What better way to spend quality time with your grandkids than a refreshing hike in the woods or a stroll along the river? Exploring nature together is fun, educational and a great way to connect with each other and the outdoors. Every trail offers opportunities for discovery and adventure. Try these hiking activities to make your next outing one your grandkids will always remember. Just make sure to allow plenty of time for breaks!

Debra Ticen, 70, and her granddaughters, Addy, 13 and Ashley, 34, trade screen time for sunshine on Grand Junction’s Mica Mine Trail.

Hunt for rocks and minerals 

Before you go, research which rocks and minerals are abundant in the area, then have everyone pick a few to scout for. Pack a small divided container, a rock and mineral guide and a magnifying glass for examining the colors and textures up close. As you identify stones and minerals, discuss their uses and other neat facts.

• Try this hike: Mica Mine, a 3-mile round-trip trail in Bangs Canyon in Grand Junction, is known for its historic mine and opportunities to find mica and quartz. The trail follows a creek bed and offers scenic views of the canyon. 
• Try this hike: Warner Point Nature Trail, a 1.5-mile out-and-back trail near Montrose in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, is a scenic trail with interpretive signs about the park’s geology. 

Listen for bird sounds

Before you set out on your hike, borrow a CD from the library or play bird calls on YouTube to familiarize yourselves with local species. Use an audio recorder app on your phone to capture the sounds you hear on your hike. Later, play detective: Replay the recordings at home and research any unfamiliar sounds to see if you can discover the makers of the mystery calls.

• Try this hike: Visit the Audubon Nature Preserve, 610 Dike Road in Grand Junction. Open to the public for walking and bird- and nature-watching, the preserve is home to a variety of species including bald eagles, bank swallows, belted kingfishers, black-billed magpies, black-headed grosbeaks and wood ducks. Other great birding areas include Connected Lakes, Highline State Park and Rabbit Valley.
• Try this hike: At Delta’s Confluence Park, you might spot herons, ducks, geese, songbirds, raptors, quail and owls. More than 200 species have been observed here. 
• Try this hike: Chipeta Lake in Montrose is one of the best birding spots in the Uncompahgre Valley. Numerous duck species can be seen from fall through spring. A variety of songbirds can be found in the shrubs and trees during migration and summer. 

Give your grandkids a camera

Give each child a camera or smartphone. Plan ahead what you’ll photograph: towering trees, colorful butterflies, animal tracks or tiny critters. Turn it into a scavenger hunt or a game of I Spy. When you get home, print your favorite shots and create a scrapbook.

Identify trees, flowers and new growth

Bring a tree and flower guidebook to help identify plants along the trail using clues like leaf shape, bark texture and trunk size. Look closely at the ground, too, for wildflowers and other native plants. Each hike, explore a different trail or area and notice what plants grow in different soils, climates and seasons. Carefully brush away ground cover to find seeds or seedlings just starting to take root. Talk about how seeds travel by wind or by clinging to animal fur. Notice how some plants have evolved natural defenses like thorns or tough leaves to survive.

Navigate like a pro

Teach your grandchildren how to use a map, compass or even the sun to find their way. Choose a trail system with branching paths and a map for real-time skill-building. For more fun, turn the excursion into a treasure hunt. Hide a small prize just off the trail under a bush or pile of leaves, mark the location on your map and let the journey begin. 

Spot wildlife big and small

Hike quietly through wooded areas and grassy clearings to spot wildlife. Watch for frogs by streams, chipmunks in trees, lizards darting between rocks and deer grazing nearby. Look closer and you’ll find insects, too—beetles, butterflies, ants and other tiny creatures. Bring a magnifying glass and an insect guide to get a closer look. Talk about how animals and insects survive, what they eat and where they live. Keep your eyes peeled for tracks and signs of recent visitors. 

• Try this hike: In Grand Junction, you can find deer and bighorn sheep along Monument Canyon Trail and other hikes in Colorado National Monument. Catch a rare view of free-roaming mustangs at the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range, accessible from the Cameo exit past Palisade. This protected area is home to one of only a few wild horse herds in the United States.
• Try this hike: Black Canyon of the Gunnison is home to bighorn sheep, black bears, bobcats, weasels, mule deer, elk and more. For the best chance to spot wildlife, take an early morning or late evening walk along Uplands Trail, a 0.9-mile path with views of the West Elk Mountains and signs of mammals and birds.

HIKE RESPONSIBLY

Make sure the outdoors remain enjoyable for everyone by following these Leave No Trace principles on your hike.

• Plan ahead and prepare: Know the regulations, check weather conditions and pack for emergencies.
• Travel on durable surfaces: Stick to trails, campsites, rock, gravel and dry grasses to protect nature. Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
• Dispose of waste properly: Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter—yes, even toilet paper.
• Leave what you find: Preserve nature by leaving rocks, plants and other natural objects as you found them.
• Respect wildlife: Observe them from a distance. Never feed, approach or disturb animals, stay clear of nests and dens and back away if they seem stressed.
• Be considerate of others: Keep noise down, yield to others on the trail and respect everyone’s outdoor experience.

Local Tips

You can check out hiking maps and a free Check Out Colorado State Parks Pass from local libraries. Not all passes are available at each location. Contact your library for details:

• MesaCountyLibraries.org (970-243-4442)
• MontroseLibrary.org (970-249-9656)
• DeltaLibraries.org (970-399-7876)