Wyoming’s vast outdoor spaces provide a beautiful, natural playground. And who better to explore this playground with than your family? While the Cowboy State is filled with rugged landscapes featuring epic hikes, it also has quite a few family-friendly hiking trails where the views are just as good. Take a look at these 15 Wyoming hikes the entire family can enjoy.
Best Family- and Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails
From striking mountain ranges to stunning national forests, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place to take a hike than in Wyoming. When it comes to family-friendly hiking trails, some are better than others, as you’ll want to find hikes that are suitable for every member of the crew. Hiking in the Cowboy State doesn’t disappoint, offering a wide range of easy-to-moderate trails ideal for all skill levels. Grab your backpack and your little ones for a kid-friendly hike.
1. Rainbow Terraces – Hot Springs State Park
Distance: 0.5 miles
Elevation gain: 22 feet
Nearest town: Thermopolis, Wyoming
Head to Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis to see natural hot springs and other geothermal features. The park offers a number of hikes that take you to colorful pools overflowing with steaming water. One must-see family-friendly hiking trail is the 0.5 mile Rainbow Terraces hike.
This path follows boardwalks adjacent to the Rainbow Terraces, which are walls that were naturally formed after years of mineral-rich spring water bubbling up from the earth and falling into the Bighorn River.
2. Observation Point Trail – Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 1.5 or 2 miles
Elevation gain: 160 feet
Nearest town: Cody, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is filled with breathtaking natural formations and sights to take in. Try Observation Point near Old Faithful for a short hike with a grand view. The trail follows switchbacks to a lookout that provides beautiful vistas of the turquoise and burnt orange hues of Upper Geyser Basin, which houses Old Faithful.
From here, you can either go back the way you came (for a hike totaling 1.5 miles) or continue on to the frequently erupting Solitary Geyser before ending at the Geyser Hill boardwalk. The second option will make your hike just over 2 miles.
Please note that this area is very significant to Native Americans, and you will see prayer cloths tied to nearby trees. Do not touch or remove these cloths as you explore the area.
3. Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail – Grand Teton National Park
Distance: 2.0 miles
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Nearest town: Jackson, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is a hiker’s dream, with nearly 20 hiking trails weaving throughout the park’s jagged peaks and calm, alpine lakes. Hike Lakeshore Trail for a relatively easy path that ends with gorgeous views. This trail begins near Colter Bay Visitor Center, traveling along a paved path that quickly turns into a dirt trail.
The 2-mile loop trail travels through a conifer forest, offering a backdrop of the northern Teton mountain range as you look over Jackson Lake. This area is home to bears, elk, moose, mule deer, sandhill cranes, river otters and other water-dwelling wildlife.
4. Hidden Falls via Jenny Lake Trail – Grand Teton National Park
Distance: 4.9 miles
Elevation gain: 590 feet
Nearest town: Jackson, Wyoming
The best hikes for kids contain two main elements — nice, easy terrain to navigate and an exciting surprise at the end. Jenny Lake Trail at Grand Teton National Park has both, giving outdoor-loving families a peaceful path to the gorgeous Hidden Falls, a rushing waterfall that stands 100 feet high. In addition to hiking, this area provides an incredible opportunity for family campouts and wildlife viewing, as it is home to many curious Wyoming critters.Speaking of a view, if you’re feeling adventurous, the kid-friendly hikes don’t have to stop there. Press on the Jenny Lake Trail another 1.2 miles out-and-back to Inspiration Point, a world-famous overlook of a picturesque canyon.
5. Taggart Lake Loop – Grand Teton National Park
Distance: 3-4 miles
Elevation gain: 423 feet
Nearest town: Jackson, Wyoming
Taggart Lake Loop is a family-friendly hiking trail meant to be embraced throughout the seasons. The trail is conveniently located near Moose and Jackson and close to other Wild West family fun. The rugged landscape of the Teton Range makes it an excellent place for exploring rocks and snapping photos during the warmer months. Watch the leaves change color when things get chilly and observe snow-capped mountain peaks.A marked, specific point splits one trail into two — one leads to Taggart Lake and the other to Bradley Lake. Both are kid-friendly hikes with excellent opportunities to enjoy the outdoors with the family.
6. Periodic Spring Trail – Afton
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation gain: 209 feet
Nearest town: Afton, Wyoming
Also known as Intermittent Spring, Periodic Spring is a natural phenomenon in west-central Wyoming within the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The flow of this spring completely stops for minutes at a time, likely caused by underground siphoning, something so rare that it has only been seen in a few areas around the world. Take the family hiking to this natural mystery by exploring the Periodic Spring Trail.
The path follows a creek before continuing to the stream, where every 20 minutes, you will notice a decrease and stop in water flow, followed by the sudden continuation of the stream. This natural wonder is most noticeable during the late summer months.
7. Popo Agie Falls – Sinks Canyon State Park
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation gain: 660 feet
Nearest town: Lander, Wyoming
Located at the southern base of the Wind River Mountains, Sinks Canyon State Park offers pristine scenery featuring a canyon, the Popo Agie River, aspen meadows, conifer forests and diverse wildlife. The area’s best family hike is Popo Agie (pronounced puh-po shu) Falls, where hikers can see a series of cascading waterfalls.
At 3 miles round-trip, the hike is short but climbs over 660 feet in elevation. Take your time if traveling with youngsters. The whole family will be rewarded with scenes of waterfalls, mountains, and canyons.
8. Mouth of the Canyon Trail – Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Distance: 1.8 miles
Elevation gain: 213 feet
Nearest town: Lovell, Wyoming
Located in north-central Wyoming, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area features breathtaking scenery shared by both Wyoming and Montana. For a family-friendly Wyoming hike, try Mouth of the Canyon Trail. This trail is located near Horseshoe Bend Campground and follows trail markers along the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range boundary fence. When you reach the trail's end, you'll get a glimpse of where Crooked Creek and the mouth of Bighorn Canyon meet.You might even see wild horses grazing below. Be sure to visit the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center in Lovell, Wyoming, before leaving the area to learn about wild horses in this part of the state. You can also head to nearby Bighorn Lake for swimming or boating fun.
9. Tower Trail – Devils Tower National Monument
Distance: 1.3 miles
Elevation gain: 110 feet
Nearest town: Gillette, Wyoming
Travel to Wyoming’s northeast corner to experience the otherworldly Devils Tower National Monument. Hike the 1.3-mile Tower Trail for a chance to walk around the base of this giant rock formation. This popular family-friendly hiking trail starts across the road from the Visitor Center, climbing a steep section before meandering through a ponderosa pine forest near the tower. Interpretive signs offer the opportunity to learn more about Devils Tower along the hike.
10. Red Beds Loop Trail – Devils Tower National Monument
Distance: 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 442 feet
Nearest town: Gillette, Wyoming
For avid hikers visiting Devils Tower and looking for a bit of a challenge, check out Red Bends Loop Trail. Unlike the level, accessible Tower Trail, Red Bends Loop has a moderate grading, meaning that while it is an all-ages hike, it may be slightly steep and difficult to navigate in places. The littlest ones in your group may need some assistance in strenuous sections but may be able to manage the trail more easily at other points.
Red Bends Loop is an excellent spot to check out the unique geological formations that make Wyoming’s countryside special. Pack up the kiddos and see how many different types of rocks you can spot.
11. White Mountain Petroglyphs – Rock Springs
Distance: 0.5 miles
Elevation gain: 20 feet
Nearest town: Rock Springs, Wyoming
In southwest Wyoming, White Mountain is part of the Green River Formation, which took shape over 30 million years ago. The White Mountain Petroglyphs were created 1,000 – 200 years ago by the area’s earliest-known human inhabitants. To see these ancient sandstone carvings, take the family down Wyoming’s unpaved County Road 4-17 for about 15 miles before reaching a parking lot and continuing along a trail for about 0.25 miles.
A high-clearance vehicle is recommended, as the roads to get to this area can be rough, and cell phone service is limited. Once you reach the petroglyphs, remember to treat them with respect by looking at them but not touching them.
12. Cottonwood Creek Dinosaur Trail – Alcova
Distance: 0.9 miles
Elevation gain: 302 feet
Nearest town: Alcova, Wyoming
Located about 30 miles southwest of Casper, Wyoming, this short trail combines hiking and education for the ultimate family outing. Cottonwood Creek Dinosaur Trail features several fossils and other geological formations in just 0.9 miles. Interpretive signs along the trail add context to these natural features, allowing you and your kiddos to engage and learn as you hike.
While you may find fossils along the way, please practice “leave no trace” principles by not taking fossils or rocks home. When you’re finished with the hike, take a dip in the nearby Alcova Reservoir.Want to spend more time in Casper? Take a look at this itinerary.
13. Turtle Rock Trail – Vedauwoo Recreation Area
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation gain: 321 feet
Nearest town: Buford, Cheyenne & Laramie Wyoming
Explore the wonder of Turtle Rock by taking one of the best family hikes in the Vedauwoo Recreation Area. Part of the greater Medicine Bow National Forest, this family-friendly hiking trail brings you right to Turtle Rock, a stacked heap of granite made up of the very substance that makes up the state of Wyoming below ground. Take in the sights along the way and experience this piece of history that is over a billion years old.
14. Shoreline Trail – Curt Gowdy State Park
Distance: 4.7 miles
Elevation gain: 13 feet
Nearest town: Cheyenne & Laramie Wyoming
Always a prime outdoor destination for families, Curt Gowdy State Park is located between Laramie and Cheyenne, offering city visitors of all ages the chance to get outside. In addition to having plenty of family-friendly hiking trails, the park is a haven for outdoor lovers in general, with camping, swimming, biking and more available on-site.One of the easiest, most kid-friendly hikes you can take at Curt Gowdy is the Shoreline Trail, wrapping around the breathtaking Granite Springs Reservoir. While this trail is the park’s best for all fitness levels to complete, it’s certainly not the only one — with over 30 miles of trails to enjoy, you can keep exploring with your family as long as you like.
15. Twin Lakes Trail – Medicine Bow National Forest
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation gain: 165 feet
Nearest town: Centennial, Wyoming
Nestled against the Snowy Mountain Range in southeast Wyoming, Medicine Bow National Forest offers miles of hiking trails for you to enjoy. Try Twin Lakes for a fun family hike. This 3.2-mile out-and-back begins at the Sheep Lake Trailhead off Brooklyn Lake Road (Forest Service Road 317) and follows Sheep Lake Trail for a short distance.
You’ll travel through a grassy meadow and a towering forest of spruce trees along this relatively flat trail, passing a number of unnamed lakes along the way. In July, Twin Lakes Trail is brimming with Wyoming wildflowers. You might even catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep, moose or mule deer.
