Hey travel fam! Recently on my IG stories I put up a poll about solo hiking, and almost 25% of you said that it felt too scary to try! It’s something I have actually come to really enjoy, so if it’s something you want to try, I decided to put together a guide to show you how to do it right! It’s definitely an intimidating experience at first, but it can be very empowering and rewarding too! I hope you find these tips helpful and as always, let me know below if you have any questions and subscribe to the blog for the latest news and updates.
Tips for safety
Safety is probably the biggest concern in regard to solo hiking! But there are things you can do to make sure you are safe while you explore.
If it’s your first time solo hiking, I recommend picking a well known and well trafficked hike. This will ensure that you do see other people throughout the hike, making you feel more at ease! And in case of injury or incident there will be others around to help. This, or choose an area you know well. Sometimes the best hike to try solo hiking on is a hike you've done before.
*Pro tip: check into the area you will be hiking to determine if you will have cell coverage. And if not, always make sure someone knows where and approximately when you will be hiking.
If you feel threatened at all by the idea of solo hiking, buying pepper spray may not be a bad idea (different than bear spray!). I carry mine with me, and even though I’ve never had to use it, the idea of having it truly helps me feel serene. I hate having to be prepared, but always be on the safe side!
Always ensure the hike you are doing is within your ability level, especially when going solo! Hikes with lots of mountaineering or off trail maneuvering are often not a good choice for novice solo hikers. Get a few under your belt before you do the big ones!
Finally, weather. Always check the forecast before you hike. If you plan on hiking in mountain landscapes, beware of summertime afternoon thunderstorms. I always advise starting hikes early as the afternoon storms can roll in very quickly. Last place you want to be in a thunderstorm is on top of a mountain!
If you are in doubt about your wilderness survival skills, there are tons of wilderness first aid and safety training courses you can take. I feel better knowing I have some wilderness training!
Be Prepared
I already mentioned some safety tips, but there are so many things you need to pack to be prepared for a successful solo hike!
First: water! Bring way more water than you think you need. Trust me on this one. On my first solo hike I had planned an 8 mile round trip hike. I met a nice lady on the trail who told me how to get to the summit of the nearest peak. I of course wanted to do it! But it added five miles onto the route and by the end I was severely dehydrated. Seriously. Bring. Water.
Snacks: Just like water, make sure you bring snacks! Hiking is hard work, so I like something light but that still packs a good protein punch. My go to is Mezcla plant based protein bars. Click here and use my code ADVENTURE15 for a discount.
Maps/AllTrails: If you are anything like me, you get lost easily… I cannot tell you how many times I have been hiking and taken a wrong turn. Most of the time it ends up for the better, but it can make it hard to find your way back to your car. Either bring a physical printed trail map with you, or download the trail map from All Trails. It will show you your location on the trail itself, so you can always correct course if you wander in the wrong direction.
*Pro Tip: On AllTrails check out how much altitude you will be gaining over the course of your hike. If it is more than 1,000 feet, ascend slowly and take some breaks. Going up too fast or not drinking enough water can lead to altitude sickness. Trust me, not fun!
Wildlife safety
This is huge for solo and group hikers alike! There are so many animals out there and when hiking we are exploring on their turf. So be respectful, research what animals frequent the area you will hike, and be prepared. Here’s what to do if you encounter these animals:
Bears: Keep a very respectable distance from bears! At least 300 yards or more! If you see a bear, make lots of noise so it knows you are there. If a bear surprises you on a trail or starts to charge you, use bear spray to subdue it. If you don’t have any (I highly recommend getting some), do not run from a bear! Play dead until it loses interest. If it doesn’t, fight back.
Moose/Bison: Okay, moose can be mean! Especially if they have calves, be very careful. If you spot a moose, try not to make sudden movements and give it a wide berth. For Bison, stay at least 25 yards away. If one attacks, run in zig zag patterns or over uneven terrain that the moose will have more difficulty following.
Rattlesnakes: These suckers are dangerous! During the early summer months they will sit right in the trail to soak up the sun. Look for the diamond shaped head as well as the light green to brown colored bodies. If you see one on a trail, try to alert a local ranger and other hikers so they don’t cross its path. If you get bitten, make sure you seek medical attention ASAP!
Elk/caribou: Typically these animals will startle far before you get close. Still give them their space, though! If one does attack, treat it the way you would a moose.
How do you take pictures of yourself?
This is a question I get all the time! I’m lucky to hike with some amazing people that can take pictures most of the time, but on solo hikes it is still possible to get those epic shots!
If you are using a camera (I use a Nikon), often there is a Bluetooth app you can get to pair it to your phone. With Nikon cameras you can use the SnapBridge app to take pictures from your phone. Find a place to prop the camera or bring a tripod!
If you like taking pictures on your phone, I love my UBeeSize tripod. It is small, flexible, and comes with a Bluetooth remote. All you do is set up the phone and use the remote to take pictures. Perfect for group shots when hiking too! (Not sponsored or anything, I just like it)
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask someone! As a whole, hikers are friendly people, and you can actually meet some very interesting people on the trail. Even when going solo, take advantage of a friendly substitute photographer.
Choosing the best hike to go solo
Like I said before, choosing the hike is key!
Always use AllTrails. It will have the most up to date trail conditions, warnings about wildlife, etc.
For you newbies, choose a more popular, easy to moderate trail. Once you build up your confidence, go for those harder ones! For my favorite hikes in Colorado (part 1, part 2 coming soon), click here.
Don’t want to go solo? There are so many ways to find others who also want to hike. For you Colorado based people, check out the Women Who Hike Colorado Facebook group. Or drop a comment below if you want me to do a group hike! A lot of you guys have messaged me about that on Instagram, so maybe we can make it a reality later this summer.
There it is guys! This is a pretty basic guide to solo hiking, but I hope it helps encourage you to get out there and try it if you haven’t already! It really can be such an awesome experience! If you try it, let me know your experience. I would love to hear how it goes! Happy travels, fam!
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