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Tips for Planning your Solo Backpacking Trip

by Mary Cochenour
written by Mary Cochenour

Solo backpacking can be the ultimate meditation experience. You can travel at your own pace, view beautiful scenery in solitude, and really get the chance to tune into your environment with minimal distractions. But, for some, venturing out to the backcountry alone conjures up visions of long, wide-eyed nights in the sleeping bag, wondering what is making that noise outside the tent?

Whether you’re committed to conquering solo backpacking by choice or forced to go alone because your trail partners can’t get time away from work, this article offers some tips to help you make the transition from backpacking with others to backpacking alone with confidence and ease. If you’re already backpacking solo, review these tips for additional ideas for safety and comfort.

Master Backpacking with Others First

If you’re just starting out with backpacking, spend a whole season, or longer, backpacking with others before trying a solo trip. Get your kit dialed and become familiar with how everything works. Get comfortable with camping in the backcountry and develop basic navigation skills with other people around before trying a trip alone.

Three backpackers hiking on a trail along side a bubbling creek with a rocky mountain in background.

Tap into your backpacking friends and family to mentor you through the beginning stages. If that’s not possible, look to outdoor clubs, groups, and guided trips to introduce you to backpacking. After you’re comfortable with group backpacking, you’ll be more prepared, both physically and mentally, to try solo.

Plan and Prepare at Home

With all of its benefits, backpacking solo has become wildly popular. In fact, more than 60 percent of hikers surveyed last year started their thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail alone. That’s thousands of people that hit the trail solo last year, and if they can do it, so can you.

The first steps to joining the solo ranks start at home. Use these tips to thoroughly research and plan your first solo backpack trip from the comfort of your couch. Knowing all you can about the area prepares you for your trip and eases any anxiety you might have about heading into the wild alone.

A woman backpacker holding and looking at a phone with a topographical map on the screen.

Select a Familiar Area

Choosing an area that you know well will boost your confidence when you’re hiking and camping alone. Start with an area that you’ve hiked many times before. If you’ve only hiked it with company, try a solo day trip before backpacking there by yourself. On your solo day hike, take note of all the major points of interest, such as creek crossings, trail junctions, potential campsites, and major landmarks like peaks and lakes. Track your hike using Gaia GPS and drop waypoints along the way for those notable points of interest. You can pull them up later when you head out on your solo backpack trip.

A desktop computer screen showing a topographical map on Gaia GPS website and a menu of waypoint options.

Choose a Well-Traveled Trail

If you’re feeling timid about being out in the backcountry alone, pick a high-use trail for your first time out. Seeing other hikers on the trail, hanging out at a lake, or camping nearby gives the sense that, although you are by yourself, you are not truly alone. If something goes wrong and you need assistance, you can bet another hiker will arrive shortly to give you a hand.

Another benefit of a busy trail is that you can and should wait for other hikers to come along before tackling any serious backcountry hazard. Crossing a swollen creek and traversing a steep snowfield are safer when you are with a buddy — even if they’re someone you just met a few minutes ago on the trail.

A man with an Osprey backpack facing away from the camera and looking at a mountain

Start Small

Starting out with a low-mileage trip will help you decide if you like solo travel without making a huge commitment. Plus, a manageable itinerary will set you up for success by increasing your chances of cooking dinner, setting up camp, and getting comfortable with the surroundings before the sun goes down.

Plan a route with daily mileage and elevation gains that are well within your reach and close enough to the trailhead that you could bail out in just a few hours if you decide to pull the plug on the adventure. And make sure you test out a series of one-night jaunts before taking on a multi-day hike. Ease into solo backpacking until you can be sure that you enjoy being alone outside.

Research the Terrain Online

Once you’ve selected an area that you’re comfortable with, go to gaiagps.com and pore over your favorite topo maps. Check out the surrounding landscape using satellite imagery. Get a good sense of the lay of the land, noting major landmarks, your planned campsite, trail junctions, and any side routes that you could use to bail out in case of an emergency. Create a waypoint for these important features and add notes to revisit later. Check for public tracks and, if you find one that matches your exact route, add it to your account. Finally, create a route of your planned hike and share that route with your friends and family so that people back home know your exact plan.

Next, look on blogs, Reddit groups, YouTube, and Vimeo for trip reports. Trip reports often contain images or videos that can give you a clue as to trail conditions, camping locations, and hazards like creek crossings or snowfields. Check in with relevant social media groups for current conditions. It’s amazing what you can find with a hashtag. Visit land agency websites for updates on conditions and permit requirements, call if you have questions.

Camp in a Designated Backcountry Campsite

If you want to be around other campers on your first night out alone, plan a trip to a national park that has designated backcountry campsites. Many parks — Glacier, Zion, and Mount Rainier, just to name a few — require backpackers to camp in designated sites and often these sites are clustered. These designated campgrounds are a good way to test out your solo camping game, but with the security of having other people within earshot.

Scope Out the Animals

Curb your fears about bears, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes by scoping out what animals live in the area you’ll be visiting. Search national park and forest service websites and call the ranger station for information about what animals you’d expect to see. For animals that concern you, find out what they look like, their tracks, the animal population numbers, their specific habitat, and any reports of human encounters. Also, find out what noises animals make in the area you are visiting. Owls, grouse, and elk in rut make significant noise in the backcountry and you’ll save a lot of worry inside the tent if you are familiar with their sounds.

Answering these questions will help you assess the risk of experiencing an animal encounter when you’re out on the trail alone. For example, you might learn that you will be traveling through bear habitat, but that the bear population is diminutive, mostly confined to the area’s lower elevation valleys, and there exists no prior history of human interaction. Knowledge can help you make decisions about where to camp in bear country and control your worry and vivid imagination.

A solo backpacker walking along a beach with cliffs in the background,

Pick the Perfect Time

The perfect time for solo backpacking is when the conditions are the most comfortable. Don’t plan to go in the rainy season, during peak bug levels, or in the late fall when there are minimal hours of daylight and cold temperatures. All of these situations will have you cooped up in your tent for long hours.

Instead, research the area and call the ranger station to find out if the bugs are on the decline. Look up weather patterns and pick the month with the least amount of average rainfall. Go when the days are long and bright if conditions permit.

Share Your Itinerary

Tell someone at home exactly where you plan to go. Give them all the details. Write down or send an email letting them know which trailhead you will start and finish from, where you plan to camp, and when you will notify them upon return to town, and when they should start to worry. Give them an exact date and time when they should call for help if you fail to contact them. Share your Gaia GPS recorded track with them. Have a plan and stick to it.

Learn the Skills to Stay Safe

Get First Aid Training

Take a wilderness first aid class before venturing out on your first solo backpack trip. Studies show that the top three backcountry injuries include soft tissue injuries, lacerations, and sprains while the top three illnesses include chest pain, dizziness, and diarrhea. Take a wilderness first aid class to prepare you to deal with a variety of medical emergencies should one arise. Knowing some first aid is beneficial to you and anyone you might come across in the wild who is sick or injured.

Take a Backcountry Navigation Course

Andrew Skurka teaching backcountry navigation at 11,000+ feet in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Solo hikers are more likely to get lost than hikers who are part of a group, according to one study conducted in Yosemite. Knowing how to read a map, use a compass, and understand electronic navigation will help you stay found in the backcountry. As a solo hiker, you’ll be making all the decisions on where to go and having the skills to navigate around the backcountry will boost your confidence outside even if you stick to a well-defined path.

Gear Considerations for Solo Backpacking

Go Lightweight

Backpacking solo requires the same gear as backpacking with friends. But without friends, there’s no chance of splitting up gear and your pack will be heavier when going solo. Those items you’re used to sharing, like a water filter, tent, first aid kit, and stove, you’ll be carrying on your own.

Adventure Alan camping with his 9-pound base weight.

Solo backpacking is a great opportunity to scrutinize your gear list and shave any unnecessary weight. Focus on dropping pounds with a lighter tent, sleep system, and backpack, and then move through the rest of your gear to determine if any ounces can be left behind. Ditch luxury items like a camp chair, heavy food items, and extra camera gear to keep your pack at a reasonable weight when soloing.

Get a Satellite Communicator

Invest in a good satellite communicator device. This device will allow you to send text messages outside of cell range. You can text your family at night to let them know your status. You can also press the SOS button and send a message for help if the need arises. The goal is to never have to use such a device, but having the capability to send for help in case of an accident is well worth the cost in both money and extra weight in your pack.

A woman hiker standing on a rock looking out into a foggy mountain valley.

Hike with Confidence

Many solo hikers are more concerned about encounters with people than run-ins with wild animals. Think through a plan on how you will act if you run into sketchy people in the backcountry. When approaching people you are concerned about, try sprinkling a little confidence in your step. Walk by them briskly, leaving no time for conversation.

If you get caught up in questions, be vague with your answers. Don’t tell strangers exactly where you plan to camp, how long you’ll be out on your trip, or that you are traveling alone. Have a fake story ready if someone who gives you the creeps starts asking too many questions. Be ready to tell them about your imaginary friends who are just a half-mile behind you, the made-up ranger who checked your permit 10 minutes ago, and make up a campsite location that is no less than 10 miles in the opposite direction from your planned stop.

Finally, don’t broadcast on social media where you will be spending your time alone in the backcountry.

An orange tent in a mountain valley with snowy peaks in the distance.

Camp with Purpose

Consider what makes you more comfortable: camping within earshot of other backpackers or finding an out-of-the-way spot where no one would stumble upon your campsite in the dark. If you like to be near people, choose popular destinations like lakes and river crossings for camps. However, listen to your gut instinct. If you feel uncomfortable camping around people, or you get to the high-traffic camping area and the people don’t seem like a crowd you can trust, load up on water and dry camp down the trail. Choose an isolated, elevated spot so that you can peer down on any person approaching your campsite.

A man sitting on a ledge looking out at a valley, a portion of his tent is in the foreground.

Get into camp well before dark so you have time to set up and watch the sun go down. Getting used to your surroundings in the fading light takes the mystery out of the darkness. Make a plan where you will go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Finally, keep a clean camp so you don’t attract animals.

Conquer Solo Backpacking with a Friend

Finding a friend to practice solo backpacking seems counterintuitive, but it works. Plan your hikes together at home but stay separate on the trail by starting two hours apart. Camp on different ends of the lake and agree to refrain from contacting each other unless an emergency arises. Plan to meet at the car at a certain time at the end of your hike for a quick debriefing on how the trip went.

Another way to hike solo with a friend nearby is to thru-hike an area. You start at one end of the hike, and your friend starts at the other end. Your paths cross somewhere in the middle of the hike, where you exchange car keys. You’ll be miles away from your friend for most of the trip, but knowing that you will meet a familiar face along the way provides encouragement and incentive to keep going forward.

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AdventuresGaia GPSNew Maps

South Australia Topo: Maps for Kangaroo Island, Flinders Range, the Coastline and More

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Gaia GPS’s Australia map collection now includes South Australia Topo. For adventurers down under, this authoritative government-produced map unlocks five areas from the coast to the mountains. Dial in your South Australian route with detailed topo maps, road and track information, and key landmark notations.

What’s Included in South Australia Topo?

The South Australia Topo map includes full topographic coverage for Kangaroo Island, Flinders Range, Yorke Peninsula, Riverland & Murray Mallee, Mount Lofty Ranges, and Eyre Peninsula. Coverage extends along 3,800km of southern coast from the border of Western Australia to Victoria, and extends north to the Flinders Range.

Map details include topography, roads and tracks, buildings, and other landscape features. It also features a standard topographic map base, generated from databases maintained by South Australia’s Department of Land and Water and other state government agencies.

South Australia coastline with trees in the foreground.

About South Australia Topo

Australia’s official Government resource, Emergency Services Map Books provides the maps for South Australia Topo. Mapping scales include: 1:250k, 1:100k, 1:50k, and 1:25k. A combination of high and low resolution maps show the entire extent of coverage at every scale.

Multiple Australia maps already live in the Gaia GPS map catalog as part of Gaia GPS’s growing effort to provide maps for the entire country.

How to Access South Australia Topo in Gaia GPS

South Australia Topo maps are available for users with a Premium Membership. Gaia GPS users of all levels have access to other Australia and New Zealand maps that can all be found here.

To add the South Australia map to your collection, visit the layers menu and view the Australia/New Zealand/Asia maps category. Select South Australia Topo or choose from the list of other Australia maps available.

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AdventuresCompany NewsGaia GPS

Gaia GPS Welcomes 7 New Team Members

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to the seven newest members of the Gaia GPS team. Gaia GPS now includes 22 full-timers working on coding, design, cartography, marketing, and customer support, fully remote and distributed across the US.

It’s important that all the Gaia GPS team members are fueled by an adventurous spirit. As you’ll see below, these new folks have collectively amassed thousands of miles of exploration on foot, via bike, across open water, and in the saddle of an ATV. The team at Gaia GPS is an extension of the overall user community, and that helps keep the right focuses on new features, new maps, great user experience, and top-notch customer support.

These seven represent just the beginning of the company’s biggest round of expansion yet. If you’re interested in joining the team, click here to view our current openings and apply. We’re steadily hiring about 1 person per month.

Laura Friedland

Marketing Specialist

Favorite outdoor memory: I recently rode my bicycle from Medellín, Colombia, to the southern tip of Chile. Of the hundreds of sunsets along the way, my favorite was in Bolivia, on Salar de Uyuni—the biggest salt flat in the world. The only issue was the ~40mph winds. After three days on the salt flat, all my tent stakes were bent in half!

Proudest professional accomplishment: I teamed up with Katadyn USA and William Woodward (@wheretowillie) to create a short film about access to clean drinking water in the outdoors.

Recipe for the perfect s’more: It’s all about how you get the marshmallow off the stick. You have to clamp your stick between your knees and use two hands to sandwich the mallow between your graham crackers and chocolate. Then, you seamlessly twist the mallow off the stick into a perfect s’more. It’s a clean job every time.

Peter Liu

Software Engineer III

Favorite outdoor memory: At Þingvellir in Iceland, I walked between these two short cliffs. Turns out it was where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet, and one of the only parts of that not underwater.

Proudest professional accomplishment? A few years back I built an app to help low-income housing seekers explore new neighborhoods and presented it at the Obama White House.

Recipe for the perfect s’more: I’m pretty impatient so I just eat the marshmallows raw. Like a peasant.

Melanie Wilson

Customer Support Specialist

Favorite outdoor memory: My first solo backpacking trip sleeping on the banks of Loch Avon in the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland.

Proudest professional accomplishment: In my previous job as a librarian, I launched a collection of circulating hotspots and tablets. This collection helped reduced the negative impact of the digital divide in Lake County, Ohio, and it allowed students without internet access to complete schoolwork at home.

Recipe for the perfect s’more: I like a s’more with a little spice so instead of the standard Hershey’s chocolate I add chocolate with chilies.

Matt Palmer

UX/UI Designer


Favorite outdoor memory: A 1.5-week, self-supported bikepacking trip from Orange County, California, to Hetch Hetchy, mostly following the California Aqueduct. I had to lift my 80 pounds of bike and gear over about 80 gates, but it was worth it.

Proudest professional accomplishment: As a passion project during my time at ESRI, a friend and I collected anonymous Strava data to discover places where people were stopping on-trail. Land managers could then look at the data and identify those places as spots in need of better signage, benches for resting, or trail maintenance to fix obstacles.

Recipe for the perfect s’more: On my list to try: Some spicy cayenne dark chocolate and a cinnamon graham combo.

Adam Tootle

Software Engineer II

Favorite outdoor memory: As an anniversary gift, my wife surprised me during a trip to Mexico with an ATV tour through the Baja California Desert. None of the other scheduled riders showed up, so we ended up with a private tour. It was an amazing experience.

Proudest professional accomplishment: In the years I worked on health and wellness products, I loved receiving feedback from people who had just hit a new personal record for daily steps, or just trained for their first marathon. Building tools to help people improve their health and potentially live longer is something I’ll always be proud of.

Recipe for the perfect s’more: The only thing I’m a stickler about is how roasted the marshmallow is. Never let the marshmallow catch on fire. You have to know how to get the marshmallow right up to catch-fire level without going too far.

Jay Crooker

Customer Support Specialist


Favorite outdoor memory: Qualifying for (and competing in) the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kona, Hawai’i, in 1997.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Surviving my doctoral defense for my PhD in Analytical Chemistry.

Recipe for the perfect s’more: Heath Bar instead of chocolate. You’re welcome.

Jim Margolis

Customer Support Specialist

Favorite outdoor memory: I climbed Pingora, a peak in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, with my mother and the Grand Teton with my father. I’m close with my parents, and those adventures have been very special to me.

Proudest professional accomplishment: I’ve spent over 150 field weeks as an instructor at NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) teaching climbing, mountaineering, winter, and backpacking courses.

Recipe for the perfect s’more: I put the marshmallow on a stick and prop it about six inches from the fire until it browns. While I’m waiting, I put the chocolate on a graham cracker nearby to melt it. Once the marshmallow is ready, I use the two grahams to pull it off the stick. Really the only advanced thing I do is stuff the whole thing in my mouth at once!


Learn more about Gaia GPS’s newest employees and meet the rest of our team at gaiagps.com/company.

Still Hiring—Apply Today!

Gaia GPS is still growing. If you’re smart, motivated, and passionate about the outdoors, consider applying for a career focused on getting more people outside, and helping them stay safer every time they do. Keep an eye on the latest job postings at the Gaia GPS careers page.

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AdventuresHow-To

Get Unlost: Your Guide to Modern Backcountry Navigation

by Corey Buhay
written by Corey Buhay

Strong navigation skills are crucial to any successful backcountry outing. A watertight navigation strategy is at the core of backcountry safety—if you know where you are, you can find your way out of a number of unexpected situations. Plus, the very act of route-planning forces you to study the terrain, making you more likely to pack what you need, make good decisions, and avoid incident.

Use this guide to brush up on your gear savvy, way-finding techniques, and emergency preparedness skills before your next trip. Don’t forget to download your free Navigation Safety checklist at the bottom of the article.

Included in this guide:

  1. Case Study: Lost in the Colorado Backcountry
  2. Essential Navigation Gear
  3. Learning Basic Navigation Skills
  4. Pre-trip Navigation Checklist
  5. Navigating Group Dynamics
  6. How to Stay On Track
  7. How to Get Unlost
  8. Download your Backcountry Navigation Checklist

Case Study: Lost in the Colorado Backcountry

In October of 2017, Colorado resident Shuei Kato set out to summit 14,067-foot Missouri Mountain. An experienced hiker, Kato prepared maps for his route, and packed plenty of food and clothing. He summited successfully, but when early-season snow set in and covered the already-faint trail, he descended along the wrong route, wandering beyond the area his maps covered. Kato spent 80 hours in the backcountry, suffering from hallucinations and hypothermia.

Fortunately, Kato shared his hiking plans with his wife before he left home, and she called the authorities when he didn’t return that night. Search and rescue found him just in time.

Kato did several things right—like wearing bright colors and leaving word of his whereabouts—but could his experience have been mitigated? Kato’s brush with danger serves as a reminder that, whether we are novices or experts in the outdoors, we can all benefit from a robust pre-trip safety check.

Essential Navigation Gear

Modernize your kit

A solid approach to modern navigation is to use a GPS app as your primary navigation tool and to supplement that with skilled use of paper maps and a compass.

What are the advantages of GPS apps?

Apps like Gaia GPS will show you your exact location and heading on the map even when you’re offline or out of service. Gaia GPS also includes additional features like waypoint marking and route tracking. These features can be life-savers in low-visibility conditions like fog or snow.

Why are paper maps still relevant?

Large-scale, fold-out maps (like those by National Geographic Trails Illustrated) can help you visualize many possible routes at once. These maps are useful both when initially planning a trip, and if you change plans in the field and need to examine multiple options.

Carrying paper maps and a compass—and knowing how to use them—is also useful in case your electronic GPS fails for any reason. We always recommend bringing both electronic and paper means of navigation, to help make better decisions out in the backcountry.

What about a dedicated GPS device?

Some people might reasonably opt for a dedicated GPS device such as a Garmin, either as their primary or backup navigation method. The main advantages are that a dedicated GPS device is more ruggedized than a mobile phone, and that battery efficiency tends to be better on a single-use device. However, you can achieve similar results with a phone by using phone cases and battery accessories.

The main disadvantages of a dedicated GPS are the cost (hundreds of dollars for the unit, hundreds more for the maps), along with inferior screen size and usability. Plus, carrying a GPS unit adds weight and bulk to your pack, whereas you were probably already planning on packing your phone.

Pack Supplemental Navigation Gear

If you have a GPS and maps—and you know how to use them—then your remaining foes are emergencies, time, and weather. If you are going into the deep backcountry or into unfamiliar territory, consider gearing up further.

Extra precautions:

  • Consider packing a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon like a SPOT device, which can call rescuers or communicate with authorities if you find yourself in a life-threatening emergency outside of cell phone service.
  • Store maps in a waterproof zip-top bag.
  • Pack an external battery if you think you might need to recharge your phone or beacon while you’re in the field.
  • Purchase a guidebook or print online resources with information about nearby landmarks or hazards.

Be Prepared, even on Day hikes

Wandering off-trail in the daytime—as opposed to getting benighted or confused in bad weather—is the most common reason hikers get lost. That’s according to one study which analyzed over 100 news reports detailing search and rescue operations. The same study suggested that day hikers are the most likely to get lost and need rescue.

The takeaway? Always bring a means of navigation, even on short hikes. Even if you’ve been on the trail before. Even in daytime. And Gaia GPS is an awfully convenient way to always have a topo map in your pocket.

Learning Modern Navigation Skills

Because electronic navigation is more pervasive and easier to use than paper maps, we recommend first learning to use and understand a GPS navigation app. This includes learning to read topo maps. Make sure you’re familiar with how to download maps, zero-in on your current location, record a route or track, and determine which direction you’re heading. Also, familiarize yourself with how to mark GPS coordinates in case you need to share your location with friends or rescuers.

The second thing we recommend is learning to use a map and compass. This is particularly important for backcountry and technical trips. Learn from an experienced friend, or sign up for a navigation course through a local guide service, outdoors club, or gear shop. Figure out how to identify nearby landmarks, adjust your compass declination, take a compass heading, and triangulate your location.

Work on your skills until they’re second nature. That way, if you do get lost, you’ll be able to get back on track without second-guessing yourself.

Pre-Trip Navigation Checklist

Is your navigation strategy in order? Ask yourself these questions before you leave the trailhead.

  • Have I left my itinerary and an estimated time of return with a friend or family member?
  • Have I reviewed my route and familiarized myself with the terrain?
  • Have I checked recent weather conditions and trip reports to inform my gear list and estimated hiking time?
  • Have I downloaded or packed maps for the area I’ll be exploring?
  • Are my phone, GPS, and/or satellite beacon batteries fully charged?
  • Do I have everything I need to stay on the trail a few extra hours (or an extra night) in case of an emergency?

There are plenty of benefits to hiking alone, but studies of search and rescue operations reveal that the majority of those who lose their way on the trail do so while hiking solo. For that reason, many authorities, including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, recommend hiking in a group. Hiking partners provide a sounding board for ideas, and an extra set of eyes to double-check your map reading. Having someone to problem-solve with can also help you stay calm in case of an emergency.

If you’re hiking with others, make sure everyone understands the route plan before you set out. Also decide as a group on what time you’ll turn around if you don’t end up moving as quickly as expected. Sticking to a turnaround time ensures you avoid summit fever and get home before dark.

When you’re on the trail, avoid separating, even if you hike at naturally different paces. Instead, work together to double-check turn-offs and route directions.

How to Stay on Track

Avoid losing your way with these tips.

  • Be prepared. Familiarize yourself with your route and the surrounding terrain before you leave home, and pack proper navigation gear.
  • Check the map often. On trail, reference it at every intersection, as well as every time you take a break. Off trail, check every 30 minutes or so—less often if you have a clear landmark ahead of you, and more often if you’re in deep woods or brush.
  • Be conservative. If you come across terrain you don’t expect—like a raging water crossing or some surprise fourth-class climbing—turn around. It either means you’re off-route, or you’re unprepared for the terrain—a sure recipe for having to call in a rescue.
  • Leave waypoints. Record a track or drop waypoints in your phone or GPS unit so you have a breadcrumb trail to retrace if you get lost. This is especially useful in unreliable weather or poor visibility.


How to Get Unlost

Things starting to look a little unfamiliar? Try these strategies.

  • Take a seat. Search and rescue experts say that, as soon as you think you might be lost, you should sit down and eat a snack. You’ll make better decisions with a clear head, and research shows that doing a few rote tasks like making tea or digging out your trail mix can help restore your calm.
  • Determine your location. If you have a GPS app or device, turn it on and find a spot with a clear view of the sky so the device can pick up your coordinates. If you have a map, find a spot with a clear view of your surroundings, and triangulate your location:
  1. Look at the terrain around you. Then, match nearby landmarks like peaks or streams to the topo lines on your map
  2. Take bearings to each landmark.
  3. Transfer those bearings to the map. Your location is where those lines intersect.
  4. Use your location to find a new bearing back to the right trail.
  • Backtrack. If you’re on trail, or know which direction you came from, turn around and hike back to the last place you knew where you were. Most lost hikers get into further trouble by pushing ahead when they start to feel uncertain rather than cutting their losses and turning back.
  • Stay put. If you’re off-trail, have no idea which direction you came from, or notice dusk setting in, get comfy. Moving puts you at risk of wandering even farther from your route, lowering the odds that rescuers or other hikers will find you. This strategy can be less effective if you haven’t left word of your whereabouts with anyone, or if you’re in a remote or little-traveled area. Usually, though, it’s the safest thing to do if you’re totally lost.

    If you need to camp out and wait for help, here’s how to do it right:
    1. Find the closest safe place to camp, preferably near both water and an open clearing where rescuers will be able to spot you.
    2. If you have a working means of communication, send word to family members, friends, or authorities of your whereabouts to get a search started.
    3. Find sufficient shelter to spend the night. That could mean putting on all your layers, building a lean-to, or setting up your tent.
    4. Wear bright-colored clothing, build a trio of large brush piles, or lay out stones in a large X shape to make yourself even more visible.

Free Downloadable Navigation Safety Checklist

Download and print out this checklist. Keep it handy when planning for your next trip.

Click here to download.



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Scenic mountain view of a Colorado 14er
AdventuresGaia GPSNew Maps

The Only Map You’ll Ever Need to Climb All the Colorado 14ers

by Corey Buhay
written by Corey Buhay

Summit all 58 Colorado 14ers with just one app and one map. Now, you can get accurate, comprehensive National Geographic route information for all Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in Gaia GPS. The map includes trail mileages, elevation gain, technical climbing ratings, parking information for both 2WD and 4WD vehicles, points of reference, and detailed route notes.

You can use this map layer to guide you in real time on any peak, even when you’re offline. That’s because the Gaia GPS app uses your phone’s built-in GPS chip to pinpoint your location, no cell service required.

About the Colorado 14ers

Colorado is home to 58 peaks above 14,000 feet in elevation. That includes 14,433-foot Mount Elbert, the second highest summit in the contiguous United States. The routes up these mountains range from non-technical hikes to serious scrambles. The Knife Edge on Capitol Peak and the infamous Keyhole Route on Longs Peak are both good examples of the latter.

For many Colorado locals, as well as avid mountaineers across the U.S., summiting every 14er is a life goal. However, there is some debate about which 14ers should make the “official list.” After all, some peaks are connected by shallow saddles that make it difficult to determine where one summit ends and the other begins.

Currently, many climbers characterize a Colorado 14er as a peak above 14,000 feet with at least 300 feet of topographic prominence. In other words, it has to rise at least 300 feet above surrounding peaks to count. For that reason, you’ll hear many refer to the “53 Colorado 14ers” rather than 58. Just to be safe, the NatGeo Colorado 14ers map includes all 58.

Longs Peak Colorado
14,259-foot Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

About NatGeo Maps in Gaia GPS About NatGeo Maps in Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS has long partnered with National Geographic to provide users with the expertly designed, high-quality cartography NatGeo is known for. The NatGeo Colorado 14ers layer is the most recent addition to the Gaia GPS map catalog, which already includes NatGeo maps of the John Muir Trail, the Colorado Trail, and dozens of America’s most popular recreation destinations.

How to use the Colorado 14ers map layer

Like all National Geographic maps, the Colorado 14ers layer is available to users with a Premium Membership.

You can access it by opening the United States category of the map manager. Then, tap the plus sign next to the layer to add it to your map screen.

map of longs peak
Routes to the top of Longs Peak, as depicted on the NatGeo Colorado 14ers map.

Tips for Climbing Colorado 14ers

Hiking and climbing at high altitudes can be dangerous, and hikers get lost or seriously injured on Colorado 14ers every year. Here are some tips for packing the right kit, nabbing the summit, and getting home safe.

  1. Build up your experience level. Start with non-technical peaks, and honestly evaluate your expertise and emergency preparedness before embarking on a climb.
  2. Wait for the snow to melt. The safest time to summit a 14,000-foot peak is between mid-July and late September, when the spring snow has melted out and before fall snowstorms begin.
  3. Bring a buddy. A partner can help keep you accountable to your pre-determined turnaround time, help you make risk-management decisions, and seek help if you get sick or injured on the trail.
  4. Download maps before you head out. The sheer elevation of 14ers means most of them have service on the summit. However, the rest of the trail is often without cell reception. Always make sure you have the map you need downloaded in Gaia GPS before you leave, so you can access it no matter where you are.
  5. Start early. Aim to be back below treeline by noon; afternoon lightning storms are common in the Rocky Mountains, and often occur even when the forecast doesn’t call for them. Pulling off a successful summit often means beginning your hike well before dawn, a quintessential part of the experience known as the “alpine start.”
  6. Prepare for unpredictable weather. Temperatures can drop fast in the mountains. Look at a forecast that shows predicted weather at the top of a peak as well as at the base (we recommend mountain-forecast.com). Pack for the lows, not the highs. Always bring more food and water than you think you need, as well as a hat, gloves, a good insulating layer, and a rain shell.
  7. Pack safety equipment. Always bring a headlamp, sun protection, sun glasses, a first aid kit, and any other protection you might need from the elements should something go wrong. It’s smart to bring a satellite communication device, such as a SPOT device, as well.
  8. Beware of summit fever. No peak is worth putting yourself in danger. Turn back immediately if you see rain clouds moving in, or if you begin to experience any signs of acute mountain sickness (AMS).
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morel mushroom hunting map with burn zones and timber cut regions highlighted
AdventuresGaia GPSHow-To

How to Create The Ultimate Morel Mushroom Hunting Map

by Corey Buhay
written by Corey Buhay

The morel is perhaps one of the most prized quarries of American mushroom hunters. Its distinctive look, rich meaty flavor, and reputation for elusiveness all make for an intoxicating chase. Consequently, the locations of morel jackpots are often closely guarded secrets.

Morel mushroom hunting maps do exist, but they’re often based on reports from other foragers. If you want to find your own secret spot, or discover the hotspots locals won’t share, you’ll need to supplement those reports with a map of your own.

Tricks for Finding Morel Mushrooms

Though the exact whereabouts of morels can be difficult to predict, they are more prone to appearing at certain times and in certain locations.

Start hunting for morels in the spring, usually when tree buds just begin to open and soil temperatures hover consistently around 50 degrees. That means daytime highs in the 60s or 70s and nighttime lows in the 40s. In most places in the U.S., those conditions occur for a week or two sometime between late-March and the end of May.

A morel mushroom on the forest floor.
Morel mushroom. Photo by George P. Macklin, sourced via Flickr.


Before you head out, secure permits for foraging when required. Research local land management policies to determine responsible collection limits. Also be sure to follow other regulations and Leave No Trace policies as they apply to off-trail exploration.

In the early season, look on warmer south- and west-facing slopes and at lower elevations. Later in the season, move your hunt uphill and on cooler north- and east-facing slopes. Morel mushrooms tend to favor damp, well-drained soils.

Look around ash, elm, or cottonwood trees, particularly ones that are dead or dying. Morels are linked to environmental distress, particularly timber cuts and, in the West, wildfire burn scars.

morel mushroom hunting in a recently burned area
In the West, hunt for burn morels in areas affected by recent wildfires.

The Best Morel Mushroom Hunting Maps

To build your own morel mushroom hunting map, you’ll need the following map layers. All of these are available in Gaia GPS, and you can layer maps on top of one another and adjust the transparency to pinpoint the spots where conditions are perfect. Usually, you’d need a Premium Membership to use them, but you can access all these maps for free for the rest of the season with the three-month free trial offered at the bottom of this page.

1) A Burn Scar Map Layer. In the Western US, morels have been known to proliferate on completely burned soil in the first growing season after a fire, especially in burned coniferous forests. Use the Wildfires (Historical, US) map layer to see burned areas color coded by year. On iOS devices, you can also tap on a burn to learn the name of the fire and see just how recent it was.


a map of areas that were recently logged for timber

2) A Timber Cut Map Layer.Use the Timber Harvests map layer to show swaths of recently felled trees, one of the harbingers of a morel mushroom gold mine. Wait for a little rain and the right temperatures, and then go prowling around the stumps.


a map of private and public land boundaries

3) Maps of Private and Public Land Boundaries.Always make sure you’re hunting for morels legally. Ask private landowners for permission to search on their property, and follow appropriate regulations on public land. In most national forests, for example, collection permits are required for morel mushroom hunting. Check the land manager’s website for specific details. Use the Private Land and Public Land maps in Gaia GPS to make sure you’re within the right boundaries.


a map showing shaded relief of a mountainous region in the US

4) Good Shaded Relief.Hillshading, or shaded relief, can help you distinguish the different aspects of a slope. This is useful for gauging how much sun it will receive. Remember: morels often favor south- and west-facing slopes in the winter and north- and east-facing slopes in the summer. In Gaia GPS, try the Shaded Relief Layerfor nationwide coverage.


a map of satellite imagery with contour lines

5) Clear Contour Lines.In Gaia GPS, you can leave waypoints to mark where you’ve found morels in previous years. If you start your hunt earlier or later in the season in subsequent years, check the elevation of the waypoint. Then, follow the contour lines (like those on this Satellite Topo base map) up or down the slope until you reach the elevation and corresponding soil temperatures that match your predictions about this season’s crop.


a map showing the rainfall forecast

6) A Rainfall Forecast Overlay. Mushrooms tend to emerge after a good rain, often appearing to suddenly pop up overnight. You’ll want to look for places where the soil is damp but not drenched. Check the forecast over your intended hunting grounds several days in advance with the 24-hour or 72-hour Precipitation Forecast overlays in Gaia GPS. The overlays show the estimated rainfall in inches.

And, finally…

a topographic base map to use with your morel mushroom hunting map

7) Reliable Topo Maps. If off-trail searching is permissible, go for it, but be sure to carry a GPS-enabled map with you. It’s easy to get turned around when your eyes are on the ground. The Gaia GPS app uses your phone’s built-in GPS chip to show your location and direction of travel even without cell service. Plus, the app lets you download maps so you can always find your way home—hopefully with a bag of morels in tow.

Tips for Responsible Morel Mushroom Hunting

Never hunt for morels or any other mushroom without consulting an expert first. Many mushrooms are toxic, and morels have dangerous lookalikes that can easily be mistaken for the real thing. Always carry a reliable field guide, but know there’s no substitute for in-person instruction from a seasoned professional, and that the consequences for misidentification can be serious.

Always be careful to observe collection limits set by land managers, and secure a permit if one’s required. Don’t over-pick any one area; like any mushroom, morels perform an important service to the ecosystem by breaking down debris in the forest floor. Plus, if you leave a few behind, they’re more likely to release more spores and ensure future harvests.

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Forrest Fenn’s Treasure has been Found

by Corey Buhay
written by Corey Buhay
Update: The Forrest Fenn treasure has been found! 
After a mythic decade of exploration, close calls, and a few fatalities, Forrest Fenn’s treasure hunt has come to an end.

On the first weekend of June 2020, someone found the bronze chest filled with about $2 million in treasure that Fenn, an art collector, had buried somewhere in the Rocky Mountains.

“It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago,” Fenn announced on his website.

Fenn did not disclose the exact location of the chest or the name of the man who found the trove.

“I do not know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot,” Fenn, age 89, told The New York Times from his Sante Fe, New Mexico home.

The unidentified man sent Fenn a photo of the treasure, the art collector says. While the finder asked to remain anonymous, Fenn notes that he hails from “back East.”

And the discovery remains finders keepers — with a caveat. The person who finds and retains property that has been lost or abandoned is subject to paying taxes “at its fair market value in the first year it’s in your undisputed possession, the I.R.S. states.

The Story Behind the Forrest Fenn Treasure

Fenn conceived of the idea of hiding a treasure chest after a grim cancer diagnosis. He was told he only had a few years left and decided he wanted to go out with some flair. Fenn selected treasures from his personal collection and made a plan to hide them. But when he outlived the doctors’ predictions, the treasure ended up sitting at home in a vault, gathering dust.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnUIrkfAAgT/

It wasn’t until the Great Recession that Fenn decided to bring the legend back to life and bury the box. Allegedly, his primary goal was to give people hope, and to encourage folks to get outside and have an adventure. Since Fenn announced he’d hidden the treasure in 2010, hundreds of thousands have gone in search of it.

The only clues as to its location? It’s above 5,000 feet in elevation. It’s not within a manmade structure, tunnel, cave, or graveyard. It’s in the Rockies somewhere between Santa Fe and the Canadian Border (but not in Idaho or Utah). And its location fits within the criteria described by the cryptic poem Fenn left in his autobiography, The Thrill of the Chase. The poem is as follows, and is said to contain all the clues necessary to find the treasure.

The Best Maps for Treasure Hunting

Fenn himself has said in interviews that he recommends using a GPS for safety reasons, and that a good plan and a good map are essential to the search. But which one?

After poring over the poem and analyzing prevailing theories as to its location, we’ve handpicked these base maps and overlays to help you create the ultimate Forrest Fenn treasure map.

1) Satellite Topo

The poem mentions a canyon and a put-in, and many searchers believe Fenn’s treasure to be hidden off-trail. Use satellite imagery to scout safe water crossings, assess potential put-ins and take-outs, and plan for the terrain. Use the added contour lines to help you stay safe and avoid steep drop-offs.

Safety note: Fenn has said that the treasure isn’t hidden underwater, but most searchers believe there may be river travel involved in finding the right spot. Carefully assess the conditions (and your own abilities) before you head out in a small craft.

2) NPS Maps

In Fenn’s book, he mentions childhood trips to Yellowstone. Some searchers believe the “warm waters” in the poem refer to the Boiling River near the border of the park. If you’re part of the contingent that believes the treasure is in Yellowstone, you’ll need access to maps from either the National Park Service or National Geographic.

3) USGS Maps

Many searchers believe that references like “home of Brown” and “in the wood” refer to proper nouns—like Brown Mountain or Wood River. Make sure you have an updated map with well-labeled place names. USGS maps are some of the most comprehensive official government maps out there, though crowd-sourced data from OpenStreetMap makes a good supplement. You can find USGS maps and multiple OSM sources within the Gaia GPS map catalog.

4) Detailed Road Maps

It’s common knowledge that Fenn drove and parked his car before he started hiking in to stash his treasure. We also know he reached the hiding spot and returned to his car within a single day. A few searchers believe this means it’s within a day’s drive of his home in Santa Fe, though this hasn’t been confirmed.

Regardless, no Forrest Fenn treasure map is complete without an accurate network of roads and trails. Make sure you have access to resources like the USFS Roads and Trails Overlay or MVUM Overlay, which show little-used roads and trails that don’t appear on other maps.

5) Private and Public Land Maps

It’s pretty well accepted that the treasure is somewhere on public land. Hiding and/or searching for it would be illegal otherwise. Even so, searchers have been arrested for poking around private property (most notably, Fenn’s). Use a map with private and public land boundaries to make sure you’re on legal ground, no matter where you search.

6) Recent Wildfires

Some speculate that the “blaze” referred to in the poem is a scar from a wildfire. Reference a map of burn scars and historic blazes to help inform your search.

Get All the Fenn Treasure Maps you Need in One App

The free version of the Gaia GPS app gives you access to the Gaia Topo base map, which includes contour lines, roads, and labeled features. You’ll also be able to create routes and leave waypoints to mark promising locations and past searches (as long as you’re in service).

If you want access to all the maps listed above, plus the ability to download maps to your phone or print custom maps at home, consider giving a Premium Membership a try.

Bonus for full-time treasure hunters: Buying a Gaia GPS Membership also unlocks historical maps of the U.S. and the U.K. from the early 1900s. You can also import your own maps, including scanned paper maps, to further build out your personal database.

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AdventuresGaia GPSNew Maps

9 Reasons to Adventure in Japan (And the Best Map to Get You There)

by Corey Buhay
written by Corey Buhay

Volcanic mountain ranges, hot springs, and world-class powder skiing are enough to put Japan on any adventure traveler’s map. Next time you’re considering an international vacation, here are a few reasons Japan should make your short list.

1) Downloadable topo maps mean it’s easy to navigate.

Whether you’re sightseeing, snorkeling, skiing, or hiking in Japan, you can find your way with the Japan Topo map, downloaded straight to your phone via the Gaia GPS app.

Sourced from the Geographical Survey Institute of Japan, Japan Topo includes contour lines, roads, trails, regional boundaries, and points of interest. It’s currently available to both Gaia GPS Members and Premium Members. We recommend pairing it with the Outdoors topo map, which contains labels in the English alphabet.

2) Japan has its own Alps.

The Japanese Alps, a chain of stunning 10,000-foot peaks, forms the crown of Honshu, the country’s largest island. The region’s trails and national parks make it the epicenter of hiking in Japan.

3) It’s home to thousands of hot springs, or “Onsen.”

Nothing says Japan vacation quite like a dip in one of these traditional hot springs. Credit Japan’s prime real estate along the Ring of Fire for its over 2,500 bubbling mineral pools. Hike to one, or find a resort to relax sore muscles aprés adventure.

Map Tip: Many hot springs, or onsen, are labeled on the Japan Topo base map. Use the Hot Spring icon to find them. (All icons are in the map key on the Gaia GPS Map Legends page.)

4) Climbing Mt. Fuji is a hiker’s rite of passage.

Summit one of the world’s most iconic volcanoes with the hike up 12,389-foot Mt. Fuji, the tallest peak in the country. Plan your climb for July through mid-September while temperatures are moderate and trails are open.

5) Japan powder skiing is legendary.

In lists of the snowiest cities in the world, Japanese towns regularly take silver and bronze (coming in just behind Valdez, Alaska—no surprise there) with 200 to 300 inches per year. Add that to the country’s hilly interior, and you get world-class skiing both inbounds and off-piste.

Map Tip: You can scout out ski resorts in Japan by looking for lift lines (the straight lines on Japan Topo or colored runs on Outdoor Topo. See both below).

6) It has coral reefs.

World War II-era shipwrecks, Pacific reefs, and abundant marine life make Japan just as beautiful offshore as on. The Ogasawara Islands offer divers and snorkelers with Carribbean-blue waters, sandy beaches, and pristine rocky shorelines. You’ll also find a number of national parks on the country’s northwest islands.

7) “Forest bathing” is a thing.

Nature lovers, welcome home. Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing” is the practice of taking in your natural surroundings as a way to reduce stress and promote health and wellbeing. The term was coined in the 1980s, but it reflects a more longstanding cultural appreciation of nature, as well as the value of the Japan’s forested regions and rich biodiversity.

8) Every season puts on a show.

If you can’t plan a vacation to Japan during winter’s fairytale snowfall or summer high season, don’t despair. The fall color show and spring’s famed cherry blossoms (blooming January through May, depending on the region) are just as big of a draw.

9) It’s got history you can hike.

Japan is home to thousands of cultural and historical sites you can visit on foot. The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, for example, connects temples and shrines in the Kii mountain range. It’s one of the country’s 22 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and a great way to experience local history while hiking in Japan.

Map Tip: Use the Japan Topo legend to identify shrines, temples, and historical sites. The map below shows one of each, plus a hot spring.

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Winter Hiking: 10 Things to Remember On Your Next Trip

by Corey Buhay
written by Corey Buhay

Winter hiking might just be the fourth season’s best kept secret. Don’t let a chilly forecast keep you indoors. Learn the facts, and use them to master your gear, fueling, and layering systems. Do that, and you can have just as much fun winter hiking as you would in summer. Honest.

Capitalize on the fourth season’s peace, solitude, and snowy landscapes by remembering these 10 winter hiking tips next time you take on a cold-weather adventure.

 

1. Hot cocoa is actually a winter safety essential.

Your body needs plenty of water for efficient temperature regulation. When you’re well-hydrated, your blood stays thin, which makes it easier for your heart to pump it through the tiny capillaries in your fingers and toes. If you’ve ever spent time exercising in the cold, you know it can be tough to motivate yourself to stay hydrated when all you’ve got is a half-frozen Nalgene. Instead, pack an insulated bottle with hot tea or cocoa.

Because it’s an effective mood booster and way to coax in some extra calories, cocoa mix is actually a recommended item for many search and rescue kits, and a documented tool for helping winter rescue victims cope in emergencies.

Pro tip: If you do carry a water bottle while winter hiking, remember water freezes from the top-down. Store your bottle upside-down in your pack to keep the lid from freezing shut.

 

2. There’s no such thing as bad weather—just bad gear.

If you find yourself cold or wet on a day hike, don’t blame the weather: You might just be wearing the wrong things. The biggest step you can take to stay safe and comfortable while winter hiking is to choose the right materials and really dial in your layering system. Wet or sweaty clothes can sap warmth from your skin, and in winter, that can result in hypothermia even in moderate temperatures. To keep yourself warm and dry, opt for plenty of thin layers so you can optimize your body temperature no matter how fast or slow you’re moving.

At the very least, pack a windproof layer, a waterproof shell in case of precipitation, and a fleece or light jacket to go under your shell. Select wool or synthetic materials for everything from your baselayers to your hat, gloves, and socks, and consider adding gaiters to seal out snow and a scarf or Buff to seal in heat. Unlike cotton, wool and synthetics retain warmth even when they’re wet. It’s also smart to pack an insulated “crisis puffy” in case of unexpected drops in temperature, as well as extra gloves or socks on long winter hikes.

 

3. Batteries die faster in the cold.

If you’re using Gaia GPS to navigate and want to make sure your phone lasts in the cold, keep it in a pocket close to your body to keep the battery warm when it’s not in use. For other electronics, consider using lithium batteries, as they’re lighter, more efficient, and typically perform better in extreme temperatures than alkaline.

(Note: Lithium batteries are a great choice for many uses, but not all. For example, most avalanche beacon manufacturers recommend using alkaline batteries, as a lithium battery’s remaining charge is harder for beacons to measure.)

 

4. Traction and flotation are essential for safe travel.

You wouldn’t drive on packed snow with summer tires, would you? Think of your winter hiking footwear the same way. If your route carries you across steep slopes, boilerplate, ice, or no-fall zones, consider bringing crampons and an ice axe (and know how to use them). To negotiate packed snow or even just a few slick spots on lower-consequence slopes, consider traction devices for your shoes like Microspikes or Yaktrax, as well as a pair of ski or trekking poles. If the forecast calls more than a few inches of fresh snow, you’ll need flotation, as well: Bring snowshoes or backcountry skis to save yourself some post-holing.

 

5. Walking through snow will take twice as long.

Traveling through even just a few inches of unpacked snow can increase your energy expenditure by up to 2 to 3 times what you’d need to hike the same trail without snow, and that means hiking slower—think one mile per hour or more. Even with snowshoes, you should budget for a longer and more strenuous day than you’d otherwise have in the summer.

If you’re in a higher latitude, you’ll be even tighter on time due to shorter days. Look up sunrise and sunset times before you plan your hike, set a hard-and-fast turnaround time, and start full-day trips before dawn to make sure you don’t get caught in the dark. (Bring a headlamp just in case.)

 

6. Frostbite and hypothermia can sneak up on you.

Hypothermia can strike in temperatures as high as 50°F, and many people who get frostbite fail to notice it until it’s too late (it’s easy for numb feet to stay out of sight and out of mind). Know the symptoms before you head out, and bring the right gear to keep your fingers and toes comfortable and safe in the cold.

If you notice you’ve got chilly toes even in thick, waterproof boots, take a look at the fit: Sometimes thick socks can impair circulation just enough to keep hot blood from flowing through. Try thinner socks, or sizing up your boots to accommodate your winter-weights.

Also be sure to keep your feet dry: Long days in wet boots can result in immersion foot, or trench foot, which takes longer to develop than frostbite but can also cause lasting damage if left untreated.

 

7. Winter navigation is a whole different ball game.

Even familiar trails are bound to look different in winter, either because of snow or just the visual differences of fallen leaves and bare branches. Download maps and routes in Gaia GPS before you head out, just in case. Be sure to reference the Snowfall Forecast overlays, which will show NOAA’s forecasts for snow accumulation up to 72 hours in advance. Always bring a map and compass as backup.

 

8. On average, temperatures drop 3 to 5°F per 1,000 feet in elevation.

This is a good rule of thumb, and it makes sense: The higher the altitude, the colder the air. However, winter weather can be unpredictable. Check the forecast before you go, and pack for the lows, not the highs. Use a weather resource like mountain-forecast.com, which shows the expected temperatures and wind speeds at the tops of mountains as well as at the bottom. If you can’t find a detailed elevation forecast for your area, do some rough math: If it’s 40°F at the trailhead and your hike’s high point is 2,000 feet above that, make sure you have layers to keep you warm down to 30°F.

 

9. Snow can reflect up to 80% of the sun’s rays.

In most conditions, the worst you’ll come home with is a pretty serious goggle tan. But on sunny days above treeline, all that reflected light can cause serious sunburns and even snow blindness, a type of UV damage to the eyes that can impair vision for up to several days after exposure. Wear sunscreen, UV-blocking chapstick, and polarized shades or glacier glasses with full coverage.

 

10. Quick-burning carbs warm you up the fastest.

Constantly adding fuel to the furnace is one of the best ways to stay warm in the winter. Carbohydrates metabolize the fastest, giving you a quick burst of energy and warmth. Munch on high-carb snacks like potato chips, crackers, and candy bars throughout the day. Mix in high-fat foods like nuts, chocolate, summer sausage, and cheese, which provide more consistent, slow-burning energy.

Whatever you bring, make sure it resists freezing and is easy to eat on the go. And make sure it tastes good: Winter hiking should be fun, and it’s hard not to have fun when there’s chocolate involved.

 

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Top 10 Day Hikes Near Seattle

by Elisa Wirkala
written by Elisa Wirkala

A city ringed by emerald waters, glaciated volcanoes, and jagged peaks, Seattle has no shortage of great hikes within a short drive of downtown. But with so many options, the biggest challenge is deciding where to start. Save yourself some time and reference this guide for the best trails and views within a 3-hour drive of the city.

Whether you’re looking for a weekday trek close to home or a chance to push your limits in the mountains, you’ll find what you need in this list of top Seattle-area day hikes. Check out the links for full descriptions, plus detailed maps, and driving directions.

1. Heather-Maple Pass Loop

The Gaia GPS community ranks this hike #1 within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, and the views of alpine lakes, meadow, and craggy ridges covered in wildflowers make it easy to see why. If you can’t carve out a weekend to experience this trail in the summer, don’t feel like you’re settling: Come fall, larch trees beckon hikers with dazzling gold foliage.

Length: 7.2 mile loop
Elevation gain: 2,051 feet
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 3 hours

2. Alta Mountain via Rampart Ridge Backdoor Trail

While many hikes feel incomplete if you turn around halfway, this trail’s non-stop views and a seemingly endless string of alpine lakes means you can call it a day just about anywhere. Plan a casual day out by setting your finish line at the easier-to-access Lake Lillian, Rampart Lakes, or Rachel Lake, or push your limits and complete the whole trek up to 6,151-foot Alta Mountain.

Length: 8.8 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 2,438 feet
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 1.5 hours

3. Mount Pilchuck

Ask a Seattleite what their first mountain summit was, and chances are it was Mount Pilchuck. The iconic hike’s trailhead starts right around 3,250 feet above sea level, which means the relatively short (albeit steep) climb deposits hikers high above the surrounding landscape for big visual payoffs. Soak up the 360-degree views of Mount Rainier, the Olympics, and Mount Baker from the summit shelter lookout.

Length: 5 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 2,020 feet
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 1.5 hours

4. Kendall Katwalk Loop via PCT

Experience the wonders of the PCT without the months of body odor and blisters. Often regarded by thru-hikers as the most scenic spot along the whole Washington PCT, Kendall Katwalk shows off the best of the Pacific Northwest. And it won’t just be the altitude pumping up your heart rate: Hikers are rewarded with views of the surrounding mountains above Snoqualmie Pass via a narrow path blasted out of the cliff face. This is a local favorite in the summer, and frequented by backcountry snowshoers and skiers in the winter.

Length: 12 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 2,550 feet
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 1 hour

5. Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls

Nestled in by jagged peaks, Lake Serene is the perfect spot for a swim and an idyllic picnic atop Lunch Rock. With lush forest, alpine surrounds, and snow-capped mountains, it lives up to its name and calls hikers back year after year. On the way up, the short one-mile round-trip excursion to see Bridal Veil Falls is well worth the bit of extra effort and makes a fine turnaround point for hikers with young children. It’s also not very far from Seattle, making it an ideal retreat for those looking for pristine nature without a long drive.

Length: 8.3 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 2,067 feet
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes

6. Sahale Mountain

If the idea of climbing a non-technical peak in the mountaineering haven of the North Cascades National Park piques your interest, don’t miss this summit trek up Sahale Mountain. Though the nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain might seem daunting, smart trail construction and 30-something generous switchbacks make this hike surprisingly manageable. Plus, it’s hard to focus on the quad burn with near-constant North Cascades views putting you face-to-face with peaks to add to your tick list.

Summiting Sahale Mountain is a great first step for aspiring mountaineers as it includes a short snow crossing and an exposed 4th class scramble to the summit block. For those less inclined to try the steep final pitch, there are equally beautiful views to be had from just below the summit. Go in summer when the snow has receded and purple lupines blanket the slopes.

Length: 13.4 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 4,941 feet
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 3 hours

7. Little Si

The Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area is home to a couple of classic Seattle-area hikes. Though well-loved and busy, the Little Si trail is a great choice year-round, with less snowfall than surrounding alpine areas during the winter months. It also makes for great training grounds for those looking to get some miles in not too far from the city and is perfect for new hikers, families, runners, and those with dogs. Whereas the nearby Mount Si trail has a series of switchbacks over steeper elevation, Little Si meanders more easily through lush woods over undulating terrain. The straightforward but scenic trail through Pacific Northwest forest culminates with stellar views of the valley below.

Length: 7.6 miles and 3.6 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 3,252 feet and 901 feet
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 45 minutes

8. Camp Muir

Get high in Washington’s alpine country at Mount Rainier’s 10,000-foot base camp. Reaching Camp Muir is considered a right of passage for some Seattleites, and a worthy summer hike for those looking for a challenge. It’s also the highest you can climb on Mount Rainier without a climbing permit. And if you decide you can’t make it the whole way, even the first section will give you a mountain experience you won’t soon forget. Get awesome views of the volcano and glaciers while ascending to the Muir Snowfields and historic huts dating back to the early 1900s. Mountain weather can change quickly, so make sure you’re prepared for high winds and precipitation no matter how the sky looks at the trailhead.

Length: 8 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 4,639 feet
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes

9. Rattlesnake Ledge

Like on nearby Mt. Si, this hike’s easy access and moderate elevation gain belie the vastness of its views. It makes a great hike for beginners, families, or those looking to stretch their legs without the commitment of nearby alpine trails. Though it does get a lot of traffic, it’s a great choice for a mid-week outing or an easier jaunt with your pup. That said, the trail does continue on through the Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area for those looking for a bigger workout and further viewpoints from above, and is worth extra time and exploration.

Length: 4.3 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: 1,117 feet
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 40 minutes

10. The Enchantments Thru-Hike

Due to its unique geography and delicate ecosystem, the alpine Enchantments zone is highly protected, making backpacking permits difficult to come by via the annual lottery system. But those with a strong will and sturdy legs can complete the whole 18-mile thru-hike in a single day without a permit. If you’re not ready for the whole shebang, build up your strength and get a taste of the untamed peaks with one of the shorter out-and-back trails to Snow Lakes, Colchuck Lake, or Eightmile Lake on the periphery of the Enchantments.

Length: 17.8 mile thru-hike (with much shorter out-and-back variations possible)
Elevation gain: 6,484 feet via Snow Lakes
Distance from downtown Seattle: Approximately 2.5 hours

Want more? Search for hikes near Seattle using the Discover tab in the Gaia GPS app, or go to the web and use the Seattle hikes page as a launching point to find your next adventure.

Note: These hikes were checked for accuracy, but the routes themselves were ultimately sourced from the Gaia GPS community. The exact mileage and elevation gain tracked may vary from device to device.

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