ALL TRAILS ARE UNDER 2 MILES ONE WAY.
Whether your child is two or eight these 5 spots will give you a taste of that sweet backpacking life. My first backpacking trips started off 2 miles or under. I wanted to slowly build my child’s mileage up over time before we started covering longer distances. These trips brought me no less joy than than some of our double digit days we do now. It also gave me time to figure out my ish. When I started backpacking my friends and I would go together with our kids during the week without our spouses. It’s good for everyone to start out your first few trips easy peasy. I promise you will pack your fears your first few trips. By doing easy trips to start out you can become familiar with what items you felt were important, but just don’t use. Every item weighs you down. When my friends and I started to get into backpacking we searched blogs for how to backpack with kids. We found plenty of sites, but I found nothing about how to do it without another persons help. Nothing. Zero. Zilch. So keeping it short at first allowed us to gain confidence and expirement while still being able to bail to the car if needed. Here are some trails you can do just that while you get your backpacking legs under you or just wanting an easy track for little legs. I feel any child that can walk without falling down can do these trails. These trails are perfect for your little adventure buddy in training.
FEHR LAKE
There have been times where I’ve just needed to get my teens away from their screens or I have wanted to backpack, but too am too tired to do much. Fehr Lake is my go to for when I want to feel like I’m in the backcountry, but don’t have the energy for much of anything. This trail would be an ideal first time backpacking trip with young kids. If they can walk, they can make it to Fehr. It’s 0.4 miles in with 116 feet elevation LOSS. You can continue on to Shephard or Hoover Lake if you desire, but there are plenty of great spots surrounding Fehr Lake. This lake has all the backcountry feels we walk miles upon miles to reach.
WALL LAKE
Another perfect lake with plenty of campsites that’s an easy stroll from the lot. I’ve camped at Wall Lake quite a few times. It’s a large lake with an area you can cliff dive. It’s not uncommon for families to day hike in tubes and float in the Lake and soak up the sun. It even has a beachy area where kids can play. There are plenty of places to day hike to near Wall Lake. I usually brought my soft carrier when my youngest was small and would day hike and keep Wall as my home base. It’s a short 1 mile hike in with about 116 feet of climbing. Little effort with a big payout.
KAMAS LAKE
While Kamas doesn’t have the plethora of campsites the other two do it is still an excellent lake to spend time at. I would suggest this for a midweek trip. It’s only a 1.6 mile journey from TH to lake with 513 feet worth of climbing. You’ll pass through forests and a meadow with stunning views of Mt Marsell. The trail is decently shaded and the lake is a show stopper.
LOFTY LAKE
This is one of my very favorite lakes in the area. It’s more of climb than the other three. You’ll gain 716 feet in 1.5 miles from the Pass Lake TH. It sits at high elevation and I’ve seen mountain goats in this area. My favorite part of the hike is the view while you’re ascending the pass. You’ll have more solitude at this lake than Kamas. There are some great sites in the tree line to the left of the lake. It’s terrain is trickier for small children. Just hold their hand and they’ll be fine. My three year old crushed this hike.
LONG LAKE
Long Lake is the longest distance squeaking in just under the two mile mark with 293 feet of climbing. This is in my opinion next to Lofty the hardest of the 5 tracks. The trail usually heats up and is pretty dusty. I suggest starting at a good time. My child has done this hike on his own two legs at 2 years old. The sunsets here are wild and the Lake is huge offering plenty of space to spread out and feel isolated from other campers.
HONARABLE MENTIONS ALSO UNDER TWO MILES.
- Cliff Lake
- Ruth Lake
- Clyde Lake
Exploring the Wasatch and Beyond 