Is it safe to go hiking alone?
Hiking alone is reasonably safe on a trail you're prepared for, but it leaves less margin than hiking with a partner. The National Park Service says hiking with a companion is safer and asks solo hikers to take extra measures. The common solo problems are losing the trail, a twisted ankle far from the car, weather turning and running out of daylight. A trip plan left with someone, the Ten Essentials, a turnaround time and a way to call for help cover most of them.
How to hike alone more safely
01Start with popular, well-marked trails
For your first solo hikes, choose trails with signed junctions, other hikers and some cell coverage, so a wrong turn or a sprain gets noticed. Build up to quieter trails once you've practiced navigating and handling small problems yourself. A crowded trail on a weekend morning is one of the safest places to hike alone.
02Leave a trip plan with someone not on the hike
The NPS recommends leaving your plan with a trusted friend or family member who isn't going with you. Include the trailhead, route, car description, when you expect to finish and when they should call for help. Our guide on how to leave a trip plan has a template.
03Pack the Ten Essentials, even for short hikes
Navigation, sun protection, extra clothing, a light, first aid, fire, a repair kit, extra food, extra water and emergency shelter. Alone, the layer and shelter matter most, because an injured solo hiker may wait hours for help. See what to carry when hiking alone for a list by hike length.
04Set a turnaround time and keep it
Pick a clock time to turn back regardless of whether you've reached the summit or the lake. Build in the fact that descending tired takes longer than you expect, and check sunset before you start. Solo, there's nobody to talk you out of pushing on, so decide at the trailhead.
05Navigate without relying on signal
Download an offline map of the whole area and carry a paper map as backup. Check your position at every junction instead of waiting until something looks wrong. If you lose the trail, stop, then go back to the last place you were sure of.
06Share your location and set a return time
Start a Holler live link at the trailhead so a Guardian can see your route travelled and latest position in any browser. If you lose signal, they still see your last known location. Set a return time: if you haven't checked in five minutes after it, Holler's server sends an overdue alert, even from a dead zone. For long backcountry hikes, the NPS suggests a personal locator beacon, since a phone needs signal to call for help.
Related questions
Is it safe for women to hike alone?
Many women hike alone regularly and safely. Planning, a trip plan and trusting your instincts about people at trailheads and camps matter more than any gadget. Our page for women who hike alone covers the specific concerns.
What is the biggest risk of hiking alone?
Being stuck, not the injury itself. A sprained ankle is minor with a partner and serious alone at dusk in cold weather, because you may wait hours. That's why warm layers, a light and someone who knows your plan matter so much. The hiking alone safety guide goes deeper.
What if I get lost?
Stop, stay calm and don't keep walking hoping to find the trail. Use your map to go back to the last known point, and call 911 if you can't. Our answer on what to do if you get lost while hiking walks through it.
What if there's no cell service on the trail?
Your Guardian still sees your last known location, and your return time still triggers an overdue alert. You can't call out without signal, which is why a satellite device makes sense in remote areas. See how to stay safe hiking with no cell service.
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Sources, checked September 2026: National Park Service: Hike Smart, National Park Service: The Ten Essentials.
More safety answers, or see the safety guides.