9 Hiking Resources | How to Plan and Prepare for Your Next Hike
Whether planning a hike for the first time or looking for resources to plan your next trek, this list of 9 Hiking Resources | How to Plan and Prepare for Your Next Hike helps guide you and tells you everything you need to know in the planning process.
9 Hiking Resources | How to Plan and Prepare for Your Next Hike
Discover essential tips and tools to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and memorable hiking adventure. These resources have gone a long way in helping me prepare outdoors, and I know they can benefit you, too.
1. Google Maps
One of the best ways to find hiking trails is by utilizing Google Maps. Plenty of sources can help you plan for a hike or a trip, but nothing is more precise than using a map of the location you are searching for.
Google Maps allows you to find exact locations, explore the terrain, zoom in on different regions near your destination, and track your route. It is an excellent resource for discovering hidden gems you might not find information about anywhere else. Trust me! I have discovered much more this way than with any other source.
Another feature to use is the offline maps, which are great for road trips and hiking trails with little to no reception. You can use this tutorial to learn how to create offline maps or create your own Google map here.
2. Reviews
Reading reviews are an excellent way to get additional details on a location or hiking trail. Reviews often provide different perspectives; some are more detailed than others, so you get a good idea of what is ahead on your journey.
Comments from previous months are also great, especially when planning future adventures. Those suggestions can come a long way, especially if you are looking for information on the weather, what type of bugs and animals you could encounter, how packed that trail gets, and the best times to visit.
To find reviews for places, check Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Reddit. You can also Google trails and read Google reviews directly there. These are all fantastic places to read reviews and help you prepare.
3. AllTrails
AllTrails is one of the most popular resources for information on hiking trials. You can find almost any trail around the world that is accessible and open to the public. This app lets you download offline maps, track your progress, leave reviews, post images, and follow others to see where they are hiking.
Some of the cool features of this app include seeing a preview of the trail, seeing its distance, getting car directions to the trailhead, and reading up-to-date reviews while seeing recent images of the terrain.
I suggest downloading offline maps beforehand for locations that have no reception. These offline maps can save your life, and you will want to be prepared, especially for locations deep in the wilderness that are remote.
4. Social Media
Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook groups are great for finding information on hiking trails. Plenty of other social media platforms may be as valuable, but my favorite is YouTube since long-form content provides detailed information on destinations worldwide.
For Instagram, I typically look at the location feature and check #HASHTAGS. TikTok’s search feature often contains short videos for hiking trails and additional knowledge. YouTube is the most informative, and its users provide the most valuable information.
If you have a Facebook account, you can always join hiking groups, ask questions, and follow along to see current conditions and what others say about the places you are researching.
5. Park Websites
Park websites give you the most up-to-date and vital information you need to know. These websites provide road and trail conditions, climate updates, and recent alerts. They are managed by official government organizations and are maintained daily to provide the most accurate information. You can also call the ranger station to speak to someone directly and ask questions.
You can search these websites below for more specific details:
U.S State Parks and public lands
6. Books
Books are often overlooked when finding ideas to travel and hike, but they are a terrific way to find information. When researching books in my local library or bookstores, I often find new trails in my region or other surrounding areas that I have never heard of or seen online.
I highly recommend searching guidebooks, which are still very valuable and can provide much information and history on parks, hiking trails, maps, and more.
7. Blogs
The web is filled with so much information it can be overwhelming, but blogs like the one you are reading can help condense information into one space.
Blogs provide additional information and advice, give you a different perspective, or teach you something you haven’t read or seen elsewhere. Of course, I would also recommend doing extra research. Sometimes, the things I find in blogs are the start of my long and exciting research journey, and those details unfold knowledge that becomes essential; the more, the merrier!
8. Ask the locals
No one knows a location quite like a local expert, especially those who keenly understand their hiking trails and public lands.
You can find locals at restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, and gift shops, to name a few. Locals are primarily welcoming and will guide you. But remember to be safe and don’t approach a place or a person that makes you uncomfortable.
If you are staying at a local hotel, Airbnb, or Hipcamp, you can get ideas from your hosts, and they may be able to provide ideas for your visit.
9. Additional resources
Here are additional resources that are great for helping you prepare for your next outdoor escapade. This list includes resources for weather conditions, maps, air quality, hiking trails, road and summit conditions.
In Summary
I hope this post helps you discover new tool ideas to help you prepare and stay safe on the trails. What resources do you use to plan your hikes, travels, and outdoor adventures you didn’t see here?
I know plenty of resources are available today, and more are being created daily. This short and comprehensive 9 Hiking Resources | How to Plan and Prepare for Your Next Hike should help you with your next trail quest.
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