Hiking for Beginners: Top 5 Takeaways and My Favorite Hikes

Over the past few weeks I’ve been sharing information that I’ve learned about hiking for beginners.  I’m no expert, but I’ve learned so much since moving to Utah and subsequently have added hiking to my list of hobbies.

Check out my previous posts for more basic information on hiking.

Hiking for Beginners: Basic Trail Info

Hiking for Beginners: Basic Clothing

Hiking for Beginners: Basic Gear

Here are the top 5 things I think new hikers need to be thinking about and these are great reminders even for experienced hikers.

1. Have some trail knowledge; general and specific to the trail you choose to hike.
2. Carry enough food and water for the trip and extra for an emergency.
3. Be safe on the trail; wear sunscreen, carry basic first aid supplies including medical, shelter and a light source.
4. Be comfortable and functional in clothing and shoe choices.
5. Enjoy the entire experience! You are prepared for your hike, now go out and have fun!

It’s really hard to have one favorite hike! So many hikes are unique for different reasons.  I decided to think about some of my favorites and determine why these hikes stick out.

Red Pine Lake:  We hiked this less than 1 month after moving to Utah and the lake was absolutely gorgeous!  This hike was quite difficult for me, but the payoff was worth the sweat and near tears 😉 I especially remember arriving to the lake, seeing people setting up camp for the night, climbing over giant rocks and I swear there were squirrels throwing nuts at us!

Fast Facts:  7.1 miles, 2,099 feet elevation gain, rated difficult

Delicate Arch: Delicate Arch is a major icon for Utah, it’s used on the license plate, advertising, etc.  We have now hiked to the arch three times.  Each time was special because we were with family and friends.

Fast Facts: 3.1 miles, 613 feet elevation gain, rated as moderate or difficult depending on the source

The first time we made this hike was with Keith’s parents: Moab and Arches National Park

Next we hiked with our friends, Renee and Keith:  More in Moab

Last Fall we hiked it again with Yi: Yi does More in Utah than any Other Visitor

Fiery Furnace: The Fiery Furnace hike was mentally challenging for me because it became very difficult to determine what was and what was not the main trail. I became overwhelmed with feeling lost and not knowing how much further we needed to hike to find the exit. The mental difficulty of some of the terrain wore on me as temperatures climbed in the July heat.

Read more about the hike and watch our YouTube video here: Fiery Furnace Hike

Natural Bridges National Monument Full Loop Trail:  The combination of heat, lack of water and my shoes filling with sand made this the trifecta that warrants my most challenging hike.  I ended up losing my toenail because of this hike and nearly two years later, it still isn’t the same.  This could also be labeled as the hike where I couldn’t have been more mad 😉  I’d love to do this hike again under better circumstances because it shouldn’t have been so hard for me and I wasn’t able to enjoy it as much as I should have.

Read more about the hike and watch our YouTube video here: Natural Bridges National Monument

Do you have one favorite hike? If so, tell us about it and why it is your favorite.

If you can’t choose just one, tell us about a hike that sticks out in your mind and why it’s special to you.