Hiking with the Grandchildren: Faith Takeaways from the Trail
I love to hike and I love hiking with the grandkids. Though our hikes are short and sweet now, I look forward to greater challenges as they grow. Trail walking means trail talking. Let’s look at a few ways to bring Jesus into the conversation.
1. Hiking with a Map and Compass
Whenever I hike, I carry a map. I like to know where I’m going, when the trail changes, and where to expect a tough spot, like a rock scramble or a set of steep switchbacks. A compass keeps me moving in the right direction. Both develop important skills.
But, heaven forbid, we step off the trail.
In 2021, my daughter and I hiked the Barr Trail up Pikes Peak. We stepped off the trail at one point, but quickly realized our mistake, and got right back on. Pikes Peak is no small mountain. You could wander for days. That thought still gives me chills.
Staying on the trail is a must. That’s true for life.
God’s Word and our personal relationship with the Holy Spirit keep us on track just like our map and compass, because going off trail can carry serious consequences.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
This is a great conversation for older kids. What choices do they see others make? What consequences have their friends experienced?
2. Hiking and God’s Intelligent Design
God’s design elements reflect order and purpose for His creation. Plants, insects, birds. Talk about them as you hike. Where do they fit in that particular biome? What’s their purpose? What design elements has God built in, like camouflage or other modes of protection such as skunk scent, porcupine quills, or speed?
Job 39:27-29 says, “Does the eagle soar at your command and build its nest on high? It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night; a rocky crag is its stronghold. From there it looks for food, its eyes detect it from afar.”
How do eagle eyes reflect God’s intelligent design?
Proverbs 6:6-8 reads, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
How do ants speak to order, discipline, and wisdom?
How do we see God’s intelligent design in us?
Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Let’s connect the dots for our grandchildren.
3. Hiking Offers Beauty
Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.”
Athenagoras: “If, as Plato says, the world is God’s craftsmanship, though I admire its beauty . . . I reverently draw near to the craftsman.”
Beauty in creation is the best argument for God’s existence—and to think that He created it all for us.
How can we respond to such beauty?
By drawing attention to it. Wildflowers. Baby deer. Colorful stones by the river. Sunrises and sunsets. The Milky Way.
Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”
4. Hiking Brings Perspective and Peace
Just being out in nature brings healing and restoration. For kids, too. Most kids today learn early to go, go, go. To leave activities, screens, and schedules behind gives life to all of us.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 8:4 reads, “. . . what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”
Hiking brings us to places that remind us of God’s greatness, His goodness, and His grace.
5. Hiking: The View
The best views require us to dig deep. They take preparation and perseverance. I’ll never forget when my daughter and I hit mile marker #10 on Pikes Peak. For us Texans on our first 14-footer, we felt like we were breathing through straws.
But I knew we only had a few miles to go, and nothing beats the feeling when you summit. To this day, every time I’m in Colorado Springs, I glance at Pikes Peak. Pikes still gives me a warm feeling. We did it. We hiked that mountain and, wow, was it amazing!
Spiritual journeys require the same rigor. Hiking helps us practice, the perseverance—and the reward. Romans 5:3-4 reads, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Let’s encourage our grandkids to persevere. The journey is worth it.
Here are some tips for hiking with the grandkids:
- Adjust the length and difficulty of your hike to the age and ability of your hikers.
- Set expectations. Our grandkids know they will have to carry their own snacks and water.
- Teach them to prepare. Sunscreen. Snacks. Water. Proper shoes.
- Have a compass and map handy. Use the opportunity to teach some map skills.
- The Merlin bird app. Ohh my goodness! The grandkids love this. It picks up in a surprising number of places, but we use it in the backyard all the time.
- Reward good effort and attitudes.
- Take turns leading. Talk about what a leader should watch for. In Texas, we’re watching for snakes.
- For older kids and more extensive hikes, make sure you pack your 10 essentials.
- National parks are an absolute treasure, but state and local parks are too. Many state parks require a reservation before you go, so plan ahead.
- If your grandkids are a little older, try orienteering, a combination of hiking, map skills, and an Easter egg hunt.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the world You made for us to explore. Capture the hearts of our grandchildren as we investigate Your wonders. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Whether you go to a local park with a paved trail or something a little more adventurous, get outside. Take the grandkids with you and start a conversation. Which topic resonates most with you? Maps, God’s intelligent design, beauty, perspective, or the challenge of reaching an awesome view. Open their eyes to the wonder of God’s creation as you walk and talk together.
Resources for Hiking with Your Grandchildren
Next week on The Christian Grandparenting Podcast: Movie Night with Your Grandchildren.
Join Gayle
Subscribe to get my latest content by email.
