Hiking dos and don'ts
A great hike is mostly decided before you reach the trailhead. These are the dos and don'ts that keep you safe, comfortable and welcome on the trail — from planning and packing to etiquette and the mistakes that catch beginners out.
The short answer
Plan the hike to your ability, tell someone your route, and carry the Ten Essentials with enough water, layers and light to handle things going a little wrong. On the trail, stay on the path, yield thoughtfully, pack out everything you bring, and turn around with daylight to spare. Almost every hiking problem traces back to skipping one of those.
Before you leave home
Preparation is where safety actually happens. Match the trail to the least-experienced person in your group, check the forecast and trail conditions, and build your pack around the Ten Essentials. A quick gear and weight check the night before beats discovering a problem at the trailhead.
Do
- Research distance, elevation gain and current trail/weather conditions.
- Leave a plan — route and expected return — with someone at home.
- Pack rain and warm layers even on a sunny forecast.
- Carry more water than you think, plus a way to treat more.
- Charge your phone and bring a power bank and a map.
Don't
- Pick a trail beyond your group's fitness or experience.
- Rely on a single phone with no offline map or backup.
- Wear cotton — it holds sweat and chills you when wet.
- Assume there's water, signal or a snack bar on the trail.
- Start late with no turnaround time in mind.
Not sure what to carry or how big a pack you need? Build a trip-specific list with our packing checklist, then size the bag with the pack-size finder.
On the trail
Once you're moving, the goal is to hike sustainably — a pace you can hold for hours, fueled and hydrated, with layers managed before you're soaked or shivering.
Do
- Set a steady, conversational pace and take short, regular breaks.
- Sip water often and eat before you feel empty.
- Add or shed a layer before you're cold or sweat-soaked.
- Check your map at junctions and note landmarks behind you.
- Keep a firm turnaround time regardless of the summit.
Don't
- Push a blister — stop and treat a hot spot the moment you feel it.
- Take shortcuts that cut switchbacks or leave the trail.
- Ignore darkening skies, wind shifts or a dropping temperature.
- Feed or approach wildlife, however tame it seems.
- Summit at all costs — the trailhead is the real goal.
Leave No Trace
The trail stays good for everyone — and for the wildlife that lives there — only if each of us leaves it as we found it. The seven Leave No Trace principles boil down to a simple habit: take only photos, leave only footprints.
- Plan ahead and prepare so you're not improvising in a way that harms the place.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces — established trails and sites.
- Dispose of waste properly — pack out all trash, food scraps and hygiene items.
- Leave what you find — rocks, plants and artifacts stay put.
- Minimize campfire impact — use a stove; keep fires small and legal.
- Respect wildlife — observe from a distance, never feed.
- Be considerate of others — keep noise down and share the trail.
Trail etiquette
A little courtesy keeps shared trails pleasant. The basic rules of the path:
- Yielding: hikers going downhill yield to those coming up; everyone yields to horses; bikes yield to hikers.
- Passing: announce yourself ("on your left") and step to the downhill side to let others by.
- Groups: hike single file on narrow trails and don't block the path at rest stops.
- Sound: keep voices and music low — most people came for the quiet.
- Dogs: leash where required, and always pack out their waste.
The mistakes that catch people out
If you avoid nothing else, avoid these five. Each is common, easy to prevent, and behind a large share of trail rescues:
- Underestimating the hike. Distance plus elevation gain — not distance alone — decides how hard a trail is. Build up gradually.
- Too little water. Dehydration saps energy and judgment fast. Carry enough, and a way to treat more.
- No warm or rain layer. Weather turns quickly in the hills; a light shell and insulation weigh little and prevent hypothermia.
- No light or navigation. A headlamp and a map turn "benighted and lost" into "a bit late."
- Not telling anyone. If something goes wrong, the single biggest factor in a good outcome is that someone knows where you are and when to worry.
This is general trail-craft, not medical or emergency advice. For first aid, take a recognized wilderness first-aid course; in a genuine emergency, call your local emergency number (911 in the US) as soon as you can.
Frequently asked questions
What should a beginner hiker not do?
The biggest beginner mistakes are starting with a hike that is too long or steep, carrying too little water, wearing cotton, skipping rain and warm layers, and not telling anyone the plan. Start with a short, well-marked trail, pack the Ten Essentials, and turn back with plenty of daylight to spare.
Is it safe to hike alone?
Solo hiking can be safe on popular, well-marked day trails if you are prepared: leave a detailed plan with someone, carry navigation and the Ten Essentials, know your limits, and set a firm turnaround time. Beginners and remote or off-trail routes are safer with a partner.
How much water should I bring hiking?
A common rule of thumb is about half a liter (17 oz) of water per hour of moderate hiking, and more in heat or at altitude. Always carry a way to treat more water so you are never fully dependent on what is on your back.