Tips for Hiking Alone as a Woman- from a Solo Female Hiker
As a woman who has solo hiked off and on for 3 years now, I will admit I was terrified to start. The moment I told someone I was going “solo hiking” they often responded with one of a few things- “Is that safe?” “Oh, I could never do that!” or worse an unhelpful and extremely specific story of someone who has had an unfortunate fate while solo hiking. And while these people didn’t have ill intent, it didn’t exactly make me feel better about something I was already nervous about.
Despite the negativity around solo hiking, I got myself out on a hike anyway… and then another, and then another. And the more I’ve gone, the more I’ve learned, and the more my confidence has grown.
In the majority of my hikes, I’ve noticed one or several other solo female hikers, so while I know it is not uncommon, it still is rare enough that I’ve not stopped hearing the negative comments. I wanted to address some of the fears women have about hiking alone, give tips to mitigate the risks, provide a full solo hiking packing list, and make your hikes as safe as possible!
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Is it Safe to Hike Alone as a Woman?
Is it safe to hike alone as a woman? The answer is unhelpfully- yes and no.
The majority of risks posed while hiking comes from falling, strains, heat exhaustion, and other environmental factors- not wildlife or people. This means solo hiking is inherently less safe than hiking in a group. If you are injured or hurt, there may be no one around to call for help, provide medical assistance, or help you back to the trailhead. This is true for both male and female hikers. However, this risk can be minimized by bringing a first aid kit and emergency beacon, hiking relatively safe trails, and hiking popular trails where you are likely to run into other hikers if you need aid.
As far as the risks posed only to women hiking, they do exist but there seems to be nothing to indicate they are more prevalent outdoors than anywhere else, and there are many steps you can take to increase your safety.
Benefits of Hiking Alone
For every risk associated with solo hiking, there are many more benefits! Below are just a few of the benefits I appreciate every time I hike alone.
- Meditation and Self-reflection– My favorite thing about hiking alone is getting lost in my own thoughts. The repetitive action of hiking can feel like a sort of meditation and allow you to self-reflect.
- Increasing your confidence– Doing something alone is a great way to boost your self-confidence!
- Physical fitness– Obviously hiking will help you get in shape, but by going alone, you can hike more often and tackle harder trails your friends may not want to do
- Freedom– You will rarely regret doing something you want to do, just because no one else wants to go. Hiking alone allows you to go at your own pace, so you don’t have to worry about speeding up or slowing down for a hiking partner.
Solo Safety Hiking Tips
The tips below can apply to any solo hikers- not just women!
Note: These tips primarily apply to areas not frequented by grizzly bears. In grizzly country, it is always recommended to hike in groups
Tell Someone Where You are Going
Always, always, always tell someone where you are going, what trail you are hiking, and when you expect to return! It’s as simple as sending a screenshot of the trail map to a close friend or family member.
Bring Multiple Forms of Navigation
Don’t rely on having Internet access on your trail. I have AllTrails+ and the subscription fee is worth it for the peace of mind I have from being able to download the trail maps. However, it is also important to be able to navigate without your phone. I own paper copies of all the trail systems I hike, that I bring along just in case (and have come in handy)! I also always bring my Garmin GPS & Emergency Beacon for safety.
Pack the Essentials
Make sure to pack the ten essentials. A full solo hiking packing list is below!
Trust Your Gut
This is one of the most important parts of any solo activity. Trust your gut and don’t be afraid to turn around. If a situation feels off or sketchy, allow yourself to go home, even if nothing happened. I have turned around at trailheads and halfway down trails before without a “good” reason.
Head Out Prepared for Weather and Trail Conditions
Always read recent trail reviews and weather reports before heading out. This will let you know if there are any unusual obstacles on the trail such as river crossings, or recent reports of wildlife. I usually search the trail on AllTrails, and WTA when hiking in Washington.
Bring a Dog
Bringing your dog is a great way to feel extra protected when hiking. Just be sure to check that dogs are allowed on your intended trails, and always bring their leash.
How to Get Started Hiking Alone as a Woman
If you are still nervous after reading the tips above- here is some more helpful advice for getting started hiking solo.
- Hike popular trails– My first solo hike was a very popular trail during peak wildflower season. Safe to say, I was barely alone and knew someone would find me quickly if something were to happen. Hiking a well-known trail on the weekend is a great way to get started solo hiking since there will be crowds and likely other solo hikers.
- Pick a short, easy trail– Oregon is full of short and beautiful waterfall hikes that I have hiked solo! Hiking even just a couple of miles alone is a great way to ease into solo hiking.
- Check if there is cell service- I still try to pick primarily trails with cell service if I planning a solo venture. You can check your cell provider’s map to see what areas have service.
- Don’t be afraid to change your mind– When I started solo hiking I often would feel nervous and tell myself I would just drive to the trailhead and decide. If I still felt afraid at the trailhead, then I would let myself go home. However, this never happened, and usually once arriving to the trail my nerves faded away.
- Bring music– If you think every crack of a branch or rustle far away will spook you, bring some music along to soothe your nerves. Make sure to only use one earbud though so you still have some awareness!
- Be rude! Well maybe don’t be rude to everyone, but if someone is giving you an “off” feeling or asks questions or for help you aren’t comfortable with, don’t be afraid to say no- no matter how “rude” it might feel.
What to Pack for a Solo Hike- 10 Essentials
The “10 essentials” are the recommended 10 items to bring for safety and emergencies. You should bring these on any hike, but I would argue they are even more important to bring if you are hiking alone!
- Navigation– I always bring 2 of the 3 methods of navigation below on any hike
- AllTrails+
- Garmin GPS
- Paper Maps & Compass
- Headlamp- If something goes wrong on your hike and you are out later than intended, you will be glad to have a headlamp and extra batteries!- Recommended Headlamp
- Sun Protection– Protect yourself from the sun! This can include items like sunscreen, a sun shirt, sunglasses, and a sun hat.
- First Aid Kit- Most hiking incidents are due to trips and falls, not wildlife or other people- Lightweight First Aid Kit
- Knife & Gear Repair– A knife and/or multipurpose knife is good to bring along with a small gear repair kit and tape.
- Fire Starter– This can include matches, a lighter, and tinder.
- Shelter– An emergency bivy is light and easy to add to your pack
- Extra Food– Bring more food than you think you’ll need!
- Extra Water- Bring extra water and/or a water filtration system if you know you’ll have access to fresh water- My Water Filter
- Extra Clothes- Some extra layers can go a long way to preparing you for any condition. I almost always bring my heavy layer, mid-layer, and raincoat.
Additional Safety Gear
In addition to the 10 essentials above, the gear below will provide some extra peace of mind when solo hiking.
- Emergency Beacon- I never leave for a hike without my Garmin Mini, whether I am alone or in a group. This also works as a navigation device.
- Bear Spray or Pepper Spray- Essential when in bear country, but it also works as self-defense- Buy Bear Spray
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