• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

TotalHiker

Your Hiking Guide

  • Apparel
  • Gear
  • Hikes
  • Info
Total Hiker > Hiking Info > Beginner > 10 Tips for Successful Beginner Hikes

10 Tips for Successful Beginner Hikes

Hiking is a really accessible way for people of all fitness levels to get some exercise.

It is affordable, low-impact and burns calories.

Plus, getting out and about is much more interesting an experience than walking on a treadmill.

Follow these ten steps and you will have a great hike on your first hiking adventure.

Trail difficulty

Trails in most areas are marked with beginner, intermediate and advanced labels or different colors or numbers to indicate how difficult they are. While there is no set "standard", these grades are determined by the park or the manager of the trails but they will give you a good idea.

The people in charge are very familiar with their trails and are used to labeling the trails. They take into account how long it is, how steep it is, the elevation gain or loss, and obstacles such as streams, rocky places, or even large downed trees.

Determining which trail is right for you can be a challenge, but if you use the guidelines below you should find hiking areas right for you.

  • Beginner – Anyone who can walk down the street can comfortably walk on these trails as well.
  • Intermediate – Moderately fit people who can walk for several miles and exercise regularly can tackle these trails.
  • Advanced – These require a very high level of fitness. No one with ankle, knee, hip, or general leg problems should attempt these hiking trails.

Gear

Beginners on easier trails can certainly wear a good pair of sturdier sneakers or other athletic shoes to begin their hiking adventure. These trails are usually smoother and maintained so there is nothing to climb over or rough patches to walk on.

>>  What Are The Different Types of Hiking?

If you intend to make hiking a regular thing, investing in a comfortable pair of hiking shoes or boots is a smart move. These should be waterproof, with good quality soles, and have some support for your ankles.

Carry a comfortable backpack or wear a waist pack to carry not only your wallet and car keys but also the essential equipment that every hiker should have.

This includes a basic first aid kit, trail map and, if the weather is changeable, an extra layer of clothing helps stay comfortable. Always use sunscreen and insect repellent before you head out to the trails.

Weather forecast

View the day's weather reports before deciding to hike or not. If you do decide to go out when there is a chance of rain, always bring a waterproof poncho or other gear to stay comfortable and dry.

Water, and High-Energy Snacks

Even hiking in the shade of the woods or on a cloudy day can dehydrate you from exertion. These effects will be even quicker in the sun or heat.

The general rule of thumb is to bring eight ounces of water for every 15 minutes you will be hiking.

A healthy snack, perhaps trail mix with nuts and berries, fruit or peanut butter crackers, should be consumed every 60 to 90 minutes to keep your energy levels high and blood sugar stable.

Fitness Level

Hiking is not a competition to see how advanced you can get quickly. Pay attention to your body and know your limitations.

Trails that tend to go downhill are harder on your knees and ankles than flat terrain. If you have these joint problems, invest in a pair of hiking poles that can help you stabilize yourself while tackling hills and inclines.

>>  7 Unwritten Rules of the Hiking Trail

Hiking pace

Hike at a safe and steady pace. The first 10-15 minutes can be counted as the warm-up stage – once the body and muscles are warm, the pace can gradually increase.

Listen to the body when hiking and travel at a pace that is comfortable and still lets you easily hold a conversation while moving.

Solo trips

Solo trips when first starting out with hiking should be avoided. A preferred outing for the beginner hiker is in small groups or at least in pairs.

Plus, leave a route plan with a trusted friend before setting out.

Respect nature

Use designated trails and paths to increase safety and preserve the wilderness areas. Make sure to comply with the guidelines and rules issued by the state park or other authority.

Abide by proper hiking etiquette and avoid being overly noisy, don't litter, or destroy natural items such as flowers.

Poisonous plants

Keep a wide berth of poisonous plants in the area.

Never be tempted to eat wild berries or plants because a lot of these can have a negative impact on health.

Similar to the plants, it is also best to respect wild animals and stay well clear of those noticed in the wilderness.

Hike length

Beginner hikers should stick to safe walking distances when first starting out to avoid running out of steam halfway through a hike.

A tired body is certain to be more vulnerable to suffering from sprains and twists. A hike within a distance of 2 miles is the practical starting point for the beginner.

With confidence and experience, it is possible to slowly stretch the hiking distance while also increasing the difficulty of the hiking terrain.

>>  How to Get Into Hiking

Summary

Hiking is a really great way of getting some exercise, helping with your mental health and seeing the wonderful world out there.

You can start very easily with just a good pair of sneakers and a few provisions. As you build up your fitness and skills, a whole new world will open up before you.

So why not get out on the trails?

Contents

  • 1 Trail difficulty
  • 2 Gear
  • 3 Weather forecast
  • 4 Water, and High-Energy Snacks
  • 5 Fitness Level
  • 6 Hiking pace
  • 7 Solo trips
  • 8 Respect nature
  • 9 Poisonous plants
  • 10 Hike length
  • 11 Summary

May 25, 2021

Primary Sidebar

What Is Hammock Camping

What is Hammock Camping? Our Guide On How To Hammock Camp

How To Get Into Hiking

How to Get Into Hiking

Hydration Packs 101

Hydration Packs 101 - Our Guide to Water Packs and Bladders

Practice Camping Get Accustomed to Sleeping Outdoors

Practice Camping & Get Accustomed to Sleeping Outdoors

Beginner Backpacker Tips & Advice

Beginner Backpacker Tips & Advice To Get You Safely On The Trails

HIKING FAQS

Hiking FAQs

More for Beginners >>

Footer

  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • About Total Hiker
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy & Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us

Affiliate Disclosure

We believe in being as transparent as possible when it comes to this site. With this in mind, please be aware that we may receive remuneration for some of the products we review on this site.

Total Hiker is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com (and other Amazon programs).

We will also list ads from time to time. You should be able to see these as text links or blocks of ads which have a small notation indicating “Ads by Google” or “AdChoices”.

Our mission is to help our visitors, but this is also very clearly a for-profit site and you should realize as much. We include only those products that we believe could benefit you, some of which we may get a commission if you purchase them. However, we also provide links on the site to information resources for which we receive no compensation.

If you have any questions whatsoever, please contact us using the "contact" option on the site menu and we will be happy to answer any questions.

Trademark Dislosure

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

In addition, any other trademarks and logos we mention on this site are also the property of their respective owners.

Copyright © 2022 Total Hiker