When the summer starts to heat up and the kids are getting bored in the house, we are usually ready to get out into nature. But I have often wondered how hot is too hot to go hiking.
For most children, it is too hot to hike if the heat index is over 90°F (32°C). At these temperatures, heat cramps and exhaustion can occur. While children can spend time outside in these temperatures, they should only do it if they can take breaks inside to cool off and that isn’t possible when hiking.
If you live where summers are too hot to hike, there are still other ways to get outside. Read on for my tips and ideas.
When it is Too Hot to Hike with Kids
When the temperature or heat index is over 90°F people are at increased risk for heat cramps and heat exhaustion. This is especially true for younger children and the elderly, who have a harder time regulating their internal temperatures. At these temperatures, children shouldn’t spend too much time outside and they should take frequent breaks to cool off.
At temperatures between 80°F and 90°F, (or 26°C and 32°C) consider taking extra precautions. If you are hiking during warm weather, make sure to bring extra water and seek rest in the shade often. Consider hiking near a stream or other body of water where children can cool off. Make these warm-weather hikes shorter than your normal hikes and avoid strenuous or steep inclines that will add to the difficulty.
Finding a Way to Hike in Hot Weather
On hot days, there are still ways to get outside and hike. They key is to look for breaks in the weather or consider hiking at different times or places. One thing we’ve always enjoyed doing is finding a place with water to play in. In warm weather, we enjoy hiking to waterfalls or creeks where we can get wet, hunt for interesting critters, and cool off. The hike back out is much more fun when we’re cool and refreshed.
Early Morning Hikes: While you may normally prefer hiking in the morning or afternoon, when it’s hot you may want to switch things up. Consider taking a short hike early in the morning, just after sunrise. The biggest difficulty with this is getting to your trailhead early enough. For some people this isn’t a problem as they are already early risers, but for others it’s not worth the trouble to round up sleepy children while it’s still dark so they can drive to a hiking area.
Evening Hikes: For many people, evening hikes are a better option. During the evening, even in humid areas, the air cools off a little and the sun is milder. You might catch a sunset and you may see some wildlife. Evening hikes are easier to pull off if you take lots of snacks, eat supper before you head out, or pick up something on the way home. Another advantage of evening hikes is that you can do them on weekday evenings when school or work activities limit your daytime hours.
Unfortunately, evening hikes don’t always work for families with very young kids because it requires staying out after bedtime to catch the coolest weather. Don’t forget to bring insect protection on evening hikes! We have had good success with normal DEET spray, but we’ve heard great things about the Thermacell chemical-free option as well. We also like wearing bug mesh, which might look a little funny, but it can work better than any other option in areas with a large population of mosquitoes or biting midges.
Change Your Elevation: If you live near mountains, one way to cool off is to get hirer. This works especially well in the west, where the mountains are higher and the air is dry. When we lived in Colorado one of our favorite things to do on hot afternoons was drive an hour up into the mountains and release the kids to play and explore.
Things to do Instead of Hiking When It’s Too Hot
When it’s simply too hot to go for a hike, we still try to find ways to get outside or otherwise enjoy nature. Here are some options for what to do when it’s simply too hot for hiking:
Go to the Aquarium
Aquariums are great places to get inside out of the heat while still enjoying nature, learning, and getting exercise. Children often walk farther in places like aquariums and zoos than they do while hiking because they’re so interested, they forget to complain! Aquarium memberships are great ways to save money if you enjoy this kind of activity.
Go to a Science Musuem
A visit to a science museum can be a good substitute for a hike when the weather is baking outside. Kids will get in a ton of steps in a science museum, keeping them active and ready to hike again when the season cools off. In addition, many science museums have exhibits focusing on local natural history and the plants and animals in the area. By visiting these exhibits, children can learn to identify common plants and animals in the area, and the next time they get outside they can practice using that knowledge in the natural world.
Find Water to Play In
The best way to spend time outside when it’s too toasty for hiking is to get wet. Kids love getting wet and unlike many adults, they often prefer wading, splashing, and hunting for frogs over actual swimming. Either way, they have fun, expend a bunch of energy, and cool off while enjoying nature and getting out of the house.
Our favorite places to play in the water are creeks, such as those with shallow sandy bottoms or smooth rocks that create little waterfalls and eddies. We also like playing in waterfall pools, along the edges of lakes, and of course, in the ocean.
Go to a Sporting Goods Store
When we get a chance, we like to wander around large sporting goods store like Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops. The children enjoy the chance to see all the animal exhibits, while the parents like to dream about future expensive purchases. Added bonus-everyone gets a little exercise.
Visit a Splash Pad and Then Walk Around the Park
Since most splash pads are located in or near parks, they’re a great way to get outside and enjoy a bit of nature while also keeping cool. I recommend visiting the splash pad first and then taking a walk around the park while everyone is still cool and refreshed. If you get hot while walking, you can always return for another splashing session!