Planning Your Perfect Hike

Best practices and tips to help you pick your hiking trail for Trail Blazers

You’re signed up for Trail Blazers and ready to hit the trail for Camp Casco! Picking the right trail is key for a successful hike with Trail Blazers. To help you get started, we're sharing things to keep in mind when you pick your trail so you have a fun and safe experience.

DISTANCE

It’s tempting to pick a long, challenging hike to prove you can complete the distance, especially when you’re supporting a charity. But distance isn’t everything! It’s more important to choose a distance that’s appropriate for your skill level than showing off.

When determining the distance of a hike, don’t forget to count the round-trip mileage and double-check if a hike is a loop (one big circle) or an out-and-back (hike in and out on the same path). If you’re a beginner, hike pros suggest choosing a hike that is 2-3 miles long. You’ll get a good workout, see a beautiful trail, and won’t overcommit. When you are comfortable with that distance, you can work your way up to longer hikes.

Elevation and Difficulty

A short, steep hike can be more difficult than a flat, long one. Understand the trail and the elevation before you go! The National Park Service developed a difficulty rating scale from 0 to 200 using this formula. Hikes that rate under 50 are easy, up to 100 are moderate, and anything from 100-200+ is considered strenuous. To figure out a hike’s rating, use an elevation calculator to input mileage and elevation gain to choose your hike accordingly.

Terrain

Not all terrains are created equal. What type of trail will you hike? Rocky, dirt, paved? Is there a lot of brush? The type of terrain may impact your decision depending on your skill level. It will also determine what kind of gear you’ll need for your hike. For example, rough terrain often requires taller, sturdier boots to avoid rolling your ankle. For a flat, paved trail, sturdy running shoes may do the trick. You can check out local hiking blogs and social media accounts to get the 411 for hikes in your area. It’s also a good idea to research what kind of nature you might encounter: poison oak, snakes (especially important if you are bringing dogs and kids!), and ticks, to name a few.

Crowds

Being too crowded is no fun, but totally deserted is unsafe (and a little boring). Check blogs or local message boards to see what type of crowds typically frequent the trail you have your eye on. Don’t forget to say hi to those you pass on the trail! Trail etiquette dictates a quick “hi, how are you?” when you pass fellow hikers.

If you’re a beginner, it may be a good idea to pick a trail that is more popular in case you have questions, get lost, or (hopefully not!) have an emergency. It’s also wise to go hiking with a friend so you’re not alone. If you don’t have a hiking buddy—and even if you do—send the details of your hike to a trusted friend who will be in range of cell service. Include the location of your hike, a map of the trail, the approximate start time, and how long you anticipate the hike to take. This way, if anything goes awry, your friend will have ample information to help organize a search and make sure you are safe.

We hope these tips helped and give you an idea of what to look for when choosing a hike for Trail Blazers! Still have questions or need advice? Email us here.

See you on the trail!