How to Get Kids Excited About Hiking (and Actually Enjoy It)

Do you want to head to the mountains but fear that after just a few steps your kids will say, “I’m tired”? Good news: hiking with children doesn’t have to be a struggle. You just need to turn it into an adventure!

1️⃣ Take the Cable Cars – Save Energy and Add Fun

In the Tatras, cable cars are free for children under 6 and are a huge attraction for little adventurers.
Not only do they save energy, but kids love the ride itself – the height, the views, and the feeling of flying over the mountains. Once you’re up high, the fun begins: rocks to climb, streams to cross, and terrain that’s far more exciting than long forest paths.

2️⃣ Specific Kid-Friendly Hike Ideas

HREBIENOK – ZAMKOVSKÉHO CHATA

  • Cable car: Starý Smokovec → Hrebienok
  • Duration: approx. 1 hour
  • Why kids love it: a slide and even a helicopter at Zamkovský Hut, soda and cake as a reward, plus the Studený Potok waterfalls along the way – perfect for little breaks and adventure photos.

  • Extra tip: Play “spot the trail marker” on the way. Kids won’t ask “Are we there yet?” but “How many more markers can we find?”

ŠTRBSKÉ PLESO – CHATA POD SOLISKOM – PREDNÉ SOLISKO

  • Cable car: Štrbské Pleso → Chata pod Soliskom
  • Duration: 45 min. to the hut + 30 min. to Predné Solisko

  • Why kids love it: amazing views without a tough climb, fun rock scrambling for older kids, and pancakes or hot tea at the hut.

TATRANSKÁ LOMNICA – PRAMENISKO TRAIL (easy option)

  • Start: Tatranská Lomnica
  • Duration: 1 km loop (about 30 min.)
  • Why kids love it: an easy educational trail with info boards, opportunities to spot wildlife, perfect for younger children or as a warm-up before a bigger hike.

SKALNATÉ PESO – HREBIENOK – SMOKOVEC (adventurous option)

  • Cable car: Tatranská Lomnica → Skalnaté pleso
  • Route: Skalnaté Pleso → Tatra Magistrala → Hrebienok → cable car down to Smokovec
  • Duration: about 3.5 hours (with breaks)
  • Why kids love it: breathtaking views from the very start, a safe but adventurous trail, a cake break at Hrebienok, and a fun cable car ride down.

3️⃣ Games and Tricks Along the Way

  • Trail marker hunt: Whoever spots the next trail marker gets a point. Bonus for finding one on a rock or bridge!
  • Geocaching: There are dozens of hidden “treasures” near huts and trails in the Tatras. Download the app and turn your hike into an adventure.

  • Fuel stops for little hikers: At our house, we don’t call them snack breaks – our kids “need fuel.” When they slow down and say, “Mom, I’m tired,” I ask, “Need some fuel?” Then I “refuel” them by popping a gummy bear in their mouth. It could also be a piece of chocolate or dried fruit – anything small that gives them energy. This simple ritual works better than any “Come on, keep going!”

4️⃣ The Right Gear and a Sweet Reward

Kids love feeling like real hikers – and if you get them light hiking shoes and comfy outdoor pants, they’ll suddenly feel unstoppable. And when a sweet reward awaits at the end of the hike, motivation is complete. Whether it’s soda and the slide at Zamkovský Hut, pancakes at Chata pod Soliskom, or cake at Hrebienok, these small rituals turn hiking into an adventure they’ll look forward to again and again.

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