Summiting Volcan Mountain with a 9-year-old

We arrived at the trailhead close to noon. Weather was great, not hot, nice breeze, no rain. Main trail is easy and wide, there were lots of ruts because to the recent heavy rains, but they were easy to navigate. About a quarter mile after you pass the Volcan Mountain trailhead, there’s the option to take the Five Oaks Trail, which is for hikers only, and loops back into the main trail close to the top. The main trail allows horses, bikes and hikers (although we only saw hikers yesterday). We took the main trail up and Five Oaks back. If we did it again, I’d take Five Oaks up and main trail back because Five Oaks has a gentler incline in a lot of places.

Most of the hike is unshaded, so make sure you’re wearing sun protection, and it gets pretty breezy at the top. A light windbreak or long-sleeved shirt was enough yesterday to make it comfortable.

How was it with a kid? Pretty a-okay. It really is straight up with very little switchbacks, so it’s hard work for smaller legs, but absolutely doable, and there’s plenty to see along the way. There’s also a lot to explore at the top – a set of ruins from an old astronomy outpost, a viewing scope, benches in nooks and crannies, a picnic table to have your snacks, and different informational boards naming the mountains you’re seeing. Definitely worth bringing the family.