Scenic Views and Summits for Kids

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

36 adventures found

Bristol, FL

Torreya State Park

Hundred-and-fifty-foot bluffs over the Apalachicola River, on trails with real elevation change - Florida hiking that does not feel like Florida.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Wailuku, HI

'Iao Valley State Monument

Paved walk to the iconic 1,200-foot Iao Needle in a lush valley. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Aiea, HI

Aiea Loop Trail

Shaded forest loop with Pearl Harbor views and WWII airplane wreckage. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Saranac Lake, NY

Ampersand Mountain

Challenging hike to a bald summit with 360-degree Adirondack panorama. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Santa Clara, NY

Azure Mountain Fire Tower

Family-friendly fire tower hike with northern Adirondack wilderness views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Keene, NY

Baxter Mountain

Moderate short hike near Keene with excellent High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Blue Mountain Trail

Popular fire tower hike with panoramic views over Blue Mountain Lake. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Pilot Knob, NY

Buck Mountain Trail

Challenging summit hike with sweeping Lake George views from 2,334 feet. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Keene, NY

Cascade Mountain

The most popular Adirondack High Peak with stunning 360-degree summit views. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Lake Placid, NY

Cobble Hill Trail

Quick family hike with a big High Peaks view just outside Lake Placid village. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Shandaken, NY

Giant Ledge Trail

Popular hike to dramatic cliff-top viewpoints in the Catskill Mountains. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Newcomb, NY

Goodnow Mountain Fire Tower

Family-friendly fire tower hike with interpretive signs and High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Hadley, NY

Hadley Mountain Fire Tower

Fire tower hike with views of Great Sacandaga Lake and the southern Adirondacks. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Kualapuu, HI

Kalaupapa Lookout

View from the world's highest sea cliffs down to the historic Kalaupapa Peninsula. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Caroga Lake, NY

Kane Mountain Fire Tower

Quick and easy fire tower hike perfect for young or beginner hikers. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Kailua, HI

Lanikai Pillbox Hike

Short steep hike to WWII bunkers with stunning views over Lanikai Beach. Free. Best from about age 5. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Koloa, HI

Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

Coastal trail along lithified dunes, sea cliffs, and ancient petroglyph caves. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Waimanalo, HI

Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail

Paved coastal cliff trail to a lighthouse with winter whale watching. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Hilo, HI

Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station

World-class stargazing at 9,200 feet with free evening telescope programs. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

New Paltz, NY

Mohonk Preserve

World-class rock climbing and cliff-top hiking on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Mount Jo Trail

Short family hike with a spectacular High Peaks panorama above Heart Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Woodstock, NY

Overlook Mountain Trail

Fire tower hike past ruins of an old mountain hotel near Woodstock. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Pepeekeo, HI

Pepe ekeo Point Lookout

Scenic drive through a tropical corridor with one-lane bridges and ocean views. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~0.5h
  • Free

Keeseville, NY

Poke-O-Moonshine Fire Tower Trail

Short steep hike to a fire tower with views of Lake Champlain and the High Peaks. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Fort Ann, NY

Sleeping Beauty Mountain

Moderate summit hike with one of the best Lake George panoramic views. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Shandaken, NY

Slide Mountain Trail

Hike the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,180 feet. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Indian Lake, NY

Snowy Mountain Trail

Challenging hike to the tallest peak in the southern Adirondacks with fire tower summit. Free. Better for ages 8 and up.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~6h
  • Free

Middleburgh, NY

Vroman's Nose

Short hike to a cliff-top meadow with sweeping Schoharie Valley views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Poughkeepsie, NY

Walkway Over the Hudson

Walk 212 feet above the Hudson River on the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. Free. Works from toddler age.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Wilmington, NY

Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway

Drive to the summit of the fifth highest peak in New York for breathtaking views. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Outlaw's Guided Adventures

Guided off-road UTV trail rides through 75+ miles of Ouachita Mountain trails. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Riverman Trail Rides

Guided horseback riding through the Ouachita Mountains overlooking the Glover River. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Mount Bonnell

102-step climb to panoramic views over Lake Austin. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Burnet, TX

Reveille Peak Ranch

Granite bouldering and mountain biking near Burnet. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Easily a full day. Moderate effort.

  • Rock Climbing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

Eisenhower Park

Observation tower and six miles of trails with playground. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free