Lower Bell Canyon in June

This is probably the easiest kid hike on the Wasatch Front. It's easy and quick to get to and such a fun hike that my three year old went both up and down, no problem.  I like that we don't have to drive up any canyons so it's a quicky if you don't have much time.  You park in the lot just east of the intersection at Wasatch Blvd and S Little Cottonwood Road (about 9600 S).  There's an outhouse right there for the kiddos who may not like to go out in the bush. It's about a mile up to the lake on a well maintained trail. We are always rewarded with ducks and fish to look at at the lake. I've seen lots of dads and kiddos fishing too. If you hike up the trail longer, I've heard there's a pretty waterfall and another lake, but the kids (and the parents carrying them) have never made it up past the lower lake.  There's also a more difficult, but prettier trail farther south on Wasatch Blvd, just look for the parking lot on the east side of Wasatch.  This trail goes along a trail and has some little waterfalls and bridges to walk over, but it's super steep.  We got the kiddos some kid sized camel backs this spring and they love having their own water/gatorade to drink at will.  Just one warning though, if you do put some yummy tasting beverage inside, they don't have much self control and drink the whole thing in minutes. Then you have to take a lot of potty breaks.  I stick to water and then just make them stop and take a few swallows every so often.

Clint with all 4 kids at Lower Bell June 2013

Martha and Mary Lake in July

We have done this hike with the kids every year since the twins were one! It's about a mile and a half up and you get a fantastic reward at the top with the most spectacular mountain lakes.  I like to do this one near the beginning of the summer because sometimes the lake drops significantly by the end of the summer. You start the hike in the parking lot of Brighton Ski Resort up Big Cottonwood Canyon just east of Sandy, Utah.  Make sure you take plenty of water because the trail is not very well shaded.  KK, my 3 year old made it almost half way up, and then she pooped out and went into the backpack.  We let the kids take off their shoes and dip their feet in the water. Though that's probably not allowed since it's a watershed.

The nice part of this hike is you do all the work on the way up and then you can eat lunch or a snack and then it's downhill all the way back to the car when everyone is tired.  We also found some fun snow patches that the kids went sliding down.  We've often seen moose and other fun wildlife, though I'm never excited to get too close to a moose, they freak me out!

Here's a few pictures of us over the years with the kiddos. It's fun to see how our family has changed!

2 kids 2008

3 kids 2010

3 kids 2011

4 kids 2012

4 kids 2013