I’m not a particularly spiritual—or even sentimental—person, but I find it hard not to be deeply moved when I’m outdoors. Recently I hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and as I craned my neck to gaze at the perfectly symmetrical rock formations that took millions of years to form, I felt entirely insignificant compared to—and at the mercy of—nature. [Sheds a silent tear.]
Then, on the grueling trek back up the trail, I heard “BABY HOLD ME CLOSER IN THE BACKSEAT OF YOUR ROVER” booming from a portable speaker, which suddenly and violently ejected me from my tender, emotional communion with the Arizona wilderness.
This, my friends, was a serious breach of etiquette. Hiking, though it takes place in the wild, is just like any restaurant, nightclub, or even your mom’s house: There are unwritten social rules. No, you won’t be arrested for having objectively terrible taste in music. However, hogging a great photo op spot, blasting EDM, or not letting other people pass you will get plenty of well-deserved side-eye. (Of course, some offenses, like littering, will likely get you slapped with a big fine.) To help make the Great Outdoors more enjoyable and accessible for everyone, here are 14 basic hiking etiquette rules every grown-ass adult needs to know.
1. Don’t be that unprepared person.
You won’t necessarily offend someone by wearing the wrong footwear, forgetting a rain jacket during the wet season, or running out of water, but you will, perhaps, feel a little embarrassed (or, more seriously, endanger yourself or others) if you need to rely on the kindness of strangers. Check out these super-important tips to know before hitting the trail if you’re a beginner, including what to pack and how to prep for a trip. Personally, I’m a huge fan of AllTrails—it’ll give you info on mileage and elevation gain, plus, reviews from other hikers (so you’ll know if a particular part of the loop is sketchy or if there’s a creek to cross, for example). If you have the premium version of the app, like me, you can download and save maps to your phone when service is (expectedly) shoddy. OnX Backcountry and Gaia GPS are two other solid options.
2. If there aren’t designated parking spots, give yourself just enough space for you to exit your car.
There’s nothing more demoralizing than pulling up to a trailhead, spotting a single open parking spot from afar, then pulling up to realize it’s just an awkward space that’s not big enough to stash a car because one jerk wanted to preserve the turning radius of their tricked-out Ford F-450. Give yourself and your crew enough space to exit and enter the vehicle, but not so much that you’re hogging more space than you need.
3. Don’t try to race everyone around you.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with treating a hike like a tough workout, but if your goal is to mouth-breathe on the neck of someone in front of you—when they’re just looking for a space to pull over and let you pass—or push children or older folks out of your path, please stick to incline runs on a treadmill. You don’t get a medal for beating people to the top.
Also, no matter how fast you’re going, remember that people going uphill have the right of way, per the National Park Service. So if you’re determined to sprint to the bottom (and thereby kill your knees), know that you need to pull over for folks coming up. Also, bikers have to make way for hikers, and everyone has to yield to people on horses.
4. Treat the trail like a road.
If you are sticking to the center of a path and more than three people have had to jump around you (and perhaps passive-aggressively sigh while doing it), it’s time to recognize that you are the problem. Hiking is like driving: Stick to the right (or to the left, depending on what country you’re in), and if you feel someone coming up behind you (or they actually request to pass), find a safe place to let them do so.
5. Save hand-holding for the car ride home.
You’re in love, and we’re all happy for you. (No, really, we are!) But by interlacing fingers with your sweetie while walking side-by-side, you’re basically taking up the width of three full people on a trail. It’s best to wait to embrace when it’s not busy, learn to hold hands while walking single file (or just…talk and not touch?), or save it for the car ride home.
6. Don’t overcrowd trails with your crew.
In that same vein, it’s awesome to get all your pals on a nature kick—but be mindful of how much space you’re taking up on the path as a unit. (Plus, you could get so lost in convo that you trip and veer off-path and hurt yourself.) If you really, really need to dissect the drama from last night, pull off to the side or wait to spill the deets when you’ve stopped at the top. Gossip is served best with a view, anyway.
7. Don’t hog the IG-worthy photo op spots.
One of the best parts of any hike, of course, is sharing all that natural beauty with the world. There’s absolutely no shame in it—but know you’re probably not the only person with that mindset. So if there’s a particularly pretty cliffside, grouchy-looking tree, or basically any spot people gravitate toward for its beauty, know there will probably be some demand for pics. And if you hog said area for longer than a few photos while people are waiting, know that everyone hates you.
8. Acknowledge other hikers. Isn’t that why you left the house—to interact with the world?
Hiking is a fantastic way to get some much-needed solitude, and you definitely don’t need to make friends on a trail, but encountering another person in the middle of the woods without acknowledging their existence is bizarrely cold. A simple nod and smile will suffice (if you feel safe and it doesn’t seem like it could lead to trouble, of course).
9. But don’t treat the trail like a singles mixer.
Of course, if you nod, smile, and want to strike up a conversation, that’s perfectly okay—trails can provide a really organic, low-pressure way to connect with other people when you’re craving social interaction or are feeling lonely (something I, a single person, can really attest to). But if someone is giving a distinct vibe they don’t want you in their space—they’re averting eye contact, twisting their torso away from you, or simply ignoring you—respect those signs and move on. Instead, sign up for a local hiking group so you know everybody you’re with is on the same socializing page. Hitting on people on the hiking trail is worse than doing it at the gym—and can actually be frightening for a lot of folks—so just don’t.
10. Keep your music contained to your headphones.
You could be a well-known Miami DJ and there’s still no way in hell I’d want to hear your tunes while in the middle of the forest. If you really want to cue up, do it through headphones (but leave one bud out so you’re aware of your surroundings)—not an annoying portable speaker.
11. Respect rangers and do what they say.
If someone in a wide-brimmed hat and official-looking shirt tells you to pick up your trash or stop veering off-trail, know that this person is, in all likelihood, a very low-paid government employee or volunteer who’s simply trying to preserve nature. Take whatever they say seriously and genuinely thank them for their help.
12. On that note, read any signs. They’re there for a reason!
If there are warnings at a trailhead telling hikers to remain on the path to avoid stomping on wild vegetation or (eek!) venomous snakes, just follow them. You run the risk of injury, getting lost, or paying a hefty rescue fee if it comes to that. Plus, if you wildly disrespect signs or barriers meant for your safety (do not, we beg you, do this type of thing for the ’gram) and you do survive, someone might put it on social media where your foolish move might live on forever.
13. If you leave trash, you are trash.
Hope this helps!
14. Bend over and scoop up your dog’s shit—and take it with you when you go.
Do not just leave the little poop-filled baggy on the side of the trail for someone to stomp on. There’s a chance you might forget it or won’t be able to find it on your way back down. (Or did you ever really ever intend to grab it again, you sneak?) Also, keep your very good boy or girl leashed if (a) signs tell you to do so, or (b) you know Fido has zero squirrel-impulse control or recall training.
Know that, by and large, hikers are some of the friendliest people out there. For every aggressive, selfish, littering person you pass, there will be many more smiling, good-natured folks minding their own business or who are ready to help you if you need it. Be prepared, stay aware, and enjoy the Great Outdoors, (socially adept) explorers!
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