I offer a lot of hiking tips in this blog, but to make it easier for you to find our top hiking tips I’ve included the best ones here. Feel free to share this page via email or by linking to it from your blog or website, and if you have a hiking tip you want to share please use our contact page to send it to me so we can share it with others.

1. This is my favorite tip even though it doesn’t have to do with the hiking itself, but protecting your vehicle at the trailhead:
Leave a sign in your window stating that you’ll be right back. Something like:

Brian,
We’ll be back in a few minutes. Please wait here.
Scott

Any bad guys that are about to break your window and steal your radio will see this on your windshield or driver side window and thing twice about messing with your vehicle because they think someone could show up at any moment.

2. Here’s a tip for finding water when hiking:
Look for clumps of vegetation. Bushes and trees often grow near water. Read this post for more tips on finding water in the wilderness

3. Tips to Protect the Trail
- Stay on the trail. Leaving the trail to cut switchbacks or to avoid mud can cause erosion.
- Don’t walk side by side. Single file keeps you on the trail.
- Clean up after your pet
- Don’t leave your own waste on the trail: trash and human waste

4. Always tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back
If you don’t think this is important read Aron Ralston’s book.

5. Duct Tape is your friend.  Read some of the hiking uses for duct tape.

6. Protect your pack when flying. We’ve all seen what the airlines can do to a solid suitcase. Now think about what they can do to your hiking pack with all its straps, zippers, and pockets. To protect your backpack buy a used Army duffel bag. These bags are large enough to slip your pack into as well as gear like your hiking poles and boots.

7. Selecting a Daypack. Even a daypack can get heavy if you carry it enough. That’s why a padded waist belt is important. A good waist belt will shift the weight from your shoulders to your legs. Read more about selecting the best daypacks.

8. Unbuckle your waist belt before crossing a river or stream.  This will allow you to get out of your pack if you fall.  View this post for more tips for safe river crossings when hiking.

9. Heat up water for your water bottle before going to bed and place the bottle in the foot of your sleeping bag. This will keep your water from freezing overnight and will make a nice foot warmer the first few hours. Make sure the cap is on tight and the water isn’t so hot it burns you or melts your bottle.