How to start Solo Hiking
Do you love hiking and getting outdoors but don’t feel comfortable going alone? I was there too. I really wanted to go hiking but my schedule was different from others and I was afraid to go alone.
The best way to break out of those chains is to JUST GO ! Here are a few of the small tips that helped me feel comfortable with getting outside and hiking solo that I hope will help you take the next step towards getting outside.
Start Small - I think it’s easy to associate hiking with giant mountains, a long drive and hiking 10 miles. When in reality, you can go for a 40 minute hike near your town. I live in Fort Collins, CO, so my backyard is filled with hikes at Horsetooth Reservoir and Lory State Park, which I am incredibly lucky to live here and grateful for it. Once I shook the idea out of my head that a hike could only be deep into the mountains with the most perfect view, I was able to select a hike. My first solo hike was Horsetooth Rock at sunrise. I dove into the scary solo hiking head first by starting in the dark before the sun came up. I’m not recommending that, but for me, I had to really dive in, plus I really love the sunrise and I wanted to bask in all the morning colors. (You can read more about why I jumped into hiking and my solo adventure on my blog, “My Why”)
Keep the hike short - You don’t have to go out for a 10 mile hike right off the bat. I mean, you could but it’s best to ease into solo hiking. Feel comfortable with the basics first. You can pick a small hike or even a long hike and only go a short distance. It’s one step at a time and if you want to start with 1 mile, that’s great! Then the next time you go out, you could do the same hike and go 2 miles. Build up to what you feel comfortable with and don’t feel ashamed to keeping it small and short. This is your adventure.
Stay Local - Find a hike that is close to town that you may be familiar with. Staying close to home helps you feel more comfortable. It’s in the area you live and know instead of being in an area that you’re really unfamiliar with.
Pick a popular trail and time - It might help to choose a hike that is popular and a popular time to hike (hello, summer weekends). You’ll see more people out and about and you’ll see a lot of solo hikers. Seeing others out on a hike and also doing it solo will really help boost your confidence. You’ll be surprised at how many people are out alone or just with their dog.
Bring your dog (if you have one) - Not everyone has a dog to take with them on a hike but I find it helpful to have my dog with me to make me feel more comfortable and less alone. I talk a lot to my dog which also helps. He isn’t able though to make it to all the hikes as he is on the older end at 98 years old (14 yrs). So I still had to learn how to hike without the comfort of my furry best friend.
Talk to yourself - I swear, you’re not crazy for doing this. I talked OUT LOUD to myself on my first solo hike for majority of the way. Granted, it was dark and I was trying to talk myself into why this was a good idea and to also help announce I was on the trail if there were any animals. Now I find that talking out loud to myself helps me process life. I love being able to work out problems as I’m walking and talking to myself surprisingly helps.
Tell somewhere where you’re going - Make sure you let someone know you’re going on a solo hike, where at and the time your’e headed out. This helps you feel more at ease that someone else knows your whereabouts.
YOU ARE CAPABLE! - Once you’ve completed your first solo hike, be proud! It’s not easy to get outside on a hike alone. It’s especially challenging for extroverts who want to share all their experiences with someone (Me).
Solo Hiking can be so rewarding, self-powering and great for your mental health. The hardest part is just going. You can plan away all day but you have to make the first step to get out of your car at the trailhead. Once you start believing in yourself, solo hiking becomes easier and easier and you can start adventuring to the big mountain hikes in no time.
Remember to leave no trace, stick to the trails and pack out your trash.
As Woodsy Owl says, “Give a hoot, don’t pollute.”
While you don’t need to have all the gear to begin, there are a few items I never hike without. My gear does change per season which you can find a list of items I like on my Links page.
Fuel - Water & Snacks
Pepper Spray - An extra layer to help you feel safe when hiking solo
Sun protection - I always have a hat and this is my current favorite one from Find the Good. You can get a 10% discount by using my code SunnyJoyAdventure
HAPPY HIKING!
