After going on a hike recently with my kids I thought it would be helpful to touch on trail etiquette here at Nature For Kids. We came across a lot of people, the majority polite and cheery. But there was the occasional crazy kid running down the trail, singing at the top of their lungs and making others step to the side…oh wait, those were mine . Whoopsy. Those little rascals are getting faster by the minute. My husband and I had to grab them by the ears and do a quick rundown on trail etiquette.
- Stay on the trail. Don’t cut switchbacks or take shortcuts.
- When it’s a wide trail, like driving, stay to the right and pass on left.
- When you stop for a rest get off the trail if others are coming.
- Yield to hikers coming uphill. They are working harder than those coming down.
- When hiking in a large group yield to those who are alone or in a pair.
- Hikers and bikers should yield to horses. And bikers should yield to hikers as well but in most cases hikers will step aside first.
- Report vandalism
- Take only pictures, leave only foot prints
- Look for trail specific rules like no dogs, motorized vehicles or horses.
- Be friendly and polite to others on the trail
Happy Trails from Nature For kids!
trail etiquette,hiking,outdoors
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Nice post. I just started doing some trail hiking with my boys (8 and 3) and could use more posts like this that help guide me. Thanks again!
Great article and great job explaining this for kids. It’s a good refresher for adults/parents as well. Thanks!
I wish someone had taught me trail etiquette as a kid. When I started heading to the hills with buddies in high school, we short-cut switchbacks with reckless, self-congratulatory abandon. Later I came to know better, and I am still ashamed to think back on it. But at least my boys won’t suffer the same fate. Great blog, by the way. Our stories shape our culture, and so the more of us who can tell these stories about getting our children outside, the better.
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