Hike at peak fall colour

Fall hiking is one of the best free things to do this season: you walk up through the trees, and at the top the whole hillside is red and gold. It takes a bit of planning, mostly around timing, daylight and clothes, and then it’s simple.

Pick the trail and the day

Choose a trail with a lookout, a ridge or a lake, so there’s something to reach. Park and trail websites describe length, climb and difficulty. For a first fall hike, pick something that takes two to three hours in total, so you aren’t pushed for time.

Colour changes by place and by height. The same trail can be green at the bottom and bright at the top, and a trail that was perfect last week may be bare this week. Look for a local foliage report, aim for a dry day, and go when your area is near its peak. If you want the quietest trail, go on a weekday or very early, because popular trails fill up on peak weekends.

Plan around the daylight

This is the part people forget. In fall the sun sets earlier every week, and it gets dark quickly in the woods.

1. Look up today’s sunset time.
2. Estimate how long the hike will take, and add time for stops and photos.
3. Set a turnaround time: the moment you’ll head back even if you haven’t reached the top.
4. Start early enough that you’re back at the car well before dark.

Carry a small flashlight or headlamp anyway. Your phone’s light works in a pinch, but it drains your battery, and you’ll want the battery for your map.

What to wear

Mornings start cold, midday warms up, and it’s cold again at the top. The answer is layers you can add and take off.

• Base layer: a moisture-wicking top (synthetic or merino wool). Avoid cotton: when it gets damp from sweat, it stays wet and chills you.
• Middle layer: a fleece or light puffer you can tie around your waist while you climb.
• Outer layer: a thin waterproof or windproof jacket, which is also your rain plan.
• Legs: leggings or hiking pants rather than jeans, which are heavy and slow to dry.
• Socks and shoes: wool or synthetic socks, and shoes or boots with grippy soles. Wet leaves are slippery, and old smooth-soled sneakers make it worse.
• Extras: a hat, light gloves and a buff or scarf for the lookout, where the wind picks up.

What to bring

The catalogue list has the basics: grippy shoes, water and a snack, and a warm layer for the top. Add:

• A trail map, downloaded to your phone and also screenshotted, because signal comes and goes
• A small first-aid kit or at least a few bandages, as new shoes and long hikes cause blisters
• Sun protection, since low sun is still sun
• A trash bag, so you can take out whatever you carry in
• A phone with a full charge, and a power bank if you have one

On the trail

• Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back, particularly if you’re alone. Say which trail and which parking lot.
• Watch your footing. Wet leaves hide roots, rocks and holes, and are especially slippery on wooden boardwalks and steep downhill sections. Slow down on the way back, when your legs are tired.
• Stay on the trail. It protects plants and keeps you from getting lost.
• Keep an eye on the weather. Wind and rain come in fast on ridges, and it’s colder at the top than at the car.
• Drink water and eat before you’re hungry. A snack at the lookout makes a good reason to stay a while.
• Wear something bright if you’re hiking in an area that allows hunting, and check local seasons before you go.
• Don’t feed or approach animals. Fall is a busy season for deer, and they’ll move around at dawn and dusk.

If something goes wrong

• You’re running out of daylight. Turn back now, not at the next viewpoint. Use your flashlight, and stay on the main trail.
• You’re cold. Put on a layer before you feel properly cold. If you’re shivering, turn around and keep moving.
• You’ve lost the trail. Stop, look at your map, and go back to the last place you were sure of. If you can’t find it, stay calm and call for help if you have signal.
• You twist an ankle. Rest, and walk out slowly. If you can’t, call for help and tell them which trail you’re on.

Make the most of the lookout

You’ve earned the view, so don’t rush it. Sit down and drink something warm, and look for how the colours change from yellow to red to brown across the hillside. If you’re hiking with a friend, take a photo of each other from behind, facing the view. If you’re alone, it’s a good place to put your phone away for ten minutes.

Make it a fall day

Plan something warm for after, like a hot drink and a meal on the way home, or soup waiting on the stove. If you’d rather see the colour without the climb, a foliage drive covers more ground in less time, and a campfire weekend turns one hike into a night out.