Our Go To Hiking Resources
it is national hiking day!
Woohoo, it’s National Hiking Day! It is the perfect day to get outside and explore! Take this time to find a tail and break a sweat, spot new animals, or see a breathtaking view. Whether you live in the city or the country, today would be a great day to find a path and go on an adventure!
Different Types of Hikes
There are different ways that you can celebrate National Hiking Day!
Go for a nature walk around a lake!
These trails are always great places to see birds, frogs, fish, and so many more little creatures!Find a hike to a viewpoint!
You can take a little road trip out of the city and find some beautiful hikes that have incredible views. These hikes do not have to be very long. They can be from 30 minutes up to a few hours depending on how much you want to explore!Take a longer hike!
You can pack gear and stay at the top of the hill for a night! You can even take it to the next step and do a multi-day hike!
What to Pack on Your Hike
It is so important to be prepared, especially when you are going out in nature. Here are a few things that you should have with you when you go on your next adventure!
Water! No matter how long your hike is, always make sure you pack water.
Layers! You never know if the weather is going to abruptly change or not so always make sure you have a few layers to either bundle up or take off.
Sunscreen and insect repellant! Even on cloudy days there is sun exposure so make sure to lather on the sunscreen! Bugs can also be out in the wild so make sure you bring repellant!
Hat! It can be a good idea to wear a hat to help shield you from the sun.
Snacks! No matter how long you are hiking, it is a good idea to pack some food because hiking is a lot of work, and it can make you hungry! Some good snacks could be trail mix and granola bars. Make sure you don’t leave any garbage on the trail though and you bring it all back down the mountain!
Bell, horn, or whistle! You can never be too safe, so it would be a good idea to bring something with you that could scare off wildlife, your group gets separated, or to get the attention of other hikers in case of an emergency.
A first aid kit! Hiking can lead to some scraped knees, so it may be a good idea to take some bandaids and a few other aid pieces with you.
Navigation! Make sure you know where you are going! Take a map, compass, or whatever you need to make sure you don’t get lost. Looking up the route beforehand can help prevent wrong turns!
Good footwear! This one may seem obvious, but sometimes people misjudge how slippery, rocky, or steep trails can be, so make sure you have running or hiking shoes!
Light! Especially if you are starting your hike later in the day, it is not a bad idea to bring a light with you. Once the sun goes down on the trail, there are no street lights so make sure you have something to light the way!
This list will be a lot more extensive if you decide to do a longer hike, so make sure to look up everything you’ll need!
How to find your next hike
Go to a local bookstore and look for a book or magazine on hiking!
Search the internet for hikes near you!
Ask your family and friends if they have any recommendations!
Go to your local tourism information centre and see if they have any brochures or hiking guides. They can also let you know if hikes are open and if there are any animals in the area.
Enquire at adventure stores where employees generally have adventurous lives and then they could also show you gear that may be useful on your hike!
Consult an adventure guide company! Especially if you want to go on a longer or more difficult hike, they will have a lot of information on the hike and be able to help you prepare.
Top National Hikes in the United States
Here are some of the best National Parks in the United States where you can go for an adventure!
Yosemite National Park
This is a beautiful park located in California where you will hike through valleys and meadows.
Mount Rainier National Park
Located in Washington, this is an active volcano where you can hike over 260 miles of maintained trails.
Acadia National Park
Take a trip to Maine and explore the coastal trails in the beautiful park that was named after a region in Greece that it resembles.
Arches National Park
Want to see beautiful red arches? This is the park for you! With tons of trails to hike, you may even find some prehistoric rock markings can be found at the Courthouse Wash in Arches.
Yellowstone National Park
This famous park is known for its active geysers, hydrothermal features, and bison that is located in Montana.
Grand Canyon National Park
Who hasn’t heard about this park? It may be the most well-known in the United States, but it is well worth the fame! Explore the great park, find the hidden caves, and spot the ancient fossils.
Glacier National Park
Take a switch from the desert parks to this one which has over 700 miles of green trails with outstanding scenic views and 26 glaciers.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Why does it have smoky in the name? It has a “smoke” that hangs over it that is actually created by the plants in the park!
Crater Lake National Park
A massive crater that has turned into a massive lake? What else do you need? Hike along this massive lake and take in the view in Oregon!
North Cascades National Park
This park is located in Washington and is home to lots of wildlife such as gray wolves, black bears, and river otters!
where to next?
Where is your favourite place to hike? Tag us in your photos on your next hike with our hashtag #LeafExplorations!