Hiking with a Toddler

Definitely go with one of the Kelty Kids backpacks. They have tons of adjustments for all different size people and they are incredibly comfortable. I took my oldest (who was 3 at the time) on a 5 mile hike in South Dakota (and I am not an avid hiker nor am I in great shape) and I didn't even know she was back there. They are a little pricey, but worth every penny.

There is a great hiking book for families at REI, we also got the REI backpack and love it because there is a hydration pack in it. As far as camping goes, we have been taking my 20 month old since he was 3 weeks. Just bring lots of baby wipes.

I do not know anything about hiking in Fort Collins, but I can tell you about camping. My family loves to camp and I have 3 children of my own and one step son. My first camping trip with a little one was my first child. She was 6 weeks old. It was great. I have always taken my little ones camping. I have never had a problem or any issues. I take a playpen and plenty of blankets, so they are warm and cozy. Go camping, never let little ones be an excuse not to do things, chances are, they will enjoy them as much if not more than you do. Have a good time!

I can't help you with trails in the Fort Collins area, but I would highly recommend a back carrier for hiking with a toddler. We have one by Kelty and it works great for both me and my husband (b/c its adjustable, has a built in backpack for snacks, diapers, etc.). As for camping, I don't think any age is too young! We took my daughter camping twice when she was a little younger than your son, and she loved it!! We now have two kids (3 yrs and 8 mos) and already have 2 camping trips for this summer. Good luck!

I really don't know about the hiking part. I do know they have some really good back packs out there. On the camping, I say he's old enough. I remember going camoping with my sisters and they were really young. Not even walking yet. I loved it. I have some great memories of camping and swimming. My mom just made sure that we had warm PJ's and heavy blankets on top of the sleeping bags. It was great!!!! Have fun!!!

We have a 3 plus year old and we swear by the ergo baby carrier. We still use it to this day, and have since she was younger than your munchkin. We started camping with our little one when she was 4 months old and she has always loved the outdoors. Our newest is 7 weeks old and we will take her camping for the first time next month. Some of our favorite family hikes are 'Devil's backbone" (just west of loveland), and the inlet bay at horsetooth resevoir has a nice trail as well. Best of luck.
shanon

You are brave!! :) I would say well made out trails and ones that are more public are probably the safest bet. Poudre Canyon has some great places.
I personally will not take my kids camping until my youngest is 6. For many reasons and I am a huge paranoid woman, hee hee. Wildlife is way too close to humans these days and I am such a worry wart. We go on easy trails up by Flat Irons or by Gross Reservior. I will take them camping soon maybe to someplace like Jellystone where it is kid friendly and keeps them busy. Personally my kids would be bored to death after day one of camping I think.
They can wander off in a flash and I have seen too many stories on the news that lead me to believe that until they can understand some basics in safety, that you stay put if you are lost, to never walk away from your campsite or family.
Poudre canyon has some great trails though. I say a back carrier is the best for your body, it distributes the weight instead of a front carrier can be too stressful with a toddler I would think.
Good luck!! :)

I agree with Lindsey K on Horsetooth and Grey Rock. You probably won't be able to make it to the top of Grey Rock, but the prairie hike is very nice. I'm sure you've been taking advantage of the trails through town. If not, you may want to, they are really nice and a great starting point to know how far you can go with a 15 month old on your back. Have a great time! I grew up hiking and camping in Ft. Collins and it's the best! We just moved back to Colorado and are so excited to take our 6 and 4 year olds camping for the first time.

In response to a carrier, I would recommend a back carrier. We have one made by graco. It takes the pressure off of your back. Just make sure you get one that sits higher on your back and shoulders rather than the lower back. We go hiking a lot with our little ones. If you get a high pack it really isn't all that different from carrying a backpack. We have been living in Arizona, but we have hiked through some easier hikes in Zion with our kids, we have been to the great arch with a baby on my back in Moab. There are a lot of fun hikes in st george at Snow Canyon. You could even go hike to Timp Cave in American Fork. When he gets older Goblin Valley is extremely fun. We have been camping with toddlers. We have four kids and my oldest is 8. We took her camping when she was one years old. We took her hiking even before that. We are taking my fourth camping and he turns one in a couple weeks. We have taken a crib mattress before, so that the little ones are comfortable. You could take an air mattress. My kids have always loved camping and hiking. They love seeing the trees and Payson Lakes is fun to camp. You can walk around the lake, and what kid doesnt like water. My guess is that your little one will love the outdoors too.

I don't know about trails, but I do have an opinion on carriers and camping. If you feel up to it, DEFINITELY go camping with him now. He would absolutely LOVE it. (assuming he loves the outdoors as much as most kids) And they are so exploratory at that age, I really think it would be fun for him and for you to watch him. We have taken ours as young as 10 months (walking). We also took our 2 1/2 year old and 8 month old twins while I was pregnant with our fourth. All had an absolute blast. As for the carrier, if you plan on using it often and for outdoorsy stuff, I would buy one from a camping or outdoor sports store that has a frame and can seat the child more like they are riding on your shoulders or piggy back so they can see, they can be strapped in, and the actual carrier supports your back like a hiking backpack does. He's probably too big for the baby bjorn or snugli types anyway. He'll have more room, more view and be more comfortable in one like I'm describing. We almost bought one once, but ended up not taking the trip we wanted it for, and now we just have too many little kids to make it worth having. We can't carry 4 tired sets of legs. ;) Anyway. Have fun outside! I think it's great that you want to do things like that with him.

You'll love it! We have a kelty kids journeyman pack, and my daughter loves it. It also is adjustable so my husband (6ft) can wear it, and I (5ft) love it too. It is very sturdy but comfortable, and carries weight up to like 80lbs or something crazy like that. Have fun!

We have a Chicco backpack for our son, and it is fantastic! Easy to use, lightweight, and the little guy loves it. Even better, we bought it off Amazon for less than $80 on sale. Both my husband and I use it with ease. It was a great buy.

hello S.
i don't have any info for trails because i don't live in the area but camping, i might be able to help.
my sons first camping trip was when he was 7 1/2 months, granted it rained most of the time and he couldn't even crawl yet but he enjoyed it anyway. We started camping regularly last summer when he was 15 months. It was his very favorite thing to do all summer long. He loved exploring and playing in the dirt and going on hikes and walks and playing in the water, watching us fish and all sorts of stuff. doing anything with grandpa was the best, he even got a ride on the four wheeler. He loved everything except naptime or bedtime which was very difficult givin the heat in the trailer and the fact that he just wanted to play and get dirty.
I found a backpack carrier that seems to works great and he still loves it, and it has good support as well. I think we got it at babys r us and it was $100. it's a chicco.
So, camping with young ones does keep you busy but if they love being outside no matter what and being dirty, i would say yes, give it a go. Great experiences and wonderful memories. (My parents started taking us camping when my brother was still a baby). Hopw this helped even though it was long.

R.

A cheaper back pack carrier that works well is the Evenflo Snugli Cross Terrain. It was about $90 I think when we bought it and it works for our occasional uses. It has plenty of storage space and my son loves it. It folds down almost flat so it's also easy to store and doesn't take up too much trunk space. As for camping, my husband is all for taking little ones along. If you're ready to handle it, I'd say go for it. Good luck.

S.,

Go for it with camping. It's a lot of fun with them when they are little. If he is walking a lot and very adventurous, expect to keep a close eye on him or plan on wearing him a lot.

As far as carriers, the frame backpacks are wonderful. I don't have an Ergo, so I can't say if they are better, but some friends of ours hike all the time and they always use the frame packs rather than their Ergo. I have heard that the Ergo can get rather hot a sweaty. On the upside, garage sale season is coming up, and you can get some AMAZING deals on frame backpacks. We got a basic model for $1 (yeah, that was ONE DOLLAR), then we got another model with a sunshade, saddlebags and drink carriers for $35.

Best of luck,
S.

Go,go,go.....what a great thing to share with your son. I highly reccomend the Ergo carrier,it is supreme,travels well and comfy for everyone. http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/ . We went adventuring all over the west with our daughter when she was young, just remember to keep them cool and protected from the sun and they love it. Have fun.

we started hiking with our son when he was barely a year old and he loved it. my 18 mo daughter loves camping as well and has been camping with us since she was a baby. when we lived in fort collins we spent most of our capming and hiking trips in the poudre canyon ro roosevelt national park. these two had more short trails than the rocky mountain national park, plus if you want to camp or hike overnight or even get into rmnp you had to pay a fee. if you go to REI camping store they sell maps for all the local forests and parks. the ranger offices inside the parks do to. you can also find good recommendations online if you search for easy hikes in poudre canyon or roosevelt. just remember to plan for lots of stops to let your little play a long the way. as far a pack carries go we bought on second hand, but it wan't very comfortable to wear. if you want to get on it probably is worth it to spend the extra money and get one that's actually confortable. have fun!

Hi S.!

I don't remember the maps that my husband uses, but there are lots of good hiking trails up your way. Also, I think you would love the ERGO baby carrier. It is a soft structured carrier, lite and compact, not bulky like the hiking backpacks. I just got one for my husbands birthday- we are so excited to take our daughter hiking with it! I hope you have fun hiking!

H.
www.naturalchoices4baby.com

My vote for carrier is the patapum toddler carrier. It doesn't have a frame so it's very lightwt if you end up wearing it without the kid in it. It's easy to put on by yourself with the kid in it. I did a huge hike up a mountain..no trails and climbing over rocks. I needed both hands and needed my 15 month old (at the time) to be secure and safe. She even slept half the walk on my back. I had her there for 6 hrs (minus breaks). (BTW, we were spreading ashes of a grampa whose these were his last wishes). Anyway, I highly recommend this carrier because it's meant for toddler size kids although they have one for smaller babies that you can even turn back in for discounts on the toddler patapum as your child grows. After using this one, I'd never go to a framed carrier. We also ride 4 wheelers (ATV's) and I can put her on with me and have both hands available to drive. If she falls asleep, I don't have to drive with one hand and I don't get knocked in the head with her helmet. Also, you can wear them on your front or on your back..with them facing forward or backward.

As for camping..we're in MT so we have similar weather. We do have a trailer so we've taken every child camping withing months of birth. Also, we camp year round...snow and bad weather included. It's a bit more work the younger they are but my husband works very hard to make it easier on me with the extra work of a young baby. Go camping now..life is too short to miss out on any family time. Just keep it in perspective that it is a bit more work but it'll be more gratifying too when they grow to love the outdoors as much as you do. I have an 8 yo, 6 yo and a 2 yo that have done all this with us so far and they look forward to every trip. I also have one on the way who should be here late May..just in time for a wonderful camping season! Good luck and have fun! K.

I don't live in Colorado but we have a lot of hiking trails here. The kelty pack is AWESOME to hike with. I got a used one off EBay for fairly cheap. (They can be pretty expensive) My son is only three months old now but I have hiked many times with my younger cousins in it. If you decide to get one off EBay, be sure to ask the weight of the pack. Some of them are much heavier than others!

Oh S.!
You have got to get the ERGO carrier. It is just too good to be true. I hike with it all the time but originally bought it when I saw a women on a cruise carting around her 3 (!) year old in it and I asked her about it. Well, my daughter was 10 months at the time and we took her around 5 countries in Europe in the ERGO! It weighs about 2 pounds and was invented by a mom in Hawaii. It can be rolled into a suitcase easily.
Search Google for it. Amamzing.

I live in Longmont so not a great source for local hikes for you. For camping, we bumped up to a family size with chambers. We camped last summer with a just three year old and 18 month old. We put the 18 month old in the playpin and zipped him in a side chamber. He fussed but eventually fell asleep. the three year old wanted to talk until 9 pm or so, not too bad. My husband had in mind we would watch a movie...whatever. It was actually easier to camp with the little one then the big one. go up in the afternoon after naps (Brainard Lake is 20 minutes from us.) My husband actually got the site for two nights and went up on thursday to set up the site for us. so we just drove up, played, ate, and went to bed. Pretty easy. Watch sites with a lot of traffic near by but go for an outer edge site so you can duck out and go home early if need be (go back up later to get your stuff.)

I go hiking all the time with our 17 month old. I use a Rumba SHEpani backpack. It is awesome and my son never complains. You can get it at REI and it is built specifically for women. It is so comfortable and light (only 4 pounds) and can carry up to 50. It has a built in frame so good for longer hikes, but light enough for the mall.

I know people recommend keltys, but we tried one once and my son cried the entire time. I guess he got used to the Rumba. Oh yeah - it has stir-ups so his legs wont fall asleep.

Thanks for asking about camping - I was about to ask the same question. Good luck!

Hello, I have two children and we went hiking and camping with them as soon as it was warm enough after they were born. Kids grow into things, if you want to take them on a lot of car trips start early and they will do better.. if you want to take them camping go early... extra. My kids love to camp and hike and we developed that love for them very young. Just make sure you have everything they need,a cell phone maybe a beckon and a first aid kit. I wish I knew some trails near you to suggest but I'm not overly familiar with the area. Rocky Mountain National Park is a great place to camp with the kids, my daughter has developed a love for the elk there that keeps her in tune with nature even as she approaches the teen years(is 12 where they seem to care more about friends than anything else lol!) I used a back carrier..it was so long ago I cant really make suggestions on types. Anyhoo, sorry I kinda bounced all over the place there, good luck :)
S.

I don't know where you are at so I can't help with locations, but my favorite pack for hiking/camping is my Kelty, they have many price ranges and they are really nice with a five point harness so they can't fall out, even if you fall and I did so I can say that confidently! I take mine camping as soon as they can start walking but a friend of mine has taken hers as young as 3 months so I think that is to you about when to go, I like mine to be semi-independent.

I grew up in FTC and have hiked all over the area. You should check out the hiking guide "Trial Guide to Northern Colorado," written by Melodie S. Edwards. I know her personally, and she's been hiking with her twin girls for 4 years now. There are lots of different hikes--the ones around FTC and Poudre Canyon are especially close to the Fort. Have Fun!

I am not sure of your location, but we love to spend the day at Estes Park. They have a great hikes and gorgeous scenery. Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs has nice and easy hikes. We also go to Bear Creek Park, in Colorado Springs. As for a pack I am not sure what mine is called so I can not help you there. :( We are going camping with our daughter (she will be 15 months). I just would like them to be walking and then I say go for it. I think when they are walking it makes it a little easier on you. :) Camping is a wonderful experiance for any age so I say go for it!! Hope that helps a little. Have fun!!

J. S

Youngs Gulch up Poudre Canyon is a great, easy hike and one of the only places that dogs are allowed off-leash, as long as they're under voice command. There's also really nice hikes along Horsetooth Reservoir and Horsetooth Mountain Park. I have the REI piggyback and have loved it. As for when to take the kids out hiking...I don't think there's any minimum age. I took my son out from week 1 and we've been on many camping excursions. He has always loved it. My advice would be to be okay with them getting dirty, bring extra diaper wipes for cleaning up and try and stick to the bedtime routine. We've tried it all...having him sleep between us, at the foot of the tent, upgraded to a larger "family" tent and brought along the pack n' play and even the inflatable bed :) Sleeping when camping has always been difficult for my son and he usually wakes up during the night, but the key is to minimize the strangeness of new open-air surroundings and don't expect perfection. It's a great family tradition to start now!

Hi S.,
Well is looks like your post was from last year so you've likely resolved the whole thing by now but I think there are a number of great hikes you can take toddlers on. I take my 3 year old at least once a week when the weather warms up and I started when he was an infant..in a carrier of course. I got mine at REI. My best advice is to get the Book "Best Easy Day Hikes Salt Lake City" by Brian Brinkerhoff. This guy knows his stuff and gives directions down to the foot practically. The only one he left out that I can think of off the top of my head is Bells Canyon Reservoir. The trailhead is off of Wasatch Blvd. on the east side of the street. Approxiamtely 10000 South or so, you can't miss it. There's a small parking lot at the trailhead. It's gorgeous and a perfect family hike. Hope this helps.

I am not familiar with hiking near Fort Collins, but I can recommend a good front pack. It is the front pack made by Jeep. I tried the Baby Bjorn and didn't like it as well as the Jeep. The Jeep is much more comfortable and easier to get on and off. You can try it on and compare it to other brands at Babies R Us. Have Fun!

Okay so I am so not an outdoor person so I can't help with most of your request. However, we have a Kelty back carrier for our kids. I use it around town even! They have several styles and accessories like rain guards and such. They are spendy, but if you are going to be outdoors a lot they are a life saver. Very sturdy construction, but light to carry. And pockets and such for the babies stuff. Go to the Kelty Kids website to learn more about each style. Good luck with all your plans, you are much braver than I am!

I don't know of trails by you because I'm in utah, but we've taken our little guy on hikes last summer when he was only 7 months, and it went well! (he's 16 months old now). I think camping is a great idea for the kiddo's because its an excuse for them to get to know nature better and get all the dirt they could handle for a few days. ;) I would suggest checking out KOA camps. I don't know if they have a web site or anything but they are little camp grounds with facilities ranging from little one bed room cabins, to rv hook ups to just tent spots. they sometimes even have a pool, showers, and nice bathrooms rather than just porta potty's. good luck you sound like such a fun similar family to us! there's me, my hubby, our boy (16 months) and our little beagle puppy (11 mo). wish we were closer so our boys could get together!

Best Hikes with Children in Colorado by Maureen Keilty is a fabulous book with great suggestions for hiking with children.
I used a Kelty front carrier and we have a L.L. Bean backpack (hand-me-down) that is wonderful. I did look at Kelty backpacks because I love their hiking packs, but we were given the other one and it's been great.
As for camping - GO FOR IT! My first camping trip was when I was 5 weeks old. My daughter (now 2) went camping for the first time at 4 1/2 months (that was the first time it was warm enough). She loves to camp and now has her own tent to "camp" in at home, but will work when she gets older and wants her own tent when we go camping for real.
Good luck and have fun!

Horsetooth is a fairly easy hike. By far my favorite is Grey Rock. If you take the way through the prairie it is a little easier. It gets a little steep toward the top though. Our sons first camping trip was around 13 months. We went with others who brought their own kids and it was a very positive experience.

I have to echo, the Kelty back carrier is my vote. I did tons of research and we took dd to the stores to try them on with her in them. There are a few models of the Kelty out there--anyway we found one that worked for both my husbands frame and my frame--important for us since we switch back and forth. We love hiking and camping and my dd loves it too, we took her the first time when she was 4 months old. We don't do what my dh calls "real" camping right now because it is easier with a kid in diapers to not have to hike diapers in and out of areas, so we go places with established campgrounds for now-- he hopes to change that this summer...we'll see! lol. If your family loves to camp, take the kids. Some of my earliest memories are of camping with my family.

The Ergo carrier is great for either back or front and doesn't hurt your back. I love mine and use it for all the walking I do with my 14 - month old. they are pricy ($90), but worth it because you can use them from newborn (if you have another baby later) up to like 3 years old. I've already gotten enough use out of mine to make it worth the price. Highly recommended, and better than frame backpacks.

Hi S.,
We've been taking our four children hiking and camping since the first was a baby. Our youngest camper was one month old. I think the earlier you introduce children to such activities the better (though one month was pushing it--for me!). Our children have NEVER been bored while camping and these have been our best family memories. I also happen to believe that experiencing and appreciating nature is extremely healthy in so many ways.
As far as practical advice: we've found that until a child is about 5 years old, they tire quickly on a hike and will need to be carried at least part of the time. It is definitely worth investing in a good backpacker like a Kelty. It should have a thickly-padded hip belt at the very least so that your hips are carrying most of the weight, not the shoulders. You'll both like it better when it gets hot too because the child is not pressed up against you. It also gives them a better view and these packs usually have a few pockets for a snack and diaper stuff.
We also live in Ft. Collins and one of our favorite places to go for a short day hike is Lory State Park. It has several nice hiking trails with a variety of difficulty levels. There's a wonderful, very short (~1/10 mile) hike just inside the park entrance that leads to a nice waterfall--still a favorite with our kids. There is a $6 entrance fee.
Camping and hiking does require some vigilance with little ones but it is definitely worth it! Have fun!

I don't know a lot of the hiking trails in that area...although we are moving to FC this summer, so I am excited to read some of the responses. We have hiked in Poudre Canyon and Horsetooth before but before we had our son...so we weren't thinking of kid-accessible trails.

I think a back carrier with an external frame would probably be the easiest for carring a toddler. Try some on and see what feels good. There are some that have smaller frames built for women's bodies.

As far as camping goes...we camped with our son just before he turned two. We probably would have gone a bit earlier if the weather had been nicer (his bday is in April). He wasn't walking yet and slept with me all night in my sleeping bag. He LOVED it! He crawled around on the ground and got filthy. He had a great time. :o) We have camped several more nights since then and he thinks it is great fun! Many times he sleeps in the sleeping bag with me, but he's also slept in a pack-n-play in the tent. Napping seems to be the hardest to do when camping...we try to take long walks with the stroller or backpack and he often falls asleep then.

Have fun!

i have been taking my two boys hiking and camping since they were only a few months old and they love it!

i have a kelty kid carrier backpack that i bought four years ago that i still love and is in great condition, it is a bit pricey, about $150 or so but like I said, I have used it for years

my 4 year old can hike about 3-4 miles round trip and my one year old rides in the backpack until he needs a break to run around

i am not sure about hikes in your area, i live in orem but i hope i helped a little

I don't have anything for the trails question.

But we have camped with our babies, and friends' babies since they were just weeks old. You need to keep in mind the cold nights and hazards ( creeks, thick tress) that might be near camp. My husband works for DOW and lives for the out doors. Our children crave it now. They can't wait for our yearly "hunting" (flower hunting) trip. I wouldn't suggest a week long trip... but a night or two to start would be exciting. Think of all the great things you get to see through his eyes!

go camping now! We took ours the first time at 9 and 8 months, respectively, and have gone ever since (they're now 6 and 4). We did have a tent that was about 10x10, which allowed us to use the pack-n-play, which was a great help. Jsut be sure to pack the airspace underneath the pack-n-play w/blankets or he'll get cold. we just loaded up the layers on the kids (tight fitting jammies, covered w/long sleeve shirt and sweats, covered w/fleece sweatshirt, covered w/fleece footie jammies bought for the following winter) and put a hat and mittens on them at night rather than worrying about a sleeping bag. With this method, make sure you've got good diaper rash lotion w/you 'cause I guarantee you won't change a diaper in the middle of the night! I've heard others put their kids between them or in a sleeping bag w/them to keep them warm. even if you don't use the pack-n-play at night, take it for daytime when you need to keep him safe (i.e., cooking or setting up camp). And take your booster for the dinner table - we strapped them in for feeding - made life much easier than trying to keep them still when there's so much cool stuff around. You will have to keep an eagle eye out - it won't be the relaxing trips of singlehood. Our oldest thought pinecones were a delicacy. the second wanted to eat rocks. And the second had been walking for about 10 days when we were at a VERY rocky site (hard to tell when booking over the internet). But we don't regret a single moment of those early camping days! Great memories and the kids think camping is the best thing out there. last year we did 10 of 12 days on a long trip and they asked for more!