10 Hiking Tips For Solo Female Travelers

Wanting to go for a hike but have no one to go with you? I’ve been there.

As a women who hikes at least once a month by myself, I am 100% committed to making sure I feel safe on the trail.

I often find myself craving adventure and wanting to reconnect with nature. Hiking is the perfect outlet to satisfy both of those needs.

Before I go on hikes I take several precautions in order to stay safe.

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1. Tell People Where You’re Going

This one is pretty straight-forward but there are some people who will just go without telling a soul. That is absolutely not safe. Make sure to tell friends and family the location of the trail, name of the trail, and how long the trail takes.

Turn on your Find My Friends app and make sure to give people your location.

2. Charge All Electronics

Although you are not going to be on your phone often when on the trail it is always a good idea to have it charged to 100%.

Once your phone dies the Find My Friends app will turn off your location and you never want that to happen. I would suggest buying a portable charger.

3. Check The Weather

Check the weather the morning of and right before you head out on the trail. You never know what can change in only a few hours.

Running into bad weather when alone on a trail is just bad news. The risk of slipping or getting lost increases exponentially.

4. Have A Map

Most welcome centers have physical maps you can take before heading out on the trail but if you are somewhere off the beaten trail I would suggest downloading an offline map on your phone.

AllTrails in my opinion has the best offline maps to download, I never go on a hike without doing this first. So even if I lose cell service I’ve still have the map downloaded.

5. Talk To The Rangers

Be memorable and talk to the rangers. Let them know which trail you are going on and if they have any tips for you.

Ask them about trail conditions and whether there is anything to be aware of.

6. Bring More Water Then You Think You’ll Need

Hydrate, then hydrate more.

Prepare the day before and make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Getting dehydrated can happen to even the most experienced hiker, so pack the adequate amount of water to avoid ruining your day.

I would also suggest packing a filtered water bottle, and have the peace of mind that it is safe to drink.

7. Know Your Capabilities

I really can’t stress this enough, don’t push yourself too far passed your limits. If you’re a beginner or not in the best shape, you are most likely not ready for the tougher hikes.

Look up reviews and ratings on AllTrails before setting off on a hike.

8. Leave Headphones Behind

I always workout with headphones to keep me motivated but I do not wear them when hiking alone.

It is essential to be aware of your surrounding of other hikers and animals. As a beginner, I made the mistake of wear one ear of my headphones, when another hiker and his dog came up behind me I jumped and nearly slipped on a rock. Rookie mistake.

9. Leave No Trace

The leave no trace principles should be practiced whether you are alone or with other people. When out in nature you should never leave anything behind, including belongings and trash.

Bring a bag to put your trash into. This means food wrappers and dirty toilet paper.

10. Have Fun

You’ve taken all the necessary precautions and now you are ready to go hiking solo!

Hiking alone will bring you a new sense of confidence in yourself.

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