Hiking Enchanted Rock With Kids: You Need These Tips!

Addie Gross Hikes

Thinking about hiking Enchanted Rock with kids? You need these tips! We’ve gone twice with our kids, and they love it. Here’s everything you need to know about hiking Enchanted Rock with kids.

Hiking Enchanted Rock With Kids

Hiking Enchanted Rock With Kids

Make reservations before you go! They will turn you away if you show up without a reservation and they are already full.
Leave your dogs at home! Dogs are not allowed on the Summit Trail (leading to the top). There are other dog-friendly trails around the area, but if you plan on going to the top, dogs aren’t’ allowed.
It’s windy! Hold onto your hats (we almost lost ours a few times).
Pack plenty of water and snacks. It’s definitely a challenge to make it to the top, and the kids will get tired, hungry, and thirsty. Sugar is always a good choice, either as a way to motivate the kids to keep going, or as a reward for making it to the top.

Beware of snakes! We’ve never seen any there, but we’ve heard of people climbing the boulders along the trail on the way up the mountain and running into snakes. My kids love climbing onto these boulders along the way, so I make sure to remind them to check for snakes first!
Beware the cave. We haven’t tried going down into the cave, but one mom I met up there said it’s completely dark and only has room for one person at a time. Bring a headlamp or flashlight if you plan on doing the cave on the other side (once you make it to the top).
Bring a baby carrier for babies/toddlers. Our youngest made it up and back at 4 years old, but he is used to hiking a lot. He did this same climb at 2 years (he was almost 3), but we had to carry him about a quarter of the way up to the top, and most of the way down at that age. He was very proud of himself for making it all the way up and down all by himself the second time we went!

Watch for snakes the hide among these boulders!

Remember: NO PETS ALLOWED!

There will be lots of stair-like climbing all the way up:

Don’t forget the snacks!

Celebrate when you make it to the top!

If you want to check out the cave on the other side of the mountain (after you reach the top), make sure you have a flashlight. You have to go in one at a time.