How to Go Hiking: A Budget Friendly Guide for Beginners

Thinking about going on your first hike but don’t know where to start? Does outdoor recreation culture feel a little too exclusive? Thwarted by the cost of entry? Fear not my friends. I am here to debunk all the myths about hiking and give you all the little details that your friendly REI sales rep will kindly leave out in an attempt to sell you the most expensive gear. Here is your budget friendly, step by step guide, on how to be safe and prepared for your first hike.

Fun fact, did you know that the US is one of the only countries to differentiate hiking from walking? In most other countries people refer to their hikes simply as walks. 

I, personally, think a lot of it has to do with marketing. When we make hiking a different activity than walking, all of a sudden you need a ton of gear. If you go to REI and tell the outdoorsy looking person in the green vest that you’re going on your first hike, they’ll try to sell you on ankle high hiking boots, trekking poles, daypack, bladder, electrolyte tablets, and protein bars. Next thing you know you’ve spent $300 all to go for a walk.

Entering into the outdoors should always be approached with a bit of humility. Depending on where you will be hiking, you may experience a random change in the weather, encounter large wildlife, or run the risk of getting lost. So yes, always consider safety. That being said, do not let fear or perceived cost stop you from trying hiking. With a bit of knowledge and preparation, you will be just as qualified as the next guy to hit the trails.

Step 1: Choose a trail

Recommendations from a friend or a quick google search are good places to start. I prefer asking a friend because they can give you an idea of how steep, type of terrain, crowds, etc., though some websites will do that too.

Only with experience can you know how long is too long of a hike. The beauty of hiking is that if you get too tired you can always turn around early. Maybe you go by time instead. Hike for 30 minutes then turn around. Whatever feels good to you. 

Some websites will rank trails by difficulty. These rankings are mostly based on length and elevation gain (how steep a trail is). I find them to be very misleading as a trail deemed difficult may not be difficult if you only do the first mile of it. Just know that a trail that gains 1,000 feet over 1 mile is going to be much more steep than a trail that gains 1,000 feet over 5 miles. 

In choosing a trail you will also want to know if you’ll need a map. Again, do not fear. I have a notoriously terrible sense of direction and figured out how to read a map fairly easily. Some trails are just a single, clearly defined path that take you to an end destination, like Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park.

The solid brown line is the main road and the dashed line is the trail. You can tell from the map that you take The Four Mile Trail to get to Glacier Point. You’ll notice that the trail is pretty straightforward and that the only turn that might mess you up is at the end where you can turn to get to another main road or continue on to Glacier Point. For this type of trail, you could safely go without a map.

Here is a section of the trail system in Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. You can see there are several intersecting trails which means lots of room to get lost. On a trail like this, I highly recommend taking a map. I spent 6 years exploring this park and still brought a map every single time I went. 

While this might be intimidating at first glance, if you take a closer look you’ll see it’s pretty simple. On this particular map the solid white lines are roads, thick blue dashed line are main trails, thinner purple dashed lines are smaller off shoot trails, and the faint brown lines denote hills. Along the trails you’ll see numbers in black which give the distance from one intersection to another. In the background you’ll see faint numbers in brown that tell you the elevation. 

Always find where on the map you parked and where you are starting your hike. Whenever you hit an intersection pull out your map and note where you are. If you always know where you are on the map, you can never get truly lost. Most parks, be it state, regional, or national will have maps of their most popular trails for free located at the entrance and downloadable online. I like to have a physical copy because they’re bigger and just in case my phone dies. 

Step 2: Check the weather

Knowing what the conditions are going to be like will help you decide what to wear, what to bring, and if you should even go. If it’s too hot or too cold, best to not go. Too hot and you are at risk of dehydration and heat stroke, and too cold or snowing, you could risk hypothermia or getting stuck in a white out. 

I like weather.gov the best. Type in the zip code or city closest to your hiking trail in the search box. On the results page, scroll down to the “Detailed Forecast” section and to the right of that is a map. You can use the map to find the weather for your exact location which is especially helpful if you’re going for a hike in the mountains or anyplace that doesn’t have a zip code. 

Step 3: Get dressed

Let me start off by telling you what you don’t need. You don’t need fancy hiking boots. Any old pair of running shoes or even your Chuck Taylors will do just fine. Basically, any pair of comfy shoes will do. Some people like hiking in flip flops. It truly comes down to personal preference and the type of terrain. The main point is that you don’t have to drop $200 on a pair of hiking shoes to go hiking. That’s not my frugality showing, either. That’s the honest truth.

Clothes. This will, of course, depend on temperature but really anything you already have in your closet will do. Some comfy shorts or pants, cotton tee, and a baseball cap is great. Some folks will call it heresy that I dismiss the notion of a moisture wicking shirt but here’s the deal. Unless you’re hiking in the snow in freezing temps, which you shouldn’t be doing as a beginner anyway, there is no real need to have a moisture wicking shirt. In summary, no, you do not need to buy a whole new outfit to go hiking. 

Rain jackets. Some love them. I happen to think they’re a bit gimmicky. They keep your upper body dry from the rain but you end up sweating even more in them so you’re either soaked in sweat or water. I prefer to bring an umbrella in the rain (not in thunderstorms, of course).

My best tip is to dress in layers. You’ll most likely get hot and sweaty while walking, even if it’s cold out, so it’s nice to be able to remove or add layers. You have already checked the weather so you’ll know if you need to bring a sun hat or a beanie and gloves. 

Step 4: What to bring

One thing I’d like to point out is that neither gear nor clothing is a representation of experience. In fact, I’ve come to learn that the people with the fanciest gear and the straight from the North Face catalogue clothes tend to be the noobs. No judgment. We’ve all been there. Myself included. I’m here to help you avoid that trap. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on clothes and gear to safely go for a hike. 

Again, starting with things you don’t need. A fully outfitted first aid kit. Some, again, will scream heresy but, come on, you do not need an emergency blanket and medical scissors to go for a hike. The most common injury will be a blister or a scraped knee so pack a few bandaids, maybe some athletic tape, and you’re good to go. 

I like to bring a small backpack, your old Jansport from high school will be perfect, to pack my things. Do your research beforehand and know if there will be water on the trail either via fountain or with a water filter. How much water to bring you’ll learn from experience but for a beginner doing an hour or two long hike in not too hot temperatures, I would bring a full bottle of water (reusable Nalegene type that are 32oz per bottle) while hiking and have extra water in the car because water is not always available when you think it might be. 

For food, I like to bring a sandwich, fresh fruit, and veggies like carrot sticks if I’m going for a full day hike. If it’s going to be a strenuous hike I might bring a Luna Bar as a treat because, let’s face it, those things are basically candy bars. Crackers and hummus are also good. If I’m hiking for a few hours max, I might just bring an apple. If it’s a short hike, an hour or two max, I won’t bring any food at all. Play it safe and bring a snack your first few times even if it’s a short hike and you’ll slowly start to learn what you actually need and like to have. 

Here’s a small list of things you might want to bring:

• keys
• phone
• water
• chapstick
• sunscreen
• food/snacks
• light sweater
• map
• bandaids/athletic tape
• sunglasses
• flashlight (if hiking in the evening)

If you go hiking after work it’s good to either make sure your phone is fully charged in case you need a flashlight or bring an extra light. It’s nice to have not only in case you get lost but it also allows you to stay out longer than planned if you feel so inclined. 

Step 5: Etiquette

You’ve probably heard the old adage “leave no trace” which simply means, clean up after yourself and pack out your trash, including your used toilet paper. Let me repeat. Do not bury your toilet paper. Pack. It. Out. Stay on the defined trail and don’t trample plants and vegetation. Do not feed the wildlife, even the cute little squirrels. 

People walking uphill have the right of way and step aside for runners and people walking faster than you. No need to try and go faster. Just let them pass you. 

Wear headphones. Don’t take up more space than necessary by listening to loud music. Not only does it ruin the peacefulness for other hikers, but can be disturbing for wildlife too. 

Step 6: Precautions

There might not be cell service on the trail so always let someone know where you’re going, how long you expect to be out, and check in with them after. This is the biggest mistake that people make, even those with years of experience, so don’t ever get complacent with this one. 

Poison oak and poison ivy. Both can be found all over the country so know what it looks like. It causes an itchy and sometimes painful rash that can last weeks. I’ve seen many people, especially young children, trampling through vegetation, not knowing that they’re actually ankle deep in poison oak. 

Know whose habitat you’re in. Depending on where you’re hiking, mountain lions, bears, rattlesnakes, and other predators can be a real consideration. Anywhere with grizzlies, like Yellowstone or Denali, you must carry bear spray. Even places like Berkeley and San Diego have mountain lions. While the possibility of seeing mountain lions and bears is very slim, know what to do if you have a chance encounter. Pick up your children and dogs, yell as loud as you can, wave your arms over your head, and walk slowly backwards towards the trailhead. Never run. Give all wildlife plenty of space. Even deer can be aggressive when provoked.

Final Thoughts

Hiking can become a lifelong joy once you have enough experience under your belt. It also opens the door to other activities like backpacking and trail running. Once you feel comfortable venturing into the great outdoors, the options of places to go and things to see opens up tremendously.

“For me the door to the woods is the door to the temple” wrote Mary Oliver, whimsical poet whose work was inspired by the natural world. You, too, can experience the wonderment that is nature. You never know who you might discover in yourself once you’re out there. So, my friend, go exploring.

*main photo was taken near Barney Lake in the Hoover Wilderness, accessed via the trailhead at Mono Village Resort