Hiking 101

Introduction & Assessment

Utah is one of the best places on earth to be a hiker — and you don't need fancy gear or experience to get started. Begin by downloading the free AllTrails app and browsing trails near you. Search "beginner hikes Salt Lake" and look at Ensign Peak, the Living Room Trail above the U, or any of the Jordan River Parkway paths — all free, all accessible. Watch the YouTube channel "Outdoor Boys" for family-friendly hiking inspiration, and check out r/utahhiking to see what locals are actually doing. Read AllTrails' free beginner guide at alltrails.com/hiking-tips. Write down three trails you want to do and why. You're ready for the next step when you can name the five Leave No Trace principles.

Foundation Building

Before your boots hit the trail, you need to understand two things: the Ten Essentials and how to read a trail. The Ten Essentials (navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first aid, fire, repair tools, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter) are the baseline for every hike, even a short one. Read about them free at rei.com/learn. Download the free Gaia GPS app for offline trail maps — critical in Utah canyons where cell service drops. Study the difficulty ratings on AllTrails: easy, moderate, hard. Check the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources site (wildlife.utah.gov) to understand seasonal wildlife you might encounter on Wasatch Front trails. You're ready for the next step when you can list all Ten Essentials from memory and explain why each matters.

Skill Development

Time to get your body and your skills trail-ready. Do your first real hike this week — pick a beginner AllTrails route under 3 miles, like Bonneville Shoreline Trail or Dimple Dell Regional Park in Sandy. Before you go, check the weather at weather.gov and the trail conditions on AllTrails reviews. Practice proper hiking posture: slight forward lean uphill, short steps downhill, trekking poles optional but helpful. Learn how to navigate with a map and compass using the free REI YouTube tutorials. After the hike, note what your body felt and what you wish you'd brought. You're ready for the next step when you've completed your first solo or small-group hike and written a gear and conditions debrief.

Practice & Refinement

Push yourself to a moderate trail this week — something with elevation gain. Try the Donut Falls trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon or the Waterfall Canyon trail above Ogden. Before you go, practice packing your daypack: water (at least 2 liters for a summer Wasatch hike), snacks with real carbs and protein, extra layer, sun protection, and your first aid kit. Use the free Utah AvalancheCenter app (utahavalanchecenter.org) in winter or shoulder seasons to check mountain conditions. Log your hike in AllTrails so you build a trail record. You're ready for the next step when you've completed a moderate hike with 500+ feet of elevation gain and can explain how you managed your pace and water intake.

Challenge Mode

Your challenge: plan and lead a hike for at least two other people. You choose the trail, check conditions, brief your group on the Ten Essentials, and set the pace. Try a summit hike in the Wasatch — Twin Peaks via Broads Fork, or the Mount Olympus trail for something serious. Use CalTopo (free at caltopo.com) to plan your route with elevation profiles. Read about altitude considerations on the REI Expert Advice blog — Utah peaks can hit 11,000+ feet, and that matters for hydration and energy. File a trip plan (tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back). You're ready for the next step when you've successfully led a group hike and your group made it back safely, on time, and had fun.

Mastery Demonstration

You know how to hike — now share it. Create a beginner trail guide for your local area: pick three trails of different difficulty levels, write what makes each one great, what to bring, and what to watch out for. Post it to r/utahhiking, share it on AllTrails as a review, or turn it into a simple graphic with free Canva. Volunteer with the Wasatch Trail Crew (wasatchtrailcrew.org) for a trail maintenance day — it's free, and you'll learn how trails actually get built and maintained. Teach one person who has never hiked something you learned in this quest. You're ready for the next step when your guide or review has been read or used by someone outside your immediate circle.