If you haven't hiked to Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon, put it on your bucket list. It's spectacular. It's challenging - but here's how to make it kid-friendly. First thing: it's in Glenwood Canyon - 100+ miles from Denver, so if you have kids, plan to make a weekend of it. We stayed in the Glenwood Springs Marriott Residence Inn - we highly recommend it! Kid-friendly, a nice pool, free breakfast...

But on to the hike!

When people advise you to start early, it's to (a) get a parking spot, (b) beat the heat and (c) beat the crowds - it's a narrow trail that can get bottlenecked with folks coming down and going up. The hike is pretty much straight uphill - but the narrow trail follows along a shady little bubbling creek, and there are steps built into the rocks. Like the sign says, it's short and steep.  There are benches and spots to rest along the way.


 There are seven bridges you will cross along the 1+ mile hike. We brought a bag of Skittles and the boys got some for every bridge they crossed. The promise of candy rewards worked - even when my 6 year old went on ahead with his cousin, he kept track of how many Skittles he was due.




Right after the 7th bridge, you'll find a little cabin. Great for a rest and a snack - but you're almost there! The final stretch is up a rock staircase with railings, but if you have a 3 year old like mine (independent, stubborn and adventurous), you're sure to have a heart attack getting them up.

But once you're up... it's all worth it.






And when you're done? Treat yourself to a nice lunch and then head straight to the Glenwood Hot Springs...