Suggestions for Day Hikes
There are lots of lists out there for day hiking, and you should look at as many of them as possible to get an idea of what will work for you on the kinds of trips you’re planning. Day hiking is a great way to experience the outdoors and is as safe as any other outdoor activity if you plan accordingly. Here’s what I carry in my backpack.
Handsome Husband and I do mostly day hikes, but given where we live, we need to be self-sufficient on the trail. Most great places to hike in Northern California are relatively remote and sparsely populated.
What to Wear
Dress appropriately. This might seem like a no-brainer, but I’ve seen too many people wandering around in the woods wearing shorts and flip-flops and carrying nothing more than a bottle of water (if that.) If you’re going to be less than a mile from your car and with other people, great. You’ll probably be fine
But if you’re hiking for several miles or solo hiking, like I often do, it’s a bad idea.
Shoes
Flip-flops are a terrible idea for hiking. They don’t offer any support for your feet, and it’s easy to twist your ankle or cut up your feet on uneven terrain. If you want to hike in sandals, check out hiking sandals from Keen or Chaco that have an ankle strap and a good sole. The Keen sandals have a toe guard to protect your feet.
For short walks, athletic shoes are usually fine, but for longer hikes or hikes in more rugged terrain, get hiking boots or shoes. They will give you some grip on loose soil or rock. I like Keen and Ecco boots.
I have three pairs of Chaco sandals, more Keen boots than I care to admit, and my second (in 20 years) pair of Ecco boots. It’s not that I need all the shoes, but, you know… shoes.
Clothing
Technical clothing is so much better than it was when I was a kid—no more damp cotton. Choose moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics or wool. Yes, there are summer wool products.
Wear layers because the weather can change quickly depending on where you live. Though the summers here in Northern California are usually rain-free (severe drought conditions), bring a rain layer or light jacket. Once the sun goes down in the mountains, the temperature can drop considerably. Today one of my favorite campgrounds has a high of 87° and a low of 59°.
Bring a hat. Since it doesn’t rain in the summer here, the days are almost always completely sunny. Even on forest trails, there’s a fair amount of sun.
I am partial to Marmot, Mountain Hardware, North Face, Lole, and Smartwool, because I know how they’ll fit, but there are plenty of other clothing manufacturers out there. Buy the best your budget can afford and check out websites like Sierra and REI Outlet for discounts.
What I wear
Here’s what I’m wearing in the photos below.
For summer hikes, I usually wear a baseball hat, a moisture-wicking top, a quick-dry hiking skort, and Keen trail shoes. I’m partial to skorts over shorts. I have several pairs with awesome pockets that also double as swim bottoms.
For colder weather hikes, I usually wear my Gottman wool/Gortex baseball hat (with spiffy hidden ear flaps,) rain-resistant pants, a Smartwool base-layer top, and a Lole soft-shell jacket with a Lole rain jacket over it if necessary. (Both jackets are discontinued) I always bring a rain jacket, just in case. Depending on the weather, I’ll wear either my Keen boots for cold temps (below 40°) or my Ecco boots for slightly warmer weather.
What to Carry
In addition to my writing, I am also a photographer. But I’ve never found a camera backpack that meets all my needs, so I carry a CamelBak backpack with a Tamrac camera pouch inside. My pack is ancient, but here’s a similar-sized one.
A first aid kit.
I was an EMT in a previous life and know what damage can be done to the human body. I carry a large first aid kit in the car and a smaller one on the trail.
The small kit contains:
- Sam Splint
- Cold Compress
- Emergency Blanket
- Handwarmers
- Nitrile Gloves
- Assorted Band-aids
- Butterfly Bandages
- Moleskin
- Trauma Shears
- Mosquito Forceps
- Scalpel
- Tweezers
- 4×4 Gauze
- 2×2 Gauze
- Abdominal Dressing
- QuikClot
- Ziploc Baggies
- Cohesive Bandage
- Pepper Spray Relief
- Notepad, Pen, and Pencil
- Burn Cream
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Medications
The meds in the first aid kit contain pain relievers, diphenhydramine for allergic reactions, meclizine for motion sickness, omeprazole for heartburn, and the meds Handsome Husband and I take daily, just in case.
I also have a small 5×7 tarp tucked into my pack. Mine is red on one side and silver on the other. It’s excellent for picnics and can be used as a shelter or emergency blanket in a pinch.
Water
Bring enough water. Usually, a liter of water for every two hours on the trail, but double that if you’re hiking in hot and/or humid conditions. My backpack has a 3-liter water bladder, but I often just carry a water bottle on shorter or colder hikes. If you know you’ll have access to a water source on a long hike; you may want to consider a water filter bottle like this one from LifeStraw.
Food
Depending on how long you’ll be hiking, you’ll want to bring something to eat. Make sure to eat a good meal before leaving and think high protein/energy and compact.
- Trail mix
- Freeze-dried fruit
- Energy bars or gel
- Granola bars
- Individual packs of nut butter
- Easily portable fruit like apples, oranges, or pears. You could bring a banana or two as well, but a) I don’t like bananas, and b) they can get squished easily.
Bear Spray
Northern California is bear country, and I have seen them on the trails. If you’re going to carry bear spray, make sure you should know how to remove the safety and fire the spray. Depending on where you live, you may not be able to order bear spray online. Your local sporting goods or outdoor store should carry it.
Multi-tool
This was the best birthday present ever. It comes in handy for all kinds of things. Mine is a Gerber.
A pocket knife
I usually carry mine clipped to my pants at the small of my back. Most women’s clothing isn’t designed for carrying a knife—the pockets are generally too shallow.
Flashlight
Just in case you get caught out after dark. Don’t rely on your phone’s flashlight. There are plenty of small but powerful LED lights out there.
Navigation
I use the Guru app on my phone. You can download .gpx files from sites like AllTrails and import them to the app. These files will give you the route to take and occasionally some information about points along the trail.
I also record the route using the app; just in case the route I imported is wrong, I’ll know how to get back to where I started.
PRO-TIP: To extend your phone battery life while hiking, put your phone in airplane mode. Looking for a cell signal can drain your battery super quickly, especially since your phone won’t find one in the middle of nowhere. The GPS will still work in airplane mode.
Camera
I carry my Canon DSLR and a 50mm prime lens. I’ve found that I can combine images using Panorama or HDR in Lightroom Classic and don’t need to carry an assortment of lenses. This approach may not work for you but think carefully about what lenses you really need. Camera lenses add a lot of weight.
I also bring a polarizing filter and maybe a rain cover for the camera depending on the weather.
Random Stuff
Handsome Husband is a ham radio operator, so if he’s with me, we also have a hand-held two-meter radio. He likes to see if it can contact other hams while we’re out in the wilderness.
Where to Go
If you’re ever in Northern California, here are some amazing places to visit.
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