You’re not imagining it: There are way more people on the trails these days than there used to be. It’s been five years since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. Since the pandemic, we’ve seen the number of new recreationists grow each year. In fact, in 2024, more than 175 million Americans participated in outdoor recreation—a new record. Over the last five years, diehard outdoorspeople have had to adjust and make space for the newbies.
But increased crowding and new demographics aren’t the only sources of friction at trails and crags these days. Park reservation systems, mandatory shuttles, and new technology—from Bluetooth speakers to e-bikes—all mean there are more tricky situations to navigate than ever before. And while some organizations offer etiquette guidelines, they don’t always tell you what you really want to know.
Here at Outside, we figured it was high time those etiquette rules got a refresh. Here are the etiquette tips—sorted by sport—that you probably won’t get from your local park ranger.
Trail Etiquette Tips from Our Editors
Skiing
- Never play a bluetooth speaker on a hiking trail—but the ski resort is fine.
- Don’t open a beer on the lift if there’s a kid on it.
- If there’s a short person partaking in the shot ski, be courteous: all must crouch to their level.
- The women you meet on the lift don’t want your number; save it for aprés.
Camping
- Don’t subject your camping group to your guitar playing unless you know for a fact that you’re really good.
- You can poach a reserved campsite, but you should leave if the original bookers arrive.
- If you’re sharing a tent, lay off the beans.
- Camp chairs belong to the people: If you stand up, your seat is fair game for anyone else.
- Bring enough snacks to share.
Biking
- Pull over to let E-bikers pass on uphill trails, but you absolutely don’t have to going downhill.
- It’s proper for your outfit to match your bike, but we withhold judgment for the underdressed.
- If you see someone with a flat, offer to help.
- Mountain bikers should always step aside for other users on multi-use trails. It sucks to stop your bike when you’re going uphill, but you’re the one who chose to bring a big, heavy machine to the singletrack on the weekend.
Hiking and Running
- If you say hello to a dog on the trail, you should probably also say hello to its owner.
- When passing, follow the inseam rule: The shorter inseam gets the right of way (but jorts trump all)
- Group pace is determined by the slowest person hiker, and if you started the day as a group you shouldn’t break up into smaller group.
- Used dog poop bags stay in-hand or in-pack; leaving them on or near the trail is never OK, even if you have the best of intentions to retrieve them later.
- If you get stuck behind a big group, ask to pass, but be polite about it. No group size is morally superior to another. (And if you’re in a big group, be aware of your surroundings, and move aside for faster parties.).
Climbing
- Ask other climbers before you pass them on a multipitch. If you get anything less than an enthusiastic yes, wait your turn.
- Unless someone is about to make a life-threatening mistake, keep your advice to yourself.
- Always tip your guides 20 percent.
- Drinking should happen after you’re done belaying for the day.
- You can leave your quickdraws on your project overnight, but for the love of god please take your rope home.
- If someone finds your bail gear and posts it on Mountain Project, you absolutely owe them a six-pack.
- Do the naked lap. Just make sure there aren’t any other people around first.
