Here are hiking tips culled from experience. While most of these hiking tips apply to day hikes some are also relevant to backpacking or camping. Send your tips via our Contact Us page.

1 Freeze your water overnight or longer to keep it cold throughout the day. Water expands when frozen; allow enough room for this expansion. This will also keep adjacent food cool.

2 Recycle one-liter plastic soda bottles as water containers. Avoid packing them so that excess weight will not cause them to burst.

3 Use a wool or cotton sock as a sleeve to keep your water container cold longer. Or invest in a insulated sleeve available at most camping supply stores.

4 Always wear a watch when hiking. Use it in conjunction with a trail map to determine estimated end time of the hike. This will help you determine pacing, duration of rest stops & help to coordinate your hike with connections with public transportation.

5 Always sign trail registers. This could save your live if you get lost. This information is also used by park officials to determine trail use and conditions.

6 Always carry a small flashlight when hiking. In cases of miscalculations of time & distance it could be invaluable when stuck in the woods in dwindling light. Check the batteries beforehand to make sure they are working.

7 Never go hiking without bringing extra food & water. If you get delayed or lost you will appreciate your foresight.

8 Use a checklist to make sure that you don't forget anything when you go on a hike. Revise this list periodically.

9 Shorter and more frequent rest stops allow you to enjoy various scenic spots. Why rush through a hike?

10 In warm weather consume water before you are thirsty to prevent dehydration.

11 Fruit can supplement the water you bring on a hike. Citrus fruit, apples, plums, pears etc. can replace the water your body loses when hiking.

12 Be aware how loudly you are talking on a hike. Your voice can carry farther than you think.

13 Think of doing a "theme" hike. Focus on photography. Time your hike to see spring flowers. Do a silent hike. Have a pot luck hike where participants share food. Go birding. Use your imagination.

14 Prepare your food for a hike the night before. You'll appreciate not having to do it the following morning.

15 Don't over pack. Don't under pack. Learn from experience what to bring on an outing.

16 Don't pack a wet towel in your backpack. Attach it to the back of your pack so it can dry off. Bring a plastic bag to store damp items if conditions or time does not allow the damp towels to fully dry.

17 Go on a few hikes. Enjoy yourself. Consider co-leading a favorite hike. A map and the willingness to co-lead is all you need to repeat a hike. We always need hike-leaders. Think about it.

18 Your thirst is not a good gauge of how much water your body needs. Bring a minimum of two quarts of liquids for a warm weather hike. Three quarts would be better.

19 One of the best sources of information about equipment are your fellow hikers. Talk with more experienced hikers about their likes and dislikes about their hiking gear.

20 Be prepared for changes in weather. It's not uncommon for the temperature to be below 50° when you start out and 75° later in the day. Wear clothing in layers that can adapt to changing temperatures. Consider how much space discarded clothing takes up in your backpack.

21 If it is taking longer to get to the scheduled lunch spot than anticipated, stop at an appropriate spot to allow people to consume some of their food. Announce the estimated arrival time for your planned lunch break so people can make an appropriate personal decision if they want to eat anything or wait until later. This will greatly lessen whining.

22 On carpool hikes during very warm weather fill ice chests with ice and cold beverages such as lemonade or iced tea. Leave the coolers in the cars. This will be a pleasant treat at the end of the hike. Consider this an expense to be shared among all hike participants.

23 It is good etiquette to converse with the driver during the return trip to help keep him alert especially if you are riding in the front seat. If you are riding in the front passenger seat, nodding off might induce drowsiness in the driver.

24 Always thank your outing leaders and your driver after an outing. Everyone likes to be appreciated.

25 Cellular phones can help in an emergency. If you own one, bring it along. Leave it switched off until you need to use it in an emergency.

26 The exertion involved in hiking can cause you to sweat if you wear too many layers. Wear fewer layer when you hike. Remove layers before you start to sweat so your clothing will remain dry. At rest stops add layers according to the temperature and your comfort.

27 Carry lightweight extra layers in your backpack for putting on when the temperature drops unexpectedly.

28 Buy the best equipment you can afford. It will lasts the longest. Buy it on sale if you can.

29 The same route done in the reverse direction is a different hike. You see different views. You pass the same point from a different direction and a different time of the day. The light is different. You climb where you previously descended.

30 Do the most strenuous part of the hike first if you can when your energy level is highest. Save the easiest part for last when you energy is depleted

31 You may be hiking over 100 miles from where you live and the weather there may be very different from your local forecast. If you have any doubt about the weather don't hesitate to call your outing leader the morning of the hike to inquire if the hike is on or off.

32 If you make plans for the evening after a day hike allow for delays in your return. Don't commit yourself to an appointment or date that may have to be broken. Consider how tired you will be after a full day's hike and plan accordingly.

33 The clear smoky plastic food & water bottles are preferable to the milky polypropylene ones. They're easier to clean and won't absorb food odors if you use the bottles for food or beverages other than water.

34 Always buy a wide-mouthed bottle rather than a narrow-mouthed bottle. They're much easier to keep clean. And you can fill them with ice cubes at the last minute if you have forgotten to freeze your water the previous night. That in combination with an insulated sleeve will keep the water cool much of the day.

35 Buy a wildflower field guide. Bring it with you on your next hike. Each hike remember one or two new flowers. The more you know the more you'll see and it will enrich your hiking experience.

36 Never, never put anything in a glass bottle or jar in your backpack. Transfer the contents of the glass vessel to an unbreakable container and you won't have to worry about an accident waiting to happen.

37 Use reseal able plastic bags such as zip lock or baggies to protect any books you take with you on a hike.

38 Join the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. You'll get a bi-monthly newsletter informing you about local trail conditions, relevant political changes and other issues relating to hiking.

39 The internet is a great source for hiking information.