We are lucky to live less than an hour from the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park and even luckier to get to spend lots of time in one of the world’s first national park. It isn’t easy picking 5 hikes in a park that is so full of wonderful backcountry experiences, but I did it.

According to the park website: Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

I’ve chosen 5 hikes that my family and I have enjoyed and that represent different areas and ecosystems in Yellowstone. So, whether you want to geyser gaze, watch trout spawn, photograph wildflowers or push a stroller, I have a hike for you!

Follow up:

Trout Lake

Trailhead: On the northeast park entrance road west of Pebble Creek campground
Distance: About 0.5 mile one way
Difficulty: The trail is quite steep, but it is so short that almost anyone can make it.
Trail description: The short, steep trail switchbacks up the side of a hill through open sagebrush steppe, wildflowers and forested pockets.
What you’ll see: A beautiful lake nestled in a meadow at the base of Mt. Hornaday. If you visit in June you’ll see hundreds of cutthroat trout spawning in just inches of water in the inlet.

Otters and muskrats also make Trout Lake home. Get there at the right time and you’ll see otter pups playing on fallen logs and chasing each other around the lake. Cutthroat and rainbow trout draw anglers to the lake.

Lost Lake

Trailhead: Behind Roosevelt Lodge
Distance: 4 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: moderate
Trail description: This loop trail departs from behind Roosevelt Lodge and climbs 300 feet onto the bench. Here the trail joins the Roosevelt horse trail and continues west to Lost Lake. (If you take the trail east, you loop back to the Roosevelt corrals on the horse trail or continue on to Tower Fall Campground.)

From Lost Lake, the trail follows the contour around the hillside to the Petrified Tree parking area. Cross the parking lot and climb the hill at its northeast end to loop back behind Tower Ranger Station. Cross the creek and return to the Roosevelt Lodge cabins. (It’s easier, if a little longer, to hike back the way you came or walk on the road back to Roosevelt Lodge.)
What you’ll see: Pretty Lost Lake, wildflowers, waterfowl, wet meadows, petrified tree, black bears (maybe, but carry bear spray any time you hike in Yellowstone).

Cascade Lake

Trailhead: Cascade Lake Picnic Area, 1.5 miles north of Canyon Jct. on the Tower-Canyon Road.
Distance: 4.5 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: easy
Trail description: Fairly flat trail through meadows. This trail is often muddy through July, so hold off until Aug.
What you’ll see: Wildflowers and wildlife—in season. Lovely, Cascade Lake. Since the Canyon area can be such a zoo, this is a nice way to take a short break from the throngs.

You can make this a through trip by hiking 3 miles out the Howard Eaton Trail to the trailhead 0.5 miles west of Canyon Junction on the Norris-Canyon Road (leave a vehicle).

Or, from Cascade Lake take the strenuous, 1,400 foot climb in 3 miles to Observation Peak (11 miles roundtrip from the trailhead). The hike takes you to a high mountain peak for an outstanding view of the Yellowstone wilderness. The trail passes through open meadows and some whitebark pine forests.

Biking along the trail to Lone Star Geyser.

Lone Star Geyser Trail

Trailhead: 3.5 miles southeast of the Old Faithful area, just beyond Kepler Cascades parking area.
Distance: 5 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: easy
Trail description: This mostly level trail follows an old service road along the Firehole River through unburned forests of lodgepole pine. This trail can be accessed by bicycle with the final approach to the geyser on foot.
What you’ll see: Lone Star Geyser erupts about every 3 hours. Even if you miss the eruption, the ride or walk along the Firehole River is lovely. Plus, it is fun to see a geyser off the boardwalk, even when it is just gurgling.

There aren’t many trails in the park where bikes are allowed, so take advantage of this one.

If you get a chance, check out Kepler Cascades near the trailhead. John W. Hoyt, the governor of Wyoming Territory visited the Park in 1881 looking for a decent wagon route connecting his Territory to the Park. Included in the party was a young boy named Kepler.

According to the book “Yellowstone Place Names,” then Superintendent Norris named the cascade after “the intrepid twelve-year-old son of Governor Hoyt, of Wyoming, who shared all the hardships, privations, and dangers of exploration with his father.”

Lone Star Geyser

Two Ribbons Trail

Trailhead: Approximately 5 miles east of the West Entrance, no marked trailhead, look for wayside exhibits next to boardwalk in large pull-outs
Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles (2 km) roundtrip
Difficulty: easy
Trail description: This is a completely boardwalked trail that winds through burned lodgepole pine and sagebrush communities next to the Madison River. This is a nice walk for someone pushing a stroller.
What you’ll see: Good examples of fire recovery and regrowth as well as buffalo wallows. Waterfowl on the Madison River.

REI
MEC
Land's End Sun.Life line of clothing
Milk Factory

An unexpected source of polyester and fleece shirts is Carter's, specifically their polyester pajama shirts.  These are made to address fire safety concerns with cotton pajamas, but they have several advantages over other technical kids' gear.  They're soft, with a cotton-like texture; they come in a variety of weights and sleeve lengths depending on the season; they come with a wide variety of appliques, to meet the interests of your favorite kid; and because they're marketed for a general audience, rather than a specific technical market, they are available on sale in a variety of brick-and-mortar locations.

In the attached photo, my son is wearing a Carter's pajama shirt, and a pair of hiking pants made from an old pair of women's hiking shorts (our all-time favorite toddler hiking pants).

Where do you get your kids' gear?  I'm always up for a new source!

There are actually lots of fun trails in the central florida area.  Before the birth of Jack (13months ago) my husband and I loved primitive camping and hiking.  Of course depending on your comfort level these activites may or may not be on your list of things to do with an infant.  Now instead of our long hikes in secluded areas we now choose shorter trails, with hopes of going further and futer with Jack as he grows a little.

This past weekend we took Jack hiking on one of the EELs properties in Brevard County http://www.eelbrevard.com/.    We chose the Barrier Island Scantuary http://www.barrierislandcenter.com/index.php due to it's location.  The trail was short but pretty. I think it took us about 30 mins to complete.  It accomidated our all terrain stroller, but can be wet so I would recommend a carrier instead. Tons of land crabs and thier burrows to look at.  Also,as usual in Florida tons of misquitos, bring your repellent!  After the short hike you can tour their awesome center or hit the beach.  We usually head south to hit up the Sebastian Inlet for tons of fun.

After reading Outdoorbaby.net for tips on things to buy for outdoor adventure with kids, I thought buying an inexpensive boulder crash pad would give me and my son more options when venturing to nearby rivers, alpine lakes, any rocky beach, every local crag, any place off the beaten path, my deck for breakfast, local baseball games, any place where there’s no padded area for an eleven month old to play, and my sister’s house (my sister who has hard wood floors).  I found this pad at an on-line outlet store for about $65 (I also look for used pads, but could not find any).  This pad is nothing fancy, but it’s light to carry, not bulky, and fits right in my car where it stays for last minute outdoor trips.  I do get a few odd looks from the non-climber moms we hang out with, but when they find out what I use it for, they love the idea.  I give this boulder crash pad turned “baby sitter” a 5 star rating.

After reading Outdoorbaby.net for tips on things to buy for outdoor adventure with kids, I thought buying an inexpensive boulder crash pad would give me and my son more options when venturing to nearby rivers, alpine lakes, any rocky beach, every local crag, any place off the beaten path, my deck for breakfast, local baseball games, any place where there’s no padded area for an eleven month old to play, and my sister’s house (my sister who has hard wood floors).  I found this pad at an on-line outlet store for about $65 (I also look for used pads, but could not find any).  This pad is nothing fancy, but it’s light to carry, not bulky, and fits right in my car where it stays for last minute outdoor trips.  I do get a few odd looks from the non-climber moms we hang out with, but when they find out what I use it for, they love the idea.  I give this boulder crash pad turned “baby sitter” a 5 star rating.

What should we do with our old down or synthetic puffy jackets once the belly and pockets area is too grungy with dribbled oatmeal or aluminum from your dirty climbing hands?  Make them into snow pants for your kids!  Many websites teach how to make pants out of sweaters, green kitchen.com for example.  You can use the same technique for making snow pants.  With down or a jacket with many layers, be sure to zig zag just beyond your desired edge to keep the feathers or the layers in control.  Then cut the jacket apart and start sewing.  For a bit more on sewing down, see my directions for kid sized down sleeping bags.

Here are some comments from testers:

• “My impression of the Leki from the very first was favorable.  The video was exceptionally well done, not too much   information, but enough.”

• “Because I am small, I tested out the "children's version" and found it to be a perfect match. “
•  “They are amazingly light weight and sturdy.”
• “The pads are easy to remove for rough terrain.  The Trigger snap, marked with L/R, makes it easy to slip in and out of  the poles which in turn makes it easy to disconnect when climbing fences, accessing your backpack, etc.....and you are only a snap away from being ready to go again.”
•  “The poles are EASY to adjust.  Length is critical.  My first setting was a little long, and the poles tended to bounce around in the extended (rear) position.  But once I altered the length, they felt comfortable and "right".
•  “I found them easy to use on rough terrain, but less so the steeper and the more overgrown that terrain became.  In fact I decided to switch back to my  other branded poles for overgrown terrain.”
• “They were great on "improved" trails and dirt roads.  I rarely walk on pavement; so haven't tested them out under those conditions, but have confidence that with the "feet", they will be very comfortable to use.”
•  “I honestly haven't noticed any "workout" difference.”
•  “The strongest endorsement one can give is to say you will recommend a product.  I can no longer imagine "walking" any distance without Leki's, and certainly would recommend them.”
• “These poles are sold with the idea of giving you a walking workout on paved or mellow terrain.  I found them to be effective on this type of terrain, but also could be used in other situations.”
• "I found the poles to work great on most terrains but not very useful on narrow or dense trails."
• " I found the hand straps to give extra support."
• "The rubber feet ends on the poles where great on pavement."
• "I found it very nice that the poles where light and found the poles to give my triceps a great workout."
• "My hips, knees and other joints where less sore after using these poles"

Although not typically an outdoor sport, Yoga is practiced by much outdoor enthusiast families.  It is a great way to spend some down time with your children when on a trip.  I find yoga to be a portable sport that helps parents stay supple, alert, and healthy and focused while raising little ones.  Both mats were tested by myself (pregnant), my child (age three), and a certified yoga teacher (seven years of teaching experience). The yoga teacher used both extensively for a month.

Neo Natural Yoga Mat

The biodegradable mat is s very cushiony, and has a rubber tree scent.  I call it a

"teacher’s" mat because I would leave it at the studio as it is heavy and large to

carry around.  I am proud to tell students I am using a biodegradable mat, it inspires

them to integrate their yoga into conscious living.  I would recommend it for teachers

or for a person who needs a lot of cushion and could store it in the studio. It features double scrim for a strong, stable practice surface. It also uses the process of vulcanization to increase strength, resiliency and durability in the natural rubber; there are no glues in this mat!

Boulder Mat Company:

This mat has moderate cushion and is adorned with a beautiful print/ design. It's also easy to carry.   It was still sticky even after getting sweat on it, so it could be used for a hot yoga class too. I would use this for a Vinyasa, Iyengar or hot yoga class.  Comes in five designs and is toxin free, but when I received it had a very strong chemical odor.  This is a woman-owned and Colorado based company. They will refurbish and clean your old mat and give it to someone who  is in need of a mat but cannot afford one.

This is a backpack that has a laptop padded section. Comfortable breathable back and straps.  Good organizational space.  Large enough for a day hike, day on the town with two children or to be used as a diaper bag.  Has a chest strap, but no waist strap which could be useful for long days. A friend of mine always used a backpack as her purse, diaper bag and stuff carrier and I understood why when I used this bag.  Made with many  100% recycled materials

GoGaGa Bag:  The Slide - Diaper bag to messenger

I have had this bag for a few months now, and had waited to write about it because I was trying to figure out how to best describe this amazing bag.  It is a messenger-style bag that is created to be multi-functioning.  It is completely versatile; both women and men will feel comfortable walking around with it.

GoGaGa offer many varieties of bags but the one I tried was The Slide. It comes with a changing pad, cell phone /iPod pocket and baby wipe holder.  All these accessories can be removed and your bag would be just like any typical messenger bag except that it has an amazing shoulder strap.

I am sure that I could not carry around a heavy messenger bag with a conventional strap, but the strap on this bag alone is worth every penny that you pay for the bag.  It is a large elastic cloth band (a bit like an infant sling carrier) that spreads out the weight of the bag on your shoulder and back.  It is very comfortable.

The bag also has two insulated bottle holders, well-designed compartments and even a yoga mat holder.  All these compartments can be used with your baby in mind or when your baby is not in tow.  I had enough room in this bag for all my daughter’s accoutrements plus my own.  I loved being able to bring cold water on one of my excursions without looking like I was bringing my diaper bag along.  The cell phone / I pod carrier holds phones well as long as you don’t bend over. Unfortunately, you do that often with a child so I don’t recommend storing your phone in it.

I love the baby wipe carrier from this bag - I use it with all of my other bags.

Overland bag: Calistoga - Grocery bag to car organizer

This simple cloth bag got a lot of oohs and aahs at the grocery store.  It is a typical cloth grocery bag except that it has some reinforcement along its seams which makes it stand up in a square shape.  This way you can put heavy gallons of milk in it or nicely folded t-shirts without the whole thing collapsing and frustrating the heck out of you.

I use this bag to grocery shop and to bring different things I want to keep organized in the car. During our previous car camping trips we would have loved to have a few of these to organize our gear and clothes. I like bags that are open so that you can see what is in them.

Prana Bags: Whipsaw Messenger Bag:  Use for one person.

This is a great looking bag with many features: ample pockets and storage areas, laptop compartment; it can be used by both men and women.

I wanted to try this bag out to see if it could be used for different purposes but I found the strap to be a bit uncomfortable and the adjustment buckles to be heavy and in the way.  The storage areas are designed more for the single user.  I would not recommend this bag to be used as a diaper bag, except if you don’t mind if everything mingles together. Also, the bag itself is heavy.

This bag is probably the most strongly made and I am sure the construction would last more than a life time. It is very sturdy.

Autumn Tote ( Prana):  Use for day on the town.

I have used this wide mouth, insulated top loader for a variety of activities: grocery shopping, trips to the library, travel around a city, and a weekend getaway.  Even though this bag is intended to carry a laptop it has ample room for other things.

I have used it to insulate my meat and dairy when I went to the grocery store and had to drive it back home in a warm car.  I also used it to carry many large heavy children’s books back to the library and the books stayed in place and did not flop around.  It also worked well for my basic needs on a weekend getaway.

I recommend this bag for all around use. It does not have a shoulder strap so it is more of a tote.

You may walk around a park or a local college campus and see young athletic twenty-somethings walking on a tight rope and doing tricks.  Well, this is called slacklining and your children can really benefit from this fun outdoor activity.

The Gibbon slack line comes with all parts necessary (except two trees).  It is very easy to install because of its crank system.  Children as young as 3 years old can really get into this.  It teaches them balance, control, and concentration.  It also helps them to keep focused and probably improves their eyesight.

Regular slack lines are made out of webbing and are kind of narrower.  This one is quite broad which enables a steadier foot on the line.  We tested out this Gibbon slack line with children and very able teenagers and adults.

It seemed to be a great line for children or beginners.  The experts felt that it did not enable them to do as much tricks because it was so taught. But they did like the ease of installation and that they could loosen the grip on the trees.

Hello Jim,

Thank you for writing.  A few months ago someone asked a similar question. Here is a link to my answer. Sleeping

Different families I know have used different methods: bringing a pack and play, driving around for an hour, placing the child on a blanket in a shady area, using your well ventilated/insulated tent (it gets hot in the summer, cold in winter), putting their child at the bottom of a canoe, using a backpack, or a stroller.

We like to nap Cora in our child carrier. We find that this way we can hike or walk around and explore more places for a longer period of time, but you don’t get a break this way.  Check out my latest child carrier review to get some ideas.  If you are not the hiking type then you can check out the Ergo Pack.  They are a soft carrier that is very comfortable to use to do shores around camp and your child will not resist falling asleep.

Hope it helps.

Heidi