Hiking
Little Legs, Big Adventures: Hiking Reno Tahoe with Kids
Nicole Shearer
Nicole Shearer lives in Reno with her husband and two boys. When she and her family of weekend warriors aren’t out hiking, they’re adventuring elsewhere throughout Reno-Tahoe on their bikes or skis, depending on the season.
It started during COVID. Our two boys, ages 5 and 9 at the time, were at each other’s throats. Homeschooling, coupled with stay-at-home restrictions, had them bouncing off the walls and taking any and all excess energy out on each other. It was brutal. One day, I reached my wits’ end and called a Hail Mary. I told the boys to get their shoes on and to be in the car in five minutes. We were going hiking.
Up until that point, we would “hike” with the boys, but realistically, those jaunts could easily be considered more of a stroll than a hike.
This was the first legit hike with the boys and what I consider to be our family’s game changer. We hiked from the Galena Creek Trailhead for a total of about four miles that day (and the boys didn’t fight once). Naturally, hiking quickly became a frequent activity, one that’s now a family staple. When we travel, we always seek out “ice-cream hikes,” i.e., hikes that warrant a reward at the end, and our boys both really enjoy it.
Favorite Hiking Trails in Reno Tahoe
Here, in Reno Tahoe, we have plenty of favorites and enjoy adventuring on foot several times throughout the year.
Chickadee Ridge Hiking Trail
Chickadee Ridge via the Tahoe Meadows trailhead is likely the boys’ favorite, and for good reason. Chances are you’ve seen Instagram posts or YouTube videos of people feeding the chickadees along this hike. I can attest, it’s worth it and kiddos absolutely love it. Be sure to pack snacks, not only for you and your kids (always a must when hiking), but also some birdseed for the chickadees, which you can feed without harming them. My recommendation is to make this an ice cream hike by adding the Ophir Creek Loop. Pending when in the season you hike, there are several small streams you can splash in to get a bit wet.
Jones and White Creek Hiking Trail
Jones and Whites Creek Trail via the Whites Creek Trailhead is the perfect hike for families looking to see spectacular fall foliage. You’ll likely spot several families taking holiday portraits along the trail, which is incredibly picturesque in the fall as there are hundreds of aspen trees showing off their changing colors along the creek. This is one you can make an out-and-back by going as far as you and your kiddos’ legs will take you. To hike the whole thing, it's a 10+ mile hike, depending on the trailhead you start from, with the loop itself being 9.2 miles. It is open to mountain bikers, equestrians and plenty of people take their four-legged family members since the creek is a great spot for dogs to play and hydrate.
Mount Rose Peak Hiking Trail
Mount Rose Peak Trail, from the Mount Rose Summit Trailhead off the Mount Rose Highway, will get everyone’s blood pumping. For this one, you may want to promise an ice cream and then some (I’m not past bringing Skittles or gummy bears and passing them out on the trail - if the kids are happy, you will be too). While making it all the way to the summit is the goal for many, if you’re hiking with smaller kids, I think hiking out and back to the waterfall is the perfect distance. Those with stronger legs can adventure to the summit, where you’ll be greeted by stunning views of Lake Tahoe on one side and Washoe Valley and the Virginia Range on the other.
Hiking Tips for Parents
A few hiking tips from one parent to another:
- Pack lots of snacks, water, sunscreen, a hat and bug spray. Depending on the season, a fantastic hike can easily be ruined by mosquitoes.
- As your littles get bigger, Camelbacks or similar-type packs make a great birthday or holiday gift. They love being able to carry their own water and snacks, and it lightens your load a ton. Your back will thank you.
- Let your kids lead the way. No one wants to chase mom or dad up a mountain (and pretty soon, you’ll be chasing them anyway). Seeing things through their eyes can be a ton of fun. My older son once discovered an entire patch of lady bugs on one hike that I easily would have missed. On another, he pointed out a bear, though I doubt I would have missed that.
- Hiking with littles also offers lots of quality time to chit chat. During one hike, we came up with hiking names for each other, and the boys’ names stuck. Meet Dash & Crash (my oldest), Wanderer (my youngest).
Hiking with Toddlers & Littles
For those with kids too big for a hiking backpack and whose legs simply need to move, here are some of our favorite spots to get started:
- Caughlin Ranch Trails
- Virginia Lake Loop Trail
- Peavine Trails
- Truckee River Walk - start at Wingfield Park or Idewild
- Tahoe East Shore Trail
So, what are you waiting for? While I can’t guarantee hiking will make your kids stop fighting (mine still argue plenty - just not usually when we’re hiking), it will provide them screen-free opportunities to connect with you and the world around us. Happy trails!