Hiking
Hiking is a wonderful way to see and experience the many wonders of our nation's forests. Visit your forest's ranger distrrict office, our All Maps page, or National Forest Store to obtain a trail map to help you plan your route based on your ability, available time, and interest. Please follow these safety tips to ensure a safe journey:
Links:
Backpacking
Whether you're roughing it in a tent or planning a family picnic, there are many ways to make sure that your experience is fun and safe.
Be prepared
- Pack a first aid kit. Your kit can prove invaluable if you or a member of your group suffers a cut, bee sting or allergic reaction. Pack antiseptics for cuts and scrapes, tweezers, insect repellent, a snake bite kit, pain relievers, and sunscreen. Tailor your kit to your family's special needs.
- Learn ABC - Airway, Breathing, & Circulation. Know how to perform CPR and basic first aid. Recognizing serious injuries will enable you to attend to a victim until medical help arrives.
- Bring emergency supplies. In addition to a first aid kit, you should also have a map of the area, compass, flashlight, knife, waterproof fire starter, personal shelter, whistle, warm clothing, high energy food, water, water-purifying tablets, and insect repellant.
Check the elements
- Check the weather report before you leave home. When you arrive at the site, keep on eye on the skies for changes and, if possible, carry a compact weather radio. In inclement weather, take shelter until the bad weather passes. Stay dry - wet clothes contribute to heat loss.
- Forest and grassland home pages post alerts you should know before you go. Many of our forests and grasslands also post alerts on social media.
General Hiking
Be Prepared
- Being prepared includes knowing how to be a responsible hiker. Learn more on our Responsible Recreation page.
- Stay on marked trails.
- Don’t hike alone. Let the slowest person in your party set the pace. This is especially important when children are a part of your group.
- Leave your itinerary with a friend or family member and check in with them upon your return.
- Develop an emergency plan before you start your trip. Make sure everyone knows what to do if they become lost or a medical emergency arises. Give children whistles with the instructions to "stop and blow" if they become lost.
- Take frequent rests or vary your pace to maintain your energy level.
- Drink plenty of water, even on cool, wet days. Never drink your entire supply between refills.
- Wear appropriate clothing, including sturdy boots that are broken in and are comfortable.
- Consider using a hiking pole or walking stick to help maintain your balance in unlevel or hazardous areas.
- Be aware of your surroundings, and pre-plan your approach before hiking through more hazardous areas. Wet surfaces can be a hazard and even more so if it's on a slope.
- Consider what you'll do if you start to slide or fall so that you are prepared.
- If falling, do not try to catch yourself; try to avoid landing on your hands, elbows or knees. Landing on the side of your body is much safer.
- If the slope is such where you know you are going to slide, lowering your center of gravity, by sitting down and sliding on your feet or bottom, is safer.
- If sliding while standing up, keep your weight over your feet and bend your knees—do not lean back or forward while sliding.
Day Hikes
Be Prepared
If on a day hike, extra weight wears you down and reduces your agility over uneven terrain. Pack as light as possible. Leave the extras behind, but consider bringing these essentials:
- Map
- Sunglasses and a hat
- Sunscreen
- Flashlight
- Waterproof matches
- First aid kit
- Water and water-purifying tablets
- High-energy bars, granola, candy, or fruit
- Extra clothing. Temperatures can change dramatically, particularly if there is an elevation change. For every 1,000 feet of elevation gain, the temperature often drops three to five degrees.
Search for Hiking Opportunities
Bonanza Bill Trail #23
The 12-mile (one way) Bonanza Bill Trail #23 is mostly in Arizona, but enters the Gila National Forest within the Blue Range Wilderness. The trail begins on the south side of Forest Road 232 (Pueblo…
Brannon Park #700 Trailhead
Site Open
Trailhead for Brannon Park Trail #700 located at Rocky Canyon Campground. The trail passes by Brannon Springs in a beautiful ponderosa forest with the nearby rock formations in Rocky Canyon.
Brannon Park Trail #700
The 1.1-mile (one way) Brannon Park Trail connects Rocky Canyon Campground with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #74. Trail #700 climbs about 300 feet in elevation out of Rocky Canyon,…
Brushy Mountain Trail #403
The 7.3-mile (one way) Brushy Mountain Trail #403 connects Gila River Trail #724 with Granny Mountain Trail #160. From the mainstem Gila River, Brushy Mountain Trail climbs steeply to the north…
Burnt Canyon Trail #69
The 2.9-mile (one way) Burnt Canyon Trail #69 connects South Diamond Trail #68 with Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #74 south of Diamond Peak. Trail #69 turns south from Diamond Creek Trail…
Burros Spur Trail #74B
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #74 through the Burro Mountains, which includes more single-track trail and less hiking along open roadways. While the main CDT is accessed at Saddle Rock…
C Bar CDNST #74 Trailhead
Site Open
Trailhead for access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #74 on the Gila National Forest
Caledonia CDNST #74 Trailhead
Site Open
Trailhead for access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #74 on the Gila National Forest
Caledonia Trail #42
The 3-mile Caledonia Trail #42 connects to Diamond Creek Trail #40 and the Continental Divide Trail #74 from Turkey Run Trailhead along the northern edge of the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. The beginning…
Camp Canyon Trail #36
he 5-mile (one way) Camp Canyon Trail #36 connects from Hinkle Park Trailhead along the Frisco Divide Road to Dangerous Park Trail #515. From the trailhead, it descends through Camp Canyon into…