Hiking in the mountains with children
Children love to hike! If you plan the mountain hike in a fun way, they can walk almost any distance. However, your role as an outdoor parent changes the conditions for you as an outdoor enthusiast. Make sure to slow down the pace and set realistic goals. When hiking in the mountains with children, you can take day trips from STF's genuine and personal accommodations – or camping in the mountains.
Take frequent breaks and let the children explore the nature
Mountain trails can have challenging passages and elevation changes, which can be both fun and challenging for children. Take many breaks to sustain energy throughout the day! Along the way, you and your family can build your own wind shelter, grill food, or take the opportunity to swim in a mountain lake. A good idea is to divide the day into two outdoor sessions. Go inside and prepare lunch, or eat at the restaurant at the mountain station if you are near one. This way, the children will have renewed energy when you head out for the second time.
You can create engagement by allowing the children to try things they are not used to at home. Use maps and GPS, explain where you are, where you are going, and what you see. It’s also nice to take advantage of the morning and evening at times. For example, you can hike late in the summer light, or get up early and experience nature waking up. Feel free to bring a bird book, a plant book, binoculars, and a magnifying glass, so the children can explore nature.
Safe mountain hiking with children
The sense of freedom increases when you feel safe in the mountains. Therefore, it is always wise to read up a bit more on mountain safety. Don’t forget that mountain weather can change quickly – always listen to the weather report before you set off. Of course, you need to know how to navigate using a map and compass, even when following marked mountain trails. Make it an activity that the children participate in!
It’s important to stick to safe trails for hiking. Never cross flowing or deep water course with children. Also, never take children to ledges, narrow mountain ridges, or steep snowfields.
It is crucial to be humble before the mighty natural forces and weather changes of the mountains. At the same time, there is no reason to worry if you are well-prepared. Do you want to learn more before you start mountain hiking? At several of STF’s mountain stations, you have the opportunity to join a safe family hike with a guide, and throughout the summer, we offer families the opportunity for a free mountain introduction. These introductions, called Fjällintro Family, take place at STF Storulvån Mountain station, STF Saltoluokta Mountain station, and STF Grövelsjön Mountain station. You will gain basic mountain knowledge and go through map and compass use, mountain safety, the right of public access, how to cook on a camping stove, equipment tips, and what to consider when packing your backpack. After the introduction, you should feel confident about taking your family on a mountain hike on your own.
Plan plenty of extra time for the hike
Having plenty of time is the key to a successful trip. This way, you avoid getting stressed by the approaching darkness or feeling that the distance is too long. It’s good if you, as an adult, have some energy left when everyone else’s has run out. Your knowledge and experience as an outdoor enthusiast make it easier for you to help others. If you yourself are starting to lose motivation, there are solutions for that as well. Take a break, have a snack, swim, or let the children play for a while. Try to eliminate negative aspects such as hunger, fatigue, and cold before they even become an issue.
Carry small children in a baby carrier or child carrier
Very young children, up to about one year old, can be carried on your stomach in a baby carrier. A baby carrier should provide good support for the head and neck. When hiking with a baby carrier, you can often carry a backpack yourself.
Children over one year old can be carried in a child carrier on your back. A child carrier works well once the child can sit stably and until they weigh 15 to 20 kilos, at which point the child can walk on their own. Remember that the child carrier should be comfortable for both the child and you as the carrier. With a child on your back and extra items in the backpack, there will be less space for your own gear. It’s important to have companions who can carry not only their own gear but also some of yours.
When carrying a child on your stomach or back, it’s essential to prioritize safety. Avoid peak climbs, stone accumulation, and slippery areas. In both the baby carrier and the child carrier, you need to ensure that the child’s blood flow to their arms and legs is good. Stop frequently to make sure the child changes position, walks a bit on the ground, and moves around. Since you are moving and your child is sitting still, they can get colder than you, especially in spring and autumn. On warm summer days, on the other hand, make sure the child doesn’t get too hot. Bring a good hat, or opt for a child carrier with a built-in sunshade that can be pulled up.
From the age of five, children can walk on their own
From five to six years old, children usually manage to walk on their own. How far and how fast they walk is, of course, entirely individual, but expect them to cover one to fifteen kilometers depending on their age and mood. Without the pressure of specific distances, you learn to enjoy being outdoors together. On a bad day with hunger, poor weather, a cold, and mosquito bites, progress will be slower. Therefore, spend plenty of time playing! Along the way, you can grill food, build your own wind shelter, or take the opportunity to swim in a tarn or from a cliff in the archipelago. Make sure the children carry only a small backpack with a light load.
Play and have fun on the hike
There are many tricks to create the conditions for a delightful mountain hike with the family. First and foremost, make sure you walk together with the children, not behind or in front of them. Bring a tennis ball or another small and lightweight toy. Pack a terrain-friendly stuffed animal that can be both fed with freeze-dried food and get dirty from play. Perhaps you can invite the children’s best friend to join you? It can also be fun to have a project to engage in during the evenings and breaks on the hike. If the children are old enough to handle a knife, they can, for example, carve a walking stick for themselves. Nature offers plenty of materials suitable for crafting.
In need of outdoor equipment?
Rent instead of buying! As a member of STF you get a discount when you rent outdoor products and sportswear from Outdoor Buddies. Excellent for both your wallet and the environment.
More pages about hiking
Hiking trails in Sweden
The amazing thing about hiking in Sweden is that there is always more to discover. You can hike on remote mountain peaks, along rugged coastlines, beside bright yellow rapeseed fields, or near major cities.
Mountain hiking
The Swedish mountain range stretches from Treriksröset in the north to Dalarna in the south. Here, breathtaking landscapes and hundreds of miles of marked hiking trails await.
STF’s Signature Trails
To make it easier for your next hike, we’ve selected some of Sweden’s most spectacular trails – we call them signature trails.