Tips for Wild Swimming with Kids
Some of my very favorite memories are swimming beneath waterfalls, playing in the waves at expansive black sand beaches, soaking in steamy hot springs and jumping off rocks into mountain lakes.
Hiking to a body of water is top notch for toddlers and kids of any age. Below, you’ll find some tips for choosing the best water play spots, what to bring, and some other tidbits too.
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What to Bring
Your gear will vary depending on the air and water temperatures and the environment you’re hiking to. But here is my complete list of gear to consider bringing on a wild swimming adventure. This list is meant to be on top of the other items you’d normally bring on a hike or adventure.
Swimsuit/togs
Wetsuit
Towel (microfiber or Turkish cotton towel poncho are our favorites)
Toys: small shovel, small bucket, character/waterproof doll
Beach bag (my favorite from Amazon linked here)
Change of clothes
For hot springs: infrared thermometer (not necessary but kind of fun)
A few comments on this list. I bring a change of clothes even if I’m planning to change the kids into swim suits. I’ve had enough experiences where they somehow manage to get their clothes wet that I learned this one the hard way.
I highly recommend a wetsuit for your kids if you plan to do much wild swimming. We use ours almost year round not only for beaches but also shoulder season swimming and even hot springs. Once even an outdoor bathtub. I’ve sized up and gotten 2 years out of one wetsuit since its an investment. I recommend a full wetsuit - as opposed to a spring suit with short sleeves - so that it works year round.
For sand and beaches, I love that linked beach bag so the sand gets out. Plus it’s huge and I can shove so many towels and shoes and things in there. There are tons of pockets too for trash and some semblance of organization.
If we are hiking to a swimming hole, I use what I call our epic day trip bag which is currently a 40L Osprey pack. Its big enough to fit all the extra gear that comes with swimming along with the standard hiking essentials.
The infrared thermometer is totally unnecessary - your fingers work just fine to check temperatures - but my husband really loves bringing it so we can easily check different parts of the spring to find the optimal spot.
How to Choose your Spot
A few things to consider when selecting a place for water play:
Is swimming allowed there?
Is the water uncontaminated?
Is the surf/currents safe for swimming? Are there lifeguards or designated swimming spots?
What wildlife is there to consider?
What is the water temperature?
Beyond all that, find somewhere you can soak in the views while you soak your feet and watch your little ones splash away the day. Enjoy!