Is night hiking legal? Many people get scared from the night hiking. They say that hiking at night is dangerous and should be avoided. If you are a person who ever happens to have experience of night hiking or planning to go on a night hike, then you may know how different it would feel to see the terrains at night.
If you don’t know already or have not experienced it yet, the view is mesmerizing. Since trails have many nocturnal animals, you may encounter while on terrain, most countries have made night hikes illegal, but it’s for specific terrains.
When people hear about the restrictions, they get worried and ask questions like, Is night hiking legal? Is it safe to go hiking at night time? It will surely be a challenge for you if you are going on a night hike for the first time and you are hiking alone. Not having any prior experience or being unprepared for the forthcoming events during the hike can cause severe fear or trauma.
But, it is not a big deal, and you can easily manage night hiking without any previous experience if you acquire some basic hiking skills. Moreover, if you are equipped with the right tools and know the terrain you’re going to hike on, then it is perfectly safe to hike at night.
So, if you are not a novice hiker and have experience in day hiking, then you must know the basic hiking skills that are enough to make you feel comfortable and easy during the night hikes.
We don’t recommend night hikes for newbies who don’t know anything yet about the trails and the challenges they bring about. Is night hiking legal? Is it safe, and when to go for a night hike? Don’t worry. We will answer all your queries and give you tips on safely hiking at night.
Is Night Hiking Legal?
Night hiking is dangerous, but at the same time, it is a unique experience that beats day hiking. In most locations, night hikes are made legal because there are no rules and regulations that can work against them.
Night hikes involve risks and dangers. That’s why people say it is not safe to hike at night, but with the proper gear, you can hike at night.
The reasons behind making the night hike illegal were the animals that live near the terrains. Nigh hikes affect their habitat, and their whole routine gets disturbed.
Secondly, the people living in the terrain feel intruded because of all the noises and sharp flashlights. Moreover, the rescue teams have to be 24 hours alert because there are cases of a couple getting lost on the terrain or injured. That is why authorities promote day hiking instead of night hikes.
Tips For Night Hiking
We have curated some of the precautions for novice and professional hikers who are planning for night hikes so that you can have a better experience and enjoy your time while on the terrains.
Mapping Terrains
Day hiking is a bit different than night hiking, and you can try new terrains while day hiking. But, if you are doing night hiking, you must go for the terrain you know or are familiar with.
Don’t make the mistake of discovering a new trail at night because there will be higher chances of you getting lost, and your venture will turn into a nightmare. Moreover, try mapping out the terrain and keep some flags or ropes with you that you can stick on the terrain rocks to find your way back in any case.
Short Terrain Hikes
While night hiking, don’t choose long paths that take hours of hiking. Initially, the idea may seem mesmerizing and great for adventure, but it can be dangerous if you are relatively new to nighttime hiking. Especially if you are a newcomer and still learning a few basics of hiking, it is not the time to go for hard terrain.
Also, go for smoother surfaces that don’t have many rocks or bumps, as you don’t want to get injured on the trail. If you are an avid lover of animals and want to discover wildlife, then harsh terrains will allow you to interact with them.
Plan The Night Hike
Going on night hikes requires a realistic mindset where you have to calculate the risks and how long it will take you to reach your destination. You must be aware of weather conditions, your first aid kit, wildlife, and the terrain surface, whether it’s bumpy or smooth. if you stay for the sunrise, check if you can camp safely at night or have any cave that will keep you protected.
Go With Friends
Another safe idea to hike safely at night is not to hike alone. Try hiking in groups or have a friend or two with you to have your back and have a good time together. For inexperienced hikers, usually, loner hiking is not recommended.
Rather you must have an experienced friend with you so that he can help you sort out any problem or know the troubles of terrains. Moreover, it will be great for you to share a shared experience with your friend; in any emergency, you guys will be there for each other.
Keep Flashlights And Spare Batteries
A source of light while hiking at night is a blessing in disguise. Even if your vision is super sharp, the unpredictable terrains must not be taken lightly by you. We recommend that you take flashlights with you to see where you are going and if there is anything in your way that you should avoid.
While buying flashlights, check the features to know exactly how long the light will last and how bright the light will be. Also, keep the extra batteries with you in case one goes down, You can take out another one without any uneasiness.
Don’t go for the lights that are too bright because your eyes adjust to the darkness, and when you switch off the lights, it will take you 30 minutes to again adjust yourself to the less light or darkness.
Wearing Headlamps
Headlamps are a good option instead of getting flashlights, but they are slightly heavier than them. Most professional hikers opt for the headlamps because it makes both hands free, and you can keep going on with important tasks, for example, holding the trekking poles or reading a map, or some not-so-important tasks like cooking or eating snacks.
Make sure to have the extra batteries with you just in case the one dies. Then you have the alternative. Flashlights and headlamps must not be bright white lights; instead, they must be in the spectrum of red light because red light doesn’t blur night vision.
Take Extra Support
While hiking at night, take some support with you, such as trekking poles and extra insoles. Trekking poles help stabilize the body’s weight and distribute it equally so that you don’t feel pressure on the knees or feet. Also, the poles provide traction while you climb uphill and relax the knees, so there is very less chance of injury when you are using them.
Hike On full Moon
Night hikes become more attractive if you decide to go on full moon nights. There is light on every terrain and you can see clearly. If you can, take advantage of the full moonlight because you’ll be able to enjoy nature more and will be able to see clearly what lies ahead.
Dangers Of Hiking At Night
- One of the main dangers is that you can get lost because there’s a slight shift in the night versus day ones.
- If you can’t see clearly during the night hikes, then there are chances of falling, and you can get injured.
- During day hikes, you can protect yourself from harsh weather or the environment, but overcoming the weather’s harshness at night becomes difficult.
- Hiking near the river or stream areas can also be very dangerous at night because you can’t tell if you can cross the river or stream with your hiking boots or not.
- Wildlife is at its best at night, so you must be careful of the predators and make noises that make them disappear.
- Be careful of the snakebites or poisonous insects that can hit you anytime at night because of not-so-clear visions.
- Also, hunters usually hunt at night, so make sure that you don’t come in their way because it’s difficult for them to recognize.
Final Thoughts
Night hiking is a wonderful experience; if you are into this type of hiking, you must try doing it on your free day. It has breathtaking views and will give you a whole new perspective on the hiking journey.
But, it also has many dangers, and it is foolish of you to underestimate them. You must keep certain things in mind so you can safely hike at night, i.e., having maps, extra layers of clothes and batteries, flashlights, snacks, and fluids.
Avoid getting involved with wildlife at night and check forecasts to foresee the weather. With all the safety measures, enjoy the beautiful view of the stars and the Moon at night and also stay to enjoy the sunrise.