Trail Etiquette: Key Do’s and Don'ts for Hikers

Hiking is one of the best ways to get outside and exercise in this wonderful fall weather! The cardio workout is great on your lungs and proves to lower blood pressure, strengthen bone health, and has many additional mental health benefits. There’s more to hiking than just getting up and going. You need to prepare and follow these simple do’s and don’ts to ensure you have a good time and enjoy everything in the best possible manner!

DO

Tell someone where you’ll be - Informing a close friend or family member that you’re going hiking helps ensure you make it home safely. Let them know where you’re going and when you expect to be back. This is a good backup plan in case anything goes wrong, someone will be able to get you the help you may need. 

Bring supplies - It sounds simple but bringing the proper supplies with you is vital to a successful hike. Do your research ahead of time on the weather and terrain so you can adequately prepare your backpack with what you’ll need. Most importantly, bring plenty of water and snacks that are high in protein to get you through the hike along with an extra pair of socks and sun protection.

Be considerate of your surroundings - You won’t be the only person hiking so please be courteous of the other hikers around you. If you plan to play music through a speaker, keep it at a reasonable volume so as to not disturb those around you and the wildlife. You should also dispose of any and all trash properly and leave nothing behind.

DO NOT

Disturb nature - You will be a guest to nature on your hike. Avoid disturbing any plants, animals, and monuments on the trail, the only thing you should be taking is pictures and the only thing you should be leaving are footprints. Don’t feed any animals your food, take any of them home, or pick any of them up. They aren’t used to humans and it is unpredictable with how they are going to react to you.

Go off the trail - Hiking paths have designated trails for a reason. Wandering off can lead to dangers in nature such as wildlife, plants, and terrain that you were not meant to interact with and prevents you from getting lost. Staying on the path also keeps you close to other hikers, if you wander off you may become separated and away from earshot should anything go wrong.

Hike in new equipment - Make sure all of your equipment is properly worn in and ready to go. Any experienced hiker will tell you that the shoes you wear should be worn in and comfortable to walk in. Do not hike in brand new boots. This could cause your feet to blister and can lead to serious foot pain. You won’t be immediately near any sort of urgent care or hospital making treatment a longer, tougher process than it needs to be.

With these helpful do’s and don’ts you should now be ready for your hike! We also suggest that you do your research on the trail and properly prepare for your specific situation.