Trailblazing: Maximize Your Hiking Experience with These Tips

Do Your Research!

Before you head out on your hiking trip, be sure to research the area you’re going into for the day. Look at the weather forecast and make a note of it. Even if there’s only a tiny chance of inclement weather, snow and rain systems can move incredibly fast, especially in the mountains, and it can be dangerous to be caught in them unprepared.

Look up park passes or wilderness permits in the area you’re headed to—you may need to pay a park entrance fee or a trail fee to access your trail for the day. If you’re backpacking and plan on camping, your car will likely need a park or wilderness pass displayed in the front window where you parked. It’s much cheaper to pay for a parking pass than it is to pay a fine! 

If you have dogs that you want to bring on the trail you’ve chosen, check your local regulations to see if they’re allowed on the trail. National forests and lands protected by the Bureau of Land Management are typically dog-friendly, while most national parks don’t allow dogs or only allow them in very specific areas of the park.

Pack and Dress Appropriately

Comfortable shoes and socks are paramount when undertaking any physical activities, but for hiking especially. Long socks are typically preferable to ankle socks, as they protect your ankles from dust, dirt, bug bites, and scratchy undergrowth. Plus, they help protect the backs of your ankles from chafing and blisters. Bring hats and sunscreen and use both liberally. If you’re at a high elevation, you will burn much faster than you would normally since you’re closer to the sun. 

If you’re backpacking overnight, always bring a smell-proof bag to store food in. This helps keep unwanted critters from wandering into your camp and helping themselves to your hard-earned food. Make sure to store your food bag high up in a tree at least 50 yards from where you’ve set up your tent as well. 

Packing plenty of water is one of the easiest things you can do to keep yourself safe and healthy on the trail. If you’re familiar with the area and know you’ll have access to fresh water on the entire trail, bringing a high-quality water filter is also a good option. 

Even in this modern age, the vast majority of hiking trails won’t have cell phone service. Remember to tell someone where you’re going and give them a time estimate for when you’ll be back in cell service. Bring a paper map and a compass with you or download a map that you can use offline. If you’re doing a multi-day backpack trip and will be out of service for multiple days, invest in a GPS satellite tracker that can send out emergency messages and allow you to send updates to friends and family. 

Lastly, bring an emergency kit! You can make your own or purchase a pre-made kit from your local outdoor store. Band-aids, disinfectant, gauze pads, basic wound care, and painkillers are all items that you don’t want to be caught in the backcountry without.

Follow the Leave No Trace Seven Principles

Following these rules is the best way to have a good hiking experience for yourself and to allow hikers around you to enjoy themselves as well. These trails have been around for a long time, and taking care of them and the land surrounding them means that other generations of hikers can enjoy them for years to come. 

The Seven Principles are:

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Camp and Hike only on Durable Surfaces
• Properly Dispose of Waste
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize the Impacts of Campfires
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of other Visitors