Read Time: 4 minutes | Best for: Beginner Hikers
IntroIt’s exciting to fill your mind with expectations of big summit views, rock scrambles, seeing wildlife, water features and the fresh air filling your lungs. These are common daydreams to planning a day hike, so let's get you there. Let's start with the realistic needs like packing bug spray, sunscreen for example but today lets also dip into the tips, tricks and things to never forget that will help make your planning easier and your trail experience far more rewarding.
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1. Deciphering Trail Reviews
A trail review — just like a trail itself — is unique to the person experiencing it (Into the Yonder included). Trail sites aim to give you as much information, preparation, and insight as possible so you can stay safe and confident out there. But remember: what Into the Yonder may rate as “difficult,” another site might call “easy” or “strenuous.”
Trail reviews are incredibly helpful for basics like location, distance, and features, but the real value often comes from what’s not being said outright — and from what users mention in their comments. For example, a trail described as having “water crossings” might sound like a fun feature, but it can also signal areas prone to flooding, erosion, or seasonal damage.
With that in mind, here are key areas to focus on when deciding whether a trail is right for you:
Trail reviews are incredibly helpful for basics like location, distance, and features, but the real value often comes from what’s not being said outright — and from what users mention in their comments. For example, a trail described as having “water crossings” might sound like a fun feature, but it can also signal areas prone to flooding, erosion, or seasonal damage.
With that in mind, here are key areas to focus on when deciding whether a trail is right for you:
- Trail distance: A trail mile can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes. A 10‑mile trail could take 3 to 6 hours depending on terrain and pace.
- Water crossings: These areas may flood or become weather‑dependent to cross safely.
- Lack of tree canopy: Expect exposure to sun, heat, wind, and precipitation. All of these can affect you physically.
- Rock scramble: A technical section with uneven footing that requires attention and a slower pace. Also, ridiculously fun!
- Backcountry: Remote areas may lack water sources and often come with increased wildlife encounters.
- Incline: A general rule: 800 ft of elevation gain per mile is considered strenuous to very strenuous. For example, Robertson Mountain in Shenandoah gains 1,800 ft in 1.5 miles — extremely steep and demanding in terms of exertion, water use, and injury risk.
- No water source: No streams, creeks, or springs available for refills. Bring extra water from home, carry a CamelBak, or pack an additional bottle.
- Trail review comments: Yes, read as many as you can! I love Google reviews because they’re entirely user‑based — some are funny, some include tons of photos, and some get straight to the point. You’ll build a much clearer picture of the trail through these firsthand experiences. (And yes, I just told you to visit other sites. Don’t worry — I know you’ll come back.)
2. Drive Time Matters
Especially important when planning your trip is to understand and figure out how long are you willing to sit in your car and drive to a trail, or the reverse how long are you willing to sit in your car on the way home. The drive time can be impacted by traffic, gas stations and resource availability (food, water, restroom). There are ways to mitigate these concerns like leaving early in the morning reducing traffic concerns, ensuring you have mapped out cities and towns on your way (especially the last town before the trail) to complete any resource needs. The other item to share on drive time is that the roads could be unpaved & rugged roads that require ground clearance and confidence. Finally, from cell reception to weather, drive time has its challenges be sure to check out our streaming section for podcasts to enjoy on your travels.
3. Know Your Why & Your Limits
This may be the most important tip of all: know your why. Know why you’re out there breaking a sweat, getting dirty, and feeling every muscle come alive. And in that same breath, know your limits. Whether you’re a fitness buff, a lover of waterfalls, a summit‑chaser, or someone simply seeking peace and quiet, make sure your hike aligns with your purpose. Hiking can be strenuous and demanding, but it should also be fulfilling and deeply satisfying. Stay realistic, listen to your body, and honor your limits on the trail.
Limits to consider are:
Limits to consider are:
- Hiking skill Level: everyone starts somewhere… and you can work up! (check out our trail goal program series)
- Exercise ability: 1 mile of hiking is equal to 12 minutes of swimming, 40 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of tennis for example.
- Pre-existing: health conditions
- Gear & resources: trail shoes, water, food and the necessities to be safe on a trail.
- Comfort level: are you comfortable around bugs, snakes, maybe bears, on rocks, on high elevation summits
4. Overbooked = Overcooked
It’s common to travel out for a hike, spending hours in the car and money on resources so why not look for other hiking trails to add on to your day or weekend. (our trail pages offer trails to pair together) .
Pro Tip: when pairing trails together its good to keep the supermarket/grocery store sales adage which is “buy one, get the second for equal or lesser value”.
This means in planning if you add a second hike, add a lesser difficult less strenuous trail to ensure you are not overcooked. A second hike can be a great way to complete a weekend, but it should not come at a health and safety cost. Things to consider are trail distance, trail difficulty and elevation change.
Pro Tip: when pairing trails together its good to keep the supermarket/grocery store sales adage which is “buy one, get the second for equal or lesser value”.
This means in planning if you add a second hike, add a lesser difficult less strenuous trail to ensure you are not overcooked. A second hike can be a great way to complete a weekend, but it should not come at a health and safety cost. Things to consider are trail distance, trail difficulty and elevation change.
5. Tell someone
This is a health and safety call‑out for all hikers — solo hikers and group hikers alike. Hiking trails offer incredible opportunities to connect with nature, find serenity, and seek adventure. However, hiking also comes with real risks. From bumps and bruises to broken bones or getting lost, the dangers are genuine and can be life‑threatening.
A good rule of thumb before starting your hiking day is to share the following information with a trusted friend or family member:
A good rule of thumb before starting your hiking day is to share the following information with a trusted friend or family member:
- Trail name
- Details — trail location and a copy of the trail map, for remote areas include the coordinates (can be found on google maps)
- Hiking buddy — who is with you (if anyone)
- Attire — what you’re wearing from head to toe (or simply send a quick selfie)
- Proof of life — your expected arrival time and your expected time to return home
Tip #6: Go local
Preach and practice being local when planning your trips. What does “Go local” mean? It means investing in the communities closest to your trail. These investments can be simple: buying food and water locally, dining at nearby restaurants, visiting a brewery or winery, or picking up souvenirs and goods from small shops. Many rural towns rely heavily on visitors — hikers included — and the pass‑through traffic that supports their economies.
So how do you plan to be local?
The easy way is to plot your course on Google Maps. Once you tap “Directions,” your route appears. From there, hit the magnifying glass (search) and type in anything from restaurants to shops to food. Google Maps will highlight options along your route.
The longer way — and often where the real gems are found — is to identify towns along your drive and explore their websites or browse Google reviews to discover authentic local spots worth visiting. Both approaches may lead you to different experiences, but the end result is the same: you’re investing in the communities that surround your trails.
So how do you plan to be local?
The easy way is to plot your course on Google Maps. Once you tap “Directions,” your route appears. From there, hit the magnifying glass (search) and type in anything from restaurants to shops to food. Google Maps will highlight options along your route.
The longer way — and often where the real gems are found — is to identify towns along your drive and explore their websites or browse Google reviews to discover authentic local spots worth visiting. Both approaches may lead you to different experiences, but the end result is the same: you’re investing in the communities that surround your trails.
Tip #7: Download
Ok, the final tip is worth mentioning in this technological age and carry importance to your travels and have a consequence to your trail experience. During your final stage of planning, just before executing and heading out the door take a few minutes to print & download driving Directions (to and from) the trailhead and if available, print &download the trail map as well. (tiny tip: unable to find a trail map online? then look for a trail map at the trailhead, snap a picture with your cell phone and be on your way!) this is small but easy task will guarantee that regardless of Wi-Fi that you have an established route on and off the trail.
