This one is for all of my hikers!! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that Mike and I LOVE to hike. I’ve shared so many different hiking guides over the years but I realized that I’ve never put together a big post with all of my hiking tips. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or are just starting out, these tips are the things I always keep in mind and that I have learned throughout my time hiking. If you have any tips of your own, share them with me in the comments!

My Top Tips

 

Use AllTrails

The AllTrails App is life! This app shows top trails in the area, reviews, photos, elevation gain, distance, maps, rules, etc.  The reviews are very helpful and usually, people are pretty active on it.  When trying to find the best trail for the gram look it up first in All Trails then look up the location on Instagram.  You can see better photos from people’s posts on that hike there.  

Bring food and water  

I usually bring a full 36-40 oz water canteen + 1 extra small water bottle if it is a longer hike.  I usually try to bring roughly half my body weight in ounces of water for longer hikes (for example if you weigh 150 pounds then bring 60-75 ounces of water for longer hikes) I also bring Liquid IV to put in my drinks for extra electrolytes.  Strawberry is my favorite!! 

Check out the reviews

Read reviews on the All Trails App for tips.  Make sure you are doing a hike that you are ready for and that is within your difficulty/experience level.  

Layer it up

If you are unsure about what to wear, layers are key! Try to not just bring one heavy coat because you may be bouncing back and forth between being too hot and cold.  A good way to know what other people were wearing on their hike is to look up that hike’s location on Instagram, click the “Recent” tab, and see what people were wearing from the days before.

Invest in good shoes

Wear the right shoes! I recommend hiking boots that cover your ankle! This is the best way to prevent rolling your ankle on rocks. I like these!

Start in the morning

Start earlier than later if you’re hiking in the mountains. Weather can be unpredictable in the afternoon so it is always a good idea to start in the morning. Research ahead of time in the All Trails App to see what time people show up at the trailhead.  

Don’t forget the bear spray

In some areas like Wyoming and Montana BEAR SPRAY IS A MUST!! Every person who is capable of carrying spray should have it hooked on the side of their backpack. I do not carry spray in Colorado but it is definitely up to you! (FYI you cannot fly with bear spray).

My Favorite Hikes

Advanced Hikes

• Grinnell Glacier Hike in Glacier National Park 
• Sky Pond Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park
• Ice Lake Trail in Silverton Colorado
• Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park
• Crater Lakes Trail in central Colorado
• Lake Solitude via Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park
• Mt Leconte via Alum Cave Bluffs in Smoky Mountain National Park

Intermediate/Beginner Hikes

• Avalanche Lake Trail in Glacier National Park
• Cummins Falls in Tennessee
• Scenic Route Trail in Maroon Bells
• Empire Bluff Trail in the Sleepy Bear Dunes
• Doe Mountain in Sedona

My Go-To Hiking Snacks

• Perfect Bars
• Apples
• Carrots
• Almonds/trail mix
• Chomps – healthy clean snack with high protein
• PB&J
• We also bring snacks for Denver like apples, carrots, and Chomps!