| General Considerations for Finding a Place to Hike | | | | allow camping. Fishing is forbidden or restricted in many |
| The first thing to ask yourself is, what exactly are you | | | | lakes and rivers. (I know a beautiful pond in a state |
| looking for? Then, consider what places are within your | | | | park where only children are allowed to fish.) |
| reach, practically speaking. Be sure to find out if the | | | | Are you planning to bring your dog along for the hike? |
| activity you have in mind is permitted in the place | | | | Not all parks permit dogs, and most require that the |
| you're going to. Last and perhaps most importantly, | | | | dog be on a leash. |
| consider what you can handle. | | | | There are also restrictions on power boats, |
| With all these things in mind, you can start looking. | | | | snowmobiles, and even off-road bicycles. Make sure |
| There's a list of suggestions and resources at the end | | | | the place you plan to go permits what you plan to do. |
| of this article. | | | | Can you take it? |
| What are you looking for? | | | | Make an honest assessment of your abilities, both |
| Do you want to add just a little contact with nature to | | | | physical and mental, and plan for caution. Think you |
| your everyday life? Consider your local city parks or | | | | can walk twelve miles in a day? Don't plan on more |
| reservation lands. Even private lands, if the owner is | | | | than seven miles in unfamiliar country. |
| amenable, such as the fringes of farms, woodlots, or | | | | Carefully read the trail descriptions and degree of |
| other such undeveloped areas can offer a peaceful | | | | difficulty before you decide what you can handle. If it |
| and interesting place to visit with wild things. Check | | | | says "rugged," that means you should not plan on |
| your town's Web site and your local library for | | | | setting any land speed records there. |
| information about parks and outdoor recreation areas, | | | | Bear in mind that most trail guide literature is written by |
| or just ask around among your neighbors. And don't | | | | people with extensive hiking experience and |
| forget your own back yard. There may be more | | | | above-average physical condition. If you're a couch |
| fascinating birds, insects, and plants there than you | | | | potato hoping to become a great outdoorsman, don't |
| imagine. You never know until you get out there and | | | | plan on taking the same hike that the great |
| just open your eyes and ears for a while. | | | | outdoorsman calls "challenging." |
| Do you want to find a real wilderness area that you | | | | Pay attention to the contour lines you see on most trail |
| can visit once in a while and get to know well? Check | | | | maps. They tell you how steep the trail is, generally. A |
| your state's Web site for state and national parks, | | | | one-mile trail that climbs 500 feet is a walk in the park. |
| national forests, and other large outdoor recreation | | | | A one-mile trail that climbs 2,000 feet might be |
| areas within your travel range. Read books and | | | | impassable to the average sedentary person. |
| articles about the area before your first visit so you | | | | Again, make sure your self-assessment is honest. You |
| know what to expect. Study the roads and the | | | | might tell a great adventure story at home, but you |
| location of parking areas so you have a good idea of | | | | can't fool the elements. When you're out on the trail, no |
| how long it will take to get there. | | | | amount of bravado can make up for a lack of physical |
| Are you planning a business trip or vacation in an | | | | fitness. |
| unfamiliar place and hoping to explore its natural history | | | | Suggestions |
| first-hand? Now you've got some research to do! | | | | Don't overlook a place because it's popular. True, |
| Check the Web for tourism sites in the area you're | | | | crowds take away from the sense of peace and |
| planning to visit. Remember to look for printable field | | | | solitude, and wildlife avoids contact with people. But if |
| guides to the plants and wildlife in the area. Consider | | | | you go at the right time of day, you might find |
| several alternatives, in case you discover after you | | | | something close to wilderness, even in a place that is |
| arrive that your first choice isn't going to work out. (I | | | | usually crowded. Most people are most active late in |
| never got outside of Palermo when I visited Sicily, | | | | the day, and most animals are most active at dusk |
| when my planned trip to Mount Aetna was canceled | | | | and dawn. That spells it out for you: Wherever you go, |
| due to eruption!) | | | | try to go there at dawn. |
| Are you planning a trip where hiking is the main | | | | If you are fortunate enough to have a state or national |
| objective? Good for you! You'll want to consider | | | | park nearby, that's probably your best choice. |
| carefully, and find out as much as you can about the | | | | Otherwise, for frequent quick visits, don't overlook your |
| place before you depart. Get some information from | | | | city parks and private property. |
| books and Web sites. Then get some more. Be sure | | | | Before hiking on private property, introduce yourself to |
| to filter the information properly: If someone has | | | | the owner. As long as they know who you are and |
| something to sell you, they might make it sound more | | | | what you're up to, most people are happy to allow |
| attractive and more accessible than it really is. Find out | | | | hikers to use their woods and fields. Of course, some |
| if you need reservations for campsites, canoe rentals | | | | landowners have had bad experiences, and you |
| and such. | | | | certainly must respect their rights to protect their |
| Places you can get to | | | | property from damage and their livestock from injury |
| Read those maps carefully! Sixty miles by road might | | | | and harassment. Remember that many landowners |
| look like an hour's drive, but not if it's an unpaved | | | | have agreements with hunting clubs, so they might not |
| logging road through rough country. You don't want to | | | | be able to let you hike on their land during hunting |
| get caught out in wilderness unprepared, and unable to | | | | season. |
| get out before people start worrying about you. | | | | When planning a trip to an unknown area, make sure |
| If you are planning to visit the area repeatedly, allow | | | | you do your research ahead of time. Again, state and |
| yourself plenty of time to get to know the place. Try a | | | | national parks are probably your best choices. Not only |
| few alternate routes to find the best one. Try a few | | | | are they the most likely to offer a good hiking |
| different access points -- parking lots, trail heads, etc. -- | | | | experience, they are also the best documented. You |
| before you pick which one will be "your place." You'll | | | | certainly won't be able to find a source on the Web |
| be back many times, so don't get discouraged if you | | | | that tells you what to expect on Farmer Jones' back |
| find that your first choice is not as good as you hoped. | | | | forty, but there's a wealth of information about public |
| If you are going on a once-in-a-lifetime visit, you might | | | | parklands. On another note, you'll find plenty of |
| want to hire a guide. Yes, it's an expense and a bit of | | | | information about commercial recreation areas, but |
| an intrusion, but it's better than getting in trouble. When | | | | they all have a financial interest in getting you to visit |
| you contact the guide to plan your hike, make sure | | | | the place. Public parks are more likely to have plain and |
| they understand your objectives -- whether you want | | | | truthful information available. |
| to race to that mountain peak, or just take it slow and | | | | Resources |
| watch the birds -- and give them an honest | | | | - Your local library. Look for books about your chosen |
| assessment of your capabilities. If they are taking you | | | | destination. If you are planning a trip to an area you are |
| as part of a group, make sure the rigid tour schedule | | | | not familiar with, look for local outdoor-oriented |
| will not make your vacation a chore for you. | | | | magazines. |
| Is it Allowed? | | | | - Google. Enter the name of the city or state and the |
| Take stock of what you intend to do, and whether it | | | | word "hiking," and you'll find an inexhaustible chain of |
| might be prohibited or restricted. Many parks do not | | | | links to information you can use. |