I’ve done a lot of hut to hut hiking in the Alps with my kids, and one thing I can say for sure is that you really don’t need a military-style training plan to prepare them or to get them fit for hiking mountains.

My kids are pretty active with school, clubs, and play, but they’re not super sporty; one is quite hypermobile, so running and team sports aren’t really their thing, and the other firmly believes that sitting on the sofa is an underrated hobby. But they (mostly!) love multi-day hiking, and we’ve found that as long as they stay generally active and do a bit of regular walking, they cope brilliantly on the trails.

Don’t let the question of “Are the kids strong / fit enough for hiking mountains?” or “We don’t have time for hiking training what with school and other life stuff!” stop you from giving hut to hut hiking in the mountains a try. Start small, take them on a few longer walks, and see what they can do – you’ll probably be surprised! Kids are usually more capable than we think, especially when there’s an adventure involved.

The key isn’t hardcore training; it’s just making walking (and other activity) a normal part of family life. If your kids are up for a countryside walk at the weekend and are used to being on their feet, they’ll do just fine. And if you’re starting with a first-time hut hike, I always recommend routes that aren’t too demanding anyway; so that makes a good way to ease into it without worrying about whether they can cope, physically or mentally!

1. The most important thing: General activity

If your kids are already active; playing outside, cycling, swimming, climbing trees, or running around at the playground, they’ve got a solid foundation. Hiking fitness isn’t just about walking; it’s about having the stamina to keep going. Kids who move a lot in daily life are already building the endurance they need for hiking and will find it easier to handle the demands of a multi-day trek.

What counts as activity?

  • Playing outside – running, scooting, or climbing trees
  • PE lessons and after-school clubs (even if they’re more “fun” than fitness!)
  • Cycling, swimming, or just running around the playground
  • Walking to school, the shops, or a friend’s house
  • Any game that involves chasing, jumping, or exploring
  • A girl with curly hair, dressed in denim overalls, hangs between two large rope nets at an indoor adventure park. She stretches her arms to grasp the nets, balancing with her legs spread wide in mid-air.

You don’t need to replace their usual activities with structured training. Just keep them moving and get them used to being on their feet. If your kids are used to an active lifestyle, they’ll take to hiking far more easily than you might think.

And if you’re worried about whether they’ll manage multiple days on the trail; don’t be. The first-time hut hikes I recommend are all purposefully planned to be not too demanding, with plenty of down time, so you’re not throwing them in the deep end. You don’t need to “train” for these trips; you just need to be up for the adventure.

2. Walk more in everyday life

Walking is the best way to prepare for a hiking trip, and the good news is you don’t need to carve out loads of extra time for it. Small changes to your daily routine can make a big difference, helping kids get used to being on their feet without it feeling like training.

Think of it as a mindset shift rather than a workout plan. The more walking becomes a natural part of your family’s day, the easier they’ll find it when they’re on the trail. And if you’re not used to walking much as a family, this is a great way to ease into it.

  • A young girl in a blue coat and orange rhino-print pants leans over a stone bridge, looking down at the river below. A quaint stone cottage with a red roof sits in the background, surrounded by leafless trees and a calm stream.

Simple ways to walk more

  • Walk or scoot to school instead of driving (or park further away). The school run is an easy way to build in extra steps without needing extra time.
  • Swap short car journeys for walking. Whether it’s heading to the shops, a café, or visiting friends, try making some of these trips on foot. It’s a great way to normalise walking as transport.
  • Evening strolls. A short walk after dinner (especially in spring and summer when it’s light so late for us in the UK!) can be a lovely way to chat, unwind, and build a bit of extra movement into the day. It doesn’t need to be long; 15 minutes around the block helps!
  • Weekend ‘missions’ on foot. Walk to get ice cream, visit a playground, or explore a new park. If there’s a fun reason to go, kids won’t even think of it as exercise.
  • Explore local footpaths. Even if it’s just a loop around your nearest park, getting kids used to walking on different surfaces (grass, trails, hills) helps them feel more confident when hiking. I use the OS Maps app to find footpaths; even urban ones!
  • Make walking fun. Play ‘follow the leader’ on narrow paths, let kids set the pace, or do a scavenger hunt along the way. Little distractions make a huge difference, and the more they get used to walking, the less you’ll need to distract them.

Building up walking in everyday life helps kids develop stamina without them even realising. Plus, the more they see walking as a normal part of life, the less daunting setting out on a hiking trip will feel.

3. Aim for one countryside walk per week

A proper countryside walk is one of the best ways to build stamina and experience for hut to hut hiking. It helps kids get used to walking on varied terrain – hills, uneven paths, maybe even the odd stream crossing – all of which are better “training” than just walking on pavements. But this doesn’t mean you need to spend every weekend on a full day hike!

One decent walk a week, even if it’s only around 1 – 2 hours, will definitely make a difference. If you can fit in the occasional longer walk (3 – 4 hours with a picnic or pub lunch stop), even better, but consistency is more important than length.

How to make it fun

  • Let them have a say – Give kids some control by letting them pick the route, choose a fun destination (a café, playground, castle, or even a stream to splash in).
  • Make it a challenge – Try geocaching, a simple treasure hunt, or set goals like spotting a certain number of birds, different coloured flowers, or unusual trees along the way.
  • Bring friends – Kids will happily walk much further when they’re chatting with a friend. Inviting another family or a few schoolmates can turn the walk into a social event rather than an obligation.
  • Create a family tradition – A ‘Sunday Adventure Walk’ followed by hot chocolate, cake, or a stop at a cosy pub can turn a simple walk into something kids look forward to.
  • Use tech wisely – Some kids love tracking steps, using hiking apps, or navigating with a map. If they enjoy a bit of tech motivation, I’d embrace it!
  • Mix it up – Not every walk needs to be in the same place. Try woods, hills, riversides, or even a new town with an interesting trail. Variety keeps it interesting.
  • A family of four, along with a small black dog, walks down a gently sloping green field surrounded by rolling hills and patchwork farmland. The late afternoon sun casts soft shadows, illuminating the landscape with golden hues.

Getting (one of my) kids excited about a countryside walk is often the biggest challenge (believe me, this is waaaay harder than getting them excited about a multi-day hike!), but there are plenty of ways to keep them engaged. They don’t always work, but usually once we’ve managed to get out and going, everyone cheers up!

The goal here isn’t to push kids to their limits but to make walking feel like a normal and enjoyable part of life. A weekly countryside walk is the perfect way to do that while quietly building up their stamina and confidence for the trails ahead.

4. Get used to carrying a backpack

One of the biggest adjustments for kids on a hut to hut hike isn’t just the walking, it’s carrying their own stuff as well. While they won’t need to haul a pack as heavy as an adult’s, you may well want them to carry their own water, snacks, spare layers, change of clothes and any soft toys they can’t live without.

Wearing a backpack regularly in the lead-up to the trip makes a big difference. It helps them get used to the feel of carrying weight, teaches them to take responsibility for their own things, and stops them from seeing a rucksack as a burden on the trail. It can also be a motivator for getting out on country walks (see above) as many kids quite like the excitement of carrying their own bag!

Our kids have carried their own 28L backpacks for all our travels since they were about 7. Whether we’re navigating train stations, walking through airports, or hauling our stuff between hotels, they’re used to having their own gear on their back. By now, wearing a rucksack is just second nature to them. They don’t even think twice about it, which makes carrying a pack on a hut hike feel completely normal.

  • A group of hikers follows a winding rocky trail through the mountains, surrounded by breathtaking alpine scenery. The towering peaks in the background contrast with the grassy slopes and scattered wildflowers.

If your kids are used to carrying their own bag when travelling, it’s great preparation for a hut to hut hike. It teaches them responsibility for their own things as well as how to handle a backpack in real life situations such as walking through train stations and standing in queues. Getting their bag on and off in these sorts of situations teaches them practical skills like adjusting straps and handling weight.

How to practise

  • Start on weekend walks – Suggest kids carry their own small rucksack when you go on your countryside walks. Keep it light to begin with and gradually add more over time.
  • Pack the essentials – Get them used to carrying a water bottle, snack, and a spare layer. You don’t need to weigh them down, but they should feel the difference between walking with and without a pack.
  • Make it part of everyday life – Encourage them to bring a rucksack on longer days out, school trips, or any other walking they’re doing. The more they wear it, the more natural it will feel.
  • Let them personalise it – A backpack that’s theirs – with a fun carabiner, or a favourite colour – makes it feel like their own. If they like their bag, they’ll be much more willing to carry it.
  • Teach them to pack it properly – Help them learn to balance the weight so it’s comfortable. Heavier items (like a water bottle) should be close to their back, and nothing should be digging into their shoulders.
  • Use other holidays and travel as practice – My kids have their own backpacks which they use for all our travels as their main luggage (and we pack light, so these contain pretty much all their stuff) so they’re completely used to wearing them. If your kids carry their own bag when travelling, it’s a great way to build their confidence before a hut hike.

Even a small amount of practice will make a difference. When the time comes for their first hut to hut hike, they’ll be so used to their pack that they won’t even think about it, especially if you make sure you’re helping them pack super light.

5. Prepare for different weather conditions

Hiking in the Alps means being prepared for all kinds of weather; bright sunshine, wind, drizzle, and even chilly mornings, even in summer. If kids have only ever walked in perfect conditions (let’s be honest this is very unlikely if, like me, you’re in the UK), a damp or cold day on a hut hike might feel like a shock. But with a bit of practice, they’ll learn that walking in different weather is just part of the adventure.

By getting them used to different conditions before the trip, you’ll help them feel more comfortable on the trail, no matter what the weather throws at you. Plus, it’s a great way to test out gear and work out what layers they’ll need to stay warm and dry.

Ways to practise

  • Walk on drizzly days – Don’t cancel a walk because of rain, do it anyway. It helps kids get used to wearing waterproofs and walking in less than perfect conditions, and it shows them that good gear keeps them dry and warm. Also, splashing in puddles usually makes everything more fun!
  • Try a windy or cold day – A chilly is the perfect chance to test layers. Might they need an extra fleece or thermal layer? If they’re too cold or too hot, you’ll know what adjustments to make before the trip.
  • Let them get a bit messy – Mud, puddles, and wet grass are part of hiking. If kids learn early on that getting damp or muddy isn’t the end of the world, they’ll be far more resilient on the trail.
  • Talk about what to expect – If they know that mountain weather can change quickly, they won’t be surprised if they start in sunshine but need a rain jacket by lunchtime.
Two hikers, dressed in waterproof jackets and hoods, stand beside a stone trig point at the summit of a mountain, surrounded by thick fog. The cobbled ground beneath them appears wet, suggesting damp and chilly conditions.

The more kids experience different types of weather in a low-pressure setting, the better they’ll handle it on a multi-day hike.

6. Build a positive mindset

Fitness is important, but attitude matters just as much, if not more. Hiking can be tiring, and there will be moments when kids feel like they’ve had enough, especially on a multi-day trek. But learning that tired doesn’t mean “can’t go on”, and that it’s okay to feel uncomfortable sometimes, is a big part of the experience. The right mindset can turn a challenging section of the trail into a great adventure rather than a miserable struggle.

Before your trip, start shifting their mindset about effort. Instead of seeing hills as hard work, talk about the view they’ll get at the top. Instead of focusing on how far there is to go, celebrate how much they’ve already done. Kids take cues from their adults, so if you frame hiking as a positive, exciting challenge, they’ll pick up on that.

  • A girl wearing a navy blue jacket and bright orange pants with a rhino pattern climbs over a wooden stile in the countryside. Bare tree branches frame the scene as she steps into a green field under a blue sky.

Encouraging the Right Attitude

  • Frame it as an adventure, not just exercise – Instead of saying, “We’ve got a long walk ahead,” try, “I wonder what cool things we’ll see on today’s adventure!”
  • Use strategic bribery – A snack break (or more than one!) on a long climb, a game along the way, or the promise of a delicious mountain hut meal, or a fizzy drink and a cake at the top can be great motivators.
  • Talk up the fun parts of hut hiking – Cosy mountain huts, hot chocolate stops, spotting marmots, or sleeping high in the mountains; all of these add to the adventure.
  • Let them struggle a bit – If kids learn to push through short moments of tiredness, they build resilience and confidence. Encourage them with, “You’re doing brilliantly – let’s just make it to that next bend and then have a break.” They’ll often surprise themselves (and you) with how long they can keep going.

7. The final weeks: A practice hike with a big day out

A few weeks before your hut hike, plan one longer walk; maybe 4-5 hours, to see how they manage. The goal isn’t to “test” them but to give them a sense of what a full hiking day feels like. Make it a proper day out rather than just a training walk:

  • Choose a fun destination—a café, a lake, a waterfall, or a viewpoint.
  • Pack plenty of good snacks and a proper lunch to break up the day.
  • Let them wear their hiking gear and carry their own rucksack, just like they will on the trip.

When we did this, I actually planned an overnight hike in the Chilterns (these are the hills mid way between London and Oxford). We parked our car and hiked 10 km to a campsite with pre-erected bell tents, spent the night there (and treated ourselves to a delicious pub dinner) and then hiked back the following day on a slightly different route. It was a great way to give the children a taster of the adventure to come and to test their gear.

  • A young child with curly hair, wearing a tie-dye shirt and a blue backpack, walks along a dirt path between tall grass and a golden wheat field. They hold a small bundle of sticks while gazing at the vast countryside under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
  • A white bell tent stands in a grassy campsite surrounded by lush green trees. A man and child sit in camping chairs, while another child lies on the ground, all enjoying the sunny afternoon.
  • A father with a red backpack walks ahead on a shaded forest path, accompanied by two children wearing blue backpacks. Sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled light on the ground.
  • Two children, dressed in colorful hiking clothes, walk along a dirt path in a dense green forest. They hold walking sticks as they explore the peaceful woodland.

If a this seems a bit much, maybe do a day hike split it up with longer breaks or a slightly shorter but hillier route. The goal is just to give them a taste of a longer hike before you’re in the middle of the mountains with no easy way back!

Final thoughts: Keep it realistic

You don’t need to overhaul your life to get kids ready for hut to hut hiking. Being active, walking more, and enjoying regular countryside walks will build enough fitness naturally.

The key is to make it fun, not a chore; if kids enjoy the journey, they’ll love the whole adventure. Hut to hut hiking isn’t about pushing limits; it’s about spending time in the mountains, enjoying the views, eating great food at a cosy hut at the end of the day, meeting new people and enjoying yourselves as a family – adults and kids alike.

Honestly, if my kids can do it, I bet yours can too!

Further Reading

The Best First Time Hut to Hut Hikes for Families:

Dolomites
Austria
France
Spain – Mallorca

Gear & Packing for Hut to Hut Hiking:

Tips for Hut to Hut Hiking:

Bea Searle is the creator of Wild Bee Outdoors. Having lived in Austria as a kid, she fell in love with the mountains early on. Passionate about sustainable train travel and outdoor adventures with her family, Bea shares local insights, detailed routes, and plenty of tips for hut to hut hiking and multi-day cycling trips in the European Alps and beyond; along with ideas for worthwhile detours to make every journey unforgettable. Her goal? To inspire you to embrace the mountains, dodge the tourist traps, and explore with confidence.

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