Valuable Solo Hiking Tips, heading out alone

Build your skills- one step at a time.

Starting something new can be a little scary at first. Heading out into the wilderness by yourself can be a little nerve wracking. However, just like anything, the better prepared you are, the less likely you will run into trouble. Be prepared ahead of time will help you build your confidence.

Before setting out on a solo hike it is important that you have some sort of plan before you head out the door. Your plan does not have to be time consuming to make. It also does not need to be complicated, but it is very important that you have one. Here are some solo safety hiking tips you can follow before heading out into the wilderness.

Build on what you already know:

One solo hiking tip is to start with some short hikes that you are already familiar with. If you already know the trail, you will be more confident that you can hike it alone. This may prevent you from having to face any unwanted surprises along the way. If you have already conquered that rock scramble with a friend you can most likely do it alone.

Make you first few solo hikes out and back trails and also stay on one to two well worn trails. There is something comforting about going out of the woods the same way you got in. You will be able to remember landmarks (a rock formation, an interesting tree, a creek crossing, etc). The familiarity on the return trip helps to build your confidence as you journey home. Also, by doing an out and back you will know how much further you have left to hike. This will help you gage approximately how long the return trip will take (especially if there were not too many elevation changes).

Do your research

Another solo hiking tip is that it is also very important to research the trail that you will be hiking on. Some things to find out before you head out:

Is the trail excessively rocky?
What is the terrain like
Will there be water crossings
Are there other types of challenges to consider (elevation? distance? etc?)

Once you have done your research, consider whether you feel comfortable facing these things alone. Sometimes it would be better to wait and face them with a hiking friend. A water crossing alone is much different than a water crossing with a hiking buddy. Somehow the water always seems a bit deeper when you are by yourself!

Finally, as you become more confident in your skills, be sure that you are building up slowly. Just because you were able to hike one mile by yourself does not mean that you should attempt a fifteen mile overnight backpacking trip with a 3,000 foot elevation gain. It is so important to know your limits as you set out solo. The last thing you want is for you to find yourself in a situation that is unsafe. I prefer to push my limits when I am with my hiking buddies- they are there as my safety net and provide encouragement along the way. This doesn’t mean that I don’t push myself when I am alone, I just prefer to build my skills a little more gradually when I am out solo.

Steps to Safety:

Create an itinerary and leave it with someone you trust. I make sure that I let someone know where I will be parking, what my route will be, how long I will be hiking and an estimate of when I plan on getting on trail and an approximate time I will be getting off the trail. Then, once I am off trail and headed back home, I will generally either call or text my trusted person to let them know that I am on my way back to civilization.

If I am going overnight, I will also let the park rangers know where I will be backpacking. I have done this in person, as part of my backcountry permit or on one occasion I sent an email to the rangers office with the make, model and license plate of my car. Maybe this seems a little excessive but if I do get into a situation where I am injured or in need of help, I find comfort in knowing that the park rangers have a good idea of where to start looking for me. If I am able to speak to a ranger in person, they can also provide valuable up to date information about any recent trail closures or animal activity in the area that you will be hiking in.

2. Cell Phone

Make sure that your phone is fully charged and if needed, that you will have the ability to charge it on trail. I will often put my phone into airplane mode once I get started to help extend the battery. While I often use my phone to track my progress (there are lots of apps out there) I will also carry a paper map and compass (make sure you know at least the basics of using a compass and reading a map).

If I am staying overnight, I will keep my phone tucked in close to me so the battery does not run down as quickly. It is amazing how much more quickly my phone will lose charge in the cold.

3. Keep track while you are on the trail

This solo hiking tip can be looked at in two ways. First, always know where you are on the trail. You can do this electronically or on your paper map (or better yet- both!). When I hike alone, I will check my bearings often- it is all too easy for me to either get lost in my surroundings or my thoughts which can equate to just being plain lost. I compensate for this by checking where I am often. Be sure that you know your overall pace and you can compare this to where you are on the map.

Another way to keep track is to use a GPS tracking device that is not dependent on cell service. The Garmin Inreach (comes in two sizes) works when cell service is not available. You can send and receive texts or emails while hiking. Another advantage of the Garmin is that you can also receive weather reports. Please note, there is a subscription to use the device. Another option is to use an applications such as AllTrails that can send updates when on trail but this is limited to a paid subscription and will not work if you do not have cell service.

However you decide to track your progress, be sure that you check where you are often. Not only can it be fun to track where you are, it will also give you peace of mind on your journey.

4. Know (and follow) the 10 essentials of hiking

The 10 essentials of hiking are something to familiarize with anytime you are hiking. Here is a list of the 10 essentials. For additional information on each one, please follow the links. These important essentials are important for your safety when by yourself and when you are hiking with others.

Navigation, know the basics of reading a map and how to read the terrain.
Headlamp, save your phone battery and carry a headlamp (this is also keeps your hands free)
Sun Protection, a hat, sunglasses and sunblock can provide much needed protection
First Aid, take the time to know the basics!
Knife, a small knife can come in handy for a variety of uses
Fire, waterproof matches and some basic know-how are a must!
Shelter, an emergency blanket and the knowledge of how to make a survival shelter
Extra Food, a little extra doesn’t weigh much but can give added nourishment in a time of need
Extra Water, generally I carry a little extra water along with some powdered hydration packs (just in case)
Extra Clothes, weather in the backcountry can change quickly- think in layers

These solo hiking tips can help you build your confidence when you are starting out. Let us know if you would like a little more guidance, we offer one-on-one coaching to help you build confidence.

Not sure why you would want to hike alone? Read this article about some of the benefits of hiking alone or check out some these other articles.