Hiking can be a great way to connect with your friends and nature. Hiking also provides you with an excellent form of exercise, fresh air and fun. When planning a day hike use these tips to be prepared and make your hike as enjoyable as possible.
Plan Ahead
There are many different components that go into planning a hike and most of them are easy. The first step is choosing a hike. Choose a day hike that corresponds to your fitness level and start out slow and easy. Always make a quick list of what you need by asking yourself these questions:
- How much time do you have?
- What will the weather be like?
- What is the terrain and exposure (flat, hilly, rocky, shady, sunny)?
- Who is going with you? How is their health and physical ability?
- How much food and hydration do you need?
Have A Trail Map
Once the hike is chosen it is important to find a map and evaluate the difficulty rating. For an easy local day hike in a city or regional park, you may not think you need a map but it is wise to know exactly where you are going and have a map with you. You can download a map prior to your trip or make sure to study a posted map at the trailhead, know the route and trail names you plan to hike on and take a photo of the trailhead map in case you need to change your route after you start - it happens. For longer hikes, your map can be on paper, downloaded to a phone or on an app like AllTrails. For more information on maps, go to my post on You Need a Map.
Dress Appropriately
Easy day hikes in local or regional parks don't require a lot of gear but it is best to be prepared. For example if the trail is flat, fairly easy and not that long, you could be fine wearing basic athletic or casual day clothes, sneakers and a small bag with water and a snack. But if the trail is rocky, muddy or hilly, think twice about what you have on your feet. Under those conditions, I would recommend wearing hiking boots that have been properly broken in. Dressing in light layers of clothing is the best strategy for hiking as it can keep you comfortable in changing weather conditions. If it is hot you might naturally think to bring your hat but don’t forget to bring a jacket, in case it gets cool or you stay out longer than expected. Plus you can always sit on a jacket when you stop to eat a snack. For a detailed list on what to wear and bring, go to my Hiking Checklist: What to Take.
Don’t Hike Alone
Hiking solo is more dangerous than you think. While I won’t go into details there are risks from animals and even other people, but the most common things that can happen on a day hike are injuries from a sprain or fall and medical emergencies including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Hiking with a friend or in a group is more fun and significantly safer because you have more eyes on the environment and people to help in case there is trouble.