Rules of the Trail: How to be Considerate in the Outdoors

Outdoor recreation has been growing in popularity for a number of years, and now, with the occurrence of COVID-19, it seems like it’s gotten a turbo boost. Trailheads and many outdoor places have never seen so much use, which means more now than ever, it is especially important that we all act as good custodians of the outdoors. There are many unspoken rules to being courteous in the outdoors and in this post we’ll discuss some general best practices.

1) Litter

It is tempting to think leaving one tiny piece of refuse behind in the ginormous expanse of nature is no big deal. And although that may have been true for our caveman ancestors, it doesn’t hold true for us today. With the sheer number of people who use our trails and waterways, even if only 1 in 1,000 people leaves something behind, it can have monumental effects over time. But even if it really is only one little thing in a remote locale, do you really want to be out there and see someone’s used tissue even if it is the only piece of trash? It’s a good idea to carry a plastic shopping bag or Ziploc to dispose of your trash. You can even take it a step further and pick up one or two other pieces of refuse you may encounter along the trail, making it a better experience for the next person.

2) Noise

Almost everyone enjoys good music, a good podcast, or good conversation. On the trail and in the outdoors; however, it is important to understand that some people might be out there precisely to get away from all of that. If you want to listen to music, etc, be considerate of others and use headphones. Keep your Bluetooth speaker or radio at home. For conversation, talk with “inside voices” and low tones in the great outdoors. Keep in mind that even though you may think you have the trail all to yourself, others could be just out of sight, but still within earshot.

3) Dogs

Plenty of us like to take our dogs along on our favorite outdoor recreational activities. In fact, we truly encourage hiking with your dog. Whenever you do have your dog outdoors, it is important to have him or her 100% in your control. If that means you need a leash or tether, then go ahead and use one. Even for people who have dogs that are trustworthy and safe off leash, it is important to have a leash on hand and to leash your dog when approaching other people or dogs out of respect in case they may be fearful or shy around dogs. This is important even if your dog truly is “the goodest boy,” just so that we can make sure the outdoors is enjoyable for everyone. In areas where leashes, clean-up, and other actions are required, make sure you obey those regulations. And even if you are in a place where potty clean up isn’t required, try to keep human and canine excrement away from streams and water sources.

4) Groups

Sharing an outdoor experience with a group is often a rewarding experience. However, it is important to keep in mind the effect a large group can have on others participating in the same activity. Many times, individuals, couples, hunters, and anglers are looking for a level of quiet and intimacy with nature that is easily disturbed by larger groups. When hiking, try to break groups larger than 5 or 6 up into smaller groups no larger than 4. Then, depending on the length of your hike, set designated meeting areas along the trail or agree to reconvene at the trailhead at a certain time.

5) Share the Trail

When hiking you are sure to encounter others on the trail from time to time. In general, as a hiker or biker you should yield to horses and livestock, as they can sometimes be unpredictable. Technically, bikers are supposed to yield to hikers, but as a courteous hiker it is a good idea to step aside if you see a biker approaching ahead of you. In general, you should always let people pass who are moving faster than you are, even if they are engaged in the same type of activity. For example, slower hikers should step aside briefly to let faster hikers pass. Any time that you yield to others while traversing a hillside or slope, you should yield onto the downhill side. This is especially important when yielding to horses, and livestock. 

In conclusion, we are super excited to see more people getting outdoors every day. It is such a positive trend, and we hope that by being considerate we can not only make the experience more enjoyable for ourselves and others, but also create a community of good custodians to nature.