Fall Hiking Safety: What This Backpacker Wants You to Know

Fall is here, and in my opinion, this is the absolute best time of year to hike.

Give me cool temperatures, crisp mornings, changing leaves and a backpack over heat and humidity any day. There’s something about being on a trail in the fall that just feels different.

I’m a backpacker, and I’ve spent a lot of miles on trails, including hiking and backpacking alone. And while fall may be my favorite hiking season, experience has taught me that it comes with some very specific risks.

The beautiful leaves covering the trail? They can hide rocks, roots, holes—and even snakes.

That crisp 60-degree afternoon? It can become a very cold evening faster than you expect.

And that hike you easily finished before dark in July? You may suddenly find yourself pulling out your headlamp in October.

Fall hiking is spectacular.

But it deserves a little extra respect.

Those Beautiful Leaves Can Be Dangerous

This is probably one of the biggest differences I notice when hiking in the fall.

You can't see the trail nearly as well.

A thick layer of leaves can completely hide rocks, roots, holes, loose stones and uneven terrain. You may think you're stepping onto solid ground when there's actually a rock or depression underneath.

Wet leaves are even worse.

Wet leaves over rock can be incredibly slick, particularly when you're heading downhill. Add a backpack that changes your center of gravity and one innocent-looking step can put you on the ground.

This is one of those times when I slow down even if the trail itself isn't technically difficult.

Sometimes the biggest fall hazard isn't what you can see.

It's what you can't.

Snakes Haven't Necessarily Packed Up for the Winter

Cool weather doesn't automatically mean snakes are gone.

During warmer parts of a fall day, you may still encounter snakes taking advantage of sunny rocks, trails and other warm areas.

The problem is that fall camouflage can be excellent.

A snake among brown and yellow leaves can be surprisingly difficult to see.

Watch where you step and where you put your hands. Be particularly careful around rocks, logs, ledges and leaf piles. If I'm stepping over a log, I want to know what's on the other side before blindly putting my foot down.

And if you encounter a snake, give it space.

Your Daylight Is Disappearing

This one can sneak up on experienced hikers.

A route you've done plenty of times during the summer may suddenly take you dangerously close to sunset in the fall.

I always want a headlamp with me—not because I'm planning to hike in the dark, but because plans change.

Maybe you stop longer than expected.

Maybe the terrain slows you down.

Maybe you take a wrong turn.

Maybe somebody gets hurt.

Maybe you simply underestimated your pace.

Knowing sunset time becomes part of planning the hike, and I don't want my expected finish time to be anywhere near it.

Leave yourself a margin.

Fall Temperatures Can Fool You

A sunny fall afternoon can feel fantastic when you're moving.

Stop moving—or let the sun disappear—and things can change quickly.

Temperatures can drop significantly after sunset, particularly at elevation. Add sweat, wind or wet clothing and what started as a beautiful fall day can become a problem.

This is why I don't pack based solely on what the temperature will be when I start hiking.

I think about what the temperature could be several hours later.

And as a backpacker, I always ask myself a bigger question:

What if I'm unexpectedly out here overnight?

You don't necessarily need to carry enough equipment for a week long expedition on a day hike, but you should have enough protection to handle an unexpected delay.

Know What's Under Your Feet

Fall hiking requires a little more deliberate foot placement.

Those leaves aren't just hiding rocks and roots. They can hide mud, water, drop-offs and unstable ground.

This is where trekking poles can be incredibly useful. They're not just for big climbs. They give you additional contact with the ground when you're descending over leaves or trying to figure out whether the surface underneath them is actually stable.

With a backpack on, I become even more conscious of this.

An awkward step that would normally be nothing can feel very different when you're carrying 25 or 30 pounds on your back.

Don't Forget About Hunting Season

Fall hiking and hunting seasons overlap in many areas.

Before heading out, I check the regulations for wherever I'm hiking.

If hunting is permitted in or near the area, visibility matters. This isn't necessarily the day for my best head-to-toe earth-tone hiking outfit.

Know where you are, know what activities are permitted there and make yourself appropriately visible.

Falling Isn't the Only Thing Happening Above You

We spend a lot of time watching our feet while hiking, particularly when leaves are covering the trail.

Occasionally look up.

Fall storms, wind and dead or damaged trees can create hazards overhead. Dead branches don't always give you much warning before they come down.

As a backpacker, I'm particularly aware of this when choosing where to stop for a long break or where to set up camp.

That perfect little spot underneath a tree isn't so perfect if there are dead limbs hanging above it.

Water Sources Can Change

If you're backpacking rather than taking a short day hike, don't automatically assume that a water source you used earlier in the year will still be flowing.

Late summer and fall conditions can affect springs, streams and other water sources.

Check current trail information when possible, know where your reliable sources should be and carry enough capacity to get you between them.

And, of course, backcountry water still needs to be appropriately filtered or treated.

Have a Plan for When the Hike Doesn't Go as Planned

This is probably the biggest thing backpacking has taught me.

Your plan is only Plan A.

I want to know my alternate routes. I want offline maps. I want someone else to know where I'm going and when I expect to be back. On remote trips, I want to think about how I would communicate if I didn't have cell service.

And I want to know where I can get off trail if I need to.

Because weather changes.

Gear breaks.

People get tired.

Water sources dry up.

Trails disappear underneath leaves.

And sometimes your body simply says, Not today.

Being willing to change the plan isn't failure.

It's good hiking.

Carry the Things That Matter

I'm not going to give an experienced hiker a giant checklist telling them to bring water and snacks.

But there are a few things I don't like being without in the fall:

• A headlamp

• Extra power for my phone

• Offline navigation

• An insulating layer

• Rain protection

• First aid and blister supplies

• Emergency shelter or bivvy

• More water capacity than I think I'll need

• A whistle

• Pepper spray for personal protection, where legal

• Bear spray when appropriate for the area and wildlife

If you carry pepper spray or bear spray, know the difference, know how to use what you're carrying, check local regulations and keep it somewhere you can actually reach.

Emergency equipment buried at the bottom of your backpack isn't particularly useful during an emergency.

And Know Some First Aid

This is where the CPR and first aid instructor in me comes out.

Don't just carry a first aid kit.

Know how to use it.

A small injury at home is one thing. A small injury when you're miles from a road can become a much bigger problem.

Know how to handle bleeding, wounds, blisters, sprains and other common trail injuries. Carry medications you personally need. Check your supplies occasionally instead of assuming everything in that little first aid pouch is still usable.

Most importantly, address problems early.

If you're developing a blister, stop and deal with it.

If you're getting cold, add a layer.

If you're thirsty, drink.

If something hurts enough that you're changing the way you walk, pay attention.

You don't get extra hiking points for suffering.

Ask Yourself: What If I Can't Walk?

This is the question I think every hiker should occasionally ask.

Not:

What if I see a bear?

Not:

What if something creepy happens in the woods?

Something much more ordinary.

What if I fall on one of those leaf-covered rocks and I can't walk?

If you're five miles from the trailhead, suddenly your priorities are very different.

Can you stay warm?

Can you stay dry?

Can you communicate with someone?

Can you tell someone exactly where you are?

Do you have enough water?

Do you have a light?

Could you safely remain where you are for several hours—or overnight—while waiting for help?

Those questions influence what I carry much more than dramatic wilderness scenarios do.

Get Out There

None of this is meant to make fall hiking sound scary.

Quite the opposite.

I think this is one of the most incredible times of year to be outside.

I love being a backpacker. I love carrying what I need on my back, putting miles behind me and seeing where my own two feet can take me. And there are few things better than doing that when the air is cool and the woods are changing colors around you.

Experience has taught me not to fear the trail.

It has taught me to respect it.

So get outside this fall.

Take the long hike.

Throw on the backpack.

Go see those leaves.

Just remember that underneath all that beautiful fall color are rocks, roots, changing weather and a trail that may look very different than it did a few months ago.

Enjoy the view. Watch your footing. Have a backup plan. And make sure you're prepared to get yourself home.