Skip to content 
Hiking Etiquette
Make this hiking experience enjoyable for yourself and others
These are the unwritten rules of the outdoors. They may be obvious to some people, but not so obvious to others. These issues often arise from someone who is not your ‘typical’ outdoors person or hiker, or in other cases, it could be a group of kids or toddlers who don’t know better. No matter what the case may be, there are certain etiquettes you should know while going out on a hike or your next adventure.
Let Those Hiking Down The Trail Go First:
If you are hiking along a narrow pathway that is just wide enough for one or two people, there is a standard practice that you should know. When you are approaching another group of hikers on their way up, those who are hiking uphill should step off to the side and allow those going down to pass.
Stay On Trail:
Wandering off the trail may seem fun, being able to explore other parts and get different vantage points, but that is a big no-no. Staying on track helps preserve nature and prevent any delicate or endangered wildlife/fauna from being damaged.
Do not litter, pick up any garbage:
Probably one of the worst habits is when other people litter. It doesn’t matter if its out in the wilderness or in a grocery store parking lot. Litering hurts the environment, kills animals, and makes our beautiful world look disgusting. If you bring any food and it has wrappers, please stash them away in your bag or pocket and dispose of them after your hike. If you see trash on your hike, pick it up and throw it out on your way out. A clean world is a happy world.
Do not approach or feed wildlife:
“Human food kills.” This is a sign I see on almost every hike I go on, and it is true. Not only is is not healthy for animals to eat human food, but there are other risks involved too.
When animals get used to eating food from humans they get used to it and start to rely on humans to feed them. They get malnurished and can starve during the harsher times of the year. Not only that, but when wildlife gets used to being in contact with humans, they begin to be less cautious and approach humans more often. This would be a major problem with predator animals like bears, cougars, and wolfs. If they get used to being around humans, they will be seen more often in towns or on trails, posing serious dangers to all.
