Start your kids out on the right foot by hiking and enjoying the great outdoors found at Virginia State Parks. 

Hiking in the fresh air is a natural change of scenery. You're never too young for that.

If you're looking for a few beginner trails to enjoy with your kids, you've come to the right place. Check these out; they're open year-round, so layer up and head on out this weekend or next school break.

We even have suggestions on how to explore the trails with some hands-on fun stuff from the park.

1. | KANE'S CREEK TRAIL: MASON NECK STATE PARK

Explore the park together; bring plenty of water and hot cocoa to warm you up.

Mason Neck State Park is just a short drive from Washington, D.C., and this Northern Virginia park offers many outdoor activities and programs. It has hiking trails and 3 miles of paved multi-use trails. The park's wetlands, forest, open water, ponds and open fields make it ideal for environmental study and wildlife observation.

Bird watching, especially for American bald eagles, and guided canoe trips of Kane's Creek and Belmont Bay are favorites with park visitors. Bring binoculars and a thermos of hot cocoa to share.

Kane's Creek Trail is .87 miles and rated easy. Click here for a trail map.

2. | BEAVER, COYOTE OR OTTER TRAILS: BEAR CREEK LAKE STATE PARK

Borrow a park pack to discover neat stuff along the trail.

Bear Creek Lake State Park is nestled in the heart of the Cumberland State Forest in central Virginia, and Bear Creek Lake is less than an hour west of Richmond. All trails within the park allow only hiking. The park also provides access to the Willis River Trail, a 16 mile-long trail winding through Cumberland State Forest.

We like the Beaver, Coyote and Otter trails for beginning hikers due to their shorter length. You can bring a park pack along to explore the insects, plants and flora along their trek. Park Packs are available to borrow at every Virginia State Park and contain fun stuff like field guides, magnifying glasses, sifters and more.

Beaver and Coyote are just .05 mile trails, and Otter is a .15 mile trail, and are all rated easy. Click here for a trail map.

3.| FERN HOLLOW TRAIL: CALEDON STATE PARK

Hike and explore the woods, or participate in a Junior Rangers Program.

Caledon State Park is a National Natural Landmark known for its old-growth forest and summer home to many American bald eagles. Caledon attracts bird watchers of all ages. Trails, including Boyd's Hole Trail, which leads to the Potomac River, are open year-round. Ten hiking and four multi-use trails take park visitors through environmentally sensitive marshlands and picturesque wooded areas of the park. The 2-mile Boyd's Hole Trail leading to the Potomac River is the most popular of the trails.

Consider participating in our Junior Rangers Program to learn more about the woods, the river and wildlife that live in the park. Search our events database for nature programs like this.

Fern Hollow Trail is .86 miles and rated easy. Smoot Trail is also a fun, easy trail, just .42 miles and is rated accessible. Click here for a trail map.

REWARD THEM

You love the outdoors. You want them to love the outdoors too, so at Virginia State Parks, you can sign up for Trail Quest and be rewarded just for visiting them.

You'll earn five unique and attractive pins. Get one for your first park visit and others after visiting 5, 10, 20 and all parks. The whole family can participate, so each member can sign up for Trail Quest and earn pins now. (Children without an email account may use a parent's.)

Visit a Virginia State Park; then, after the visit, log into the State Park Adventures page, select the name of the park you visited, pick "Trail Quest," and record the date of the visit.

SHOW THEM HOW IT'S DONE

Teach by example, show them how important it is to spend time outside.

#OptOutside and First Day Hikes are an excellent way to show how valuable it is to spend time outside. Some things are better caught than taught, and we think this might be one of them. Do as I do, not just what I say.

Gather the family and friends together, then head out to a Virginia State Park for our annual OptOutside and First Day Hikes. 

VISIT FOR FREE

Nature Backpacks are free to borrow at your local Virginia library and include a pass to a state park.

Did you know you can visit a Virginia State Park for free by borrowing a nature backpack from your local library? There are hundreds available, and inside the pack is a pass for you and your whole family to explore a state park. 

Backpacks also feature pocket guides to bugs and slugs, animal tracks, Virginia birds, mammals, and Virginia trees and wildflowers; port-a-bug field observation container; Big Foot Leave No Trace Ethics Card; magnifying lens; dip net and laminated sheets with suggested activities designed by both Virginia State Parks and the Science Museum of Virginia.  

Find a park to hike, or learn more about Virginia State Park trails here.

#ThinkOutside