How to Hike (a Hiking Guide for Beginners)

Why You Should Start Hiking 

Hiking is an amazing way to see nature up close and to get great views while accompanied by people you love. What I personally love about hiking is that not only do you get to see amazing view, wildlife, and be one with nature you get to experience it with friends and/or family. 

It also allows you to stay active in a very fun and rewarding way. Once you have finished a long hike you feel accomplished and refreshed(and tired)! Being able to spend hours outside hiking is also good for you because of all the fresh air, so go outside for a hike!

Don't Hike Alone, Make Sure to Find a Hiking Buddy

It is recommended that you do not hike alone especially in dangerous places. Always have at least one hiking buddy to hike with at all times. You do not want to get caught in a situation you alone cant get out of. 

It shouldn't be too hard to find a hiking buddy, but here are some ideas to get people to hike with you: 

• Ask someone in your family to start hiking with you 
• Ask a friend to hike with you
• Plan a trip to a National Park or Forest and include hiking

Even with your buddy make sure you are being safe. Pay attention to your surroundings at all times and make sure you have the necessary equipment with you. 

For example, in Yellowstone National Park they advise you to carry bear spray with you at all times and to never hike alone. 

Getting Started- Where to Start Hike first 

You may want to start out with a hike close to home if it is your first time. Start out small with just going to any nature preserve or nature forest by your house and hike around there with your buddy to get started. 

Once you are completely comfortable with that go to a state park, such as Starved Rock State Park if you are in Illinois, and plan a day trip there with your hiking buddy and see how far you can hike and how it feels. 

After you have done these 2 preliminary hikes then you are ready to start taking hiking trips and visiting big national parks!

Planning for a Hiking Trip

Once you and your hiking buddy or hiking group have decided where you want to go for your hiking trip there are a few more things you need to do:

• Pick a starting point of what entrance you will use to enter the park 
• Plan each day and the hikes that you definitely want to do. 
• I would recommend planning one for sure hike per day that is about 4 miles long 
• Plan out what mini hikes and overlooks you want to stop at 
• I would say each of these take about 30 minutes to stop at 
• Bring a backpack 
• Plan out your water 
• usually there are not places to get water at national parks besides there sometimes being a well or water bottles sold at the visitors center 
• What I usually do is bring a big reusable water bottle and buy gallons of water, which are stored in the car with ice, to refill it with
• Plan out your food 
• Pack a meal or plan on stopping at the visitors center of the park or a place near by to eat
• Plan out what you are going to wear 
• wear layers 
• bring a light jacket 

Bringing Your Pet to Hike With You

Many people have a furry friend or two that they would like to take on a hike and I definitely recommend you do bring them! Some people feel hesitant to bring their pet with them because they don't think they are trained well enough, but I think as long as your pet isn't going to put anyone in harm then you should bring them for sure. Plus they love to hike as much as us and it's good exercise and fresh air for them too!

Things to remember when bringing your pet on a hike with you: 

• Bring them water and a bowl to give them water in 
• I have a collapsible bowl that hooks on the outside of a backpack which I highly recommend getting! (I got a two pack of them on Amazon for $6). 
• Don't forget about your poop bags 
• No one wants to see your dogs business on the trail, always pick up after your pup and remember to keep the parks clean!
• If you don't already have one think about getting a harness instead of a collar for your dog especially if they like to pull

Other Helpful Hints

• Bring a small first aid kit, you never know when a band aid will come in handy!
• Wear a hat 
• Bring walking sticks or find sticks at the park to use if you need assistance walking
• Trail etiquette 
• Hiker, hiker encounter- walk on the right side always 
• hiker, biker encounter- bikes will usually yield to hikers or go around you with warning 
• hiker, horse encounter- horses have the right of way