OutGrown Blog

John Muir once said, “The mountains are calling and I must go.”  I know exactly what he means.  It was a childhood visit to the mountains that hooked me forever on wild places and national parks.  Whether it’s the beauty, or something else we can’t exactly put our finger on, mountains inspire us!  If you’re looking for a little inspiration for your family this fall, then consider heading to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Enos Mills, who fought hard to create the country’s 10th national park, once said, "In years to come when I am asleep beneath the pines, thousands of families will find rest and hope in this park."  His vision became a reality as so many find both among the high mountain peaks and valleys a few hours outside bustling and busy Denver.  Home to elk, moose, bighorn sheep, bear, deer and more the kids can go crazy looking for wildlife here.  Listening to elk bugle during their rut (mating season) in the fall is an amazing experience if you’re lucky enough to hear it!  Drive to over 12,000 feet on the famous Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved road in the United States, and with over 300 miles of trail, be sure to get out of a trail, no matter you hiking level or ability. There are many trails to choose from, but here are a few especially great with toddlers and kids: Sprague Lake – This flat, packed super short gravel trail is great for the littlest hikers, but offers stunning views of the Continental Divide for the grownups. Alberta Falls – In less than a mile you can be at a beautiful waterfall!  Aspens along the trail make this a great fall destination, too. Cub Creek – Hike 2.3 miles roundtrip among blazing fall colors to a beautiful lake. Lily Lake  - This 1.4 mile hike is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs and even offers a fishing pier!  From 9,000 feet elevation you’ll see great views of Longs Peak and Mt Meeker. Bear Lake – This is one of Rocky Mountain’s most visited trails for good reason.  Hike around Bear Lake if you’re looking for a really short hike – or continue on to Nymph, Dream, or Emerald Lakes if you’re looking for something a bit longer. Lake Estes Trail – If you’re based out of Estes Park, here’s a gem in town just for you.  This paved 3.75 mile trail offers views of the mountains and is perfect for leashed pets and jogging strollers.  In September and October watch for elk! Since fall is the time many parks begin to close facilities down for the upcoming winter months, be sure to check the website or call ahead to verify opening and closing dates of restaurants, campgrounds, visitor centers and the like to avoid any unpleasant disappointments.  That said, fall is a wonderful time to visit most national parks as the summer crowds are gone and you can more easily find that peace and quiet you’ve been longing for. For more details on these trails or others, check out Rocky’s official website at www.nps.gov/moro a

If you happen to live in the Pacific Northwest, you know that we love our national parks out here!  And I really do mean LOVE…two hour wait to get into Mount Rainier National Park on summer weekends anyone?  I love all the love, but I don’t love all the peeps in the woods with me!  If you don’t either, then let me suggest a smaller, sunnier, quieter park with views and vistas that rival the bigger attractions:  Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. We love our dramatic Cascade peaks like Mount Rainier, Mount Hood, and Mount Shasta, so it may seem that visiting a place where a mountain used to be would be less of a draw.  But you would be wrong!  Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, one of the deepest in the world, and definitely one of the most pristine. Crater Lake blue is a color all its own – on a clear summer day it’s electric, almost surreal, and very hard to capture on film.  Standing on the rim of this crater feels like being in a gorgeous painting. Crater Lake is one of my favorite parks to visit with kids.  Many of the park’s most spectacular trails are short.  Because the park is relatively small you spend less time in the car than in bigger parks.  And even on a busy summer day you can still find a parking place.   Expect (mostly) dry, warm, sunny weather from July until September, although snow can still surprise you any of those months so always throw in layers and cold weather gear, too. Here are my top picks with the little ones in tow or leading the way. Castle Crest Wildflower Garden – This short ½ mile loop is great for little hikers and yet is beautiful enough to draw the grown-ups too, especially if you hit it during the peak wildflower bloom (typically late July to early August). Annie Creek – This roughly 2 mile loop is considered moderate for the climb in and out of the canyon, but is mostly level along the creek otherwise. Enjoy wildflowers, several creek crossings on log bridges, and many spots to stop and enjoy the creek. Sun Notch – Another loop hike under 2 miles that is fairly steep on the uphill to the rim of Crater Lake, but offers one of the best views of Phantom Ship, a feature that always fascinated my kids. Watchman Trail – For some serious views, hike 1.7 miles round trip up to a fire lookout tower on the rim of Crater Lake.  With a 360 degree view, you can’t go wrong here. Plaikni Falls - If you need an accessible trail for a stroller, this is the best one for you.  In about 2 miles round trip  you can wander back to a pretty waterfall, on a wide gravel trail with pullouts. If touching the lake is on your bucket list, then Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only place to do that.  The locals joke that the hike is 1 mile down, 11 miles back up.  In other words, it’s tough!  The kids’ will probably be fine on the steep sandy trail, just make sure you are up for it!  And be aware this is the busiest trail in the park – it’s the lake experience you’re after here, not the solitude. If you’re looking for a really unique hike and your kids are 3 and older, sign up for the Wizard Island Shuttle and spend half a day exploring the largest island in Crater Lake.  Hike to the top of the cone of the "new" volcano! For details on all the fun, head to the official park website at www.nps.gov/crla  

Every national park – big or small, obscure or well known, nature mecca or historic monument – is worth visiting with a family. But there are a few special places that seem to give you more bang for your buck. A few gems where, instead of settling for the shorter or easier hikes because of the kids, the best hikes are short and kid friendly. Great Basin National Park in Nevada is one of those rare places. Never heard of it? You are not alone! Its location in the Great Basin Desert – three hours west of Salt Lake City, Utah, and five hours north of Las Vegas, Nevada - keeps it well out of the way of most travelers. But for those willing to make it a destination you will find 13,000 foot Wheeler Peak harboring the country’s southernmost glacier, bristlecone pine trees (the world’s oldest living organisms), ornate Lehman Caves with unique formations not found anywhere else, sagebrush, deep silence, and dark night skies. Campgrounds rarely fill here, and even in the middle of July you can have a trail entirely to yourself. The Great Basin region covers a vast area of the west, from Utah to California, from Arizona to Oregon – a region in which no water ever leaves. Instead of draining to an ocean, all precipitation that falls in the Great Basin, stays in the Great Basin. Most of that falls in the form of winter snow, but summers in this high desert are warm and sunny. Be sure to stop at the Great Basin Visitor Center in Baker, Nevada, outside the park the explore the hands on exhibits and learn more about this unique region. And don’t miss the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive to over 10,000 feet with stunning views of surrounding mountains and valleys. Services are really few and far between here, so the best strategy is always to fill up on gas and food at a grocery store before leaving civilization. There is a yummy café at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center during the summer that makes an excellent stop for lunch or ice cream after a hike! When you’re ready to hit the trail, here are a few of my favorites: Island Forest Trail – Located at the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, this .2 mile handicap accessible trail winds through a beautiful aspen grove at over 10,000 feet elevation . Bristlecone Pine Trail – Walk among the oldest living things on earth on this 2.8 mile stroll. A short walk beyond the grove brings you to the country’s southernmost glacier! Alpine Lakes Loop – In just over 2 ½ miles you can hike to two postcard perfect alpine lakes at the base of towering Wheeler Peak. Because you begin your hike on the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive at 10,000 feet, elevation gain is minimal! Baker Creek Trail – This 2.5 mile loop hike is one of my favorite all time trails anywhere. It begins in a sagebrush meadow with a snow capped peak in the background, climbs through profuse wildflowers into an aspen grove that is stunning in the fall, crosses a mountain creek, wanders through ponderosa pines, a high mountain meadow, then back across two bubbling mountain streams back at the trailhead. It has it all in less than 3 miles. Lehman Caves – How about a hike in a cave? The Lodge Room Tour is only .4 mile and ideal for families with young children (Note that the minimum age for a cave tour is 5 years old). In honor of the National Park Service’s 100th birthday this year you can join in Great Basin, Great Inspiration on August 12-13th, a two day series of artist workshops where you can learn more about night sky photography, writing, painting, cowboy poetry, ceramics, fiber and more. In September you can join in the Great Basin National Park Astronomy Festival, a family event with unforgettable star gazing. The park has some of the best air quality in the nation, which translates to excellent night skies. Solar telescopes set up during the day, dozens of telescopes up at night, ranger programs just for kids, and a chance for the little ones to earn their Deep Space Certificate are just a few reasons to go! Ready to find true solitude with the family this summer? Then check out Great Basin National Park – I promise you won’t be disappointed! Visit www.nps.gov/grba to start planning your trip. Alana is a park ranger turned homeschooling mom of three. With her park ranger husband she’s raising her kids in America’s most beautiful places. She loves hiking, camping, photography, books, coffee shops, farmers markets, gardening, and backyard chickens. She is the Branch Ambassador in Eatonville, Washington, just outside Mount Rainier National Park.