My oldest is a junior this year and has thankfully developed a love for the outdoors, hiking, scrambling, stargazing etc. Our best times together are spent alone and on the trail, and he’s eager to see more of what’s out there. I plan to take him and his brother to Sedona this spring for hiking and other desert fun, but for his senior year trip I’d like to do a week of day hikes somewhere out west. The most awe inspiring place I’ve been on the continent is Yosemite, so it’s my leading contender for base camp. Hiking half dome is top of the list for that destination. Time frame would be early next summer.
Any other suggestions for destinations, or specific trails/destinations within the park would be appreciated. The more diverse the experiences the better. Everything and anywhere in North America is on the table for consideration.
I’m biased but I would highly recommend Squamish BC. World class hiking, camping and climbing opportunities, an easy hour north from Vancouver airport. The whole west coast rainforest vibe in the coastal mountains might be neat for your kids.
Alternatively if you want to do a multi day through hike, you could come to the island and do the west coast trail. I think it’s 5-7 days of hiking through beaches and old growth forest trails. It is remote, you’ll see wolves, bears, whales etc. You need to make a reservation months in advance as trail use is limited but it’s definitely worth looking in to. That is a bit different than multiple day hikes though but would be a memorable adventure.
Yosemite is an obvious top contender, it is gorgeous, and still one of my favorite national parks I’ve been to. If you don’t get Half dome permits, Cloud’s Rest trail is a good second place, allowing for a view from above half dome and the rest of the valley.
Early in the summer (June) may be too early for anywhere too far north like Glacier or sometimes Yellowstone or Grand Tetons. Although the snow pack so far this year hasn’t been great so I bet lots of trails will be clear earlier than usual. Who knows what it will be like next year though.
In Colorado you would be fine for most everything besides some of the 14ers at that point in the year. Rocky mountain national park is a good choice, but tends to be crowed. There are lots of great campsites that are more remote and occupied by locals that could be really fantastic base camps for a wider variety of day hikes and adventures. Places like Buena Vista (ruby mountain campground rocks, you can even float from BV back to camp on the river), Leadville (turquoise lake or twin lakes), or in SW colorado the Ouray/ Telluride area is super remote and very very beautiful.
PNW is also high on our wish list. I was actually going to PM you about it but I figured I’d just wait for your custody weekend and send a message with the wife.
My kid wants to go to Yosemite as a senior trip this summer, we’ll see if it happens. They’ve already been there 10x, but all before 5 years old, so they don’t remember.
For the longest time they wanted to go to the Grand Canyon too.
it isn’t west but Mt. Desert Island, ME is gorgeous… if you go there PM me.
The mountains are short and you’ll do multiple hikes in a day, they aren’t “day hikes” but doing all the peaks in a week would be a fun goal (I know some people who have done them in a day for the fun of it, but it’s an 18+ hr day)
Yellowstone is famous for a reason. Olympic, Rainier, and the North Cascades are all extremely cool. Favorite backpacking trip for me was up to the Blue Glacier in Olympic, wife’s was a solo she did on Rainier.
PNW has the benefit of Seattle being right there too.
My all time favorite place is still Crater Lake. But it isn’t near anything else.
Not sure what kind of kid it is but my youngest and I had a great day climbing Long’s peak last year. It was a big day, required working as a team, and it’s a more identifiable accomplishment than hiking IMO.
Not really suggesting Long’s necessarily, but maybe just the idea of doing something “big” that can be used as a motivation/preparation tool between now and then, and an achievement to be proud of long after it’s over. “Big” is always relative.
If you watch this guy’s (Harmen Hoek) videos, you will see some amazing trails in Yosemite. He usually shows which trail he is on. He does an incredible job of capturing the beauty and essence of the places that he hikes. It looks like he’s been to that area several times. Can’t imagine why. lol
I will put in a plug for Glacier National Park. Amazing and wide range of terrains and epic hikes. And out of the way, so not a mob scene even in the summer. Numerous great camp sites in park. I believe your wife has a friend in Montana? Is a bummer it is so remote, a bit hard to loop together with others.
Also agree with Utah parks. Flying into Salt Lake is easy, and then can consider renting a Sprinter van and loop Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce, Arches (see Moab). But hot as cojones.
Long’s probably won’t be safely doable in the Spring. It’s a nice hike but more of a summer hike IMO. Weather in the high rockies is hit and miss, mostly miss in the Spring. It’s my least favorite time of year in the high country.
Yosemite for sure. Much better than RMNP IMO. There’s nothing in RMNP that has the same visceral holy shit appeal as Half Dome, El Cap and Bridalveil.
June might be a little early for some of the mountain parks. Mt. Rainier is probably ok for Paradise, but not for Sunrise until July. Whistler is also fun esp if the kid likes mountain biking.