I think it’s time I posted one of our favorite annual traditions: The 5-Year-Old Backpacking Trip. When our first child turned five, my husband took him on a backpacking trip. The next year, he invited our 5-year old niece.
Every year since, we’ve organized a family overnight backpacking trip for anyone who wants to go. However, only the kids who are five years old or older are invited. This has become a kind of “coming of age” event for children in our family. They can hardly wait to turn five and be included in the adventure. After 17 years, our trip includes nearly thirty people!
Destinations
My husband chooses destinations that can be reached by an easy 1-2 mile hike. We live in Utah, so we have lots of hiking options nearby. Most of our trips have been in the Uintah Mountains, but we’ve also backpacked canyons closer to Salt Lake City. You can find lots of trails that are family friendly on websites and hiking apps like All Trails.
Food
The menu for the trip is always the same. (This adds to the feeling of tradition.) The group eats the fish they catch, Uncle Ben’s rice, steamed broccoli, and either s’mores or berry cobbler. For breakfast, we eat oatmeal hot chocolate, and bagels. It’s the same every year and the kids all love it. In fact, they all love to eat fish and we think it’s because of this annual trip. (No self-respecting five-year-old is going to let the older kids mock them for not eating fish.)
As our group has grown, we haven’t been able to catch enough fish to feed everyone. No problem! We pack in seasoned frozen salmon fillets wrapped in tin foil and cook them in the fire to supplement our meal.
We live near many mountains so this trip is very inexpensive and a highlight of the year. There’s a lot of power (and a whole lot of fun) in family traditions!
One of our favorite places in Utah is Grand Staircase-Escalante. This national monument is full of surprises. The colors are amazing… blue, purple, and pink layers of rock, orange cliffs with hidden waterfalls, and some of the best slot canyons in the world. Combine two days in Grand Staircase with a day in Bryce Canyon and you’re sure to have an amazing adventure!
Our hometown is Salt Lake City. After work, we head down to Panguitch or the Ruby’s Inn area of Bryce Canyon to spend the night. Then we’re close to the action for an early start in the morning!
Bryce Canyon in the Spring
Day 1: Bryce Canyon
Hike Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden and Peek-a-Boo Loop
Begin at Sunrise Point. Depending on the weather, mud, and the athleticism of your group, you can hike the Queen’s Garden or Navajo Loop. Our vote is for the Navajo Loop. It’s only 1.5 miles, but steep. It takes 1-2 hours based on the length of your legs and the depth of the mud (only a problem in the springtime). This is a really cool hike and the best way to see the canyon. You’ll see Thor’s Hammer, Two Bridges, the Hat Shop, and Wall Street. There are many other longer options for those who desire a more strenuous hike. The Navajo/Peekaboo Combination Loop is 5 miles. It’s just an extension of the first hike and you’ll get to see the Wall of Windows. If you have the time, do it!
Bryce Canyon
Sometimes in the spring they will close the Navajo Loop because of slippery, muddy conditions. If this happens, slap a smile on your face and enjoy the Queen’s Garden. It’s the easiest trail in and out of the canyon. You’ll hike less than two miles, and you’ll see beautiful scenery all the way. Don’t turn around and go back up the switchbacks you just came down. Hike the canyon floor, see the Queen’s Garden, and go back up the easier way to Sunset Point. Then walk along the rim back to Sunrise.
Be sure to take food and water with you on your hike. There are not services once your leave the rim. In the summer, it can be extremely hot. Be careful to stay hydrated.
Spend some time in the afternoon checking out some of the amazing observation points from various places along the rim of the canyon. Then drive one hour to Escalante. We recommend the pizza at Escalante Outfitters Café for dinner and lodging at the Circle D Motel on Main Street.
Moms in Peekaboo & Spooky slot canyon
Day 2: Slot Canyons
Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch
Get ready for another full day of adventure and a bumpy drive! Drive 26 miles on the Hole-in-the-Rock Road to Peek-a-Boo Gulch. Check out driving directions to the trailhead HERE.
Entrance to Peekaboo Gulch– You’ll need adults to help kids get up through the opening. Save your strongest person to go in last.
If you’ve never been in a slot canyon, you are in for a treat! You’ll love the challenge of getting through tight spots and shimmying down sand walls with your back and feet. It’s really cool!
This slot canyon has some very tight places, about 16” at its narrowest. This means you need to be less than 16” thick from front to back. You’ll turn sideways to get through these areas. It’s also physically challenging. We think you need to be at least 5 years old to do it. Some groups say 8 years old. It will depend on the fitness level and mental toughness of your child.
These slots can also be quite dark in places because of the narrow canyon walls. The entire Peek-a-Boo and Spooky loop is 3.5 miles. It’s really fun! You’ll need a sack lunch for the day or you can snare and roast a chipmunk.
Teamwork in Peekaboo & Spooky GulchPeekaboo and Spooky Gulch
On the way back to Escalante, stop to play hide-and-seek in Devil’s Garden. It’s a mini–Goblin Valley with tons of hoodoos and crazy rock formations. In the past, our friends have brought climbing gear to repel off some of the big boulders. It’s a fun place for kids to learn to repel. There are picnic tables at Devil’s Garden if you’re looking for a good lunch stop.
Repelling in Devil’s Garden
Drive back to Escalante for dinner and sleep.
Lower Calf Creek Falls
Day 3 Waterfall
Lower Calf Creek Falls
Pack up and get ready for the grand finale! Take Hwy 12 to the Lower Calf Creek Falls trailhead. There’s a $5 permit fee. This hike is about 6 miles round trip. I know this sounds long but it’s very flat. The only hard part is that the trail is very sandy so your shoes get heavier as you walk. Consider your shoe choice before you begin. It takes about 3 hours round trip, plus the time you spend at the falls. We suggest starting early as the trail gets really busy starting at 10:00 AM. Assuming it’s not winter or early spring, you can swim in the pool below the falls. Get specific driving directions and information HERE.
Drinking up the beauty of Lower Calf Creek Falls
Say goodbye to this beautiful place and start the long drive home. If you’re headed to Salt Lake City, it will take about five hours (311 miles).
Summer is a time to play and have fun, but there are still jobs that must be done each day to keep parents sane and everyone healthy. Make a plan to stay on top of daily chores and skills while still having fun.
This year we added a gameboard to our summer calendar. The idea is simple. As kids complete their daily responsibilities, they move up the board and earn fun rewards.
We brainstormed fun activities we would like to do this summer and built them into our gameboard. Hint: Involve your kids in the planning and they’ll be more likely to participate!
Some of the rewards on our gameboard include:
Crepes for breakfast (We call them Norwegian pancakes.)
Stay up late
Milkshakes
Pick a book at the local bookstore
Extra/Free screen time
Movie Night
Choose Dinner
Backyard Campout
Swimming
Sleepover with Cousins
Field Trip of you choice
Snow Cones
Date Night with Mom or Dad
Choose a special dessert
Climbing Gym
You’ll also have to figure out the best way for your kids to move up the game board. You can see our rules in the photo above. Create your own rules based on the age of your children and your family goals.
We live near many mountains so this trip is very inexpensive and a highlight of the year. There’s a lot of power (and a whole lot of fun) in family traditions!
