Hiking is much more than getting from point A to point B and back to the car. Especially when it comes to getting kids on the trail. According to a post published by the City of Boulder called “Families and OSMP,” spending time in nature can also increase creativity, self-confidence, academic achievement, and cognitive functioning and reduce obesity, stress, depression, and symptoms of ADHD. And many more benefits, of course.

But a parent’s love and enthusiasm for hiking might not always be shared by their child. Maybe you’ve carried them in a pack since they were newborns, and then one day, even mentioning a hike brings a barrage of complaints. Or perhaps everyone is just dipping their hiking boot toes into the outdoor world. Whatever it may be, getting your littles to take to the trail eagerly involves more than just snacks, though that’s an excellent place to start.

Mother of four Kyana Miner didn’t grow up in an outdoorsy family, but when she and her husband started exploring nature as adults, they became “obsessed.”

“We found being outdoors was a natural stress reliever. Once we started having children, I knew I wanted them to see as much of this world as I could show them, and fostering a connection to nature is really important to us,” says Miner. Her children, Anaya, 10; Ali, 8; Amir, 5; and Aurora, 2, have been hiking since they could walk and now love exploring places like Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Rocky Mountain National Park, and trails near Breckenridge and Georgetown.

Miner runs a website called Black Adventure Mom, where she chronicles her family’s adventures. In one post titled “Hiking with Kids: Avoid Frustration,” she points out that “Slow is better than not at all.”

That attitude has served the Miner Family well on favorite trails like the Siamese Twin Trail in Garden of the Gods, Bear Lake in RMNP, Clear Creek Trail in Golden, and Fowler Trail in Eldorado Canyon State Park.

Miner has a few other tricks up her sleeve, too. She says her three main tips are: Choose trails with the things your kids love - mountain views? rivers? climbing? waterfalls? Keep them plied with snacks during the hike, and consider a treat for the end. And play games - race to a certain point or pretend to be an animal.

In a post titled “How to Make Hiking Fun with Kids,” REI echoes Miner’s approach and adds a few more ideas. Let your child practice navigating by paper map or app. Not only will this help keep them engaged, but it’s an important skill they’ll undoubtedly use later in life.

REI also suggests letting your kids lead the planning, so they don’t feel like they’re getting dragged along. Even the littlest hiker has an opinion on if the adventure should include a river or climbing rocks.

In another post titled “Hiking with Infants, Toddlers and Kids,” REI breaks down a few age-based tips for outdoor enthusiast parents.

For infants, get your baby used to a new carrier before hitting the trail and consider starting around nap time since the motion of hiking usually puts little ones to sleep anyway. And don’t forget a wide-brimmed hat that covers the back of the neck, too.

Toddlers love carrying their own gear and might enjoy a small backpack with something ultralight packed inside. If your toddler isn’t in a backpacking pack, remember the farther you go, the farther you have to go back, which might include having to carry or piggyback your kid out.

Grade-schoolers might enjoy inviting a friend along, and rather than prioritizing peaks or views, think about activities like skipping rocks or climbing boulders.

When you live in the mountains, a walk down your road could technically count as a hike, but there are some other great easy hikes in our neck of the woods to check out. Lost Gulch Overlook off of Flagstaff Road is a half-mile jaunt offering breathtaking views. The Boulder Creek Path is a flat trail that offers many stop-offs at playgrounds and safe creek entries. And Nederland’s own Mud Lake puts you right in the middle of wildlife without walking too far.

As Miner says, “The outdoors are for everyone. Never feel like because you don’t consider yourself outdoorsy that you can’t explore nature or foster a love of the outdoors in your children. From exercise to mental health, there are so many benefits to getting outside regularly. It’s one of the best gifts you can give your children.”