parks together as a family… and sometimes just the 2 of us.

Our children are now older elementary-teenagers, but we have been traveling and camping together as a family since they were small.  Some of these parks we have visited multiple times, others only once.  I look forward to sharing our experience and hope that it helps you as you plan to enjoy the great treasure of America’s National Parks!

Here is the current list of parks we’ve visited with and without our children.  As I add more posts on the parks that we have visited and new parks that we explore, those posts will be linked as well.  

Is there a park that we’ve been to that we’ve been to that you would like to know more about?  Please comment below - I can prioritize that location. 

Parks we have visited with kids:

• Arches
• Badlands 
• Big Bend
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison
• Bryce Canyon
• Canyonlands
• Capitol Reef
• Carlsbad Caverns
• Channel Islands
• Crater Lake
• Death Valley
• Gateway Arch
• Guadeloupe Mountains
• Grand Teton
• Great Basin
• Great Sand Dunes
• Great Smoky Mountains
• Hot Springs
• Joshua Tree
• Kings Canyon
• Lassen Volcanic
• Mesa Verde
• Pinnacles 
• Redwoods
• Rocky Mountain - When to go, Camping, Hiking
• Sequoia 
• White Sands
• Wind Cave
• Yosemite
• Yellowstone
• Zion

Parks we’ve visited without our kids (tips for visiting with kids still included in any linked posts):

• Acadia
• Biscayne
• Dry Tortugas
• Everglades 
• Glacier
• Grand Canyon
• Petrified Forest
• Saguaro
• Shenandoah
• Virgin Islands National Park

Other National Park Service Properties that we’ve Explored (with or without kids):

• Colorado National Monument
• Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
• Manzanar National Historic Site

Great Sand Dunes National Park with kids

We visited Great Sand Dunes National Park in June several years back.  The weather was warm during the day and chilly at night.  Camping was also a windy experience.  

The sand dunes are quite large and climbing up the dunes is challenging.  Our children only made it a little way up the dunes, but I was able to walk to the top of one of the large dunes.  Hiking to the top of a dune would be a unique experience for older children and teens.

You can also rent wooden sleds for use on the dunes.  This is not something that we did as a family, but if I were to go back, now that the kids are older, it is something we would probably do - we did take sled to White Sands National Park and it was fun to try sledding on the dunes there.

 

The highlight of our trip was playing in the water.  The Medano Creek follows at the base the of the dune field in late spring and early summer.  The water is cold, especially in the morning, but quite fun.  The water is shallow across the sand - perfect for sand and water play.  The children also used tubes in the creek.

Tip/Things to keep in mind:

• Prepare for the weather
• Be prepared to get a little dirty
• Bring plenty of water and plan to wear shoes - the dunes get really hot, even when the air is chilly
• Do your research and have a plan
• Camping was more windy than I expected, but it was amazing to wake up with a view of the dunes
• Make reservations!  Camping and hotels fill up, especially in late spring/early summer when the creek is flowing.
• This park is fairly remote - be sure to bring all that you’ll need. 

*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk.  Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly.  If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.

Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite.  Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.