How to Hike When It’s Hot

Can you hike when it’s hot?

Hiking is a year-round activity for us. Each season offers us something new on our hikes. Living in Arkansas, I am lucky enough to get a taste of the 4 distinct seasons.

Fall gives us the gorgeous colors of the changing leaves that we get to thoroughly enjoy for about a month if we are lucky. But the break in the temps also makes it a great time to hike.

Winter has become a favorite time of mine to hike for a few reasons. The bare trees no longer block beautiful overlooks and views. The hikes are less busy. And the best- no bugs! There are no mosquitoes and ticks to fight. Or snakes to watch out for. And one recent cool experience I had on a hike- you can see frozen waterfalls during the freezing temps.

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Spring is always a favorite with the temps warming up and the world starting to bud back to life. This is also waterfall season in the Ozarks. The rains fill up some of the most gorgeous Ozark waterfalls!

But summer. Probably my least favorite season to hike. Our summer temps can reach triple-digit heat indexes from June through August, and even into September. Most people in the area switch to water sports (kayaking, swimming) through these months. And I enjoy those as well. But. I’m a hiker! I can’t go 3-4 months without hiking because of the heat. So I’ve had to figure out how to hike when it’s hot.

And I’ve made a few mistakes during some hot hikes. Here are the lessons I have learned along the way.

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Hike When It’s Hot Rule #1

Know the weather forecast.

Hike on the coolest of the hot days, and set it out on the hottest of the hot days if needed.

The “cooler” days may be in the 90’s, but less humid (less heat index). Or it may be a cold front that drops the temperature just 5-10 degrees on any given day. It’s not much, but take what you can get. Every degree counts at these temps.

Hike When It’s Hot Rule #2

Hike early or late.

Learn sunrise and sunset times well, know the hiking trail and how long it will take to get to a point where you can see an amazing sunrise!

A favorite summer sunrise hike of mine is Whitaker Point (the most photographed spot in Arkansas).

Avoid the trails (or at least the uphill mountain trails) during the hottest parts of the day (2-5pm).

Hike When It’s Hot Rule #3

Hike in the woods.

Although you may have to spray down to fight the ticks and watch every step for a snake, the trees overhead can act as a shade throughout your entire hike. Hiking in shade is much better than hiking in full sun.

On the hottest hike I can remember, we made the mistake of hiking an unfamiliar ridge line in the middle of summer. The high temps crept into the 90’s, but the location (on top of a ridge, with no shade) made the hike feel SO much hotter.

Hike When It’s Hot Rule #4

Know the trail.

During times of high heat is not a great time to explore new trails. Getting lost is bad enough. But to get lost in triple-digit heat indexes, and risk running out of food or water is a no-go.

Continuing the story from above (my hottest hike ever), we got lost trying to get off the ridge and underestimated the hike by 2 hours. We were hot. We were dehydrated. It wasn’t fun. But it made for a good story and a good lesson learned!

If possible, find a hiking trail with a water source that is not rainfall-dependent for a mid-hike dip to cool down.

Hike When It’s Hot Rule #5

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

Duh. But not just during the hike. Hydrate before, during and after the hike.

Hike When It’s Hot Rule #6

Prepare!

Take all the gadgets you need. A mini fan. A cooling towel. Anything that helps cool you down! And plenty of water! Ration that water to last the entire hike (that you have thoroughly researched and know exactly where and how long you will be hiking!)

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Hike When It’s Hot Rule #7

Plan more rest breaks.

If you are like me, your body will slow down as the heat rises. I can easily take double the breaks on a 90-degree hike. So my hikes will take longer. And require more snacks and water.

Hike When It’s Hot Final Thoughts

Hiking in the heat can be dangerous if you are not prepared. You must know your physical limits. You must prepare with appropriate timing and supplies. But, it can be done! So plan, prep, and take off on that hot hike!

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If it’s just not for you to hike hot, check out my articles on kayaking!

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