I know, hiking with a toddler can be challenging. But I promise it can also be a lot of fun, too. Should you find yourself in the Central New York region these 5 spots are sure to check all of the boxes for young kids and adults alike. If you’re looking for more general tips be sure to check out our 8 best tips, our favorite trail games, and a full list of what I carry on day hikes! Moving right along, let’s talk about our favorite hikes for toddlers near Syracuse, NY!
All of these are within 40 minutes or less of the Syracuse area depending on your starting point. These are the spots we go back to time and again–ones that our youngest can handle but the bigger kids still find fun. None of these are particularly strenuous, which is exactly what you want for new hikers!
Jump to Where You Need to Be
🌳Morgan Hill State Forest
🪨Clark Reservation State Park
🪶Great Swamp Conservancy
🐟Green Lakes State Park
🦫Beaver Lake Nature Center
5: Morgan Hill State Forest
550 Shackham Rd, Fabius, NY 13063
Facilities:
Free parking, some bathrooms available, dogs are welcome
Special Considerations:
Not stroller friendly, but a great magical forest vibe. Lends itself well to making up stories as you walk, finding nature treasures (flowers and such), and playing some rounds of ‘I Spy’
Our Favorite Kid Friendly Trails:
Green Trail—3.1 mile loop, 190 ft of elevation change
Yellow Trail, loop back with Onondaga Trail—1.35 miles, 75 ft of elevation change
Location Bonuses:
This forest is directly next to Labrador Hollow Unique Area, which is the home of Tinker Falls. Tinker Falls offers a short and sweet lower falls trail (0.6 miles), so you could very easily add a waterfall to your day!
4: Clark Reservation State Park
6105 E Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, NY 13078
Facilities:
Full state park facilities–full bathrooms, nature center (check ahead for when it’s open, though), picnic spots. Dogs are welcome. There is an entrance fee from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but the Empire Pass works here if you have one.
Special Considerations:
Honestly this is one of our favorite parks in the region. We all adore being here. The reason it is so far from the number one spot on this list is because there is a pretty significant safety caveat here. Virtually all of the trails require some amount of mild rock scrambling, and there are cliff drop offs. Now, I know, toddler friendly hikes. But this is going to be very kid dependent. One of my stepdaughters was fine here at 2.5 years old and we just carried her through the tricky bits, but with my son we waited until 3.5 to make sure he’d follow directions. It is so cool though, and kids really lean in to “rock climber” adventure. Note that all clip drop off sections have LOTS of trail room, so there is no need to ever be close to the drop off, just know it’s there.
Second important thing is don’t take the Lake Trail. That one is not kid friendly and involves a great deal of steep and slippery rock steps. The other trails should be fine, though.
Our Favorite Kid Friendly Trails:
Cliff Trail to Long Trail to Dry Lake to Mildred Faust Loop—1.2 mile loop, 92 ft of elevation change. I know that sounds like a lot of changes, but it’s a lot easier to pull off than it looks! It’s really just one circle.
Pulpit Rock Loop—2.4 miles, 291 ft of elevation change. This really is best for older toddler/”big little kids,” maybe 3-5 years old depending on ability. Once you feel your kid is ready it’ll be a hit, though!
Location Bonuses:
There is a fun nature center to check out if it’s open, but even if it’s not they have a fabulous playground. Lots of climbing, tunnels, and exploring to be done, definitely make time for it at the end.
3: The Great Swamp Conservancy
8375 N Main St, Canastota, NY 13032
Facilities:
Free to park, small playground, dogs are welcome, full bathrooms. There is a nature center here as well, in addition to several bird overlooks. Side note, the nature center hosts a variety of taxidermy displays that my son gets a real kick out of every time.
Special Considerations:
Don’t come here if it’s been remotely wet. If the sky has recently considered the possibility of precipitation it’s probably a muddy mess. Unless you and your kid(s) are in to muddy messes, then go for it! Mine are most decidedly not 😬 In dry conditions you can get around with an all-terrain stroller without too much hassle. Beware mosquitoes in peak summer, but a lot of fun in spring and fall.
Our Favorite Kid Friendly Trails:
Heron Trail Loop—2.2 miles
Wetland Trail Loop—1 mile
It’s literally a swamp, so almost no elevation change to worry about. Do note that this park spans across either side of N Main Street. Most of the parking is across the way from the series of buildings you’ll see, and the Heron Trail is over there too. The nature center and Wetland Trail are on the other side, but it’s all easy to walk between. There’s some fun spots along the Heron Trail where you can observe an active heron rookery in the spring.
Location Bonuses:
Not only does Great Swamp have a nature center and a small playground, but they boast a pretty active calendar of seasonal activities including spring fest, a creepy creatures event near Halloween, and wreath making closer to Christmas. All 3 of the kids from large to small enjoy popping in here for whatever they have going on that day.
2: Green Lakes State Park
7900 Green Lakes Rd, Fayetteville, NY 13066
Facilities:
Literally all of the facilities. Bathrooms, picnic areas, nature center, an IMMENSE playground, bath houses, campsites, even a concession stand in summer. Dogs are allowed on all of the trails, but not on the playground or in the beach area. There is a fee to enter, but the Empire pass will work too if you have one.
Special Considerations:
This park gets crowded. If you want to do some swimming in the summer be prepared, but crowds often thin out a bit as you walk the trails. It is open all year though, so you can definitely plan to come fall through spring if you’d prefer to avoid the bulk of the chaos. The main lake trails are doable with a sturdy stroller, preferably an all-terrain variety if you have one.
Our Favorite Kid Friendly Trails:
Green Lake Trail—2.3 mile loop, 105 ft elevation change
Green Lake to Round Lake Loop—2.9 mile loop, 164 ft elevation change; this trail just adds an extension for a second smaller (and quieter) lake if you’re feeling ambitious! As you dip in and out of woods, catch different views of the lake changing colors based on light and angle, it all feels pretty special. My 3-year-old is convinced that trolls live here, but they’re friendly so don’t let that deter you.
Location Bonuses:
Well, there’s a beach and swimming area if you’re in to that! There’s also kayak rentals, snowshoe trails in winter, and great educational programs they run through their nature center. It’s easy to spend the day here, and I’d suggest you do so!
1: Beaver Lake Nature Center
8477 E Mud Lake Rd, Baldwinsville, NY 13027
And our winner is Beaver Lake! When I asked the kids their favorite place to go close to home they unanimously answered “Beaver Lake!”
Facilities:
This is a nature center, so it is the one place on this list where dogs are not allowed. There are plenty of bathrooms, exhibits, a gift store, concessions in summer, picnic tables, and interactive gardens (things kids can smell, touch, taste, etc). A fee is required for entry, and a lot of the trails are pretty packed down and stroller friendly, especially the Lakeview and Deep Woods trails.
Special Considerations:
Some of the trails can flood and close if there’s been a lot of rain, particularly the ones listed below. Good news is there really isn’t a bad trail here, so you can always pick a different one!
Our Favorite Kid Friendly Trails:
Lake Loop—3.4 miles. I know that’s longer than the other trails we’ve talked about but the eldest summed it up nicely with “it’s pretty, it’s flat, and there’s a lot of animals.” You’ll probably have to do some carrying (or bring a sturdy stroller), but there will be lots to look at to keep them engaged. It’s a great walk to practice building endurance without it feeling like a slog.
Hemlock Hollow & Bog Trail Loop—1.2 miles
Again, not a lot of elevation change to worry about here–it’s all pretty flat.
Location Bonuses:
Canoe/kayak rentals, snowshoe rentals, seasonal festivals–Beaver Lake has a packed calendar with tons of options. We love coming here on a random day, but have never had an issue at events either. Things have always been organized and smooth, even if it’s more crowded.
There we go, 5 fabulous places to get you outside with your kiddo(s)! I hope you have the best time out there. Drop a comment with your favorite kid trails, local or otherwise. We’re always looking to add new spots to our never-ending bucket list!
Happy trails 🥾💚