Suggestions for first backpack trip with 7 year old (SoCal)?

Rather than places, you might want to consider backpack weight. An adult backpacker can carry 20% of body weight for a distance. For 30% of body weight, the backpacker better be strong. Then 40% is almost out of sight.

Similarly for a kid, you want to try to keep down to 20% of their body weight. That is likely to be only a sleeping bag, a water bottle, and a stuffed animal. It would be a good idea to test that in advance of the trip.

–B.G.–

"Any advice would be much appreciated!"

Hi Linda,

You might consider hiking a ways up Paradise Valley from Roads End in KCNP. It is pretty easy hiking at relatively low altitude, and you would have the option of pushing further or turning around and camping near Roads End and doing day hikes, depending on how your daughter is doing. It would require a bear canister, though.
Another option, since you mentioned Bishop Pass, is Humphreys Basin via Piute Pass.
It's only 5 miles up to the pass, with very gentle terrain full of day hike options and lots of camping possibilities in Humphreys Basin. If you had to stop before reaching the pass, there are several beautiful lakes to camp by. The only issue here is altitude, as the TH is at 9400'. Kearsarge Lakes is another possibility but again, the Onion Valley TH is at 9600'. Most of the hikes on the lower East Side have that in common.

I'm originally from San Diego (OB, Mission Valley) but only car camped while there. I did do A LOT of mountain biking.

Is there anything in the Laguna Mtns or Cuyamaca? What about the Noble Canyon trail? The PCT goes through that area. Kitchen Creek?

Moving north is Big Bear. There has GOT to be something there. Have fun and take pics!!!

I meant to say, "Yer gonna have FUN regardless"

I understand the head scratching, couple years back I scoured for fun places to take my aging dog near LA. Most things were too steep for him. Last place we went was Forsee Creek Trail to Johns Meadow, maybe 3.2 miles. Very mellow trail, wooded for the most the way. Also, I think there is an option of an unimproved trail from there up to Columbine Springs Camp. The trail is on my Harrison map, but not my desktop software.. guestimate is another 2 miles.

When getting a permit the ranger warned us about it being bone dry, but we talked to some day hikers coming the other way and they let us know that water was not a problem at all (and it wasn't). So, stalk the parking lot for hikers leaving and ask them about water conditions on the trail. I think the ranger was just confusing it with another trail, as I can't imagine it going dry there.

If you want to start off real easy, there is a backpacking camp in Topanga State Park. From the park headquarters, it is only a mile away. From other trailheads it can be further. You can hike up from Pacific Palisades and it would be ~12 miles RT. Additionally, since you are near the coast, the weather will be moderate. It it pretty civilized as there is running water and a bathroom out there. You can use it as a basecamp and dayhike a lot of trails through the Santa Monica Mountains. Like I said, this is a pretty easy first backpacking trip. It would allow you to shake down your gear and to see how she does on her first trip.

I think that your biggest challenge will be food. You would be surprised at how much young, active children can eat one day and then eat nothing the next.

Have fun!

What about heading up into the John Muir Wilderness…..its a bit of a drive from SD…about 7 hours, but some great easy trips. You could drive to Florence Lake, take the ferry (which would be a lot of fun for her), then do the very easy 5 mile hike into Blaney Meadows and the hot springs. From there you could continue on in all kinds of directions for either additional days or just day hikes and be able to come back each night to soak in the hot springs.

You could also head towards Lake Edison and do the very easy and pretty hike up Bear Creek. Tons of pretty waterfalls and swimming holes. You can go far up as you want then turn around….or make an easy 1 week loop trip from Bear Creek along the JMT and come out at Florence Lake…that was one of my first trips my dad took me on as a kid…and still one of my most memorable and favorite hikes.

Another Option would be to head up to Graveyard Lakes from Lake Edison. You could take two days to get to the lakes, and then spend a day or two there day hiking around all the Graveyard lakes before hiking back out.

Another option is the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness in the Southern Sierras. There are A LOT of short loop hikes there to several different lakes. Its all relatively short distances and minimal elevation changes.

if you wanted to head a little further north you could do into the Emigrant wilderness for some fun easy loop hikes. If your worried about the longer drive, you could split it up, and car camp for a night to split the drive into two days. Make it a fun road trip.

Or to Yosemite…..you could spend a day checking out the valley and then do an easy hike into 10 Lakes Basin.

Anyway…hope some of the ideas help

This past January I took my 5 y.o. son on his first hike at Sespe Creek in Los Padres NF. It is just above Ojia, so it would be a bit of a drive for you but not too bad. Here is my trip report over on backpacking.net: http://www.backpacking.net/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=182172

I was looking for a flat hike with water available which is not easy to find around here. We didn't get very far, but you can hike as far as you like on that trail.

Another option, I think it would be great to take the Palm Springs Tram to Mount San Jacinto SP then hike around the top of the mountain. You could also enter through Idlewild to save yourself the tram fee but it wouldn't be as much fun.

This summer we are going to Little Lakes Valley in Inyo NF. Probably farther than you want to drive, but it is a beautiful flat trail along a string of lakes at high elevation. I great trail for kids.

Thanks so much to all who responded! Your collective kindness always amazes, though doesn't surprise.

Bob Gross: Yes, absolutely! I hope to keep her closer to 10% of her body weight (which would be about 4 lbs). My heart is sinking looking at my base weight ticking up on planning worksheet but most important is that she have fun and not hurt herself!

To Tom Kirchner: thank you for the suggestion for Paradise Valley. I'll give that a closer look. Most of my backpacking is in or close to bear country so I always plan on lugging a canister along anyway. A stop at SNP nearby might be interesting too

Gordon: I hadn't considered the Lagunas/Cuyamaca due to water concerns, but I'll do a little investigating. I'm interested in Big Bear but don't know much about the area; will be trying to research as well.

Brandon: Thanks for the Foresee Creek Trail rec. another new one to me.

Jon: hadn't even considered the coast … that's an interesting possibility as we have family in Pacific Palisades.

Dan: those are some excellent suggestions; I am excited to check some of them out … I think Yosemite is going to be too far but some of the others would probably be doable.

Ben: Los Padres is another area I hadn't considered but probably should have… not sure what water is like there this year. I will also look at Little Lakes Valley!

Appreciate all the great input; and if anyone else has suggestions to add I thank you in advance!

–Linda

I live in La Jolla.

I was at San Jacinto about 3 weeks ago.

If you are planning to Summit San Jacinto through the tram route, you have to pack your own water. The trip can be done in a weekend, with a night at Round Valley Campground. If you happen to stay at Round Valley, the campsites are poorly marked, so just be careful about where your campsite is located (Every time I go, I find at least two people who are lost, looking for their campsite).

The seasonal spigot at Round Valley is dry. The trail to the peak is a well marked trail, but fairly popular. I got to the peak by dawn and I passed by four groups (one BIG boy scout troop) on my way down at 8:30 am.

Have you considered the California Riding and Hiking Trail/Eureka Peak/Brunt Hill Trail in Joshua Tree?

You would go along California Riding and Hiking and Loop back through Eureka Peak and Burnt Hill Trail. The beautiful loop and can be done in a two/three day weekend. Some of the best Joshua tree valleys that I have ever seen. The trail is well marked, easy to navigate, and not too popular (Last I went was about 8 weeks ago). The major downside is that you would have to pack your own water. There are no water sources anywhere along the trail.

+1 on the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains SP.

Noble Canyon with Big Laguna Meadow Trail is fantastic and can be done in a weekend. But last I remember, you might have to pack your own water. The lake along the Big Laguna Meadow Trail is pretty low, so you might have to refill your water at "El Prado Campground" or "Laguna Campground" (They have working spigots). The only other option would be pack your own water.

I apologize for not being able to recommend any trips that have a reliable source of water, but the recent droughts have dried up everything in the San Diego Country Area.

Please keep us posted on where you end up going and how your daughter did

So, I think I've settled on taking my daughter on the Lakes Trail out of Sequoia NP during the last days of July. Being on the West side It has relatively modest altitude (mid-7000's at trailhead to mid-9000s at lakes). Plenty of water at the lakes though not sure about en route. That's OK though. While it's a longer drive out than I'd wanted, we can always spend some time in the park doing touristy stuff before and after.

My plan is to head to Emerald Lakes day 1 (5 miles) and camp there. I think she can handle the mileage and the elevation gain if we go slow and if she carries only a few small items. Day 2 we can either ball out if she is miserable or do a day hike without packs up to Pear and/or Aster Lakes and back.

I've stayed away from this hike for many years due to it's modest distance and guaranteed mondo crowds, assigned camping spaces, etc., but it is supposed to be quite beautiful in spite of all that, and I figure this is my excuse to do it. I think she will be able to handle the mileage and the elevation.

If anyone has any other beta about this hike, let me know. I'm wondering if the Watchtower trail segment would be too scary for a kid? (or more accurately, for mom watching her kid …)

Thanks for everyone who offered suggestions! I will definitely post an update and a TR when we're done!