Hiking Mono Cliffs with a Toddler and a Baby (She Walked 10% of It)

We took a toddler and a baby to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park in Ontario, and our little hiker walked about 10% of the trail; here's how it went and what we'd tell other families.

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#Mono Cliffs#hiking with toddler#hiking with baby#Ontario hikes#family travel#Niagara Escarpment#fall hiking

Hiking Mono Cliffs with a Toddler and a Baby (She Walked 10% of It)

If you had asked us a few years ago what a perfect Saturday looked like, we probably would have said a long brunch and no alarm clock. These days, a perfect Saturday means two kids, a packed diaper bag, and a trail in the fall. So when the leaves started turning, we loaded up the car and drove north of Mississauga to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park.

You can watch the full video on YouTube, but here's the longer, more honest version of how our day went.

Why Mono Cliffs?

Mono Cliffs sits on the Niagara Escarpment, and it's one of those places that makes you forget you're only about an hour from the city. There are limestone cliffs, mossy crevices, forest trails, and lookouts that feel much bigger than the effort it takes to reach them. We'd heard it was gorgeous in the fall, and we wanted our kids to be outside among the colours instead of looking at them on a screen.

We also wanted to see what hiking looks like with a toddler and a baby. Spoiler: it looks different than it used to.

The Plan vs. The Reality

Our plan was ambitious. Our toddler would walk part of the trail, the baby would ride in the carrier, and we'd take turns carrying the little one when she got tired. We were optimistic.

The reality? Our toddler walked about 10% of the hike. We're not exaggerating, which is why it's in the title.

She was thrilled for the first stretch. She marched ahead, pointed at every leaf, picked up a stick that was clearly the most important stick in the forest, and announced her opinions on rocks. Then, as toddlers do, she decided she was finished. Completely. No negotiation. After that, she rode on our shoulders, in our arms, or on our backs for the rest of the way.

And honestly, that's okay. We had to remind ourselves of that a few times. Hiking with little kids isn't about distance or pace. It's about being out there together.

What Hiking With Two Little Ones Really Takes

A few things we learned the hard way, and a few we got right:

Pick the right carrier setup. One of us wore the baby, and the other was the designated toddler-lifter. Switching roles halfway made a big difference for our backs.
Lower your expectations on purpose. We told ourselves before we left that we might not finish the whole trail. Deciding that in advance meant no one felt like we'd failed when the pace slowed.
Pack more snacks than seems reasonable. Snacks are currency on the trail. They buy you ten more minutes of cooperation, sometimes twenty.
Dress in layers. Fall mornings in Ontario can be chilly, and then the sun comes out and you're sweating in the forest. Layers for everyone, including the kids.
Bring a change of clothes. Mud, spilled water, and general toddler chaos are practically guaranteed.
Watch the footing. Mono Cliffs has rocky sections, roots, and uneven ground. It's not stroller territory, so a carrier is the way to go, and sturdy shoes matter.
Time it around naps. The baby slept beautifully in the carrier, which felt like winning the lottery.

The Moments We'll Remember

What we'll remember isn't the distance we covered. It's our toddler stopping to inspect a tiny mushroom with total seriousness. It's the baby looking up at the canopy of orange and yellow leaves from the carrier, wide-eyed. It's the two of us trading a look over the kids' heads that said, "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

Being parents of two has changed how we travel. We used to chase big itineraries and packed schedules, like on our honeymoon, and you can see that energy in our Paris trip. Now we chase small wins: a quiet trail, a happy nap, a kid who falls asleep on the drive home because she spent the whole day outside.

Keeping It Real as a Family

We try to show the real side of family outings on our channel, including the meltdowns and the stops that take three times longer than planned. If you like seeing that side of things, you might enjoy our recent day at the Toronto Zoo with a toddler and a baby, where we had a similar mix of wonder and chaos.

And if you're looking for something gentler when the weather doesn't cooperate, we put together an indoor guide for Toronto families with toddlers. Not every day has to be a hike, and some days call for a warm play space and a hot coffee.

Should You Take Your Kids to Mono Cliffs?

Yes, if you go in with the right mindset. Go early, bring a carrier, pack snacks, and accept that your little hiker may walk only a fraction of the trail. Ours did, and the day was still one of our favourites this fall.

If you're nervous about hiking with a baby and a toddler, our advice is simple: start small, stay flexible, and let the kids set the pace, even if that pace is mostly "carry me." The trail will still be there next time, and so will the leaves. And your kids will remember being outside with you far more than they'll remember how far you went.

Have you hiked with little ones? We'd love to hear your tips and your funniest trail stories in the comments on the video.