With over 55 million Americans hitting the trails to get their hike on, trail etiquette ensures everyone’s enjoyment and safety. As you may have read in my Take a Hike! The Benefits of Connecting with Nature post, hiking is a low-cost, accessible outdoor recreation activity with both physical and mental benefits. This outdoor recreation activity also comes with an enthusiastic and welcoming community!

Being a part of any community means looking out for all the other members in the community AND the environment shared by the community. For a hiking community, the trails are the shared environment, and that is where trail etiquette comes in. Trail etiquette continues to evolve as hiking gains in popularity. From the “Carry In/Carry Out” initiative of the 1970’s to the more intentional principles of the Leave No Trace organization founded in the 1990’s, trail etiquette continues to address the needs of all you enjoy the outdoors. Trail etiquette takes into consideration what ecologists and biologists have learned about how to reduce the impact on the environment. 

To break it down, you can think about trail etiquette as impacting three aspects of the outdoor recreation community: 

• People
• Wildlife
• Landscape   

PEOPLE

Trail Etiquette is Important for Everyone Sharing the Trail!

Outdoor recreation activities of all types rely on trails. Mountain biking, backcountry horseback riding, camping, fishing, and birdwatching are just some of the ways people enjoy getting out into nature and using trails. This means hikers are part of a larger community. All of us are sharing trails and seeking the benefits of natural spaces. While some trails are designated for hikers only, be mindful of the trail you plan on hiking as it may be managed for multiple uses. These trails will be designated with “multi-use” signage. Multi-use trails are open for the enjoyment of hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, and others. There are additional trails for those that enjoy getting out with various types of recreational motorized vehicles. Trail etiquette applies to all of these types of trail users. Keep reading to learn about sharing the trail with the outdoor recreation community! 

When Meeting Other People on the Trail We…

Show respect. No two trails are the same, they vary in width, terrain, surface, difficulty, and more. However, if you are hiking on any trail and come across some fellow users here are a few guidelines to follow that promote respect and ensure everyone stays safe. 

• Always yield to uphill hikers. They have the right of way. This makes sense because going uphill is hard! If you are going downhill, simply step aside and let uphill hikers pass safely. And don’t forget to give them a little encouragement on their way up! 

• When encountering fellow hikers, offer a friendly greeting. Hikers are a welcoming and enthusiastic group that enjoy taking a moment to chat. Often, this quick greeting leads to an exchange of trail information, facts about the area, or weather updates. And you never know you might make a lifelong friend!  

• Be mindful of noise levels to preserve the tranquility of nature. If you are blasting music or talking on a cellphone it is difficult to hear the wind in the trees, chirping of birds, or distant water gurgling. Most hikers are on the trail to enjoy quiet time and the rhythmic sounds of nature. Music blaring from a device may be disruptive or offensive. Consider using headphones if listening to music while hiking is your jam. But, I would like to encourage everyone to try some headphone free hiking, even if just for a bit. You might be surprised by what you hear and how you are able to connect to nature.  

WILDLIFE

When Meeting Wildlife on the Trail We…

Give them some room. There is always a chance you could encounter wildlife while out on a trail. This is one of the many reasons people choose hiking over other outdoor recreation activities. Hiking is less disturbing to wildlife making it more likely to have a sighting. In fact, many trails that are developed for outdoor recreation are used by wildlife as a convenient way to pass through an area. 

The most important guideline when meeting wildlife on the trail is to give them some space. Wildlife are, after all, wild animals! They rely on instincts to survive. When they encounter something unfamiliar they may act unpredictably potentially endangering you and your fellow hikers.

How much space? At least 25 feet. To keep it simple follow this “rule of thumb”. Hold your arm fully extended out in front with your hand in a fist and thumb pointed horizontally. If your thumb visually obscures the animal, then you should be at a safe distance. If not, then you should continue to slowly move away until you have met the “rule of thumb”. One way to view wildlife from a safe distance is to bring along a pair of binoculars or field glasses.

Wildlife Eat Wild Food

Another crucial guideline to remember when meeting wildlife is that we do not feed them. Feeding wildlife directly impacts their physical health and also their behavior. Human food may not meet the nutritional needs of wildlife that have evolved to have specialized diets. This could potentially weaken their body and make them susceptible to illness or predation. Also, if a wild animal begins to associate hikers or people with food then they are more likely to approach people on the trail. As you can imagine this can create hazardous situations. In some cases, wildlife have to be euthanized because of their food-seeking behavior which resulted from people carelessly leaving food behind or feeding them intentionally.

Be Pet and Wildlife Friendly

One more thing you can do to reduce impact on wildlife while you are out on the trail is to always leash your pets. Dogs are excellent hiking companions, and their curiosity and joy brought on by being out in nature is contagious. Allowance of pets varies from park to park and trail to trail. Make sure and check if pets are allowed before you go.

If you are on a pet-friendly trail keeping them on a leash ensures you can maintain control if wildlife is spotted or your pet decides to take an aggressive stance (this goes for fellow hikers!). Further, leashing your pet makes it easier to bag their waste since they cannot run off trail to take care of business. This is important because pet waste can introduce harmful bacteria or diseases to wildlife. And while for your pet this is a natural process, pet waste is not part of the natural ecosystem and should be packed out.  

LANDSCAPE

When Seeing Unique and Sensitive Landscapes We…

Stay on the trail. Many of the wonderful places we choose to go hiking were set aside due to natural beauty and unique landscapes. As part of the larger outdoor recreation community, hikers are committed to helping maintain and conserve these places. Even if you are hiking at the local urban nature trail, these areas could be sensitive to damage simply because of the amount of traffic it experiences from people flocking outdoors to seek relief from daily stresses.  

First and foremost, stay on designated paths to preserve the environment and protect fragile ecosystems. While you might not think about the impact your feet are making on the trail, consider the exponential impact of hundreds or thousands of hikers. Now you can see how vegetation and substrate are potentially harmed when people stray off designated trails and paths. 

Remember to pack out all trash. I recommend that you follow the “leave it as you found it” principle. That is, think about the next person that comes along and how they will experience the space. One of my favorite things to do when I reach the high point of any hike, whether it is an amazing overlook, awe-inspiring vista, or a park bench, is to quietly sit and enjoy my trail snack. Snack wrappers, water bottles, soda cans, and beer cans are an unfortunate sight to behold along any road, but especially out on the trail. So be prepared to put your trash in some type of container and pack it out for proper disposal.

For more on the “leave it as you found it” principle, visit Leave No Trace which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people enjoy the outdoors while leaving a positive impact on nature. 

It’s All in the Community

Community means that members’ interests, goals, and attitudes are shared and appreciated. For the outdoor recreation community and hiking community that means sharing an interest in spending time in nature while preserving its natural wonders for future generations. 

Show respect. Give them some room. Stay on the trail. 

Trail etiquette ensures that people, wildlife, and landscapes are less impacted thereby preserving them for future hikers and other outdoor recreationalists. We all want to enjoy our time outside. Read my post on 3 Ways to Become a Better National Park Visitor for more ideas on getting the most out of your outdoor experience. As I often say, outside time is the new me time, and by practicing a little trail etiquette, you’ll contribute to a harmonious hiking experience for all.

Please follow and like us: