I've said before that my family doesn't make much of a distinction between seasons when it comes to getting outside. We are outside in absolutely every type of weather. We love to hike and have explored many, many trails in the area. This is a list of my favorite winter hikes for kids. As a bona fide winter lover, it pains me to admit that the hiking scenery can be not as good during the winter and that trails can be difficult to navigate, especially with children in tow, so I wanted to focus on trails that have things to see besides nature scenery and also well-maintained paths.
Hunting for ice in Briant Park, Summit
1. Your local park! Our closest park is Briant Park in Summit, which is nothing more than a paved path a little over a mile in length. It's close to the road so it's not a very "natural" scene but there are little patches of woods, the path is very well-maintained even after snow and ice, and you're never too far from your car or civilization which is nice with kids when it's cold. My kids love going out into the park and finding ice puddles, smashing them with sticks and rocks, and running across them (or smashing through them) in their boots. I wouldn't typically count a public park path as a "hike," but for kids it's plenty, and you might be surprised with all the things they can find to entertain themselves! You don't have to go all-out with hiking sticks and attempt to climb Mt. Everest to call it a hike! Don't discount your local neighborhood park!
Fairy Trail explorers!
2. The Fairy Trail at South Mountain Reservation. Located off Glen Ave in Millburn (right across the street from the library), The Fairy Trail is a favorite all year round but it's especially great in the winter when there's not much else to see on the trails. A short, sweet loop of a trail, it's doable for kids of all ages and they'll love looking at the fairy houses maintained year-round.
3. The Deserted Village at Watchung Reservation, Berkeley Heights. There isn't very much to this attraction but for some reason my kids love it. They love running around outside the abandoned buildings (one of them is actually occupied... bizarre but true), poking around the barn, and pondering about what life might have been like in the village. This is a great option for older kids, too, because there is an entire self-guided walking tour for history buffs young and old. It's even been in Weird NJ and the whole Reservation apparently has a haunted history to be learned! If you're so inclined, there are longer trails through the Watchung Reservation that incorporate the Deserted Village so you can make this just one stop on your winter hike.
4. The Sensory Friendly Trail at Trailside Nature and Science Center, Mountainside. This one's also in the Watchung Reservation, located just behind the Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside. You can actually see and access it from "The Loop" playground which is how we first ended up on it. There is a big central gazebo that features a "sensory play area" that my kids love. There are drums, a big xylophone, a crawl-through tunnel, climbing mushrooms, and more. The gazebo links to the trail itself which is a big loop with some educational attractions along the way, including two talking kiosks and a few places for groups to sit and gather or where you can just sit and have a snack! This is a quick hike that could be supplemented with a stop at the Trailside Nature and Science Center or the Watchung Loop playground if you wanted to make a longer day out of it!
Enjoying some sensory play in the gazebo of the Sensory Trail at Trailside Nature and Science Center
5. Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. This one is a bit out there but it's totally worth it! We love to go to The Raptor Trust, an outdoor bird sanctuary open year-round where you can see dozens of different birds, including birds of prey like eagles, hawks, and owls, up close. After getting our fill of birds, we usually hit up one of the surrounding trails. For winter, I like the Wildlife Observation Center which features a boardwalk that loops for about a mile through the woods. The boardwalk makes the hiking less treacherous and the kids love to clank across, peek around and under, and feel like they're on a "bridge" the whole time.
*This article was originally published in 2018 and unfortunately right now Raptor Trust is not open to the public!*
The Raptor Trust - always a hit with my little bird lovers!
6. Reeves-Reed Arboretum. My kids beg to go to RRA, a public garden and arboretum with a few woodsy trails totaling just under a mile. Currently, the grounds are open from 9am-4pm but be sure to check their website before going. They also happen to have amazing programming - nature classes, cooking and baking classes, family classes, and so much more. I list all the classes and festivals on the MacKid calendar so be sure to check it regularly so you don't miss registration!
Taking off into the trails at Reeves-Reed Arboretum
7. Echo Lake Park. Lots to see on this well-maintained path including multiple water features, a dog park, a water wheel, and a playground. This is one of our very favorites in the fall but winter brings lots of interest too! It's a great path for scootering and strollering!
8. Brightwood Park. We only recently discovered Brightwood Park in Westfield and my boys really loved it. It's a very short loop around a little pond. To me, the short length makes it ideal to do with kids in the winter because if they get too chilly, you're never far from exiting but there's still enough going on to make a decent hike of it!
What's your favorite winter hiking trail? Is it missing from this list? If so, PLEASE reach out to let me know! I'm always looking for fun new trails!
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