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Outside Magazine's 2003 Family Travel Guide

Five Kid-friendly Peaks
Kid Everest

By Clark Norton


Hawaii | New York | Washington | Colorado | California

Walking with giants in the land of fourteeners (Josh Steinitz)

[Colorado]
DEER MOUNTAIN
TRAILWISE
SUMMIT: 10,013 feet. TRAIL: six miles round-trip. This moderately strenuous trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, best for ages eight and up, winds along Deer Ridge to the summit, with views of surrounding snowcapped peaks, including 14,255-foot Longs Peak. Best weather is June to September, though snow or thunderstorms are always possible.

WHY KIDS LOVE IT
Even if this peak is several thousand feet shy of a fourteener, it's a Colorado classic—your kids will take pride in reaching the top. The relatively flat, shady area near the summit makes for a snapshot-friendly rest stop.

COOL DIGS
Castle Mountain Lodge (800-852-7463, www.castlemountainlodge.com), in Estes Park along the Fall River, has cabins with kitchens, fireplaces, and a playground on 35 acres bordering the national park. Family-size cabins start at $115.

RESOURCES
Rocky Mountain National Park: 970-586-1206 , www.rocky.mountain.national-park.com/hike.htm


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