When Spring rolls around, we are always excited to head back out to the mountains and start hiking. Yet Spring weather and conditions can change often, so we have some simple hiking tips to help us enjoy Spring hikes a little bit more.
1. Start Simple
We aren’t the best winter hikers, so when Spring arrives, we are usually out of hiking shape. We have learned to take it easy. Our family starts with short, simple trails to get us back into the groove of hiking. This keeps everyone’s feet and attitudes a lot happier.
2. Wear Good Shoes
With Spring hiking, it’s very important to be prepared with the right kind of shoes for all kinds of crazy conditions. We have found snow, ice, mud, puddles, and more when we hike different trails in Spring. Through sad experience, we’ve learned not to wear those favorite white shoes on a spring hike.
When it comes to shoes, I have a few favorites that I’ve discovered. Recently, adidas offered to send me a pair of waterproof hiking shoes, and I was excited to try them out. With the mud and the spring runoff on many trails, they seemed perfect to help me avoid those dreaded soggy socks. After a few hikes this Spring, I can confidently say that I love them. These adidas hiking shoes for women have really great tread, so I don’t slip in the mud. They are also waterproof, so I don’t worry when I have run into snow or water on the trail. The water rolls right off these shoes. My 13 year-old even decided that he needed to try them, so I balanced on one foot as he walked the other through the shallow water.
These adidas are really comfortable, too. I was worried because we hike a lot, and I have sensitive feet, so not any shoe will work for me. Luckily, these have never bothered my feet. I did size down after looking at the size chart, but this was easy because there is a measuring guide on the adidas website. Now, after watching me tromp through puddles while they have to scoot around them, my boys want new hiking shoes, too!
3. Dress for the Weather
Spring weather is fickle and can change quickly, so we try to be prepared. First of all, we try to pick nice days to hike. Sometimes the wind picks up or you walk into the shade, and then you are freezing, so we usually wear a sweatshirt or light jacket that is easy to put on or off depending on the weather. It’s best to wear layers and take a backpack, even if it starts out empty. My empty backpack has been filled with coats by the end of a hike many times.
4. Pick the Right Trail
Depending on where you live, trails might be buried in a lot of snow in Spring. Make sure to pick trails lower in elevation so that the snow will clear sooner than later. We have an entire post with 20 trails throughout Utah that are great in the Spring for this very reason. These 20 Spring Hikes are near the cities, and out of the mountains so they are our first hikes we head to when it warms up.
5. Be Safe
Spring in Utah is known for avalanches and rushing rivers as the snow begins to melt. Make sure to be safe in choosing your hike. You can always check for avalanche areas on the Utah Avalanche Center website. Avoid any hikes that follow rivers that will rise quite a bit in the Spring, particularly slot canyons. Our list mentioned above, the 20 Easy Spring Hikes, is a list of trails that avoid both of these dangers. No matter where you hike, stay on the trail and away from rushing water, especially with young kids.
Let’s get outdoors and start hiking this Spring. These Spring Hiking tips will make your trail adventures a little bit easier, and everyone will be grateful to be outside in the sunshine.
**We were gifted the adidas hiking shoes, but all opinions are our own.
