The Best Family-Friendly Hiking Trails in Every Southern State
Hiking with kids can be a real gamble. You may envision a walk filled with curiosity and views only to find yourself trudging uphill with endless groans from the little ones. Though you can't always control the elements, you can set yourself up for an enjoyable day of discovery with a little prep work. Simple things, like preparing the right snack and making sure you've got suitable gear, can go a long way. But most importantly, picking the right path will help make sure your family makes the right kind of memories on your journey.
When you're taking the whole family into the wilderness, distance and difficulty can be the difference between adventure and disaster. Consider the age and experience level of your kids. You don't want to take on anything too aggressive if you've got little ones or novice hikers in tow. Take mileage and elevation into account as well as what kind of wonders you'll encounter along the way. Having a waterfall, creek, or vista point to look forward to can motivate the whole family to keep moving, young and old.
To uncover some of the most enjoyable family-friend hikes in the South, we looked to AllTrails, a crowdsourced trail review app that makes finding the right trail near you a breeze. Here are their top kid-friendly hikes under 4 miles in every Southern state.
Alabama: Sougahoagdee Falls
William B Bakhead National Forest, Houston, AL
- Distance: 3.5 Miles
- AllTrails Rating: Easy
- Type: Out and back
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leash Â
- Expect to See: Forrest life and a waterfall
- Learn more
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Arkansas: Whitaker Point Trail
Ozark National Forest, Pettigrew, AR
- Distance: 2.9 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Out and back
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leash Â
- Expect to See: Forrest life and waterfall
- Learn more
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Georgia: Amicalola Falls via East Ridge Loop Trail
Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville, GA
- Distance: 2 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Loop
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leach
- Expect to See: Forrest life and waterfall
- Learn more
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Florida: Econ River Wilderness Area Loop
Econ River Wilderness Area, Oviedo, FL
- Distance: 2.6 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Easy
- Type: Loop
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leash
- Expect to See: River
- Learn more
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Kentucky: Red River Gorge Rock Bridge Trail
Clifty Wilderness, Pine Ridge, KY
- Distance: 1.4 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Loop
- Pets: Dogs allowed
- Expect to See: Natural rock arch, creek, and waterfall
- Learn more
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Louisiana: Longleaf Vista Interpretive Trail
Kisatchie National Forest, Gorum, LA
- Distance: 1.4 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Loop
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leash
- Expect to See: Forest life and river
- Learn more
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Maryland: Cascade Falls Loop Trail
Patapsco Valley State Park, Elkridge, MD
- Distance: 3 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Loop
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leash
- Expect to See: Forest life and waterfall
- Learn more
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Mississippi: CCC Camp Trail
Tishomingo State Park, Dennis, MS
- Distance: 3.6 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Loop
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leash
- Expect to See: Forest life, rock formations, and stream
- Learn more
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North Carolina: Catawba Falls Trail
Pisgah National Forest, Old Fort, NC
- Distance: 2.1 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Easy
- Type: Out and back
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leash
- Expect to See: Forest life and waterfall
- Learn more
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Oklahoma: Turkey Mountain Yellow Trail
Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness, Tulsa, OK
- Distance: 3.7 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Loop
- Pets: Dogs allowed
- Expect to See: River
- Learn more
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South Carolina: Yellow Branch Falls
Stumphouse Mountain Bike Park, Walhalla, SC
- Distance: 3 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Out and back
- Pets: Dogs allowed
- Expect to See: Forest life and waterfall
- Learn more
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Tennessee: Laurel Falls Trail
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, TN
- Distance: 2.4 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Easy
- Type: Out and back
- Pets: Not allowed
- Expect to See: Forest life and waterfall
- Learn more
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Texas: Santa Elena Canyon Trail
Big Bend National Park, Terlingua, TX
- Distance: 1.5 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Easy
- Type: Out and back Â
- Pets: Not allowed
- Expect to See: Cliffs, river, and creek
- Learn more
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Virginia: Dark Hollow Falls Trail
Shenandoah National Park, Stanley, VA
- Distance: 1.4 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Out and back
- Pets: Not allowed
- Expect to See: Forest and waterfall
- Learn more
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West Virginia: Seneca Rocks Trail
Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, Seneca Rocks, WV
- Distance: 3.2 miles
- AllTrails Rating: Moderate
- Type: Out and back
- Pets: Dogs allowed on leash
- Expect to See: Rock formations
- Learn more