Lakes and Rivers for Kids

← All Adventures

40 family-friendly spots across Hawaii, New York, Oklahoma, & Texas, with costs, best ages, parking tips, and what to bring.

40 adventures found

Trinity Trails

Fort Worth, TX

Biking
Ages 2–18+ Free

Over 100 miles of paved family-friendly trails along the Trinity River in Fort Worth - free biking, …

Camp Santanoni Historic Area

Newcomb, NY

Hiking
Ages 5–18+ Free

Carriage road hike or bike to a historic Great Camp on pristine Newcomb Lake. Free. Best from about …

Cascade Lake Trail

Eagle Bay, NY

Hiking
Ages 4–18+ Free

Easy loop trail around a scenic Adirondack lake with lean-tos and swimming spots. Free. Best from …

Floodwood Pond

Saranac Lake, NY

Kayaking
Ages 4–18+ Free

Motor-free interconnected ponds perfect for family kayaking and canoe adventures. Free. Best from …

Frick Pond Loop Trail

Livingston Manor, NY

Hiking
Ages 4–18+ Free

Peaceful forest loop to a quiet Catskill pond with lean-tos. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day …

Kauai Tubing Adventure

Lihue, HI

Tubing
Ages 5–18+ Paid

Float through century-old plantation tunnels on inner tubes with headlamps. Paid entry. Best from …

Mirror Lake Paddle

Lake Placid, NY

Kayaking
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Paddle a kayak or canoe on the calm motor-free waters of Mirror Lake. Paid entry. Best from about …

Moss Lake Trail

Eagle Bay, NY

Hiking
Ages 3–18+ Free

Easy loop trail around a pristine Adirondack lake perfect for young hikers. Free. Best from about …

Niagara Gorge Trail

Niagara Falls, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Hike the bottom of Niagara Gorge with boulder scrambles and whirlpool rapids. Free. Better for ages …

Pharaoh Lake Wilderness

Schroon Lake, NY

Hiking
Ages 7–18+ Free

Pristine wilderness lake with backcountry camping far from the crowds. Free. Better for ages 7 and …

Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area

Gowanda, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Wild 600-foot gorge with old-growth forest and deep swimming holes. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. …

Beavers Bend Marina

Broken Bow, OK

Kayaking
Ages 2–18+ Paid

Pontoon and boat rentals on crystal-clear Broken Bow Lake. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A …

Broken Bow Lake Paddleboarding

Broken Bow, OK

Paddleboarding
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Stand-up paddleboard rentals and lessons on crystal-clear Broken Bow Lake. Paid entry. Better for …

Evening Hole Fishing Area

Broken Bow, OK

Fishing
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Popular family fishing pier on the Mountain Fork River with trout and bass. Paid entry. Best from …

Mountain Fork River Kayaking

Broken Bow, OK

Kayaking
Ages 5–18+ Paid

Kayak and canoe rentals on the crystal-clear Mountain Fork River near Beavers Bend. Paid entry. Best …

Mountain Fork River Tubing

Broken Bow, OK

Tubing
Ages 3–18+ Paid

Gentle family river float through the Ouachita Mountains on the Mountain Fork River. Paid entry. …

Garey Park

Georgetown, TX

Hiking
Ages 2–18+ Paid

525-acre river park with trails and splash pad in Georgetown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A …

Grelle Recreation Area

Spicewood, TX

Hiking
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Uncrowded Lake Travis cove with wooded trails and swimming. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A …

Kathy Seei Park

Frisco, TX

Nature
Ages 2–18+ Free

Bronze longhorn sculptures and a pond in a compact landscaped park. Free. Works from toddler age. …

San Gabriel Park

Georgetown, TX

Biking
Ages 2–18+ Free

Award-winning playscape and river trail in Georgetown. Free. Works from toddler age. About two …

Brushy Creek Regional Trail

Cedar Park, TX

Biking
Ages 2–18+ Free

14-mile paved trail with playgrounds connecting Cedar Park and Round Rock. Free. Works from toddler …

Buffalo Bayou Park

Houston, TX

Biking
Ages 2–18+ Free

Paved bayou trails with destination playground and bat colony viewing. Free. Works from toddler age. …

Bull Creek Greenbelt

Austin, TX

Swimming
Ages 3–18+ Free

Shallow limestone creek pools perfect for toddler wading. Free. Best from about age 3. About two …

Canyon Lake Gorge

Canyon Lake, TX

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Guided tours through a limestone gorge with dinosaur tracks and fossils. Paid entry. Better for ages …

Good Water Trail

Georgetown, TX

Hiking
Ages 5–18+ Free

26-mile lakeside trail with canyon overlooks and Hill Country terrain. Free. Best from about age 5. …

Lady Bird Lake

Austin, TX

Kayaking
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Kayaking and paddleboarding on calm water through downtown Austin. Paid entry. Best from about age …

Lake Grapevine Horseshoe Trails

Grapevine, TX

Hiking
Ages 3–18+ Free

Easy lakeside hiking trails on Grapevine Lake. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. …

Lake Houston Wilderness Park

New Caney, TX

Hiking
Ages 3–18+ Paid

20 miles of forest trails and camping close to Houston. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …

Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway

Weatherford, TX

Biking
Ages 3–18+ Free

20-mile flat rail trail perfect for kids building biking endurance. Free. Best from about age 3. A …

McKinney Roughs Nature Park

Cedar Creek, TX

Hiking
Ages 4–18+ Paid

1,100 acres with horseback riding and river trails along the Colorado. Paid entry. Best from about …

Northshore Trail

Flower Mound, TX

Mountain-Biking
Ages 6–18+ Free

26 miles of lakeside singletrack mountain biking trails. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day …

Pace Bend Park

Spicewood, TX

Swimming
Ages 3–18+ Paid

Rocky limestone coves and cliff jumping on Lake Travis. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …

Pedernales River Nature Park

Johnson City, TX

Swimming
Ages 3–18+ Paid

Quiet Pedernales River swimming with limestone wading pools. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …

Reimers Ranch Park

Dripping Springs, TX

Rock-Climbing
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Premier Central Texas rock climbing with 18 miles of trails. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A …

Rowlett Creek Preserve

Garland, TX

Hiking
Ages 3–18+ Free

524-acre preserve with creek crossings and mountain bike trails. Free. Best from about age 3. About …

Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area

Lewisville, TX

Nature
Ages 3–18+ Paid

2,000 acres of prairies and wetlands with guided nature programs. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …

River Legacy Parks

Arlington, TX

Hiking
Ages 2–18+ Free

1,300-acre park with paved trails and mountain biking along the Trinity River. Free. Works from …

Johnny Broyles Nature Trail

Little Elm, TX

Hiking
Ages 2–18+ Free

Paved 2.7-mile nature trail along Lake Lewisville in Little Elm. Free. Works from toddler age. About …