The parents hiking America’s longest trails with five kids

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN
10 minute read
Updated 7:28 AM EST, Fri November 10, 2023
<strong>Hiking family: </strong>Olen and Danae Netteburg, both 44, and their five children Lyol, 14, Zane, 12, Addison, 10, Juniper, eight, and Piper, two are hiking America's longest trails together.<br />
Hiking family: Olen and Danae Netteburg, both 44, and their five children Lyol, 14, Zane, 12, Addison, 10, Juniper, eight, and Piper, two are hiking America's longest trails together.
Danae Netteburg
<strong>Forward moving:</strong> The Netteburgs making their way across the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,653-mile trail extending from the border of Mexico to Canada.
Forward moving: The Netteburgs making their way across the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,653-mile trail extending from the border of Mexico to Canada.
Danae Netteburg
<strong>Young walkers:</strong> Lyol, Zane, Addison and Juniper strike a pose during the family's final week on the Appalachian Trail, which stretches between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.
Young walkers: Lyol, Zane, Addison and Juniper strike a pose during the family's final week on the Appalachian Trail, which stretches between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.
Danae Netteburg
<strong>Reaching milestones: </strong>The family completed the Appalachian Trail in around seven months, and say they celebrated by eating the marshmallows they used to spell out their mileage.
Reaching milestones: The family completed the Appalachian Trail in around seven months, and say they celebrated by eating the marshmallows they used to spell out their mileage.
Danae Netteburg
<strong>New recruit: </strong>When they took on the Continental Divide Trail, the Netteburgs had a new addition to the family -- youngest daughter Piper, born in June 2021.
New recruit: When they took on the Continental Divide Trail, the Netteburgs had a new addition to the family -- youngest daughter Piper, born in June 2021.
Danae Netteburg
<strong>On the go: </strong>The Netteburgs, pictured on the Continental Divide Trail, feel very lucky to be able to hike as a family, and say that taking on these iconic trails has brought them all closer.
On the go: The Netteburgs, pictured on the Continental Divide Trail, feel very lucky to be able to hike as a family, and say that taking on these iconic trails has brought them all closer.
Danae Netteburg
<strong>Bonding trips: </strong>"We realize, a lot of people can't do it," Danae Netteburg tells CNN Travel. "They [either] don't have the time or money or they don't want to. So we're very blessed." <br />
Bonding trips: "We realize, a lot of people can't do it," Danae Netteburg tells CNN Travel. "They [either] don't have the time or money or they don't want to. So we're very blessed."
Danae Netteburg
<strong>Crossing waterfalls: </strong>The family pass through the Eagle Creek, a popular alternate path along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Crossing waterfalls: The family pass through the Eagle Creek, a popular alternate path along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Danae Netteburg