With more and more people getting outside and experiencing the outdoors, many have found that the once quiet hiking trails they have frequented for years are now crowded, messy, and hectic. Overall, there has been a decline in trail etiquette.
As someone who has been hiking often for years, I have learned, often through my own mistakes, the dos and don’ts of hiking, and the common courtesy and etiquette expected on trail. As we see an increase in people with interest in the outdoors (I can’t stress enough that in the long run this is a good thing) it is important to make sure everyone is up to date and educated about on trail etiquette.
Not only will your courtesy benefit others, their courtesy will make for a more relaxing, fun, and rewarding experience in nature.
Yield to Uphill Traffic:
Always yield to uphill traffic. That means that if you are hiking downhill, you should always offer uphill hikers you meet the opportunity to continue uphill at their pace. If you have ever been hiking uphill, you will understand why.
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You have a rhythm going, you have figured out your breathing, your legs are burning but not painfully so, everything feels good, then you run into a group not paying attention and you have to step off the trail to let them by.
Your rhythm is gone, your breathing is interrupted, and now you have to refind it. Downhill hikers are doing less work, so it is easier for them to stop and start. Some uphill hikers will welcome a chance to catch their breath, I certainly have had that experience, but always offer the right of way to those hiking uphill. Just remember, uphill hikers are working a lot harder, it’s their call to make.
Leave No Trace:
Leave no trace means a lot of things, but I think it can be summed up by simply saying don’t leave a mark on the environment you are in. When we go into nature, the goal is to experience it in all its glory, but you should always seek to avoid destroying or altering the environment.
Leave it the way you found it so everyone after you can have the same rewarding experience. Within leave no trace, there are a couple of things to consider
For a full guide on Leave No Trace, check out our full guide!
Food Waste:
It may seem like its totally fine to leave food waste in the woods: it’s natural so it’ll just break down anyway right? Yes it will eventually break down, but the problem with this line of thinking is that you are still altering the environment.
If you had never visited, there wouldn’t be an orange peel on the ground. If you didn’t go on that trail, there wouldn’t be a banana peel in the forest. Yes, food waste (in most cases) will eventually break down, but leave the trail the way you found it and pack out your garbage.
Leave What You Find:
It’s really cool hiking through a giant sequoia grove and seeing foot long pine cones, believe I’ve been there. What isn’t cool is taking those pine cones with you. Anything you find in the environment that is naturally from that environment should be left there.
Think of it this way, pine cones, branches, antlers, etc are all resources for an environment. By taking those things away, you are removing needed resources to keep that environment healthy.
It may not seem like much but that pine cone is going to decay, and all of the nutrients and energy will return to the soil and organisms living there. Leave all the cool stuff you find in nature, in nature. Other people like seeing it too.
Pets:
This is a controversial one, and there are many hikers that frown upon bringing pets on trail. In my opinion, if pets are allowed, don’t feel guilty bringing your pet on trail.
One major question with regards to pets on trail is whether or not to keep them on a leash. By the book, yes you need to keep them on a leash, and I will maintain that pets should be on a leash.
That being said, it doesn’t personally bother me when I encounter a dog off leash on the trail, and I have hiked with a dog off the leash on trail, so it would be a bit hypocritical of me to say to never let your pet off the leash.
However, be courteous to those around you, and “read the room.” If you are on a crowded trail and your dog likes to run and jump on people, keep them on the leash. If you’re at a beach and there are dozens of dogs off leash, I wouldn’t feel too guilty.
Overall, be aware of your surroundings, and if your pet is disturbing other people or the environment, keep them on a leash.
Horses, Hikers, Bikes:
A lot of people aren’t aware of this, but there actually are rules and guidelines about who has the right of way between hikers, horses, and mountain bikers. Many trails are exclusively reserved for hikers, but if you hike enough, I’m sure you will encounter a mixed use trail, so it’s good to know how it works.
Horses always earn the right of way on trail. They are the biggest, hardest to maneuver, and least predictable of the three, so if you are hiking or biking on trail, be aware that you are expected to yield for horses and riders.
Since mountain bikes are technically more maneuverable than hikers, hikers technically have the right of way over bikers, but in my experience I tend to end up yielding to mountain bikes almost all of the time. Essentially, I really don’t want to get run over by a biker screaming down a hill, and I think the reality is that they can’t always slow down quick enough to actually avoid people on trail.
So technically, as a hiker, you have priority over mountain bikes, but my recommendation would be to step off to the side.
Hike Right Pass Left:
This one is pretty simple: stick to the right and pass people on the left. When you have two way traffic, this makes it easier for traffic to flow smoothly, and when you want to get around that really slow group you’ve been stuck behind for 10 minutes, you really wish they would get out of the way. You will never be the fastest hiker in the world, so stick to the right side, and when you need to pass someone, head over to the left.
Bluetooth Speakers:
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So I have to admit, this is definitely my biggest hiking related pet peeve so I might be a little biased here, but please for the love of all things good don’t blare a bluetooth speaker for all the world to hear while you’re on trail.
At the beach, awesome. Having a picnic, fantastic. Drinking a beer in the parking lot, more power to you.
But the rest of the world did not decide to do this particular trail to get a sense of your taste in music.
My recommendation is to enjoy the sounds of being in nature if you’re hiking alone. If you’re in a group, talk to each other. If you feel that you absolutely have to have music playing while you hike, put in some earbuds, you get music, the rest of us don’t have to hear it, win-win.
In conclusion, don’t be “that guy” carrying around an obnoxious bluetooth speaker, either enjoying being in nature or put in some earbuds.
Taking a Break:
At some point while hiking, you will get tired, you will have a rock in your shoe, you will need a snack, or you will want to stop to take in the view. Awesome! Just do it out of the way.
If you are taking a break in a spot in the middle of the trail where everyone has to walk around you, that’s not cool. If you are in a very unique circumstance where there is literally no way to get off the trail, or you want to be in the shade and you’re under the only tree for miles, but it’s kinda in the way, we understand, but it’s not ideal.
If possible do a little research before you head out to know what the trail is going to look like. If you’re struggling and absolutely have to stop in a not ideal spot, we get it, it happens to everyone, but try to avoid stopping and resting on trail.
Enjoy the outdoors, take a break whenever you want, just do your best to not inconvenience others while you do so.
Wildlife:
When you go for a hike, you are implicitly accepting two things: you are ok being in nature along with everything that entails, and you accept coming into contact with the wildlife of the area.
For some people that’s the whole reason they hike! If the idea of being near wildlife makes you pause, I think you can sum up what to do in two pretty simple rules of thumb: don’t feed the wildlife, and don’t get too close to the wildlife.
Considering hiking in bear country? Be sure you are prepared to be bear safe.
Don’t Feed the Wildlife:
Whether it is squirrels, chipmunks, pika, or even bears, lots of animals look pretty snuggly (maybe not bears, but also some bears are cute). You offering a peanut to a chipmunk might make for a great insta post, but it’s really not good for the animals.
They learn to be dependent on humans, and forgo their natural diets and eating habits. They might get fat in the short term, but it’s setting them up for failure in the long run.
Human food also can be very unhealthy for animals, so feeding them the wrong thing can be directly harmful to their health.
Specifically regarding bears, the phrase “a fed bear is a dead bear” is very true. A bear that views humans as a vending machine will likely end up being put down as it comes into closer and closer contact with humans.
There is plenty of food in the environment for them, let them go find it, even though feeding the chipmunks may be cute.
Don’t Get too Close to the Wildlife:
I probably don’t need to tell you this, but don’t get too close to bears. That one might be obvious because they have sharp teeths and pointy claws, but it may not be as obvious for other animals.
Let me make it clear: wild animals are wild and are dangerous and unpredictable.
Bears obviously are dangerous, wolves obviously are dangerous, but what about animals that eat plants, they would never hurt me right? Wrong, herbivores can actually be extremely dangerous.
Moose are widely known as one of the most dangerous animals in North America, there are more moose attacks than bear attacks each year in Alaska. Mountain goats? Those horns are sharp. Deer may not seem like they could kill you, but I don’t want to take a hoof to the chest.
Check with the authorities of whatever park you are going to, but a decent place to start is to be at least 25 yards from wildlife, and at least 100 yards from large predators. Priority number one is always to make it home. Don’t make that harder by messing with wild animals.
Bathroom Etiquette:
Lets just say it: we all use the bathroom, and if you hike enough, I can promise you that you will need to use the bathroom eventually. It’s really not a big deal, and if you spend enough time in the woods, you will get used to it, but for those of you who haven’t peed in the woods before (or gone number 2) it’s not a big deal, just follow a couple guidelines.
Move off trail. No one cares that you’re using the bathroom; however, no one wants to see it. Try to get at least 200 feet off the trail when you go, and look for something to hide behind, a tree or a large rock are usually your best bet.
Don’t leave trash. Whether you’re going 1 or 2, don’t leave toilet paper, wet wipes, or any other sanitary items behind. If you pack it in, you pack it out. Also, its super gross coming across used toilet paper.
If you’re going number 2, dig a hole and bury it. If you have to poop on trail, be extra careful to stay away from water sources and campsites. Be at least 200 feet from any trail, campsite, or water source.
Blocking the Trail:
Earlier, I talked about sticking to the right side of the trail so people could pass to your left. Building on that, if you are in a group, don’t walk side by side taking up the entire width of the trail.
One, it makes it difficult for people catching you to get around.
Two, it makes it harder to get by people that you encounter head on. If you’re hiking down an old gravel road, walking side by side with two people isn’t a big deal, but if it’s a single track trail, its best to go single file to make it easier on everyone else you encounter. You can still talk single file, and it’s courteous to those around you.
Cutting the Trail:
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We’ve all seen it: a trail with a switchback or tight corner with a well worn trail through the woods or grass cutting the corner. It doesn’t seem like a big deal. Why does it matter where I walk? Who cares if there’s one more trail.
Unfortunately, cutting corners and creating new side trails is actually extremely harmful to the environment. One of the biggest issues with trails and trail maintenance is erosion.
I’m sure you’ve seen it: you go hiking the day after a storm and you see channels of mud that have flowed downhill. You probably think to yourself it’s a natural process, nothing we can do about it.
You would be correct in saying it’s a natural process, but man made trails actually accelerate erosion.
Normally, the natural grasses, bushes, and trees hold the soil together and prevent widespread erosion. When people remove that growth, what’s left is generally bare soil, unprotected from the forces of erosion and gravity.
By creating new trails and cutting corners, you are increasing the speed at which this occurs and furthering the degradation of our natural spaces. Don’t cut corners, stay on the trail.
Being Friendly:
This one isn’t so much a rule, but try to be friendly! Everyone is out there to have a good time, so why not be gregarious with the people you meet? Something as simple as a “hello” or “hi how you doing” as you pass someone is a welcome gesture on trail.
I’ll admit, I don’t always do this, especially if I’m working really hard, super hot, sore, and ready to be at my car, but whenever possible it’s nice to be friendly to the people I meet.
I’ve gotten great advice on trails and other hikes, cool local spots, and struck up countless conversations about sports, colleges, and everything Wisconsin (ask anyone who has hiked with me, I’m notorious for wearing Wisconsin gear on trail). It’s not a requirement, but make it more pleasant for everyone, be friendly on trail.
The goal of this article is not to give you a list of laws and regulations that you must follow or else. Rather, I hope this list of guidelines can provide you with the tools to allow you to have an awesome day on trail, and at the same time allow others that experience as well!
Links For Further Reading:
Trail Etiquette: Who Has the Right of Way?
Trail Etiquette 101: The Basic Rules of Hiking
Brittany Wieland
January 17, 2021Lots of cool tips! Didn’t think about how leaving an orange peel would alter the environment, definitely going to be more conscious now. Thanks!