We love this image the National Park Service shared on their Facebook page about hiking etiquette. Although our National Park Service has a sense of humor about it (read the hiking etiquette tips info on the image very carefully), hiking etiquette is no joking matter. Whether you are in a national park or at a local hiking trail, a bit of courtesy goes a long way to protect natural spaces and your fellow hikers. And besides, it’s the right thing to do.
It’s especially important to teach children trail etiquette and leave no trace practices from a young age so we can raise the next generation to preserve and care for our natural spaces and outdoor community in the same way (and hopefully better) than we do today.
Below are some of the main points of hiking etiquette. You can read more about hiking etiquette from the National Park Service here.
- Know your right of way
- Make yourself known
- Stay on the trail
- Do not disturb wildlife
- Be mindful of trail conditions
- Take time to listen
- Be aware of your surroundings
- Leave no trace
- Read the signs
About Hike it Baby
Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.
Images courtesy of the National Park Service and Deanna Curry.
