What to know before you go!

Get expert tips on how to be prepared for your journey.

• Make sure you have the right pass.

  This advice comes from experience. Before you leave the house look up if there’s a pass necessary for the place you’re heading. Often you aren’t able to get a pass at the trailhead, so it’s important to plan ahead. We’ll try our best to let you know what you’ll need to get to anywhere we recommend.

• See if you need a 4x4 vehicle

  To access many trails it means a drive down a long, rough, unpaved road. These often have fallen rocks, huge potholes, and steep cliffs. Make sure to look up road conditions to see if your vehicle will make it to the trailhead.

• Make reservations at wineries

  Some wineries fill up fast, so be sure to check their website before you show up. This is especially true in the era of covid when they may be restricting their numbers. Also be sure to check if they have food, or if you can bring your own. Never drive with a buzz on!

• Bring more water than you think you need

  I can’t count they number of times I’ve left my house thinking I had PLENTY of water, just to end up panting and holding an empty bottle. Also, it never hurts to have snacks on hand as well!

• Wear sunscreen - even in winter

  Seriously, friends. Those rays can be dangerous. Especially if you’re at high elevation the sun can harm your skin even when you don’t know it’s there.

• Dress in layers

  There’s a lot that goes into weather conditions, and you never know when you leave the house what you’ll experience on the trail. The weather on one side of the mountains is totally different than the other side. Also higher elevation often means much colder temperatures. Never trust the forecast!

• Wear the right shoes

  I can’t stress this enough. You never know what conditions you’ll be in, and you want to make sure you have footwear that works for you in any situation you might encounter. I suggest going to an outdoor store like REI and explaining that you’re looking for a hiking boot that’s waterproof and fits your personal foot shape.

• Download a trail map

  I think AllTrails has saved my life. I really recommend downloading their app. Not only to get great trail stats and directions, but also for their offline trail map feature (only available on premium). Often there aren’t signs on the trails, and it’s easy to get lost out there. I don’t know what I did without it.