Pike & San Isabel National Forests
Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands

USDA Forest Service
Pike & San Isabel
National Forests
Cimarron & Comanche
National Grasslands
2840 Kachina Drive
Pueblo, CO 81008
719-553-1400

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
719-553-1404

Hiking Safety

View from the Boss Lake area

Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Hiking can be strenuous, challenging or leisurely, depending on your choice of trails, physical condition and overall preparedness. Click here for Hiking Safety Tips for Kids.

BE PREPARED

• Plan ahead before you take a hike. Many visitors to the valley want to go hiking but have no idea where trails are located, how difficult the hike may be or how to get to the trailhead. Before setting out on your hike, contact the Forest Service or pickup a guide book about hiking in the local area. The local Chambers of Commerce may also keep hiking information on hand.
  
• Get a weather report. No matter what time of year it is or how nice the weather may seem....the weather in the high country can change quickly and dramatically in a matter of minutes. For local weather, check the National Weather Service website at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/.
  
• Wear proper clothing and footwear. It is best to bring a variety of clothing for all types of weather. You should dress in layers and remove clothing as your body warms up. Hiking in the morning can be chilly and temperatures will increase during the day. Afternoon thunderstorms are quite common in the mountains and should be expected on most days. Good rain gear is a must. A hat should always be worn to prevent heat loss and to protect you from high altitude sun. Boots should be well broken in and waterproofed if possible. Always carry an extra pair of socks in case your feet get wet. If you prefer to hike in shorts carry a pair of jeans or fleece pants to put on over your shorts if the weather turns rainy and cold.
  
• Know where you are going. A variety of maps and hiking guides are available from Forest Service offices. Visitor information personnel can help you locate trails that might suit your needs and explain how to get to the trailhead. In addition, many local book and outdoor equipment stores can maps, guides and information.
  
• Know your physical limitations. Many visitors to the mountains come from lower elevations and don't always realize the affects that the altitude may have on their physical abilities. Elevations vary from 5,000 feet to over 14,000 feet on the high peaks. Because there is less oxygen in the air, many visitors can have adverse physical reactions including "high altitude sickness". Symptoms of altitude sickness can include nausea, headache, loss of appetite, insomnia and lethargy. Hiking at high elevations can be difficult if you are not accustomed or acclimated to the altitude. Take you time when hiking, drink plenty of water and pace yourself. Keep an eye on others member if you are hiking in a group. If someone appears to be having difficulty keeping up with the group, decide whether the group should continue. Don't hesitate to turn back if you become overly tired. You can always hike another day.
  
• Tell someone where you are going. If possible, tell someone where you are going to be hiking and when you plan to return. Give them your license plate number, the description of your vehicle and where your car will be parked. This information may help Search and Rescue personnel in locating you, if you become lost.
  
• Bears on the trail. Black bears are found throughout the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and you might encounter a bear while hiking on a trail. Bear sightings are not generally common on busy hiking trails but hikers have occasionally encountered them along a trail. If you meet a bear......Stay calm. If the bear hasn't seen you calmly leave the area. When you move away, talk out loud or sing quietly to let the bear hear you. Step off of the trail on the downhill side and slowly move away from the bear. Don't run! Running will only startle the bear and make it want to chase you. Speak softly. Yelling will only frighten the bear and the bear will think you are threatening. If you are attacked by a bear....Fight back!
  
• Stay on the trail. Hiking on designated trails minimized chances of becoming lost. Also, trails are constructed with safety in mind and going "off-trail" can mean hiking on rough, rocky, uneven surfaces. Going "off-trail" can damage delicate soil and fragile alpine plants.
  
• Treat water from local streams. As clear and clean as it may appear, water from streams along the trail should be considered unsuitable for drinking unless purified. Several methods, listed in order of recommendation, are suggested:

  • Lightweight water filters
  • Iodine tablets
• If you get lost. Loss of mental control is more serious than lack of food, water, or clothing. If lost near dusk find shelter and make a camp for the night. In the morning things seem clearer. Light a campfire to keep warm if you do not have suitable clothing (make sure your fire is out when you leave). Avoid getting wet. Shelter is important in severe weather.
  
  The following guidelines should help you if you remember them when you are lost:
  

  1. Stop, sit down, and try to figure out where you are. Use your head, not your legs.
  2. If caught by night, fog, or a storm, stop at once and make camp in a sheltered spot. Build a fire in a safe place. Gather plenty of dry fuel.
  3. Don't wander about. Travel only downhill.
  4. If injured, choose a clear spot on a mountain spur and make a signal of smoke.
  5. Don't yell, don't run, don't worry, and above all, don't quit.
  6. If a group member becomes lost, remember a description of how that person was dressed and the time and location when the person was last seen.

Enjoy your hike. Slow down and enjoy your hike. Hiking can be challenging but isn't necessarily a competition. Take time to enjoy the beautiful views, take picture and stop and smell the mountain air.