Hiking in the Dark

Nighttime hiking is commonplace in big mountain regions where afternoon thunderstorms force hikers to start in the dark so they can complete their hikes before weather moves in. It’s also the last great skill for dayhikers, as it extends the day beyond the confines of dawn and dusk - providing opportunities to enjoy spectacular places that are otherwise the domain of backpackers.

Here are some tips to help you get comfortable hiking at night:

Same Trail. Perhaps the most important thing to remember about hiking in the dark is that the trail is exactly the same whether it be light or dark. While things will look and feel different, always remember that the trail has not changed.

Start with a Known Trail. For your first time hiking in the dark, start with a trail you know and are familiar with - preferably one that is marked. This will ease some of the anxiousness that’s common on your first few hikes in the dark.

Hike with Friends. It’s always a great idea to hike with people you know and trust. It’s a bonus if one or more of your friends is an experienced night hiker and is familiar with your chosen route.

Headlamp and Batteries. Get yourself a comfortable, bright headlamp and be sure to have extra batteries with you. How bright? That’s up to you, but when you’re getting started, brighter is better.

Phone with GPS Tracker. Always keep your phone on you and use a GPS activity tracker like Strava, RunKeeper, Garmin, etc. This serves three purposes - (1) back-up flashlight if your headlamp craps out, (2) tracking your hike from start to finish means worst case you can always backtrack your route - just be sure to use airplane mode to conserve battery, and (3) if things go wrong, you can call for help if you have service or at least pull up your map app to find your way - always download the local area map to your phone.

Cliffs. Many of the best spots for sunrise/sunset in Kentucky are near cliffs. When hiking at night, what does a cliff look like? It looks black and void of light! If your headlamp beam is showing black, that’s a cliff - don’t go there:-)

Snakes. Be aware of our slithering friends who can be found on the trail taking in late day heat. They’re most common on ridgeline trails at night. If you see one, give it plenty of space and an easy escape route.

Bears. If you’re traveling in bear country, always bring bear spray which is basically a super strong, long range (30+ ft.) pepper spray.

Scary Humans. As a 6’3” man, I generally don’t worry about scary humans, but they certainly exist. Over the thousands of miles I’ve traveled by foot, I’ve come across exactly one weirdo who I would wager was in the midst of a bad acid trip. That bear spray works great on humans too;-) Oh, and uh, just say no to drugs.