Hiking with baby
McDonough Wildlife Refuge
Baby Luka was born on April 9, 2024. At 7 weeks old, we decided to complete our first hike together. After doing research on different trails in the area, I decided that we would try the main loop of McDonough Wildlife Refuge. The app I use (AllTrails) said that this trail is 2.1 miles and moderate difficulty. I used an Infantino baby carrier (purchased from Amazon), a well-packed backpack-style diaper bag, and hiking poles for stability. We had a successful hike, and I would like to mention a few points about our adventure.
First I would like to introduce McDonough Wildlife Refuge to you, then I will tell you about some of my favorite aspects of this trail, followed by my not-so-favorite parts. Read on to find out if this trail is baby-approved!
About McDonough Wildlife Refuge:
McDonough Wildlife Refuge is situated on Rosemar Road in Vienna, WV. It is a 277-acre park situated directly across from the Vienna Ballfields and Jackson Park. According to their website, the trails vary in length from 0.5 to 2.0 miles. Since it is a wildlife refuge, you are likely to see an abundance of animals including birds, squirrels, ducks, deer, and the occasional turkey or fox, to name just a few. It is located on the edge of town, which allows the park to be fairly peaceful and quiet most of the time. There is quite a variety of trails, including one fully-paved smooth path for accessibility of all ages and ability levels. The trails are well-marked and include rest stations along the way.
There isn’t much on their website (https://www.greaterparkersburg.com/directory/mcdonough-wildlife-refuge/), but there is some information in the Alltrails app. Although I followed the “Main Loop Trail” in the Alltrails app, it wasn’t very accurate. It showed the Piney Point trail as part of the Main Loop. I should start off by saying that I didn’t follow the Alltrails app “Main Loop” religiously. I only hiked the Main Loop as depicted in the park maps. A park map to better plan your hike is available here.
The Main Loop Trail:
Of the many trails available, I chose to take the “Main Loop Trail.” The AllTrails app says it is approximately 2 miles and moderate difficulty. I chose this because I wanted a bit of a challenge, and I liked the idea of a loop trail so I wouldn’t have to do any backtracking. This way I get to experience the entire park and see all of the features without having to see any of the same sights over again. Plus I’ve got to burn some calories and get rid of this baby belly, am I right?
Tips for Hiking With Baby
Essential Items needed for the adventure, and planning for success
I knew that bringing along a 7-week old baby was going to have its challenges. Still, I want little Luka to reap all of the benefits of “green time” starting as early as possible. He loves being outside. Every time I take him outdoors he calms to sleep. I think it’s something about the fresh air and peace and quiet. Regardless, I knew that bringing him along for a 2-mile hike would mean I needed to plan ahead and prepare. Here’s what we did:
Start Fresh
Before we began our trek, I took a few minutes in the parking lot to make sure he had recently eaten and that his diaper was clean and dry. Although the app says it should take little over an hour, things always take longer with a little one in tow. I didn’t want him to be the least bit uncomfortable during our adventure.
Always Be Prepared
The night before our hike, I made sure that we had a well-stocked diaper bag, however I made sure to eliminate unnecessary items to reduce the weight. It’s like backpacking, but for baby. Things I made sure to include were: extra diapers and wipes, an extra bottle and powdered formula, burp cloths, an extra outfit, baby hat and socks, and a muslin swaddle (to use as a lightweight blanket for changing diapers on dusty picnic tables). Of course, I also packed water for myself, as well as a couple snacks, my phone, a small pocket knife, a small first aid kit, and an emergency whistle. I chose a backpack-style diaper bag so I could easily carry it while carrying Luka on the front in his infant carrier.
If you’re a lone mom hiking with baby (or even without), I may recommend checking out my post 10 Essentials Plus. It covers the basics of what you may like to bring along on a hike.
Hiking with Baby: Safety First
I chose to use an infant carrier that is rated for babies that weigh over 8 pounds. It was important to be sure Luka met this minimum at his last doctor’s appointment before using it. Never use an infant carrier that isn’t rated for your child’s size. I decided to use the Infantino baby carrier (available from Amazon here), which is a convertible carrier. I was fairly satisfied with its ability to keep Luka steady and support his head on a jostly trail hike.
For stability, I chose to bring some hiking poles. Having little guy strapped to my front brought back all of the stability concerns of being pregnant, plus some. It shifted my center of gravity quite a bit. Add to the fact I was carrying a well-stocked diaper bag as well and traveling over somewhat moist trails and it could have been a recipe for trouble. This is why I chose to use the poles. Better safe than sorry when a fall could be disastrous.
Hiking with Baby: Trail Review
Is Main Loop Trail at McDonough “baby-approved”?
I will rate this trail on three different factors: atmosphere, accessibility, and maintenance. Each factor will give a possibility of 5 points. The total score will be figured from the average of the total points of each factor.
Atmosphere
Overall, I enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the park. With each turn of the path, I was met with majestic views. The park was fairly secluded and quiet. I visited on a weekday morning, and there were few other visitors. Whenever I encountered another hiker, it actually startled me because I almost forgot that this was a public place! Here are just a few of the many beautiful sights we got to enjoy on our hike:
As you can see, the trail is full of gorgeous views. Parts of the Main Loop trail are so secluded that you can easily forget that you are in a public park right in town! However, there are some parts of the trail that kind of “break the spell.” Unfortunately, one stretch of the trail abuts a residential street. Views from the trail include views of residential backyards. One of the sights includes a fairly dilapidated camper, which definitely takes away from the natural beauty of the park.
Also unfortunate during my visit was the fact that they were mowing the trails that day. The sound of the mower really took away from the atmosphere. Now, I can’t (and won’t) complain too much here. I am very grateful that they are maintaining the park. Mowing helps reduce the risk of ticks and chiggers, so it’s definitely an important thing to do! Also, I chose to visit during a time when there are likely fewer visitors (late morning on a weekday), so it is understandable that they would choose that time to maintain the park.
Ultimately, I think the atmosphere felt secluded, which is what I like to enjoy while on a hike. It’s really hard to tell that this park is situated on the edge of the city of Vienna. However, there were a few parts of the trail that felt exposed. City and residential noise was also a factor. For this reason, I chose to rate the atmosphere of this trail 3.5 out of 5 points.
Accessibility
I have to say, the accessibility features of this park are impressive. There were full bathrooms that are handicap accessible and even heated in the cool weather, which is very nice. Although I did not choose to explore it this trip, there is a paved smooth path available that takes 3 laps to make a mile. This track is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, as well as those who need a hard even surface for stability. I love the fact that they consider everyone, and make it so all ability levels can enjoy the outdoors.
The trail I chose, the Main Loop, had more uneven terrain but much of it was covered with gravel. There seemed to be decent drainage so there weren’t too many muddy holes. Some areas were a bit slick as the gravel had either washed out or simply wasn’t there. This is the Mid-Ohio Valley so clay is a common surface to encounter, and it can be slick even if it is just a little moist. This is where the hiking poles really came in handy!
One thing I truly appreciated about this trail is the many rest stations along the trail. This came in handy when toting a little one. While we didn’t need to make a pit stop for diapers or bottle this time, these rest stations would have been very useful if we had been in need of a quick stop. Some of the rest stations even had a small roof to get out of the rain or sun. This is just another example of how the park personnel really considered people of all ages and ability levels. This is part of the reason I chose to rank the accessibility of the trail 4.5/5 stars.
Maintenance
The high level of care given to the maintenance of the entire park was excellent. Trails were well marked with maps placed along the trail in multiple places. The grass was mowed (in fact it was being mowed while I was there), signage was well maintained, trails were clean and free of branches and twigs, and there were few muddy spots despite recent rainfall. I greatly appreciated that the trail was filled with gravel in some of the areas more prone to mud. Traction and stability are super important while hiking with baby. The stairs leading down to the lake looked like they have received recent repairs. Overall, the park seems to be very well maintained, which is why I ranked it 5/5 stars for maintenance.
Hiking with Baby: Final Take:
After averaging the three rankings for atmosphere, accessibility, and maintenance, we come up with an overall score of 4.3. Overall, I was very pleased with this trail. It was challenging to complete with a baby in tow, but it wasn’t overly challenging. The scenery was beautiful, and the park was so well-maintained that not once did I worry about safety. This is the first hike I’ve completed with baby Luka, and I hope to complete many more soon!
Are you one who enjoys hiking with baby? If so, what trails do you recommend? Luka and I would love to know! Leave us a tip in the comments below, and maybe it will be featured in our next hiking with baby post!
