The secret ingredients for great hikes with young kids are relatively easy terrain, the potential for wildlife (“keep your eyes peeled for…a mountain lion!”) and, of course, spectacular views.
Hikers can find all of this and more at 850-acre Shiloh Ranch Regional Park in Windsor.
The park, situated at the city’s far eastern edge, is a former cattle ranch that was converted to into open space in 1988.
Today, it boasts a bunch of trails that wind through oaks and grassland. The trail gains a total elevation of 600 feet, making it easy to moderate for parents with children in backpacks. Perhaps most important, parts of the tromp are shaded from the sun.
Our favorite hike is a 3.7-mile loop that comprises Bigleaf, Ridge, Pond and Creekside trails (though another loop that incorporates Canyon Trail is pretty neat, too).
As the name suggests, the most incredible views come from the top of Ridge Trail. As you climb, keep eyes peeled for deer prints in the dirt. As soon as you spot them, look up—you very well might find yourself face-to-face with the very deer responsible (for some reason, deer have frequented this park for the better part of the last two decades).
Deer or no deer, there’s a great bench at the top that makes for a good picnic spot.
Also of note is Creekside Trail. This is the final leg of the journey and the most shaded portion of the hike. It’s also a great opportunity for toddlers to scan the creek bank for frogs, toads and other little critters.
Naturally, our normal handful of recommendations and warnings for hiking with children apply. Be sure to apply lots of sunscreen and take extra water in case the kiddies get thirsty.
Also, even though the hike is less than four miles, bring a first-aid kit, just in case someone takes an unforeseen tumble. As they likely teach your kids in Brownies or Boy Scouts, it’s better to be prepared than be sorry. With scenery this beautiful, it’d be awful to miss a gorgeous vista for a scraped knee (or worse).