Photo sunrisesoup Flickr.
Good trail etiquette is an important skill for people to have wherever you are hiking, trekking, or walking. Following these 8 tips will help everyone enjoy themselves and be safe.
Spending a day hiking in the mountains is one of my favorite activities. I love to wander along a trail, take in the views, and get some exercise. On most trails you will not be the only one, so it’s important that you follow good trail etiquette. When everyone follows these simple tips we all have a nice time. But, it can be frustrating if people break the rules and are not sensitive to how they impact others. Remember to follow these simple rules to help everyone enjoy their time in the mountains.
Bad Trail Etiquette Can Be Frustrating
It’s frustrating to come across a group blocking the entire trail to take photos or have a snack, especially if they don’t greet you or move out of your way. Sometimes those people can even make it seem like you are bothering them as you carefully step through or between them to continue on the trail.
Hiking for me is all about enjoying myself and if people show bad trail etiquette I end up getting frustrated and out of my happy place.
Remember the old adage, ‘treat others like you would like to be treated.’ Keep that in mind on the trail. Be friendly to others you encounter on the trail and they will return your friendliness and you’ll have a nice hike.
Trail Etiquette Tip 1 – Let Faster Hikers Pass You
It doesn’t matter how fast or strong you think you are. If someone catches up to you on the trail you should let them pass you. They will greatly appreciate your kind gesture. You don’t need to let them pass you immediately, but you should try and let them pass you at a point you can get off the trail easily.
If you don’t let faster hikers pass you then they will be hiking on your heels. Then neither of you will be happy and enjoying your day in the mountains. So, please just do the kind thing and let faster hikers pass you.
Trail Etiquette Tip 2 – Do Not Take A Break In Middle Of The Trail!
If you are tired and want to get a snack or drink, do not stop or sit on the trail! You need to find a spot off the trail where you and your group can do whatever you are going to do. Think about other people. You don’t want to come hiking along a beautiful trail and have to step over a group of people sitting on the trail eating their lunch.
Trail Etiquette Tip 3 – Everyone In Your Group Should Step Off Trail On Same Side
If you are letting others pass you or taking a break, please make sure you all get off the trail on the same side. It is just much easier for others to pass by your group if you do this.
Pack it in, pack it whenever you go hiking, just like this hiker in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming.
Trail Etiquette Tip 4 – Pack It In, Pack It Out
This is one of my favorite sayings. I always think of this when I go hiking, camping, or backpacking. Basically, anything you take with your into the mountains you need to bring back out. Do not leave trash or anything else out there on the trail.
Better yet, if you see some trash on the trail pick it up and bring it back.
Trail Etiquette Tip 5 – Greet People You Meet
This is important for a few reasons. First, it is just good manners to say hello to others you see on the trail. You aren’t in a big city, so you should be friendly and say hello.
Also, it will also help you be safe to say hello to others on the trail. In case something should happen to you or your group other hikers may remember seeing you.
Downhill hikers should stop and let uphill hikers pass.
Trail Etiquette Tip 6 – Downhill Hikers Should Yield To Uphill Hikers
This is just common sense. People going up are working much harder than those going downhill. It is easier to stop and then get going down again than to try and start going uphill after taking a break.
The one exception to this would be if the uphill hikers just stop because they are tired and want a break. If the downhill hiker sees them stop, then just keep going down quickly.
Trail Etiquette Tip 7 – Don’t Cut Switchbacks
Trail builders take a lot of time, effort and thought into building the trail. They build switchbacks to make it easier for you to hike up or down a mountain. It may save you a little bit of time to cut the switchback, but it’s not good for the trail. Over time switchbacking will cause erosion of the trail and lead to the trail being ruined for everyone.
Trail Etiquette Tip 8 – Music On The Trail
Keep in mind that not everyone enjoys listening to music on the trail. If you do like music while hiking then you should not use speakers to listen to it. You should use headphones/earbuds so that only you hear your music. That way you won’t disturb others. Remember to keep your music quiet enough that you can still hear others on the trail because someone may need to pass you or greet you.