{"id":3239,"date":"2021-05-24T22:15:13","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T05:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/?p=3239"},"modified":"2024-06-06T09:16:38","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T16:16:38","slug":"hiking-etiquette","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/hiking-etiquette\/","title":{"rendered":"How Not to Be a Jerk on the Trails: 11 Hiking Etiquette Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You may have heard the expression that everyone should hike their own hike. That\u2019s definitely true, but it doesn\u2019t mean you have free reign to be a jerk. If we all follow a few basic rules of hiking etiquette, it\u2019s much easier to share the trails and ensure everyone has a fun and safe hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Friendly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Say \u201chello\u201d or greet others with a smile when you pass them on the trail. We are all part of the same friendly outdoor community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skip the Music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many hikers like listening to birdsong or the wind whistling through the trees. Leave the music at home. If your hike requires a soundtrack, wear headphones, but keep the volume low or just wear one earbud so you can listen for wildlife and other hazards. (Myth Busted: Playing music doesn\u2019t deter bears. The sound doesn\u2019t carry very far and bears may not associate it with humans. Sing or talk loudly to warn bears of your presence.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay on the Trail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Musical
The erosion along the Musical Bumps Trail. Phone: Taryn Eyton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Park staff and volunteers have worked hard to create and maintain trails that are durable enough to stand up to thousands of bootprints. Walking off-trail can damage fragile vegetation and cause erosion. Stay on the trail and don\u2019t cut switchbacks. Keep out of closed areas: they are out of bounds to protect the ecosystem or because there are dangerous areas for hikers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know Who Has the Right of Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, uphill hikers and faster hikers have the right of way so they don\u2019t have to break their stride. As well, larger groups should let smaller groups pass. But lots of people aren\u2019t familiar with this practice. The best thing to do is greet other hikers with a friendly \u201chello\u201d or \u201cexcuse me\u201d, then ask to pass or tell them you\u2019ll step aside for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hikers should always yield to horseback riders. Step off the trail to avoid spooking the horses. Hikers have the right of way when they meet a cyclist, but since it can take time for bikers to slow down, it\u2019s best to be alert when hiking on multi-use trails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Share the Viewpoints<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Limit your time at mountain summits or popular viewpoints so that everyone gets a chance to enjoy them. Choose a lunch or snack spot out of the way so that other groups can enjoy the view too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pack Out ALL Your Trash<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Trash
Bring a bag to pack your trash out. Phone: Taryn Eyton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Garbage can be an eyesore on the trail. Plan to pack everything out with you by bringing a trash bag on every hike. Of course, plastic bags and wrappers are trash, but did you know that you should pack out biodegradable trash like banana peels too? They can take months or years to decompose. In the meantime, they look disgusting and attract wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn How to Go to the Bathroom the Leave No Trace Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do research ahead of time to find out if there are toilets on the trail and plan to use them. If there\u2019s no outhouse, find a spot 70 big steps away from trails, campsites, and water sources. Do your business in a hole that is 6\u201d\/15cm deep, then cover it up. Pack out your toilet paper. Use hand sanitizer when you\u2019re done. Check out How to Go to the Bathroom on a Hike <\/a>for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Feed the Wildlife<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Animals that are fed learn to depend on humans for food, which can make them aggressive and dangerous. Human food is junk food for wildlife and can make them sick. Read our post about Why You Shouldn\u2019t Feed Wildlife for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give Wildlife Space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spotting wild animals while you hike is always exciting, but your presence can scare them away from their feeding areas or young. Be respectful by giving them lots of space. Use the zoom lens on your camera or binoculars, not your feet, to get a closer look. Never touch or hold wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Mindful of Your Dog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dogs can have a big impact on wildlife, ecosystems, and other hikers. Follow park regulations if you hike with your dog. Some parks don\u2019t allow dogs, while others require a leash. Research dog regulations before you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your dog\u2019s poop contains bacteria and diseases that aren\u2019t found in the wilderness, so please pack it out. Don\u2019t leave bagged dog poop beside the trail. Many people forget to pick them up and they become an eyesore. (Tip: Bring a sealed container like an old peanut butter jar to carry out poop bags in a stink-free way.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respect Park Rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
A damaged BC Parks sign. Phone: Taryn Eyton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While park rules may sometimes seem like a buzzkill, they are usually in place to prevent damage to ecosystems, to keep hikers safe, and to ensure everyone can enjoy the wilderness. Research rules ahead of time on park websites and keep an eye out for signs along the trail.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Taryn Eyton discusses 11 hiking etiquette tips when out on the trails to ensure that everyone enjoys their outdoor adventures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":3256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[948],"tags":[804,1127,800,806,1128],"class_list":["post-3239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hiking-tips","tag-happiest-outdoors","tag-hiking-etiquette","tag-leave-no-trace","tag-taryn-eyton","tag-trail-erosion"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/tunnel-bluffs-trail.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4652t-Qf","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3239"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3249,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3239\/revisions\/3249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}