Join the Hiking Club: Hiking Etiquette And Tips

The Hiking Community & Learn Hiking Etiquette

Steep inclines, breathtaking views, and a respect for natural beauty all help bond hikers to one another. There’s unspoken respect between those who know what it’s like to experience the hardest physical exertion of your life, only to be greeted by a view that’s better than you can imagine. There’s also an unbreakable bond formed between those that have to poop in precarious positions with some of the best bathroom views available. Before you hit the trail be sure to learn about hiking etiquette!

It doesn’t take long to feel welcomed by the hiker community! Everyone is thrilled to share the outdoors and experienced hikers generally love to see more people enjoying the sport. However, there are clear rules and safety tips in this community. It’s not wise to start trekking without learning said rules. Not only do these rules keep everyone safe, but they also protect the environment. That way humans can keep enjoying it for years to come. The last thing a new hiker wants to do is peeve another hiker. Stick to these simple tips to ensure you have the safest, most enjoyable experience possible.

Hiking Trail Etiquette

Hiking trail etiquette consists of rules on the trail that should be abided by at all times and followed by all explorers. Proper etiquette helps keep things running smoothly and keeps everyone safe, too! Most importantly, hiking etiquette gives a blueprint for how to not be…well…annoying. 

Right-of-way

First rule of the trail: you are not the only person on the trail! Trails and mountains worldwide are enjoyed by hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers, and more. When coming across fellow adventurers, know who has the right-of-way. 

• In a hiker vs. hiker situation, the hiker traveling uphill has the right-of-way, so follow their lead. Those traveling uphill generally can’t see as far and might be intensely focused on trying to forget how badly their booty is burning on the way up! They’re less likely to see hikers coming downhill.
• If you’re hiking and you come across a mountain biker, you technically have the right-of-way. However, mountain bikers are often moving a lot more quickly than you can, and, let’s face it, it’s harder to pull a bike to the side than to just step to the side, so it’s recommend that the hikers pull off when possible. 
• Horses can kick your face into tomorrow, so it’s best that you give them the right-of-way on the trail. They are less maneuverable than you and much harder to predict. If you come up to an equestrian group from behind, be sure to leave a wide space between you and the group and announce your presence. Horses can get spooked if something sneaks up behind them. Remember that thing about kicking your head into tomorrow? Yeah, don’t spook them.

Leave No Trace

The motto to live by in any outdoor situation is “pack it in, pack it out.” If you bring ANYTHING with you, it should leave with you. This is all-inclusive of your trash, food scraps (even biodegradable ones like banana peels!), and your poo products. While it may not sound fun to pack around used toilet paper with you, it’s even less fun to find someone else’s used toilet paper in the wilderness. 

Not only is bringing your trash with you the polite thing to do, but it helps protect the environment and the animals that live in the wilderness. Many packaged food products have plastic in them that will never leave the dirt they’re buried in. Not to mention that animals getting into human food is dangerous for their health. It’s also dangerous for you and other hikers. If an animal likes human food, they are more likely to approach humans aggressively to get another taste of PB&J’s! No one can’t blame them, PB&J’s are delicious, but we can prevent this dangerous behavior.

Poop Responsibly

We can all agree, there’s something incredibly liberating about finding that perfect spot, nestled up in the trees with a cool breeze to pop a squat, but there’s also some major bathroom hiking etiquette on the trail. 

• Location location location: If you’re just going #1, you can have a little more freedom with where you go. However for #2 bathroom visits, be sure to do it at least 200ft away from water sources and keep it out of high-traffic areas like campsites. 
• Hide the evidence: One of the most important trail items for overnight trips is your trowel, also known as, your tiny shovel for bathroom purposes. Dig at least 6 inches into the ground, go in the hole, then cover it up. Remember – don’t shove your TP in the hole, put that in a baggy and pack it out with you.

Hiking Etiquette With Furry Friends

There are some incredible perks when you take your dog hiking with you. You have a buddy, protection from animals, and someone to help keep the pace with. However, dogs, just like humans have some hiking rules to follow. They need to be kept on leashes and trained well to listen to you; no hiker wants a dog jumping on them, especially if they have a heavy pack on already. More importantly, you don’t want your dog running off-trail and bothering wildlife. Lastly, dogs create waste, just like you. Be sure to pack out any doggy bags or food waste from your pup!

Trail Magic

Nature provides its own music, all free of charge! There are no subscription fees or monthly memberships to listen to the sound of the trees, rivers, and earth that surrounds you, so leave your playlist at home. Listening to music out loud on the trail can be a bother to those around you! And pose a danger to you and your group. Being able to hear while hiking is important. Many animals notify you with noise if you’re getting too close, and if you can’t hear them, then you’re in for an unpleasant surprise. 

Trail Safety

Trail etiquette is one thing; it’s the rules of society out in the wilderness. It keeps everything functioning in harmony. Now, trail safety is a whole different ball game. Accidentally breaking a hiking etiquette rule may annoy someone but breaking a safety rule could kill someone. The top trail-safety tips are:

• Have a Trail Plan

Before you depart on any outdoor excursion, no matter the length, have a plan and share that plan with your friends or family. Let them know the location of your trailhead, your anticipated route, and when you’ll return. This is important for hiking trips of all lengths. A plan lets people know when they should worry about you and where to look for you if something goes awry. When possible, hike with a partner or group, this is the best way to avoid horrible situations in the wilderness.

• Be Prepared

In your pack, you should always have a first aid kit with hiking necessities. Injuries on the trail can range from needing Band-Aids to needing a tourniquet, or worse. I recommend a first aid kits designed specifically for hikers; we recommend starting with one of those and adding anything you may need. Remember to bring your medications on the trail as well! If you take anything daily, you should not be skipping it while hiking. Consult your doctor if you have specific questions about your situation.

• Food and Water

On the trail, your body burns energy faster than you realize. You’ll likely need to drink and eat way more than you do on a normal day. Bring food that you can snack on throughout the day to replenish your calories. And always bring more water than you think you’ll need. The weather gets hot, hikes can take longer than expected, and the last thing you want to do is run out of water. When taking longer trips, bring your own water purification systems to ensure that you can replenish your water supply with water you come across from rivers, lakes, or streams. 

• Weather Anticipation

The weather can change in an instant on the mountain. Be sure you’re intimately familiar with current weather reports and typical weather conditions of the season you’re hiking in. It’s not uncommon for afternoon storms to hit in high-altitude locations, so storm safety is important.  Remember, the weather can get colder than expected at night, so make sure you have proper gear, including a sleeping bag that will keep you warm. Lastly, sun protection is a must. Even if you’re going on a cloudy day, wear sunscreen, bring a hat, and anything else you may need.

• Animal Safety

We’ve covered this a bit already but leave the animals alone. You wouldn’t like someone coming into your house, pointing a camera in your face, or throwing random objects at you, and neither do they. The best animal safety is to give them a wide girth and go on about your day. If you hear signals of distress from animals, you’re likely too close.  When you’re on the trail, talk loudly and bring a bear bell to warn animals you are coming. In the event that something goes wrong, and you’re being charged by an animal, I recommend bringing bear spear with you and keeping it accessible as a last resort.

The Wilderness Rewards Respect

Slogging your way up an incline for hours may have you re-thinking this whole hiking hobby. But once you reach the top, you’ll be on the hunt for the next peak. The views you encounter, the people you meet, and the stories you’ll gain will be some of the best of your life. Mother Nature has so much to offer, but she is not a force you want to mess with. Respect the outdoors, respect the animals, and respect these hiking rules and safety tips for a successful trip….and enjoy those bathroom views!