Hiking Tips

Below are a few tips from BNRP board members. We hope you have a fabulous hike!

Don’t forget bug spray, spring through fall.
Always tell someone when and where you are hiking.
If you have a GPS, take it with you. Turn the tracking on. It is always good to be able to back track!
While good quality hiking boots are a must, good socks are worth the money,too.
Tie your shoes/boots tightly.
Bring and use your hiking poles for stability on the rocky slopes of the Buffalo National River.
When walking down hill, point your toes slightly out. This gives you a wider perch on the ground. Lengthen your hiking poles to compensate for the slope.
Don't throw out even compostable food scraps. Leaving food behind encourages animals to depend on the trail as their food source.
That little scrap of foil from your granola bar wrapper, the lid from your soda bottle, yikes - that cigarette butt! That's micro-trash and it doesn't belong along the trail or on the river bank. Pick it up! Even if it doesn't belong to you.
When hiking a multi-use trail, be aware of Stock Users. Remember to Speak, Smile and Pass Safely. Speak—so that the animals know you are person and not a scary predator, especially if you are wearing a backpack. Pass people and animals on the downhill side.