Is Solo Backpacking Safe for Women?
Do you dream of solo hiking or backpacking? Do you imagine yourself waking up in secluded outdoor spaces with beautiful views?
But are you scared of going solo? Do you hear other people’s voices in your head saying “it’s not safe for a woman to hike alone or backpack solo?” Do you worry about bears? Or strangers?
All of these fears and worries are super common, but shouldn’t stop you from solo hiking or backpacking as a woman if that’s a goal of yours.
In this post, we’ll share some ways to address these fears, and we’ve rounded up advice from several badass outdoor women who are out there in the backcountry solo backpacking.
THE #1 QUESTION FEMALE SOLO HIKERS GET
Is it safe to go solo hiking and backpacking as a woman?
Let’s start with the first part of the question – is solo hiking safe? While no adventure in the outdoors can be guaranteed to be completely safe, if you have the right skills and proper gear, backpacking can be very safe.
As for the second part of the question, would you ask that question of a man?
While we might have heard horror stories of men on the trail attacking women, it’s really not more dangerous for women to be in the backcountry than to be in the city. And if people are concerned that women don’t belong in the outdoors because they’re not capable, that’s just flat out wrong.
Just like men, women can push their bodies, learn the skills, and carry the gear to keep them safe on a solo backpacking trip.
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YOUR BEST PROTECTION IS BEING PREPARED
When you’re confident in your hiking & backpacking skills, you can handle just about whatever you encounter in the backcountry.
If you’re worried about running into a bear, you can learn best practices for bear safety. If getting lost makes you nervous, spend some time learning to navigate.
The key thing is to understand the skills in-depth. You can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach because you want to be able to adapt to different situations in the backcountry.
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SOLO HIKING SAFETY TIPS FROM REAL BACKCOUNTRY BADASSES
We asked some badass outdoor women how they respond when asked if it’s safe for women to go solo on the trail, as well as their #1 safety tip for hiking or backpacking alone. Here’s what they have to say!
PREETHI CHANDRASEKHAR
What would you say to someone who says women shouldn’t solo hike?
I grew up in India until I was 12 years old, and the only outdoors available to me was playing badminton downstairs in front of my apartment :) I've only experienced nature truly after immigrating to the States and once I graduated college.
In the Indian culture back in the day, participating in outdoor activities solo as a woman was not encouraged by a lot of families, including mine. Of course, things are different now, but I had to overcome that lack of generational support to be able to hike and travel solo later on.
So to anyone who thinks women shouldn't solo hike, I will say it isn't about whether or not women should solo hike, but rather WHAT precautions women should take when they solo hike. Whether you're male or female you must exercise a few common sense precautions, period.
What's your #1 solo hiking safety tip?
I have 3 solo hiking safety tips :) Pack easily accessible pepper spray, carry a GPS tracker like the Garmin InReach, and always leave your detailed plan with someone who's not with you.
Preethi Chandrasekhar shares her travel adventures and videos at The Eager Traveler and on Instagram.
Photo Credit: Erik Umphery
NICOLE SNELL
What would you say to someone who says women shouldn’t solo hike?
Most of my life I’ve been told that women shouldn’t solo hike. In fact, I’ve heard the word “should” quite often when it comes to restricting how women live their lives. When I hear those messages now, I chuckle a bit on the inside.
I have traveled to dozens of countries solo and have hundreds of miles of solo hikes under my belt. My response to someone who says women shouldn’t hike solo is to correct them and remind them that we do. Solo hiking is safe, fun, and healing. When I solo hike I feel free, independent and connected to nature.
I find that people often project their fear and safety concerns onto others. They think that limiting women's lives and activities is the way to guarantee safety. Solo hiking isn’t inherently more dangerous than other activities we do. Plus I know that I can handle myself no matter what situation arises, and I’m fully capable of defending myself.
When we are prepared, we are powerful! I won’t let someone’s perceptions and attitudes affect how I choose to live my life and what activities I participate in. There is no activity that is off limits to me or other women, whether solo or not. Not only should women solo hike, we should do anything else we desire and take up as much space in the world as we want!
What's your #1 solo hiking safety tip?
My #1 solo hiking safety tip is for women to know that we are worth fighting for. We have everything we need on our bodies, including our voices, to be able to protect ourselves. When we can truly unlock our power and understand that we don’t need to rely on anything or anyone else to protect us, it changes how we walk through the world.
This knowledge then empowers us both on and off the trails. We are fully equipped to make decisions about our safety, respond to danger or uncomfortable situations and defend ourselves if necessary. Knowing that you are worth fighting for is one of the best self-defense tools you could ever have, and it can help you open up your world!
Nicole Snell is a self-defense expert on a mission to empower women and people of all gender identities around the globe to live their lives fearlessly! Find out more about how she can help you feel confident going solo outdoors at nicolesnell.com and on her Outdoor Defense YouTube channel.
ELLEN MILLER
What would you say to someone who says women shouldn’t solo hike?
I would encourage them to re-think that idea and to speak with women who hike solo often. Solo hiking is very rewarding, it supports women in building self esteem and confidence. There is ample evidence that connecting with nature is important for mental health, and being in nature away from other people can have significant benefits.
For me personally, being in the wilderness or on the trail alone soothes my nervous system, helps me to learn about myself, brings clarity to my thinking, and supports me in feeling better physically.
What's your #1 solo hiking safety tip?
Always let someone know where you are going and what your timeline is.
Ellen Miller was the first American woman to climb Mt. Everest from both sides, (Nepal and Tibet). Her extreme high altitude experience includes summits of other 8000 meter peaks: Manaslu, Lhotse and Cho Oyu, along with peaks around the World: Denali, Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, Mustagh-Ata, etc. You can find more of her adventures on Instagram @AlpineEllen.
Photo Credit: Rita Taylor
KIM TITCHENER
What would you say to someone who says women shouldn’t solo hike?
I'd say nature is much safer than the city and just ignore them. I hike by myself. Sometimes I can't find someone to go with and sometimes I just need that time alone in nature. The chances of getting attacked by a bear or other wildlife are quite low – statistically, the drive there is more dangerous.
There is so much you can do to reduce your chances of getting into encounters with bears and other wildlife, so why deny yourself the freedom of the outdoors? That being said, we do see more attacks by bears on people that hike by themselves or in groups of 2. So take a bear safety class to be sure you are doing everything you can to avoid an encounter and be ready for what to do if it happens.
What's your #1 solo hiking safety tip?
The best tool we have as women is our voice. When you hike or do any type of recreation in bear country, it is really important to let wildlife know that you are there, that you are a human (not prey) and that you are moving in their direction. Most attacks we see on solo hikers are defensive attacks because the bear wasn't aware of their presence and they get defensive of themselves, their cubs, or a food source.
By making noise, we give bears an opportunity to be aware of us, move out of the way, and not be surprised. The other more rare type of bear attack is predatory. This doesn't happen too often, but by making noise, you help that animal identify you as human.
Also, by being aware of your surroundings, it is much harder for bears to sneak up on you. Be sure to avoid wearing earbuds or playing music, as you are less likely to hear an animal sneaking up on you.
When I"m hiking alone or in a group, I let out a holler every few minutes as I go. If I'm moving at a high speed, like on my mountain bike, I make noise even more often. If there is wind, water flowing, or dense brush and poor lines of sight, I make even more noise.
My second tip to that as a solo hiker is to ensure you are carrying your 10 essentials, which should include a communication device that you can use to call for help and a can of bear spray in a holster on your body. That way, just in case you do happen to surprise a bear or are stalked, you have something to defend yourself with, that is also proven to be highly effective at stopping bear attacks.
Kim Titchener started RecSafe with Wildlife when Covid hit, and it became obvious that a lot more people would be spending time in bear country and would need to learn how to be safer around bears.
Go to www.recsafewithwildlife.com to get a free membership and access to all our bear safety resources, and sign up for our bear safety and bear spray classes. All followers of @shedreamsofalpine get 20% off on our 2-hour Bear Safety Class with the coupon code: SHEDREAMSOFALPINE
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SARAH HISTAND
What would you say to someone who says women shouldn’t solo hike?
First off I would say "who asked you?!" 😆 I certainly don't ask anyone for permission to go on a hike by myself. As far as I'm concerned, everyone can make their own decisions as long as they're not harming others; women's decisions about whether they hike alone or not are their own to make.
All outdoor recreation activities involve some degree of risk management, which we do our best to mitigate through planning, preparation, communication, and group choice. Hiking solo changes some of the safety margins, so you might want to take other precautions such as not choosing as technical of a hike -- but this would be true regardless of gender.
For women or non-binary folks who aren't sure they want to hike alone, I'd say that's just fine! There's no pressure to hike alone unless it's something you're wanting to do, and you can take your time building up the confidence to get there. Nicole Snell's Yes I'm Hiking Solo is a great resource for that confidence & skill building!
What's your #1 solo hiking safety tip?
I'm in Alaska, so all of my summer hiking is in bear country. Hiking alone in bear country has its risks, but they're not specific to women or gender non-conforming folks! I recommend carrying bear spray (and knowing how to use it) and always letting someone know where you're going & when you expect to be back.
My bonus tip is to learn about your nervous system and how to manage your stress cycle when you're outside! Knowing how to skillfully work with your nervous system in stressful situations can really help you build trust in yourself and feel capable outside.
Sarah Histand is a mental health-informed adventure fitness trainer from Alaska. Through her online mind & body strength training programs, she helps outdoorsy women+ get strong & prevent injuries so they can trust their body in the mountains and beyond. Sarah's Summer Strong online training program is enrolling now!
MEG ATTEBERRY
What would you say to someone who says women shouldn’t solo hike?
Women should ABSOLUTELY go solo hiking. I don’t think anyone should be telling women what they should or shouldn’t do. Solo hiking is totally safe, relaxing, and extremely empowering.
Some of my favorite hikes have been with just me and my (late) doggo. We love to get up early and take a brisk hike through the aspen trees in the fall.
What's your #1 solo hiking safety tip?
My biggest safety tip is to not wear headphones. Keep your wits about you while you hike and the earbuds out. This way you’ll know if there’s wildlife or people around. I’d also strongly recommend bringing a GPS device and telling someone where you are going.
Meg Atteberry has has gone from being terrified of heights to summiting Colorado’s most challenging peaks. She believes the outdoors is a place to tune out your everyday life and tune into your inner strength, and she helps enable you to navigate the outdoors like a pro on her website, Fox in the Forest.
BONNIE GULLIVER
What would you say to someone who says women shouldn’t solo hike?
For someone who says women shouldn’t solo hike I would ask if they’d say the same thing to a man? And if not why not? Women can be just as capable. And you never know how fierce she is.
What's your #1 solo hiking safety tip?
look people in the eye, be friendly, keep your personal bubble. And remember trekking poles are both long AND pointy. 😁
All that being said the hike is probably safer than the drive there.
Bonnie Gulliver is a She Dreams of Alpine Backpacking Badass alumni. Watch a video documenting her first solo backpacking adventure here!
SHERRY JOHNSON
What would you say to someone who says women shouldn’t solo hike?
I would say I can understand your fears about me going solo hiking. I am very confident in my abilities to be a solo hiker. I do not have the same fears.
I always do thorough research before going on a solo trip and know what my risks might be and then I prepare and make any necessary adjustments and take precautions if need be. I take along safety equipment (cell phone, satellite device, first aid kit) and leave my itinerary with a family member so they know my whereabouts. If doing an overnight trip, I will check in before I leave camp in the morning and when arriving at camp each night.
The news media only informs you of the rare negative outcomes of a solo hike. Yet in comparison to the millions of people who visit parks and hike each year, the risk is relatively small for such a negative outcome.
What's your #1 solo hiking safety tip?
My #1 safety tip for solo hiking is to do your research and know before you go. There is so much you can learn to reduce your fears by doing your research.
For example, if you or your loved ones are afraid you could be attacked by a bear or mauled by a mountain lion, your research could tell you there is no history of those kinds of attacks on the trail you are planning to hike. Doing your research can tell you what the incident history is and what kind of animal encounters you could experience on your hike.
Additional things research can tell you is how to prepare for what the weather might be like or what type of terrain you will encounter on the trail. You can take along the necessary weather gear and be prepared for challenging terrain. Knowing before you go will answer so many safety concerns and questions you might have regarding solo hiking.
Sherry Johnson is a She Dreams of Alpine Backpacking Badass alumni.
The bottom line is if you feel ready to head out on a solo backpacking trip, then you should go! And if you don’t yet have the skills, don’t let that stop you from pursuing your dreams – learn the skills, and THEN GO! :)
Ready to Start Your Own Solo Backpacking Journey?
Check out these resources before you hit the trails:
Cheers,
Allison - She Dreams of Alpine
Travel Alone – 57 Quotes to Inspire Your Solo Travels | There’s something magical about traveling alone or going on solo adventures. Traveling alone forces us to grow and test what we are really made of and maybe even go through a transformation of self-discovery. These 57 travel alone quotes celebrate the beauty in going solo. | shedreamsofalpine.com