A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking

So you’re interested in hiking. Maybe you’ve been on a short hike or two, decided the fresh air and serene surroundings are exactly what you need, and now you’re looking for more info to get you prepared for your first big hike. Maybe you’re sitting on your couch not knowing the first thing about hiking and having never set foot on a trail in your life. Either way, you’re in the right place.

Hiking is an extremely rewarding activity, physically and mentally. The exercise is great and the payoff is often even better, as hiking will inevitably bring you to some of the most spellbinding landscapes on the planet. The first part of this guide will touch on the very basics of hiking as an activity, so start here if you feel like you’ve already got a grasp of the basics.

Beginner hiking basics

The most important thing in beginning any new activity is to know what you’re getting into. So let’s talk about everything you need to know before your first hike.

How to prepare for your first hike

In hiking, we have a saying: “Know before you go.” In short, do your research. We’ll talk more about how to research hiking trails before you set out in just a second, so read on. For now, let’s talk about some steps you should take before you leave the house to make sure you’re prepared for whatever may happen.

1. Make sure you have good, sturdy shoes. Close-toed shoes are my recommendation for any beginner hiking as they will protect your feet from sticks and rocks you may encounter and often times, they provide the best ankle and arch support, which are a main thing to look for in hiking shoes.
2. Check the weather! This seems like a no brainer, but hiking in thunderstorms is a bad idea! Make sure you know what the weather will be like for the hours you’re out hiking.
3. Pack water and a snack! Staying hydrated is a must for any hiker and having a snack handy is always a good idea.
4. Familiarize yourself with a trail map before you leave. You can’t count on finding cell signal if you get lost, so download or print a trail map before you leave the house. Always know where you’re going before you go there.

How to choose your first hike

Choosing an appropriate first hike will help you enjoy it more and hopefully encourage you to hike again. The most important thing is to avoid hikes that are too strenuous for your fitness level or that take you over technical terrain that requires experience (and possible additional gear) to navigate.

Using an app like AllTrails and filtering hikes by difficulty level will help you weed out hikes that may be more strenuous. Googling beginner hikes in your area is another way to find good hikes for your first time.

Most importantly, I recommend looking for a hike that doesn’t feature significant elevation gain or technical terrain and isn’t longer than about two-three miles at most. Remember, hiking isn’t quite the same as running or walking in your neighborhood, so distances will feel different as well.

after your first hike

Check out our resources on beginner hiking gear and read on for more beginner hiking tips!

BEGINNER HIKING TIPS

So you’ve done your first hike and you LOVED IT! And you’re ready to get further into hiking. Here are some essential tips for beginner hiking!

tRAIL ETIQUETTE FOR BEGINNER HIKING

1. Be aware of your surroundings. It’s easy to get distracted by the beauty around you as you hike, but make sure to be aware of other hikers. Not every hiker moves at the same pace and it’s polite to make space for hikers moving at a quicker pace than you as soon as it is safe to do so.
2. Stay on the trail. The trail is there for a reason. Don’t stray off the trail to cut corners or go bushwhacking. This helps protect the environment from erosion and other damage caused by foot traffic.
3. Know your right of way. Trails have right of way rules, just like roads. Hikers going up hill have the right of way, and horses and pack animals always have the right of way over hikers.
4. Be friendly and make yourself known. As you approach others on the trail, give a wave and a friendly greeting, especially if you’d like to pass them.

leave no trace

Leave no trace principles are important to follow. Basically, the gist of Leave No Trace is doing your best to minimize your impact on the surrounding environment as you pass through. These are the most important leave no trace principles:

1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Only hike and camp on durable surfaces
3. Properly dispose of all trash and waste
4. Do not disturb wildlife or plants, rocks, or anything else. Leave it alone.
5. Minimize campfire impact. And MAKE SURE IT’S OUT before you leave it unattended.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of other trail users.

prepping for your hike

Before you get to the trailhead there are some important steps to take to make sure you’re ready for whatever the trail may throw at you.

1. Be prepared. Know before you go! Research the trail, bring along water and a snack, and always wear the correct shoes and attire for hiking (see section below for gear suggestions).
2. Bring a buddy! Avoid hiking alone as a beginner. You just never know what might happen, and two heads really are better than one.
3. Know what kind of wildlife you may encounter and what to do if you actually do encounter wildlife.
4. Know what to do IF something bad happens. Knowing some basic first aid and survival skills will help in the extremely unlikely case that something goes awry.

bEST GEAR FOR BEGINNER HIKING

Having the right gear along for the ride can make or break your hike. Being prepared for unpredictable weather, or the possibility of poorly marked trails can help your hike end successfully. At the bare minimum, you should wear sturdy, close-toed shoes and activewear, and carry a water bottle and trail map or GPS enabled device. I usually carry at least 16 oz of water, a first aid kit (with moleskin for blisters/hot spots), a snack (usually nuts or dried fruit), my phone with a downloaded trail map, and a multi-tool or Swiss Army Knife.

We’ve got a whole post dedicated to the best gear to bring with you on your first hike and some brand recommendations to help you get started. Check it out!

training for beginner hiking

Getting into a training regimen can help you advance into more challenging hikes quicker. As you learn more skills and gain experience hiking, you may want to challenge yourself with longer, more strenuous/technical hikes. A training regimen that includes a daily walk, even a short one, will help you make strides in your endurance level. I find that maintaining about 3 miles per hour or faster as you walk is the best way to build up your fitness level and speed as you take on longer trails. Jogging, biking, and jumping jacks are other great things to include in your training regimen. If you live in a place with few hills or aren’t able to get outside to exercise, step ups are a great way to simulate elevation gain.

conclusion

Hiking is an extremely rewarding activity and the community of people who hike is vast and welcoming! Getting into hiking is a great way to exercise while recentering yourself in a beautiful and peaceful setting. But it’s important to be prepared before you set off on your first hike! Following the tips in this guide will help make your first hike the first of many!

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