Everything changes and takes on it’s own distinct feel at night, and this is especially true of hiking trails and the outdoors. Night hiking is a great way to escape the heat, experience trails you may be familiar with in a whole new way, and see additional wildlife. But is night hiking legal?
Night hiking is legal in most states, but check with your park, city, or county before hiking at night. Some jurisdictions and parks have their own rules against hiking after sunset or sundown.
There are plenty of benefits to enjoy from night hiking, but there’s also some preparation involved and a few things you certainly need to be aware of on the trail, which we’ll cover in this guide.
Is Night Hiking Legal?
Although we couldn’t find any states that specifically prohibitIs Night night hiking in our research, we did find that there are rules against night hiking that often exist at the city or county level, so you’ll want to check ahead with the local governing body in your trail’s area before night hiking.
If hiking in a local or state park, check ahead with them too, as some parks have rules against hiking after sunset.
Benefits Of Night Hiking
Doing anything at night or in the dark brings a whole new perspective to things, and hiking is no exception.
Here are some great advantages of hitting the trail at night.
Escape The Heat
If the summer days are scorching you to the point where it’s miserable, the cooler temps at night are much more conducive to hiking and will allow you to carry less water since you’ll be sweating less.
Less Bugs And Insects
All the insects that normally are active during the day are dormant at night, leaving you free to enjoy the trail even more.
Heighten Your Senses And Connection With Nature
When you hike at night your vision is reduced, forcing you to use your other senses more, particularly your hearing.
This can really help open you up to sounds that you may not pay attention to during day hikes.
Also, the trails will be much less traveled (or completely empty), allowing you to really focus on the nature’s ambiance rather than hearing the conversations of other hikers.
Beautiful Scenery
Getting out into nature and away from all the light pollution will allow you to gaze at the stars, which are absolutely incredible to see if you’re usually stuck in the city.
See More Wildlife
Since many animals are more active at night, you’ll be able to see more of them on your night hike.
You’ll also have the chance to observe nocturnal animals as well.
Night Hiking Tips
Stick To Trails You Already Know
You don’t want to try out a new trail when night hiking – rather, stick to trails you know well so you can anticipate what’s up ahead and reduce your chances of getting lost or going off course.
Chances are you’ll find that your favorite familiar trails take on a whole new personality in the moonlight.
Stay On The Trail
This should seem like a no-brainer, but don’t venture off the designated trail at night. Doing so could get you lost or injured.
Hike In A Group
Hiking in a group at night is an easy and fun way to up the enjoyment and safety levels of your trip.
Everyone has more gear to share in case of an emergency and you’re much less likely to get lost.
Take It Slow
Even if you know the trail like the back of your hand, roots and rocks can pop up out of nowhere to trip you up.
Now is not the time to start speed hiking– be mindful to take a pace that’s even slower than you normally hike during the day.
Plan Your Trip Around The Moon Cycle
Taking a look ahead at the lunar cycle can help you get better visibility (and scenery) by planning your hike during a full moon.
Check The Forecast
One of the biggest components of hiking during any time of day is being prepared, and that holds doubly true for hiking at night.
Check the weather ahead of your trek and make sure it doesn’t call for huge temperate drops, fog, or precipitation during your planned trip.
Tell Someone Where You’re Hiking
Let someone know where and when you’ll be hiking, and when you plan to return.
This way you’ve got somebody looking out and who will be able to call for help in case you or your group doesn’t return when planned.
Bring The Right Gear
Bring extra layers to keep you warm like fall hiking clothes or jackets, carry plenty of water while hiking, and even a hiking knife or bear spray for protection if large predators are a concern in your area.
Stay Organized
Even though you’ll have a light source, you still don’t want to be rummaging through your pack to find what you need.
Know where your important items are in your hiking backpack ahead of time to avoid fumbling around during your hike.
Bring A GPS And Multiple Light Sources
Most smartphones have GPS, so make sure your phone or GPS unit is fully charged, and bring a backup power bank to recharge your battery in case you get stuck out on the trail.
Also bring multiple light sources – we recommend headlamps as they are more convenient than flashlights.
See our guide on how many lumens for hiking you’ll need from a hiking headlamp or flashlight.
Consider Hunting Season
Hunters are most active around dawn and dusk, so you should take some extra precautions if you’ll be hiking around these times.
Wear hunters colors like bright orange that show you are not an animal, and pick hiking trails that are further away from popular hunting areas if possible.
Is Night Hiking Legal? Wrapping Things Up
As we reviewed in this article, hiking at night is legal in most areas, and can be a great way to change things up and gain a totally new appreciation for even the most familiar of trails.
As fun as it all sounds, you still need to be prepared to change your pace and take some specific precautions to make sure your trip goes well.
Is night hiking legal in your area? Let us know your favorite night hiking spots and trails in the comments below.