If you are a beginner, look for easy hiking trails near me, and you would develop skills and have fun. If you begin with difficult trails, you might become overwhelmed by steep switchbacks or hard-to-follow paths.
Easy Hiking Trails Near Me
Newcomers usually look for beginner trails as well as families with younger kids and older outdoor enthusiasts. There is nothing wrong with hiking an easier trail if you don’t have much experience. If the hikes are easy it doesn’t mean they have nothing to offer or you won’t have a great time. Experienced hikers with advanced hiking skills hike easier trails too when they don’t have much time.
So start hiking easier trails and after a few hikes, you would have built enough strength and skills to move to intermediate trails.
Some beginners make the mistake of overdoing it, i.e. they pick a trail that’s either too long or too difficult. It would help if you started with a trail under 5 miles and with less elevation gain. You should also consider your fitness level while choosing a hiking route. If you want to have an enjoyable time, you shouldn’t pick a hike you are not prepared for. Instead, you can make a workout plan and train for hiking.
Though you don’t need any special gear for hiking, you need to be careful with what you wear and carry with you. Don’t wear clothes that would make you sweat more like jeans. Wear clothes that are light and can protect you from the elements, for example, workout clothes. The things you should carry with you include a backpack, snacks, water, a trail map, and a first-aid kit.
Understanding your map is very important because if you don’t know where you are and where you are going, you can be in trouble. You can bring both, a digital map and a paper map.
For your first few hikes, it’s better if you don’t hike alone. You can go along with friends who hike and they can guide you and let you borrow gear as well.