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Your first hike, step by step

You don’t need expensive gear or a hiking club to start. You need a sensible trail, the right clothes for the day, and an idea of how long it will take.

1. Pick a trail

For a first hike, choose something you’ll enjoy rather than survive:

• 2 to 5 miles is a comfortable half day for most people.
• Elevation gain matters more than distance. 3 miles with 1,500 feet of climbing feels much harder than 5 flat miles.
• A loop or out-and-back: on an out-and-back you can turn around whenever you like.
• Popular trails in state parks, county parks and National Forests are well signed and have other hikers around.

Good places to find trails: state park and National Park websites, your local hiking club, guidebooks and trail apps. Read recent trip reports for mud, snow, washouts or closures.

2. How long will it take?

Most people hike 2 to 3 miles an hour on easy trails. Climbing slows you down: add about 30 minutes for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Then add time for breaks, photos and the view at the top.

Try our hiking time calculator. On a first hike, plan to be back at the trailhead at least an hour before sunset.

3. What to wear and carry

• Shoes with grip. Trail runners or hiking shoes are fine for most day hikes. Boots help on rocky ground and with a heavier pack. Break them in first.
• Layers, not cotton. A synthetic or wool T-shirt, a fleece and a rain jacket let you adjust as you warm up. Cotton stays wet and cold, which is why hikers say “cotton kills”.
• Water: about half a liter (a pint) per hour, more in heat or desert.
• Snacks you’ll actually want to eat, plus extra.
• The Ten Essentials: navigation, headlamp, sun protection, first aid, knife, fire, shelter, extra food, extra water and extra clothes. Most fit in a small daypack. See the Ten Essentials.

Our free day hike checklist has the full list on one page.

4. Blazes, cairns and junctions

Many US trails are marked with blazes: painted rectangles on trees and rocks about head height.

• One blaze: keep going, you’re on the trail.
• Two stacked blazes: a turn or junction ahead. The top one is often offset toward the turn.
• A different color: a side trail. On the Appalachian Trail, white is the main trail and blue leads to shelters, water and viewpoints.
• Cairns: small stacks of rocks that mark the way above treeline and in the desert. Don’t build new ones.

At every junction, check the sign against your map. If you haven’t seen a blaze for a while, go back to the last one you saw.

5. Leave No Trace

The seven Leave No Trace principles are the rules of the trail:

1. Plan ahead and prepare.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces (stay on the trail, even through mud).
3. Dispose of waste properly: pack it in, pack it out.
4. Leave what you find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of other visitors.

Trail etiquette: hikers going uphill have the right of way, and everyone yields to horses. Step to the downhill side and speak calmly to the rider.

6. Wildlife

• Keep your distance. The National Park Service asks you to stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals such as bison and elk.
• Never feed wildlife, including squirrels and birds.
• In bear country, make noise on blind corners, hike in a group and carry bear spray where it’s recommended. Know how to use it before you need it.
• Snakes: watch where you put your hands and feet, and give any snake room to move away.
• Ticks: wear long pants in tall grass and check yourself (and your dog) after every hike.

7. Staying safe

• Check the forecast for the trailhead and the summit. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains in summer: aim to be off high ground by early afternoon.
• Tell someone your route and when you’ll be back.
• Download the map for offline use. Many trails have no cell signal.
• Turn around if the weather turns or the trail is harder than you expected. The summit will still be there.
• In an emergency, call 911. If you can’t get a call through, try sending a text to 911, which works in many areas.

8. After your hike

Write down where you went, how far and how long it took. After a few hikes you’ll know your own pace and have a list of favorites. Our hiking planner does this for you in Google Sheets. When you’re ready for more, try 52 hikes in a year or start ticking off the National Parks.