With over 400 National Parks spread out across the country, the opportunities to get out and enjoy the trails are seemingly endless.
Hiking the trails of our National Parks is an incredible privilege and one that comes with rules both written and unwritten. Adhering to proper hiking etiquette is essential to stewardship of the land and ensuring a positive experience for everyone on the trail. Thanks to Zion National Park for issuing this helpful reminder of hiking etiquette guidelines. If you are unsure what to do in certain instance remember the golden rule:
“When in doubt about something just remember the “golden rule” — treat other trail users how you want to be treated, and respect the wildlife and lands of our great national parks.”
ZION NATIONAL PARK HIKING ETIQUETTE PSA:
“We never rush, we hasten.” – Queen Clarisse, Princess Diaries
Drop the shoulders and think tall, because we’re talking about hiking etiquette.
Hiking is one of the best ways to spend time in the outdoors. With 431 national park sites across the United States, the opportunities to take a hike are endless!
Consider some of these hiking etiquette guidelines to help you and everyone around you have a safe, fun, and relaxing trip next time you go hiking in a national park.
-Always hike single-file – never take up more than half the trail space, this helps reduce erosion and makes it easier for other hikers to pass you on the trail.
-Make yourself known – when you encounter other hikers offer a friendly “hello” or a simple head nod. This helps create a friendly environment on the trail. If you approach another hiker from behind, announce yourself in a friendly, calm tone and let them know you want to pass.
-Stay on the trail – don’t step off trail unless you absolutely must when yielding. Going off trail can damage or kill certain plant or animal species and can hurt the ecosystems that surround the trail. Always practice Leave No Trace principles: Leave rocks, vegetation, and artifacts where you find them for others to enjoy.
-Do not disturb wildlife – they need their space, and you need yours. Keep your distance from any wildlife you encounter. Never leave the trail to try and get a closer look at an animal because it can hurt the habitat and the animal and put you in danger.
-Be mindful of trail conditions – if a trail is too wet and muddy, turn back and save the hike for another day. Using a muddy trail can be dangerous, damage the trail’s condition, and damage the ecosystems that surround the trail.
-Take time to listen – when hiking in the great outdoors, let nature do the talking. Be respectful of both nature and the other users and keep noise from electronic devices at bay. Not only will other visitors appreciate the peace and quiet, but so will wildlife. Many wildlife species rely on natural sounds for communication purposes, and disrupting those sounds can hurt their chances of survival.
