Most kids in the 8 and under range I see on 14ers aren't having a great time. Your kids my be in the minority on that though.
For a nice easy mountain that's close to Denver, Chief Mountain has great a view to work reward ratio and it's close to Evergreen for something to eat and/or some shopping later. I think it's about a 5 mi. RT and less than 2000 feet of gain. From the top you can see all the way to Pikes Peak to the south and RMNP to the north.
Family Recommendation
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Newt2
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tjmartn1
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Re: Family Recommendation
If you must do a 14er with a 5-year old I would do Mt. Evans from Summit Lake, or Mt. Bierstadt. Both are accessed from paved roads.
Re: Family Recommendation
I recommend either Mt. Sherman or Chief Mountain as a starter for your young kids. Any regular passenger car can reach the 12,000 ft. trailhead to Mt. Sherman easily even though you would expect a little rough ride.
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CHeimCO
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Re: Family Recommendation
OP,
From your original post it sounds like you're looking for a good experience more than an accomplishment. For a 5 and 8 year old, hiking any 14er falls under the accomplishment category. Cheif mountain, that others have suggested, seems to be much more reasonable and more likely to give the kids a fun Colorado hiking experience. It's also very close to Mt. Evans which is paved to the top and you can experience 14,000 feet of elevation via minivan power (which has a much higher success rate than 5 year old legs)!
On the nearby camping front, I like West Chicago Creek campground. It's at the end of a maintained gravel road and is the start of a hiking trail so it sees some day time use also. It has fire rings and outhouses but no trash service.
All of the above are accessible from highway 103 between Evergreen and Idaho Springs and together could make a very memorable day in Colorado. Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy your visit!
From your original post it sounds like you're looking for a good experience more than an accomplishment. For a 5 and 8 year old, hiking any 14er falls under the accomplishment category. Cheif mountain, that others have suggested, seems to be much more reasonable and more likely to give the kids a fun Colorado hiking experience. It's also very close to Mt. Evans which is paved to the top and you can experience 14,000 feet of elevation via minivan power (which has a much higher success rate than 5 year old legs)!
On the nearby camping front, I like West Chicago Creek campground. It's at the end of a maintained gravel road and is the start of a hiking trail so it sees some day time use also. It has fire rings and outhouses but no trash service.
All of the above are accessible from highway 103 between Evergreen and Idaho Springs and together could make a very memorable day in Colorado. Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy your visit!
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Phacelialpina
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Re: Family Recommendation
A five-year-old and an eight-year-old should definitely be able to hike a fourteener.
I loved hiking my first fourteeners: Democrat, Cameron, Bross, and Quandry when I was 8. One of my younger sisters hiked Belford and Bierdstadt at age 6 and La Plata at age 8. Another of my little sisters hiked Yale, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross at age 4. She loved the "scrambly" pieces on Yale, saying that the rocks were better than a playground.
Yale https://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=20543
Cameron, Lincoln, Bross https://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=20544
Both of them are eager to hike more fourteeners.
If you are heading to the Tetons, Medine Bow National Forest may be on your route. Medine Bow Peak is a beautiful and easy peak.
It is a favorite with my family. Medicine Bow https://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=20557
I loved hiking my first fourteeners: Democrat, Cameron, Bross, and Quandry when I was 8. One of my younger sisters hiked Belford and Bierdstadt at age 6 and La Plata at age 8. Another of my little sisters hiked Yale, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross at age 4. She loved the "scrambly" pieces on Yale, saying that the rocks were better than a playground.
Yale https://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=20543
Cameron, Lincoln, Bross https://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=20544
Both of them are eager to hike more fourteeners.
If you are heading to the Tetons, Medine Bow National Forest may be on your route. Medine Bow Peak is a beautiful and easy peak.
It is a favorite with my family. Medicine Bow https://14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=20557
- smallMedineBow.jpg (169.65 KiB) Viewed 2063 times
Re: Family Recommendation
This thread is more than four years old and the person who was asking hasn't logged in for two and a half years.Phacelialpina wrote: ↑Wed Feb 17, 2021 10:36 am If you are heading to the Tetons, Medine Bow National Forest may be on your route.
I agree with you on the kids though.
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
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mtree
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