If you and your family are looking for a unique adventure this summer, consider night hiking. An overnight hike can be an epic experience you can’t get during a day hike. Just imagine the stars you’ll see!
However, night hiking requires preparation — it is quite different from a casual hike during the day. To be safe, you need to take precautions. If night hiking is something that interests you, learn more about the basics that ensure you have a fun and safe time.
5 Reasons to Take an Overnight Hike
There are many reasons why night hiking may be your new favorite activity. Here are five of them.
1. Enjoy Cooler Temperatures
In the summer, it can get too hot to enjoy the outdoors during the day. If hiking is something that you love but find yourself refraining from it often in the summer months, then night hiking may be the answer. Hiking at night provides a unique way to enjoy hiking when the temperatures are much more comfortable.
2. Experience a Different Way to See Nature
Appreciate nature in a new way by experiencing it at night. Picture staring up at the Milky Way galaxy and all its stars or the moon. Night hiking is the perfect opportunity to take the time to view sights you don’t typically appreciate.
3. Have Fewer People on the Trail
Many people enjoy hiking in the summer, but, sometimes, it can get overwhelming when you head to a popular trail only to find that it is filled with people. By hiking at night, you cut back drastically on the number of people you may run into on a hiking trail. In fact, you may find that you’re one of the only people out on the trail when you embark post-sunset.
4. Work Hiking Into Your Schedule Easier
Many adults do not have summer breaks or as many vacation days as they would need to take a trip. Whether you work during the week or over the weekends, it can be hard to find time during the day to leave your work and go for a hike. However, night hiking gives you the ability to do what you need to do during the day and then head out on your adventure once your daily duties are all complete.
5. Gain a New Perspective on Familiar Trails
For your first few experiences of night hiking, you probably want to stick to trails that you are familiar with to feel safer and have an idea of where you are going as you wander through the dark. Though you are on a familiar trail, you are getting a whole new perspective. Enjoy as the trail comes alive in a fun and fresh way as you rely on your other senses to navigate.
Is It Safe to Hike at Night?
You can hike at night as long as you have the right gear. Prepare for your overnight hike by doing the following.
Get a Reliable Headlamp
Since you won’t be able to use the light of the sun to hike like you do during the day, lighting is something you need to bring with you for your night hike. You can’t use just any light — it needs to be something good that you can rely on. You don’t need to bring a blindingly bright light on your night hike. Rather, you want to bring something dim that will help your eyes better adjust to the dark.
If you’re hiking during a full moon, you may even find that the moon is bright enough to guide you. If that’s not the case, or if you feel hesitant about relying solely on the moon, then you will need to get the right headlamp.
Here are some things to look for in a headlamp:
- Red light mode: A red light is more gentle on your eyes because it has longer wavelengths. You can see better at night by using this color as opposed to the standard bright white light.
- Comfortable fit: Get a headlamp that you can comfortably wear on your head and won’t bother you while you hike.
- Multiple brightness settings: Headlamps with low and high brightness help you see better and make the battery last longer.
To help your eyes adjust to night light, be patient. You can expect your eyes to take about 45 minutes to get used to the darkness of the night, so give it time.
Wear Light Layers of Clothes
Even though it’s summer and warm during the day, when the sun drops, so does the temperature. However, you also don’t want to load up on too many layers since you will likely be working up a sweat from hiking.
Wear a few light layers to adjust to the cool night temperatures and stay comfortable throughout the hike. Start with a T-shirt, and then throw a long-sleeved on top as well as a light jacket. The exact clothing to wear may vary depending on where you are doing your night hike. With all these layers, you want to bring a light backpack so you can stow them away when they’re not in use.
11 Tips for a Safe Night Hike
Here are some more tips to keep in mind as you plan your night hike:
- Don’t bring gear you’ve never used before: The time to try out your new pair of hiking boots is not on a night hike. New gear can quickly turn into a nightmare if you find that your boots aren’t the right size or they are uncomfortable. Instead, stick only to gear that you already know and love.
- Hike a familiar trail: Night hiking is a new experience, so the comfort of a trail you’ve hiked before during the day can make the experience easier at night.
- Don’t go off the trail: Since you can’t see very far at night, it is crucial to stick to the designated trails. You have no idea what sits off the trail until it’s too late. Plus, in some areas, going off hiking trails is illegal.
- Always let someone know your plan: Share your plans with someone who isn’t joining you on the hike. Let them know when you are leaving and when you plan to return. This way, if they don’t hear from you by a certain time, they know to send someone out looking for you. Be sure to give this person a buffer of what time you plan to return in case the hike takes a bit longer than expected.
- Always go with a friend: Night hiking alone is not recommended. Use the buddy system when heading out on this kind of adventure. Ideally, you would have a group hiking with you at night, but you want at least one other person.
- Use headlamp etiquette: While having a headlamp is a necessity for night hiking, you don’t always have to use it, and you definitely don’t always have to use it in its brightest setting. Headlamp etiquette is not only for you but also for your fellow hikers. Whether they are part of your group or just people passing by on the trail, always turn your light off when others come near you. If you’re scared to keep walking without the light, simply stop, let them pass you and then continue along your way.
- Bring food and water: Regardless of the length of your night hike, bring food and water with you. You never know when hunger might strike, and staying hydrated is important no matter what time of day you’re hiking.
- Watch out for wildlife: Though you likely won’t run into any major wildlife issues while hiking on a familiar trail, it is important to research what animals may be in the area before embarking on your hike. While in the wild, keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for signs of wildlife.
- Keep a slow pace: Though you might be an experienced hiker who wants to move quickly, that is not the speed for night hiking. Hiking in the dark makes familiar territory unfamiliar, and you may find yourself stepping on rocks you never noticed during the day. Rather, take it slow, so you can be more observant and avoid injury.
- Check the weather conditions: Make sure your night hike has good weather with maximum visibility. Clouds and fog can make your hike unsafe and block the moon’s light.
- Start your hike at sunset: The sunset provides light for visibility and a beautiful view to motivate you as you start your hike.
Where to Find Hiking Trails Open at Night
Though we think you can make a fun time of hiking any trail at night, some places give you an exceptionally stunning and memorable experience:
National Parks
Hiking national park trails at night is a great option because the parks are maintained. Rangers are also around 24/7, so the parks are a very safe spot. In addition to that, national parks are some of the most stunning places in the country, so you can expect nothing short of amazing. Be sure to check the hours for the park and trails to make sure night hiking is allowed.
Dark Sky Parks
DarkSky International certifies parks and protected areas that limit light pollution to conserve the beautiful views of the nighttime sky. There are around 150 Dark Sky locations across North America. These make for top-notch night hiking destinations as they have little to no light pollution and the ideal conditions for a hike under the stars.
Stay at Kampgrounds of America Near Your Night Hike Trail
Make your overnight hiking experience a trip to remember by camping at a KOA Campground. You can stay at a campsite or in a cabin and enjoy amenities and activities that are fun for the whole family.
We have more than 500 campgrounds across North America, so you will find a KOA near your overnight hike destination. Check out our ways to stay and reserve a site today. If you’ve tried night hiking or are planning on it, be sure to tag us in your photos on Facebook, X or Instagram.
Leslie is a travel writer, copywriter, and web designer who gets butterflies from telling stories through words and visuals.
Her voice comes from a place filled with passion, dreams, and lots of sugar. “Cake over steak” is her go-to motto.
With over 10 years of experience in crafting words, and years of embarking on travels that have taken this Montana girl to some incredible places, Leslie loves the adventures of both body and mind her writing takes her on.
To see what Leslie’s up to in the writing and design world, visit her website here.
