Ultimate Guide for Your First Time Day Hiking
Here’s the thing we all start somewhere and sometimes we have no one but ourselves and Google to get advice from. I know I made A LOT of these mistakes my first few serious hikes and looking back now I realize how little I knew! But that’s because I never researched or heard about what the do’s and don’ts are.
I thought hiking was just going for a walk in the woods so therefore it’s just like walking down the neighborhood streets. NOT TRUE. I wish someone had told me a few of these things so I didn’t have to learn them the hard way. This guide is not for backpacking or going for 14ers and extreme hikes. This is going to be a general guide for any day hike from 1-10 miles long.
SO HERE WE GO
BEFORE YOU EVEN WANT TO PICK A HIKE
1.Check the weather!!
If you get out of work Friday and want to check out a local hiking trail, check the radar to make sure no storms are rolling in. Check a week in advance, a day in advance, and then again before you get in the car to head to the trail. It’s very dangerous to get stuck in rain or snow while on a hike. You often don’t have cell reception out there and if you get hurt and weather rolls in, it could go down hill quickly. Always have extra food and layers for unexpected weather.
2. Do your Trail Research before you go
Not doing this is extremely unsafe. Always research your hike before you go. Know how long it took others and how hard it will be. I bring 2-3x as much water and snacks if I’m going on a 10 mile with 3,500ft elevation gain than if I’m going on a 7 mile hike with no elevation gain. Very important to know what to expect. There could be river crossings or recent bear sightings. You should be prepared.
What to check for when picking out your hike
Make sure the trailhead is Open
Spring and fall often bring a lot of trail closings and openings so its important to know you can access that trailhead.
Read comments for trailhead parking availability
Make sure the trail doesn’t require a permit
Most trails outside of National Parks don’t, but some extremely popular ones do. If it does, go to RECREATION.GOV to get one. Or call the local Ranger station and ask them.
Know your level of experience and body condition.
If this is your first off the side walk into the woods trail, I would research and pick a trail 2-3 miles long. Make sure there is less than 500ft of elevation gain.
If you’re in good shape and are trying to hike more often, I would recommend trying hikes that are 4-8 miles with 1500-2000ft of elevation gain. That is where you’ll learn how your body does on longer trails and how you need to pack for them.
Recent trail reviews
Comments on AllTrails are super helpful for updates on trail conditions. You should know if they had rain recently, or if the trail isn’t marked well, if there’s bear sightings, or if it feels harder than the trail says it is.
3. Bring extra water and snacks
This is huge. You never know what will happen and you never know how hungry and thirsty your body will get. And that could get you into a lot of trouble when hiking any elevation or distance. Dehydration can ruin many trips very quickly! So add electrolytes to your water as well.
Meal Bars that are dense in Calories are a great option especially for longer hikes!
Trail Mix
Candy Bars
Prepped Sandwiches
Electrolytes on the go
Grab some BLUEBERRY & ALMOND bars HERE
Grab some Electrolytes packets HERE
4. Start early
Let’s say you’ve never hiked this trail and all of a sudden it takes you twice as long as the review you read because they were a speed hiker and you are not. Or you get slightly lost and all of a sudden it’s dark because you didn’t give yourself enough time for error…
REASONS TO START EARLY
1. Beating the crowds
Ever gotten to a beautiful lake and couldn’t sit there in silence to actually enjoy the beauty, or couldn’t get one photo without a stranger being in it?
2. Getting a parking spot
You might not realize if you aren’t an avid hiker that popular trails are often filled by 8am. So plan accordingly to get a parking spot.
3. Weather/getting lost
Weather can change so much, depending on your hike you could have afternoon storms roll in. I am more comfortable with bad weather in the morning than getting started later in the day. This also gives you time to hike out even if you need to stop for a while to let the rain pass, or if you take a wrong turn and it adds 2 hours to your already long trail. If you don’t start til 3pm and then need to add 2 hours due to getting lost, you could be running into the problem of having to hike in the dark, which is not a great idea.
4. The lighting
Morning colors are often soft in the mountains because the sun has yet to reach full height, giving you less harsh shadows for photos.
5. Get yourself some hiking boots
I see so many people hiking while wearing their converse or whatever shoes they own… You may never want to hike again if you try to hike any moderate hike in your cute boots that slide on everything and give you blisters.
You don’t need heavy boots unless you’re hiking in the snow. Good grip Sneakers will do well on dry trails. I love the Columbia boots I wear because they are a mix of light weight but also waterproof to keep mud and rain out.
6. Do not wear jeans
Yes… my first real hike I wore jeans… why? Because 5 miles round trip seemed small and I barely hiked before this so I knew nothing of what elevation even meant. Do not wear jeans when hiking… I could make a blog on why not to all on its own... but I’m sure you could think of a few good reasons.
7. Bring extra layers
Hiking can go from sunshine and sweating, to shaded trails that are chilly. Mountain tops can be 20+ degrees colder than where you started at the car or even snow covered... Mountain tops can be beautiful or -10 windy and snowing. You never know until you’re there. So I always bring a few extra clothing items! This is a key factor if you have to hike into the night because a hike took way longer than expected, you at least will have some warmer clothes to keep you safe. If it’s a long hike, 8+ miles I would being extra socks incase you step in a lot of water or it rains etc…
8. Bring a backpack full of essentials
I also have been victim to this... a couple miles? I don’t need anything, I’ll be fine. Nope that’s just not true.
Extra Layers
Plenty of food
Plenty of water
Knife/Pepper spray or bear spray(dependent on location)
Sunscreen(dependent on location)
Lighter
Bugspray(dependent on location)
9. Pack a flash light or headlamp
I keep one in my backpack at all times. Ready for whatever the hike brings, even if it accidentally takes way longer. I know with my extra layers and my headlamp I’ll be safe and be able to get back to the car.
10. Bring a first-aid kit and some sort of medical tape.
This should contain a knife and a little rope. Blisters, cuts, ruined boots, torn backpack. There’s so so many things that could happen while hiking. The worst thing is to be caught empty handed. I bring strong tape wherever I go. I use it for the most random things but it works when you’re in need!
A squirrel chewed through my bag one night while sleeping, and rope and tape were the only way I got that backpack wearable again!
And finally… don’t go alone if you can bring a friend!
I’ll write more on solo hiking sometime. It’s definitely an option and one I often use, because sometimes we can’t wait for a friend to have a similar schedule as us.
If you DO go alone
Tell 1-2 friends/family where you are hiking and what time they should expect to hear back from you once you are done.
Always sign into the trailhead book if they have one.
Bring a Garmin Tracker: in case something goes wrong you can have help sent to you.
Bring self defense, I like to bring pepper spray or bear spray when I am alone.
Don’t make unsafe decisions. Remember you are alone, and no one is there to help if you get hurt(unless you carry a Garmin). If someone made you feel uncomfortable at the trail head get back in the car and go somewhere else. If the weather is turning bad, just turn around and hike back down.
