FunColoradoHikes Blog

After hiking for several years with little ones, we have discovered that being prepared for the trail means having some supplies on hand and some instructions for the kids.

We have discovered some easy-to-pack items that will help in case of minor emergencies on the trail.

Dress your kids in jeans: Prevents bloody knees when kids fall on the trail.

Pack several chewable tablets of Children’s Tylenol: Prevents the discomfort of leg or ankle cramps after a long day of hiking.

Pack several tablets of Children’s Benedryl: Prevents swelling in case of bee stings and/or allergic reactions to dust or pollen.

Slather your kids with Sunscreen: Prevents the pain of sunburn.

Tell your children before hiking not to run ahead of the group or to fall behind the group: Prevents children from getting lost. Prevents wildlife (i.e. mountain lions) from attacking the smallest people in your group. (This is a reality that we hear of more frequently in the news; kids being attacked by mountain lions. In all the cases reported, the children were not close to their group).
Give your child a whistle to wear or carry on the hike: If for some reason your child becomes lost in the wilderness, his whistle-blow can be heard over a much larger distance than a shout. When in need of help or rescue, the whistle could save a child’s life.

These are tips that we are conscientious of when we set out on the trail. Do you have any more safety tips to share? Please share them with us!

Posted by funhikes under Family Hiking Tips
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Did you ever look for information on the internet and find what you were looking for, but could not see it all at once or take it away from your computer?

Well, that is the reason that e-books are becoming so popular. E-books make it easier to have all the information you want at your fingertips.

E-books have great content;
they are instantly downloadable;
they are instantly printable;
they can contain information from an entire website(s).

Check out our free Colorado Hiking e-book! It contains 5 great family hikes that we want to share with others who love hiking.

Just go to the Fun-Colorado-Family-Hikes Website Homepage and sign in with your e-mail under the newsletter section. Enjoy a free hiking e-book - take it with you to the trail!

Posted by funhikes under Hikes, Hiking Trails
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We often try to find new hikes for our website. Sometimes we score big and love the new trails we discover; other times it turns out to be a bad experience and a day of hiking down the tubes.

Recently, we set out on a hike marked on a map in our DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer. The kids were all geared up and excited to do a new hike after riding “forever” in the car. We started out with the ususal excitement.

The trail we picked was marked at the trailhead for hikers, motor bikes, mountain bikes, and horses. What a joke! Try walking on a trail where motorcycles and 4-wheelers come racing around the bend leaving you only seconds to jump out of the way and to pull your little ones to safety! No way - these two just can’t share the same trails!

I can’t help but wonder why the Forest Service can post these signs and expect that everyone will enjoy a safe day outdoors! Let me leave you with a piece of advice: when you see these signs, just know that the hikers will lose out in everyway! Keep your family safe and stear clear of these kinds of trails.

Ironically, whether it was a hiker or biker that did this work on the sign, they had the right idea!

 

P.S. This particular trail is past the Devil’s Head Rec. Trail on Rampart Range Rd. labeled TR 649.

Posted by funhikes under Family Hiking Tips, Hiking Trails
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Another good hike for kids is at Mt. Falcon Park. One of the best perks of this park is that it is close to Denver just bordering Evergreen, Colorado. It offers an easy day hike close to home (west entry from Hwy 285 to Parmalee Gulch Rd.). Map.

This hike may not have the spectacular views that other mountain hikes offer, but it is a short drive from Denver, it is in the mountains, and it has a trail or two that are perfectly manageable for children. Castle Trail and Meadow Trail. Both are “short and sweet”.

Castle Trail offers a unique destination of old homestead ruins that once belonged to a wealthy Denverite in the early 1900’s. Kids love to explore the old castle ruins at the end of the hike and enjoy the view of the eastern plains over Denver.

Our family has visited this park for many years and have always enjoyed its open meadows and pine forests. Pack a picnic and dine at one of the many picnic tables in this mountain setting! Enjoy Your Hike!

How to get there? Take US 285 south from C-470 to the Indian Hills/Parmalee Gulch Exit. Go 5 miles on Parmalee Gulch Rd. Then turn right on Picutis Rd and follow the signs to park’s west parking area.

Posted by funhikes under Hikes, Hikes Near Denver, Hiking Trails, Product Reviews, Wildlife
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I’ve lived in Colorado for more than 20 years and have not heard until recently that Colorado is a wine producing state! I was so surprised! How could this climate produce fine wines? I’ve learned that in certain areas (mainly on the western slope) the weather is just right for growing grapes.

The great Rocky Mountains and wineries - what a surprisingly delightful combination!

There are more than 60 wineries across the state. Many of them are open for tours and wine tasting. As our family travels around the state this summer, we plan on dropping by one of these treasures. Before or after a day of hiking, we’ll squeeze in a quick visit. (It’s not exactly an activity that our kids would consider as “family fun”).

Our favorite wine is Sparkling Riesling which I’ve read is available at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City.

Here is a short list of some of the wineries in Colorado:
Colorado Cellars Winery (Palisade)
Creekside Cellars (Evergreen)
The Terror Creek Winery (Paonia)
Trail Ridge Winery (Loveland)
Plum Creek Cellars (Grand Junction)
Pikes Peak Vineyards and Winery (Colorado Springs)
Check out the internet for more!

Posted by funhikes under Around Colorado
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A great place to take a family fun day is to Colorado’s grand canyon - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

This park is a great place to spend the day(s) hiking, camping and picnicking. It offers beautiful views of the canyon from either rim - Stunning 2,000 ft drop to the canyon floor!! There are activities and programs that everyone is invited to participate in.

We enjoyed a nice visit to the South Rim Visitor Center and a short hike closeby. There are rim trails (for hikers of all capabilities) and inner canyon routes (for experts only - permit required).

The park also offers interpretive programs and a Junior Ranger Program for kids at the South Rim Visitor Center. During summer weekends, there are nightly presentations at the South Rim Campground.

This park has it all! Check it out when planning your next southwestern (Grand Junction, Gunnison, Montrose) Colorado vacation.

Posted by funhikes under Hikes, Hiking Trails
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