Can I take my two-year-old son hiking in the Grand Canyon? My husband and I were kicking around vacation ideas, and we wonder if such a trip would be safe.

Kendra Kratkiewicz
Shirley, Massachusetts

Alice's Answer:

Of course you can take your son to the Grand Canyon, Kendra. I'm sure thousands of toddlers visit every year and return unscathed.

But frankly, why would you want to take a toddler—who by definition has little balance, common sense, or fear-to a place renowned for its precipitous drops?

I'm sure my own one-year-old girls would love the Canyon, or just about any place, for that matter, where they could climb and explore. But I can barely keep them safe in my family room, so keeping tabs on them in a place like the Grand Canyon would anything but a vacation. Even if you keep your son in a child carrier during your adventures, he needs to stretch his legs from time to time, and many of the Canyon's best trails are precarious for someone so young.

About a year and a half ago I visited the Canyon with my then-five-year-old. We didn't hike much because I was in the midst of a high-risk pregnancy and we were attending a wedding that took up most of our time. Although the place is magnificent, it felt a bit torturous to be there and not be able to really hike, to backpack down to the canyon itself. So we plan to return when our children are old enough to enjoy a trek down on their own two feet.

Meanwhile, in nearby Sedona, a few hours south of the Canyon, we had a blast exploring the beautiful Red Rock country. The area has a multitude of trails for every level of hiking, and even the shortest, easiest trails offered spectacular scenery. Consider taking your son someplace where he would have a chance to run to his heart's content—safely.

Maybe as parents it's helpful to rate various outdoor adventures much as we do ski trails, and rank them accordingly: bunny trails, beginner, medium, advanced and expert. Don't rush things, and parents and adults alike will have a better experience. As we all know, toddlerhood is one of the most challenging parenting times for many reasons, but take heart, you'll all be exploring steep stuff before you know it.

Meanwhile, if you simply must take your two-year-old to the Grand Canyon, consider buying one of those child leashes so he can't run out of your reach. But remember, if he makes a sudden move at a dangerous juncture, even a leash isn't enough to keep him safe.