(Hiking at Pilkington Overlook – don’t ask about the head scarf 
)
This week is Ontario Hiking Week. Guelph is blessed with a number of local hiking trails that are wonderful for kids, all within town. Some of our favourites include the trails through Preservation Park and the Arboretum, the trails out from Riverside Park out towards Guelph Lake and the trails at St Ignatius, and the trail that runs from Niska Road to Fife Road. You can find a great description of local trails with maps at the Guelph Trails blog.
We’ve also enjoyed a number of trails just outside of town including those at Starkey Hill which is a spring time must for feeding the chickadees. There is a trail at Pilkington Overlook which has the most amazing views, but it is a steep and a relatively short hike. For a relatively easy hike for young ones, we like the Radial Trail off Watson Road, as it is flat and there’s are a few good spots to stop along the trail for snacks. We have hiked out by Green Legacy and keep meaning to go back.
The Guelph Hiking Club has a number of hikes planned for this week, and next weekend there is a special kids’ hike planned for kids at Starkey Hill beginning at 1 pm.
If your family is new to hiking, there are some good basic tips for getting started here. We love the idea of finding a good stick at the start of the trail. I just haven’t figured out a way to help the kids know that they need to leave the sticks once we finish the hike. Along the way we have also learned to stash a change of clothes, a thermos of cold water and some extra snacks in the van for the trip home.
From the Guelph Public Library
Hiking and camping by Paul Mason.
Explains how to start enjoying the sports of hiking and camping, including the required equipment and some basic skills and techniques.
Do princesses really kiss frogs? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle and illustrated by Mike Gordon and Carl Gordon
A young girl goes on a hike with her father. As they wander through the woods, all kinds of wonders reveal themselves–and she discovers that a curious princess resides in everyone.
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