If you are just starting out as beginner hiker, or maybe you have a friend visiting and you are feeling overwhelmed when deciding on a hiking trail. Here are a few factors when considering which trail to help you choose the perfect one! 

Distance will be one of the first thing you will want to decide on when researching your hike. A beginner hiker, or if you are just looking to gain that experience on vacation a good mile range is between 2-3. This allows you to feel like you have completed a descent hike without becoming too exhausted. When researching hikes there are different types such as loop, point to point, or out and back. Make sure the trail you choose is portraying the completed mileage from start to finish rather than just for example the out distance.

Depending on your location it would be wise to see if the trail is accessible all year. We personally have encountered many trails in which there were not passable due to snow. We then had to unsafely trek through a mound of snow that was very icy to avoid hiking all the way back to our starting point. 

How popular is the hiking trail you chose? Especially on a prime day like the weekend even if you are there early enough the trailhead could be VERY crowded. We have run into this situation thinking we could "beat the crowds" and ended up having to find another trail to do because we couldn't find parking. Make sure you always have a back up plan!

Elevation Gain

Elevation gain is the total amount of elevation you would complete on the round trip hike. For beginners it is wise to stay under 800ft elevation. Be mindful even if it is a shorter hike but the elevation gain is around 1500ft this means the hike will be very strenuous. Take into consideration who you are hiking with, and their fitness level as well. Also if you are not used to living in a higher elevation area this can also cause another challenge. Watch for common signs of altitude sickness which include headache, nausea, and shortness of breath.

If you are planning on brining your furry friends check to see if the trail is pet friendly. We have found especially in National Parks the trails are NOT pet friendly which definitely puts a damper on your plans. If dogs are allowed make sure you are packing water and food for them as well! Please be polite and even if your dog has good callback and is friendly, KEEP THEM ON A LEASH as other dogs on the trail may not have the same manners. As always clean up after them!

We love animals! Send some pictures of yours our way!