Top 5: Staying Safe While Visiting a National Park With Kids
When visiting a national park and the surrounding environments, families are often faced with a difficult question: how far do we push it with kids? Although there are spectacular views to see from designated viewpoints off of the main roads, anyone who has explored a national park can tell you the real heart of the park cannot be seen from a car.
This leads to a common concern for families: is visiting a national park with kids possible and safe? Just like Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, visiting a national park needs to be delicately considered and planned. 18 Summers Atlas strongly encourages you to get out of your car and explore the parks in their full capacity, but to consider these safety guidelines before doing so.
Planning a National Park Vacation? Make Hydration a Priority
Water is life. Yet so many people fail to recognize the significance of bringing water not only on their hikes, but in their cars while driving around the parks as well. In Arches National Park, it is recommended that every adult family member drink a gallon of water a day and carry at least 2 liters (approximately half a gallon) of water with them on an average hike. Always read the information the parks give out for more strenuous hikes; they will often tell you if more water is needed.
This is just for a hike. You should also have plenty of extra water in your car. Water is not easily found inside most national parks, so have it on hand upon arrival. In Canyonlands Island in the Sky, they only had water at the visitor center. If you suddenly find yourself in an emergency situation near Grand View Point, for example, water is not very close by. With temperatures in the upper 90 degrees Fahrenheit, you truly cannot be overly prepared, especially with children. You can easily buy child-size hydration backpacks to ensure kids stay hydrated all day, and is way easier than handing them their water bottles every 5 minutes.
For these reasons, our hydration backpack of choice for an adult is the Nevo Rhino brand, due to its higher volume capacity of 3L. It also has plenty of space to store food and snacks for you and your family, sunscreen, and more. I particularly like the ability to shove my sweatshirt in the compartment on the outside of the bag, the waterproof nature of the material, and the small pocket on the waistband that fits my iPhone perfectly.
For older children, our choice is the Mothybot brand. It can hold 2L of water, but my 8-year-old typically only carries 1-1.5L. It is a great backpack to grow into. It is the perfect size for my 10-year-old and has enough space for kids to fit their lunch, hat, and any other small items they wish to bring.
At Grand View Point in Canyonlands taking a small break from the sun on a cliff.
Even in parks that don’t have as dangerously high of temperatures, it is always best to bring an excess amount of water on hikes in case someone in your group gets injured and you are forced to “wait it out” on the trail for several hours before help arrives. Many of these areas are very remote, and although it is encouraged to explore with your children, taking the necessary precautions is crucial.
In addition to water, bring plenty of salty snacks to replenish your electrolytes in these conditions. Many signs in the Mesa Verde National Park recommend you have salty snacks along with water on hand before continuing on the trail to their incredible cliff dwellings. Plus, we don’t want any hangry children on a cliffside, either!
Lastly, visit national parks in the evening, when the temperatures are much lower and the sun isn’t as blazing hot. The park crowds cut down substantially and you will feel like you have Arches or Mesa Verde all to yourself. Sometimes, these nights are the most magical of your trip!
Keep an Eye on the Sights and the Sky
Now that you are a true explorer, you must also become a bit of a meteorologist. When hiking with children on a 4-mile round trip, it can take much longer than with a group of only adults. If the weather suddenly changes, it's essential to know how to manage the situation safely, as getting back to your car might not be as quick and easy as usual. In parks at high elevations, like Rocky Mountain National Park, hikes often start close to or at the tree line. If a thunderstorm suddenly rolls in, you don’t want to be one of the tallest things on a high mountainside. In such cases, you should immediately head to lower elevations and ride out the storm in the forest if you can't quickly return to your car. Avoid standing near lone trees, cliff edges, or high ridges.
Another concern, which can be less predictable than the weather, is flash floods. These are common in parks like Zion and can occur even with sunny skies overhead. Since you can't outrun a flash flood, being prepared in advance is crucial. The top piece of advice is to visit the visitor center each morning and discuss the day's conditions with a ranger, especially before setting out on less common or well-traveled hikes. Know which areas of the park are prone to flash floods and have a plan in place if one occurs. The first step is to get to higher ground immediately. Educate yourself on the signs of impending flash floods by speaking with a ranger familiar with the park before starting your hike.
Getting Lost Happens Even When There is a Trail
Getting lost might seem like a far-fetched concept for those unfamiliar with hiking in terrains like Canyonlands, for example. However, with little soil, a lot of dust, and frequent winds, any trail can easily disappear. Many hikes are not particularly long, making it easy for a family with children to embark on them. However, the real concern arises when 11 a.m. approaches and the temperatures begin to soar. Being lost takes on a whole new level of urgency in such heat.
On many trails, the only way to know if you're on the right path is by spotting a rock cairn up ahead—a stack of rocks used to mark the trail. This photo is on Andrew’s Glacier trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. As you can see, the trail is nearly impossible to find!
The rangers' official recommendation, especially in extreme heat areas like Canyonlands, Arches, and Zion, is to find shade and stay put. Do not expend energy searching for the trail, as this can lead to wasted water and increased sweating. Staying in one spot also makes it much easier for rescuers to locate you.
Please Don’t Touch the Bison, Even if They Are Cute
Grizzly Bears on a mountainside through binoculars at Glacier National Park. Read more about this beautiful park on our Glacier blog.
Every national park has certain animals that you are likely to see. In Glacier, visitors are prone to seeing Grizzly bears. In Yellowstone, guests drive through Lamar Valley and pass through the hundreds of Bison surrounding them. Smoky Mountain National Park is known for its beautiful Black Bear population. And some parks are even known for their rattlesnake population…eek!
If you hear that terrifying rattling sound, make sure you know where it is coming from and slowly back away. If you are not positive of the direction, it is best to remain still, as this likely means the snake is further away and is just sending a warning. (You do not want to accidentally move toward the snake.) Fortunately, rattlesnakes are not overly aggressive snakes and will only strike if they feel threatened, so backing away will eliminate the threat pretty quickly.
For bear safety, carrying bear spray in certain parks is crucial on hikes, which is laid out in our "Top 5 Tips When Visiting a National Park" blog. A common mistake people make is keeping the bear spray in their backpacks; it needs to be extremely handy and ready to be pulled immediately. Many bear spray bottles you purchase do not come with a holder, so it is recommended to get one that can be attached to your waistband or a strap on the front or side of your hiking backpack. This way, the bear spray can be easily accessed at any time, like this one. My preferred location is on the waistband of my hiking backpack. Please note you are not able to fly with bear spray in your checked or carry on luggage.
Bison may seem cute and friendly (or do they?), but they have a pretty aggressive side that should not be messed with. Plenty of visitors have been gored by a bison by getting too close or wanting to take a selfie. The difficult part about Yellowstone is that the bison will often be right there when you turn the corner without you even realizing it, which happens at Mud Volcano. Keep your children relatively close by, which is already a good idea with the thermal activity in the area, to avoid an unnecessary encounter. These creatures can be up to 2,000 pounds, and their eyes look deep into your soul when you walk by. They can turn aggressive on a moment’s notice, so do not mess with them!
A Bison in Yellowstone National Park
Deaths in National Parks: The Importance of Water Safety
Playing in creeks, rivers, and lakes in national parks is by far the most exciting thing children want to do, and who can blame them? One of the remarkable things about our national parks is that they are mostly free to explore. You will rarely find signs that tell you to stay out of the water or not climb on the rocks. (Side note: Arches was great for climbing on rocks, except you are not allowed to climb on the arches themselves.) However, the issue with the free rein of exploration we are granted is that the leading cause of death in national parks is drowning.
This isn’t to say your kids can’t enjoy the water in these beautiful locations. Just make sure you truly evaluate the situation before allowing them to play. A swift current, even if just 6 inches high, is enough to knock a small child over and carry them down a river. Rapids that don’t appear dangerous may have strong undercurrents that can pin even adults underwater, making it very difficult to reach the surface. Look for very shallow, slow-moving bodies of water and be mindful that just because other people are doing something doesn’t always mean it is safe for your children. Find another safer location down the stream that isn’t as ominous.
Playing on rocks near water can also be risky. Smooth surfaces can become incredibly slippery when wet, making it easy to lose balance and fall. Visitors also lose their balance just by looking around at the scenery. Tragically, deaths in national parks do happen. The latest death in Glacier National Park this year occurred when an adult slipped on a rock and fell into a river, resulting in a fatal accident. With water temperatures as cold as at this park, a young child cannot stand to be in the water very long while waiting to be rescued. Wearing a coast guard approved life jacket around or in bodies of water in National Parks is always highly recommened for young children, especially with cold water temperatures.
The Little River in Smoky Mountain National Park near Elkmont Campground
Kids need to explore the world, and with that exploration will come cuts and bruises. We encourage you to take your family to national parks, get out of your car, and take the hikes that most families aren’t taking. Let the kids jump in the water to experience how cold glacier water really is. Venture into remote areas of the park where it's quieter, and your chances of spotting a grizzly bear from a safe distance are higher. But be smart about it and equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to keep everyone safe while planning a national park vacation. If you prepare for safety and step outside your comfort zone, you’ll have the trip of a lifetime. Your kids will remember it forever. And remember…the best national park for kids is whichever one you go to!
