Hot weather hiking is something that most people will end up doing at some point in their life. These handy hot weather hiking tips will help you enjoy your hike and not have to deal with potentially serious health issues.

One of my favorite times of year is summer because that means the days start early and end late. There are a lot of hours in the day to spend exploring and hiking. The only problem that arises is that some areas can be very hot during the summer.  It is important to keep a few things in mind when hiking in hot weather to make sure that you are safe and don’t get overheated.  Please take the time to read through all of these hot weather hiking tips and keep them in mind this summer.

6 Tips On Hot Weather Hiking

I love hiking in the summer because you can spend so much time outside with the long days.  The summer is also great because the snow has mostly melted at the higher elevations.  This means that during this small window of time you can actually explore the amazing alpine areas of the mountains.

Those areas up above tree line are so special. When you are up there it’s like you are in a different world.

However, you need to make sure you keep a few things in mind when you are exploring during the hot days of summer.  The sun is intense and can cause serious problems if you’r not careful.  Keep in mind that these hot weather hiking tips apply if you are in the desert or the mountains.

I once had a bad experience hiking South Boulder Peak near Boulder, Colorado in the summer.  That is a good hike that I’d done during the spring and didn’t need much water.  Well, I did it again during the hot summer without enough water and I suffered.  It was dangerous, but luckily for me I ran into friendly people who let me sip some water.

My solution was a trick I’d heard to suck on a rock in order to wet my mouth.  It worked, but wasn’t fun.  My point is you need to be prepared when hiking in hot weather.  I was young and got lucky.

Wear Sun Protective Clothing, Glasses, And A Hat

You need a good hat with a wide brim to keep your head and shade protected from the sun’s rays.

Sun glasses are crucial to protect your eyes when you are hiking in hot weather.  These are among the essential items to take when you go hiking with kids.

Wear clothes that will help to keep you dry and not stay wet. This means quick dry, synthetic shirts that will help remove moisture from your body and keep you feeling OK.

Surprisingly as it may seem the best clothes to wear when it is hot are long sleeves and pants. This will keep the direct sun off your skin, so you will stay cooler. The pants and long sleeve shirt should be a thin material and not too tight to allow air to flow under and through it.

Use Sunscreen

Be sure to use plenty of sunscreen. The last thing you want is to get a sunburn as it hurts, will make you hot, and can even lead to skin cancer.

You should apply this liberally before you begin your hike and then throughout the day. I always feel it is better to put on too much and too frequently than to get a sunburn. I like to reapply sunscreen every two hours or after getting out of water (in case you cool off in a creek or lake).

Avoid The Hottest Part Of The Day

One of the best parts of summer is that the days are very long. That means you can get hiking early and stay out until late. However, you should try to avoid hiking or being out and active in the hottest part of the day. Generally, I try to find shade to relax in between around 11:00 or 12:00 until 2:00 or 3:00.

On a hiking trip to the Grand Canyon we hiked down to the river early in the day and then just layer around in the shade for several hours until the hottest time passed.  I recall that at one point some foreign tourist stumbled into the shade where we were.  They looked awful, waved at us, and then wandered off into the heat.  It seemed like some weird apparition and made me happy I wasn’t out in the heat.

Bring And Drink Lots Of Water

When it is hot out your body needs lots of water to survive. You need a lot if you are out exercising in that heat. It is a good idea to drink water throughout the day.

Bring along more water than you think you will possibly need. You absolutely don’t want to run out of water when you are hiking in hot weather. It could prove to be dangerous for you and others.

A quick and easy way to tell if you are drinking enough water is whether or not you have urinated. If you are urinating then you are keeping your body properly hydrated, but if you have been half the day and nothing, then you need to drink a lot of water as you are probably a bit dehydrated.

Recent research indicates that it is better to sip water frequently than to pound a whole lot at one time. Your body is better able to absorb the water if you sip it rather than chug it.

Choose A Good Trail

It seems like the right trail is always important when hiking, but especially so if you are hiking in hot weather. Try to find a trail that has lots of shade and/or is near water. That shade will help a lot and make sure that you don’t get overheated.  The water from a creek or lake can be nice to help cool you off or refresh you.

Sometimes that is not possible, such as if you are hiking a premiere trail in a national park. If you can’t find a shady trail, then at least be sure not to hike in the middle of the day.

Eat Salty Snacks

When you are hiking in the heat you will sweat a lot. This means that your body is losing lots of electrolytes. These can be replaced by eating salty snacks, such as granola bars, trail mix or fruit.