Hiking with children
Family-friendly routes
If you think back to your own childhood, the enthusiasm was not always huge when it was said: "Put your shoes on, we're going for a hike”. But hiking with children can be a leisure adventure and great fun. We'll tell you here how to make your next family hike a guaranteed success.
The right hiking route
To ensure that kids don't immediately lose the joy of hiking, the route should be chosen with the age of the children and their fitness level in mind. This applies to the distance as well as the meters in altitude. Lift-assisted hiking in Ötztal, for example, offers a gentle introduction. Here, you can cover the first few meters in altitude in a relaxed manner with the summer lifts and head straight for the impressive, high Alpine landscape. Once there, panoramic hikes and high-altitude trails lead you further into the mountain world without any difficult ascents. Tip: With the Summer Card, you can use each of the 12 summer cable cars once a day free of charge.
Hike & learn
The hardships of a hike are quickly forgotten when there is always something to discover to the left and right of the trail. Like along the numerous family-friendly themed trails in Ötztal. A total of 24 of these trails bring children and parents alike closer to the fauna and flora of Tyrol's longest side valley in a playful way. Several ‘water strider’ themed trails are dedicated to the valley's dominant element, water. Other trails shed light on the life and work of miners, while others take you into centuries-old stone pine forests. And yet other themed trails are teeming with apple trees and dwarves.
On a treasure hunt in Ötztal
Who has ever heard of geocaching? Ok, then we can clear things up for you. Geocaching describes a modern treasure hunt in which you search for hidden treasures, so-called ‘caches’, equipped with a GPS device or a treasure map. The ‘analogue’ version in particular, i.e. equipped with a printed treasure map, is very popular with families in Ötztal. The various treasure maps can be collected free of charge from the respective local information offices. If you find all the treasures along a route, you can pick up a small gift at the information offices as a reward.
Even more good reasons for hiking with children in Ötztal
In addition to hiking trails suitable for children and helpful ascent aids, Ötztal has much more to offer for a successful hiking adventure with the whole family:
Ötztal Nature Park: The Ötztal Nature Park covers 508 km2 and unites all protected areas in the valley under one roof. The Nature Park House in Längenfeld also brings together lots of interesting facts about the flora and fauna under one roof. A guided hiking programme brings kids closer to the protected area and its inhabitants in summer. HERE you can find more information about the Ötztal Nature Park.
Adventure playgrounds: At the end of a hike in Ötztal, an adventure playground awaits. Such as in the Sautens Magic Forest, a themed trail suitable for pushchairs with 11 stations, at the end of which a large forest playground invites you to play. HERE you can find the playgrounds in Ötztal.
Alpine pastures & huts: Hikers also need refreshments. And this is promised by the more than 100 mountain huts and pastures in the valley, which can be found from the valley floor to the high mountains. Regional products and much-loved ‘hut classics’ such as Kaiserschmarrn or Tiroler Gröstl are the perfect reward for many an ascent. HERE you will find an overview of all huts and mountain pastures in Ötztal.
Hiking accommodations: The Ötztal fulfills your sporty and active ambitions with ease. But what about the ideals? Our Ötztal Nature Park hiking accommodations uphold such important values as a love of nature, regionality and sustainability. Whether holiday flat, inn or hotel, here you are in the right place for your hiking holiday. HERE you can find out what distinguishes the specialized accommodations.
How can I inspire my children to go hiking?
There are many different ways to do this. If you hike along themed trails with your family, there are always worthwhile stops along the way. On WIDI's adventure trail, all young hikers will find different stations with various tasks, such as balancing or feeling their way around. If a great highlight such as a playground awaits at the end of the hike, this is of course also an incentive. The most important thing, however, is that you take your time on the excursion and that the children have time to explore their surroundings independently - jumping on stones, wading through the stream with their feet, collecting leaves and flowers, and so on. Everything according to the motto ‘The journey is the reward’, so plan enough time for a hike with children.
What equipment do children need for a hiking tour?
Of course, this depends on the type of hike and the age of the child. Basically, you should always have a water bottle, snack (e.g. fruit, snack) and a (rain) jacket with you. Comfortable (functional) clothing, sturdy shoes and headgear are also essential. If the weather is fine, don't forget sun cream and sunglasses (optional). In bad weather, you should put on an additional layer of clothing or pack it in your rucksack, for example a jumper or a warmer jacket.
Which games are suitable for my children during the hiking tour?
For example, if you are already geocaching or on another themed trail, you will certainly have enough activities along the way. Otherwise, classics like ‘I see something you don't see...’ are a good idea. Or try ‘Guess what it is, it's not a fox, it's not a rabbit’ - one player states 3 characteristics of an animal, for example: very big, no fur and big ears. The other players then have to guess which animal it is. The winner gets to start the next round of the puzzle. Solution here: Elephant. These and many other games are great for in-between and also stimulate the brain. Races on flatter passages, throwing stones along streams, small climbs on boulders, dexterity exercises on the path (balancing on tree trunks, jumping, running slaloms) are of course also fun!
Frequently asked questions about hiking with children
When hiking with children for the first time, it is important not to overtax them and spoil their enjoyment right at the start of their ‘hiking career’. It is therefore important to choose the right hiking route, taking into account the age and fitness level of the children - both in terms of the distance and the meters in altitude that need to be covered. As the longest side valley in Tirol, Ötztal offers families a wide range of hiking options: Whether it's lift-assisted hiking, along child-friendly themed trails or geocaching, the little ones will get their money's worth here.
How far you can hike with children depends on several factors: Of course, age plays a decisive role. But fitness also plays a role, not forgetting motivation! Generally speaking, children's stamina and coordination improve from year to year, which is why older children can already complete day hikes of around 10 kilometers with enough breaks. However, it is important not to overtax the little ones right from the start and thus take away their desire for future hiking adventures. As the longest side valley in Tirol, Ötztal offers families a wide range of hiking options: Whether it's lift-assisted hiking, along child-friendly themed trails or geocaching, kids will get their money's worth here.
Hikes with children should be easy to do, altitude metres and route length should be chosen according to the age and fitness level of the children. There are also trails in Ötztal that are especially suitable for children, such as WIDI's Adventure Trail or the Sautens Magic Forest, at the end of which there is even a large forest playground. You can find many other exciting themed trails HERE.
Hiking with children is an adventure - and not just for the little ones. To avoid any nasty surprises, make sure you have everything you need for your little ones in your rucksack. The following is particularly important: sufficient drinks (preferably water), sweet and savoury snacks (sandwiches, muesli bars, fruit, vegetables), a change of clothes (especially trousers and top), rainproof clothing, warm clothing, first aid kit, sun protection (cap, sunglasses, sun cream). Depending on the route, there may also be opportunities to stop for a bite to eat or to go to the toilet along the way.
There are many exciting themed trails in Ötztal that are perfect for hiking with children. On many trails, young and old learn exciting things about the landscape, the animal world or the water in Ötztal. In addition, play stations and smaller tasks keep the hike interesting. Some of the hiking tours are even suitable for pushchairs. HERE you will find an overview of all family-friendly themed trails in Ötztal.
To ensure that a hiking tour with your children is a complete success, good planning is particularly important. In addition to the route selection (length, incline, rest stops, etc.), this also includes the right equipment and sufficient provisions. Check the weather forecast a few days before the planned hike so that you can adjust the route if necessary. Footwear and clothing should also be adapted to the weather and route. It is also important to pack enough drinks and snacks in your rucksack. Also plan enough time to take a breather. Then hiking with children is guaranteed to be a success.
When hiking with children, as is generally the case in the mountains: ‘Preparation is everything’. Preparation starts long before your holiday. Go for regular walks with your children, even on unpaved forest paths, to improve their fitness and coordination. You should also always make sure that you are prepared for all eventualities when it comes to equipment. Sufficient drinks and snacks, a change of clothes, a first aid kit and sun protection are particularly important here. The choice of route is also important. Especially in the first few days of your holiday, make sure that the children are not overwhelmed and that there is enough time for breaks and games. Then nothing will stand in the way of safe hiking with children.
Turn the hike into a game. True to the motto ‘The journey is the reward’, there is plenty to discover along the way. Plants, animals, stones - they can all be playfully incorporated into the hike. The small rock becomes Mount Everest and the stream bed becomes a water playground. Activities such as ‘I see something you don't see’ can also make the tour more entertaining. In Ötztal there are also many themed trails for hiking with children, such as WIDI's adventure trail, the magic forest circuit or geocaching.