As a young mother with a child who can now hike on their own, I am always on the lookout for family-friendly hiking trails. Getting out on the trails with your kids will set our children up for success. The trails can teach us about respect, empathy, and leave no trace. The trails about provide the perfect about of sensory exploration, natural play, and developing resilience, self-confidence, and risk-assessment skills. While your are planning your vacation in the Keweenaw, be sure to visit the trails in this article!

Monk Trails

This 2.5-mile loop is considered moderately challenging. The trails run through Arnold Mine Ruins, Jacob’s Falls, and a pond. Your family will enjoy a serene forest with a beautiful brook, a picnic area, and a tall table with stools. The monks hand crafted many benches, posts, and tables for their trails, leaving plenty of spaces to enjoy your surroundings. While you are walking through the forest, you can enjoy bird watching, bug spotting, and balancing on fallen logs. Around the pond, keep an eye out for frogs, fish, and other creatures. Be sure to wear hiking shoes, bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray!

Din Egan Woods

Din Egen Woods is 5 acres of wooded wetlands and hardwood forests. You can enjoy a short hike to a simple, contemporary cabin on a small creek. Along the way, we balanced on many fallen trees, learned how to climb, and explored the sights and sounds of the woods. This forest was named Din Egen, meaning ‘thine own’, and was donated to the Keweenaw Land Trust for preservation in 2017. I recommend bringing bug spray, waterproof-hiking shoes, snacks, and water.

Boston Pond Nature Preserve

Boston Pond Nature Area is a wonderful, and accessible, trail and roadside park. It has a mid-size pavilion, viewing pier, and easy gravel walking trail. Although the accessible trail is only a half mile, there are 26 acres to explore in this nature preserve. There are a few minor trails branching off the main trail, but they are not cleared out - so be mindful of large roots and other tripping hazards for early walkers. I recommend bringing binoculars, good walking shoes, a picnic, water, sunscreen and bug spray. Near the pavilion, you can find a vault toilet.

Paavola Wetlands Nature Area

This stunning nature area encompasses 215 acres of wetland and upland habitat. A large pond is the mail focal point, with beaver dams, heritage apple trees, boardwalks, bird life, and an old, historic homestead. You can find a vault toilet at the parking lot. From there, you can find a half-mile looped trail that is accessible. There are several miles of looped trails throughout the property as well. The boardwalks will lead you to a large lookout point on the pond. Bring binoculars, snacks, waterproof hiking shoes, water and sunscreen.

Pilgrim Community Forest

Along the Pilgrim River, you can find a 2.5 mile trail well kept by Keweenaw Trails Alliance volunteers. This trail leads through a beautiful forest and riparian corridor, a feeder creek, and so many other wonderful sights. The trailhead is found near the guard rail on the west side of Paradise Road, at the intersection with Pilgrim Road. As this trailhead is on a major road with no proper parking space, please implement road safety with your family. The trail is hilly, but provides a great low-impact trail for families. The Pilgrim River is also a notable cold-water trout stream! I recommend bringing waterproof shoes, trekking poles, snacks, water, and sunscreen.

A fun family tip - The Keweenaw Land Trust sets up Story Trails throughout the year at various locations. Be sure to check their website for updated story trail locations!

5 Must Do Kid-Friendly Hikes in the Keweenaw

Monk Trails

Din Egan Woods

Boston Pond Nature Preserve

Paavola Wetlands Nature Area

Pilgrim Community Forest