I wish I had one easy answer for you. Wouldn’t it be great to say, “Oh, you just check this magic website called…”. I’m sorry, it doesn’t exist. Instead, you have to check in a bunch of places.

I’ve got tips for where to find trail conditions for hikes all over Canada and the United States. I’ve also got some general tips on how to prepare for a hike.

In this post you’ll find:

• How to find trail conditions: eight places to check
• Why is checking trail conditions important? What will happen if you don’t?
• What should you do if you can’t find up-to-date trail conditions? Should you hike anyway?

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

How to Find Trail Conditions

Check Park Websites

Many, national, state, provincial and regional park websites have a trail conditions section written by a park ranger. Some parks may update their conditions less frequently than others, but it’s often worth looking anyway.

Look up which park the trail you plan to hike is in, then head to the park website. Finding the trail conditions section can be tricky on some parks’ websites. Look for a pinned advisory at the top of the page or click through to the “hiking” or “planning your trip” sections.

If you can’t find the info you want on their website, some parks (especially National Parks) have visitor centers or ranger stations you can call or visit before your hike.

Read Trail Reviews on AllTrails

By far the most popular hiking app in North America is AllTrails. Lots of people use it to find nearby hikes, but you can also use it to leave reviews for hikes. If you scroll through the recent comments, you can often find valuable trail conditions info.

However, keep in mind that, unlike park ranger-generated trail conditions reports, regular people with a variety of hiking experience levels write AllTrails reviews. That means that you should take these reviews with a grain of salt. Some reviews might overstate the hazards while others might downplay them.

Check Instagram

You might be using Instagram to find hiking inspo. But I also find Instagram really helpful for checking trail conditions since it is so visual. Use the in-app search function to find the area you want to hike and be sure to check both the location tag and hashtag feeds. Choose “more recent” rather than “most popular”.

Be sure to check the date the photo was posted AND the caption to make sure you are looking at a current photo, not a throwback shot. And keep in mind that most people post photos of the beautiful parts of the hike, not the hard stuff or the ugly stuff, so you likely aren’t getting the full picture.

The Instagram community is quite friendly so if you see a recent photo from an area you want to hike, go ahead and ask for more info about trail conditions in a comment. You might get the best info that way, and make a new online friend.

Scroll Through Facebook Groups and Subreddits

These days there is a regional Facebook group or Subreddit for hiking pretty much everywhere. To find a local one in your area, search “[name of your city/region] hiking” on Facebook or Reddit. (On Facebook you will also want to filter by groups.)

Backcountry skiing or mountaineering groups can be helpful too since they often share the same approach trails as hikers. Some bucket list trails or national parks also have their own Facebook groups or sub-Reddits.

Before you add a post to the group asking for trail conditions, scroll through the most recent posts or use the search bar to see if someone else has already added info about the trail you are looking for.

Just like with Instagram or All Trails, keep in mind that the responses you get about trail conditions will come from people with various levels of experience and risk tolerance.

Check Web Cams

Webcams can be really helpful to judge current snow conditions, especially in the spring and fall when snow cover can be hard to predict. Very few trails have live webcams, but you can often find webcams close to trails. The most useful webcams are ones at roughly the same elevation as the trail you plan to hike.

Ski area and highway webcams can be a great resource. Google ski areas near where you want to hike or visit state or provincial highways websites to find them.

Look at Recent Aerial Photos on Copernicus Browser

One of my favourite ways to check snow cover is to check Copernicus Browser. It provides up-to-date satellite images from around the world. (FYI: This site used to be known as Sentinel Hub Playground.)

But keep in mind that when the snow is melting, the forests can often look green in the photos but there is snow hiding under the branches! Be sure to look for clearings, roads, and lakes to see if there is snow there.

The interface for Copernicus Browser is not intuitive. But if all you want to do is navigate to a named place and look at a recent satellite photo, it’s pretty easy to use.

You can scroll around to find the location you want or use the search bar to find named locations. You can also use the calendar to see when the most recent satellite photo was taken. Or you can adjust the date to find satellite photos from dates in the past. The calendar also shows which dates have photos with clear skies and which ones are obscured by clouds.

Look Up Smoke and Fire Info on FireSmoke

Unfortunately, in many places, summer is forest fire season for hikers. Even if no fires are burning near your hiking destination, winds can push smoke for hundreds of kilometres, making for an unpleasant hike or dangerous air quality.

I like to check the smoke forecast map on FireSmoke before my trip so I know what to expect. It uses an easy-to-understand animation that overlays the boundaries of nearby fires on a map along with a projection of where the smoke will blow. Colours show you how “bad” the air quality will be. You can also toggle between an hourly forecast, daily average, and daily maximum.

I’ve got a whole guide to safe hiking in wildfire season with more tips.

Check the Avalanche Forecast

Snow + slopes = avalanches. Hikers and snowshoers need to know the avalanche forecast to stay safe. In the United States, use Avalanche.org. In Canada, check the forecast on Avalanche.ca.

Posted forecasts will give you an idea of the snow conditions as well as what types of terrain are the most susceptible to avalanches.

There are no avalanche forecasts in the spring and early summer, but there can still be lots of snow in the mountains. You need to know how to recognize and avoid avalanche terrain when you hike. That means avoiding travelling on or below steep, snow-covered slopes. I like to use the slope angle overlay on Gaia GPS to help identify slopes that could slide.

Why is Checking Trail Conditions Important?

There’s nothing worse than getting halfway up a mountain to be stopped by snow. Or getting eaten alive by bugs because you didn’t bring bug spray and a long-sleeved shirt.

If you research the trail conditions ahead of time you have a higher chance of having fun since you’ll be able to pick an appropriate destination for your abilities, the weather and the current trail conditions. You’ll also bring the right gear and give yourself enough time to complete your hike.

More importantly, you’ll have a much higher chance of staying safe and avoiding getting lost. The first principle of Leave No Trace is to plan ahead and prepare, and checking trail conditions is an important part of that. Search and Rescue gets called out nearly every weekend for someone who didn’t check trail conditions. Don’t let it be you.

What Should You Do if You Can’t Find Up-to-Date Trail Conditions?

If you can’t find up-to-date trail conditions you have two choices: 1) Pick a different hike, or 2) Go anyway but bring lots of extra gear. Consider bringing gear for safe snow travel, such as an ice axe, trekking poles, microspikes, or snowshoes. Bring extra clothing for cold and wet conditions. Pack extra food and water in case it takes longer than you think.

Once you are on the trail (or even on the access road to the trail), be prepared to turn around if you face conditions that you aren’t prepared for. Flooded trails, slippery snow, washed-out bridges, blowdown trees obscuring the path and undrivable access roads are all good reasons to consider turning around.

It’s also a good idea to have a backup hike in the same area so you can do another nearby hike if the one you picked doesn’t work out.

Final Thoughts

I’ve definitely had some mishaps when I failed to check trail conditions. I remember one early summer hike when I didn’t check trail conditions and ended up post-holing into knee-deep snow for hours…. while wearing shorts. My shins got so cut up and my feet were soaked. Lesson learned: check the trail conditions!

What’s your favourite place to find good info on trail conditions? Tell me in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• 16 Things to Do Before a Hike
• The 10 Essentials: Things You Should Bring on Every Hike
• How to Leave No Trace (And Why it’s Important!)
• The Best Weather Apps for Hiking
• Tips for Safe Hiking in Wildfire Season

The post How to Find Trail Conditions appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Over the years I’ve developed a bit of a routine before each hike. Keeping this simple checklist in mind makes sure that I stay safe on the trails. AND it also makes sure that I have fun since I’m much less likely to get so tired that I don’t enjoy it or end up soaking wet in a rainstorm. Read on for my recommendations for things to do before a hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Find Some Hiking Buddies

In general, hiking in a group is better. For starters, it’s more fun. But safety is the real reason it’s better to hike with friends. You can help each other if someone gets hurt. And it’s less likely you’ll have a negative animal encounter since wildlife tends to stay away from groups. (Read more about bear safety if you’re worried.)

In general, the ideal group size is four. That way if someone gets hurt, one person can stay with them while the other two go for help.

But when hiking, it’s not really “the more, the merrier”. Large groups are difficult to keep together on the trail, can be loud and disruptive to other hikers, and have a greater impact on the environment. Leave No Trace and many land management agencies recommend 10 or 12 people as the maximum group size.

While groups are ideal, hiking alone can have its own rewards. I do hike by myself sometimes, but I’m really careful and only do it on easier hikes. Here are my thoughts and tips on hiking alone.

Research Trail Options

Do some research and pick a trail to hike. This means more than scrolling through Instagram and picking somewhere that looks epic. Look at trail websites, blogs and park websites. Pick up a guidebook.

Find out some key pieces of info about the hike: How hard is it? How far is it? How much elevation gain is there? Make sure you choose a hike that is within the abilities of you and your group. If you’re just starting out, pick easier hikes, then work up to harder ones.

Make Sure You Have Enough Time

Accidents happen when you’re rushing or trying to hike at night. Make sure you have enough time to complete your hike.

Research how long it usually takes people to hike, then add in a bit more time as a buffer. Don’t forget to look up how long it will take you to drive there. And check what time the sun sets. You don’t want to be caught out after dark.

Read Up on Local Regulations

In many places, rules and regulations are in place to protect the natural environment and make sure all users have a positive experience. Check park websites to find out if you need a reservation, permit or park pass. (For example, in Vancouver, some trails require day passes.) Find out if any areas are closed and if dogs or campfires are allowed.

Check Trail Conditions

There’s nothing worse than getting halfway up a mountain to be stopped by snow. If you research the trail conditions ahead of time you have a higher chance of having fun. More importantly, you’ll have a much higher chance of staying safe and avoid getting lost. The first principle of Leave No Trace is plan ahead and prepare, and checking trail conditions is an important part of that.

These days, there are a LOT of places to check trail conditions. Try Instagram, hiking groups, and park websites. I’ve got a whole post about How to Find Trail Conditions with more info.

Get the Weather and Avalanche Forecasts

Find out if it’s going to rain or snow and how cold it’s going to be. Then pack clothes to match the weather. If you are going hiking in the mountains, keep in mind that the weather in the city isn’t the same.

READ NEXT: The Best Weather Apps for Hiking

If you hike in winter, make sure you check the avalanche forecast on avalanche.ca (Canada) or avalanche.org (USA). If you don’t have avalanche training, you should probably stay out of avalanche terrain if the forecast is anything except low.

Dress for the Conditions

In general, it’s a good idea to wear moisture-wicking and quick-drying clothing when hiking. This means choosing polyester, nylon or merino wool clothing and avoiding cotton, which soaks up moisture. Dress in layers so you can add or remove clothing as the temperature changes. (Read more about what to wear hiking.)

Even if you’ve checked the forecast, the weather can change fast. It’s a good idea to have an extra warm layer and a rain jacket in your pack just in case.

Take Care of Your Feet 

The secret to happy hiking is happy feet. Wear hiking boots or trail runners that fit you and grip the trail. Prevent blisters by wearing wool-blend socks or pre-taping problem areas. And don’t forget to cut your toenails. (For a whole list of anti-blister techniques, check out my Blister Prevention Tips.)

Pack the 10 Essentials

Bring a backpack to carry your gear. Make sure you pack the 10 Essentials. These are 10 safety items that you should always have with you on every hike:

• headlamp,
• food and water,
• warm clothing,
• map or other navigation aid,
• fire starter,
• first aid kit,
• emergency shelter,
• sun protection,
• knife,
• communication device

Read my post about the 10 Essentials for full details.

Avoid Getting Lost

Make sure you stay on track by bringing a trail map and a copy of the trail description. If you choose to bring electronic copies on your phone, make sure you have a USB power bank as backup. A GPS or GPS app is also a good idea. 

Pack Snacks… Lots of Snacks

Hiking makes you hungry. Make sure you pack enough food for your trip. It’s a good idea to bring more food than you think you’ll need.

I always keep a few extra bars in my backpack. That way I have emergency food if the hike takes longer than we thought, if someone gets injured and we need to wait for help or if a friend forgets their snacks.

It’s also a great idea to leave some snacks in the car. Nothing tastes better after a long day on the trail than some nice salty potato chips!

Bring a Garbage Bag

Plan ahead to reduce waste. Bring a garbage bag to carry out everything you brought with you. That includes organic waste like apple cores and banana peels. (Read more about organic waste in my post about Why it’s Important to Leave No Trace.)

You can also use your garbage bag to pick up any trash you find. It’s great to leave the trail better than you found it!

Fill Up a Water Bottle

Bring a water bottle or hydration reservoir. Dehydration is no joke. In general, about 2L of water is a good amount for a day hike. HOWEVER, if the hike is hard or it’s hot out, you’ll need much more.

Find out if there are creeks along the way, then bring a filter or water treatment tablets. Giardia (a.k.a. beaver fever) is also no joke. 

Check Your Gear

Make sure your gear works and you know how to use it. You don’t want to figure out how to use your GPS for the first time at the trailhead. Double-check the contents of your first aid kit before each hike. I always find something I’ve run out of like bandaids or painkillers.

And make sure your batteries are charged. Phone battery, GPS battery, headlamp battery, camera battery… we carry so many electronics these days! Make sure you aren’t forgetting anything: use my simple backpacking gear checklist.

Be Prepared to go to the Bathroom

Everybody pees and poops, but none of us talk about it. Find out if there are toilets on the trail and try to go to the bathroom before your hike. I always pack toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and a small trowel in my pack just in case. (For more info on going to the bathroom outside, check out my post about Leave No Trace.)

Leave a Trip Plan

This is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do before going on a hike. Tell a friend where you are going and when you expect to be back. That way, someone will know to look for you if you get lost or injured. Adventure Smart has a great trip planning app and online form.

So there’s my list of things you should do before a hike. It may sound like a lot, but honestly, I find the pre-trip research fun. I also keep my daypack partially packed with most of the 10 essentials and my bathroom kit so it doesn’t take me long to get ready. How many of these steps are you already doing before each hike? Tell me in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• The 10 Essentials: Things You Should Bring on Every Hike
• How to Avoid Bees and Wasps While Hiking
• Backpacking for Beginners: Tips for Getting Started
• How to Leave No Trace (And Why it’s Important!)
• How to Leave No Trace With Dogs
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• Coastal Hiking Tips: Advice for Beach Backpacking
• Hiking Solo: My Tips
• How to Find Trail Conditions
• How to Prevent Blisters When Hiking
• 15 Ways to Avoid Crowded Hiking Trails
• 17 Ways to Save Money on Hiking Gear
• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking

The post 16 Things to do Before a Hike appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.