Night Hiking | My Top 10 Tips To Experience The Magic
Over looking Blind Bay and Shuswap Lake at night! | Photo by Marina
Shuswap Adventure Girl
Welcome Winter!
Keeping up with adventuring, exercise, and exploring in the winter comes with its challenges especially for people like us who love the outdoors. When the sun sets so early and temperatures drop, it can be too easy to cuddle up inside the log house, by the woodstove rather than gear up for an outdoor adventure. Especially a nighttime adventure!
View of beautiful Blind Bay from my deck, taken before heading out on a nighttime trek in those Shuswap mountains.
Shuswap Adventure Girl
It is a winter wonderland out there in the Shuswap! The evenings are clear and crisp, and it is oh-so-dark in rural lakeside. Just the far off twinkle of Eagle Bay and the North Shore lights can be seen from Blind Bay. The channel marker near Copper Island steadfastly blinking, as it’s done for years and years. The lake is cold, calm, and clear, reflecting the night sky. The mountains are in their majestic winter glory. On nights like this, when there are stars upon stars overhead, I dream of a night hike!
Grab the snowshoes, the headlights, a friend, or the kids, and head to the local trails!
Anyone can enjoy the magic of the forest after nightfall. But safety and preparation are key.
Read my top 10 tips to hiking safely at night below and plan your next adventure!
A group of us out snowshoeing in Blind Bay, Balmoral Trail System | Photo by Marina
Shuswap Adventure Girl
Luckily for me, I have some friends who are also eager to get out after dark and hit the trails! We have snowshoed and hiked our local area in the winter’s night. At first, I thought night hiking would be really scary, but with a little preparation and planning, it is an incredible and unforgettable journey! Night hiking has a very different feel than hiking in the day and provides a completely different experience. It is a beautiful and interesting way to encounter the dark woods, the landscape, and the sounds of the dark.
An After-Dark Owl Prowl
Last season we were having so much fun after hours that my kids wanted to come. We lead them on a night hike or two throughout the season and can’t wait to do more this winter!
In fact, it is so much fun that I took my 5-year-old on a little date night and we went on an Owl Prowl! It was a planned group event at a local farm in Sorrento, B.C. (The Sorrento Centre Farm). We set out by the full moonlight, weaving in and out of the forest and fields, watching the trees. The knowledgeable guide called for owls and we all walked quietly, headlamps off, searching for the mysterious Owl. It was a bright night and a so-called ‘Wolf Moon’. Another name being the ‘Hunger Moon’. It is said that food is more scarce during the full January moon and wolves could be heard howling throughout the land.
Sadly, we did not see any Owls, nor did we hear wolves howling, but the experience was pretty magical!
Owl Prowl in the Shuswap. A full moon night walk through the farmland forests, hoping for a glimpse of an owl. | Photo from Sorrento Centre Farm, Sorrento, B.C.
https://www.sorrentocentre.ca/sorrento-centre-farm/sorrento-centre-farm
My Top 10 Tips For Hiking at Night :
Choose your trail wisely.
Pick a local trail that you are familiar with. Something you have hiked in the day time. If you plan to snowshoe, be sure that the trail is appropriate and free from natural obstacles that may be a hazard when blanketed with snow. A trail takes on a whole new terrain and landscape at night and in the winter months. Tread slowly - depth perception can be tricky at night and the ice may not be visible. Even on familiar trails, darkness can make the trek tricky.Take a friend or better yet a group.
The more the merrier on such an ambitious adventure! You will find there will only be a select brave few that even want to undertake such a venture…at least from my experience, and you may have to do some convincing! It’s always better to travel in a pair or in a group on night hikes and when snowshoeing. The noise of a group will keep wildlife at bay, and there’s safety in numbers. Also, laughter is the best medicine, right? Get out there and have fun!Light the night.
If you can plan your night hike on a full moon, even better. There is nothing more magical than a moonlit forest trek, especially in the wintertime! But always bring some light sources. A headlight with an extra set of batteries in your pack is a necessity. Flashlights and lanterns are good options too. Just remember to have spotlight etiquette with your fellow hikers. Also, let your eyes adjust to the natural light before turning on the headlights, you will be surprised how well you can see! When night exploring with kids, bring some glow sticks and provide them with their own little headlights.
I learned that when on an Owl walk, it is best to use a red bulb in your headlamp or preferably, no light at all.The right gear.
Snowshoeing can be a little more strenuous than regular hiking, especially on uphill ascents. Dress in layers. I like to wear a base layer of thin, sweat-wicking material, then a mid-layer of light fleece and/or a vest, and the outer layer is water/windproof. Remember that coming down, after a sweaty hike up will feel much colder! Bring extra layers and it is a good idea to have your outer layer with some reflective elements. Snowshoes, crampon ice cleats, or microspikes are a must in the wintertime. Trekking poles are also extremely helpful. And bring lots of water, relying on eating snow is not a smart idea.Go slow.
Depth perception can be tricky at night and ice and other obstacles will not be so visible after dark. Be sure to allow extra time for the same trail that may be done faster in the day time or without snow and ice. Watch your footing carefully and stick to the trail.Leave a trip plan.
The logic behind this is simple and should always be practiced in all seasons, day or night. Let someone know where you plan to go and when you plan to be back. Touch base with that person once you are back and make sure it is someone who would notice if you did not return! Adventure Smart has a great trip plan App for your phone and it is FREE, easy peasy.
https://www.adventuresmart.ca/tripplan.htmSafety first.
Hikers and backpackers should always carry the 10 essentials. For the detailed list please click here: https://www.adventuresmart.ca/land/survive-essentials.htmKnow your snow.
As well as having basic snowshoeing techniques, you must always be mindful of weather conditions, natural obstacles that may lie beneath the snow, and the risk of moving water under the ice. Only you know your limits, adventure smart.Night hiking with kids.
My kids love these night time adventures. It’s a little bit scary but a lot of fun and it sure makes some unforgettable family memories. I like to bring plenty of glow sticks for fun and I always pack a thermos with a warm drink. Pack water and some easy to eat-with-mitts-on snacks.
Plan a short, local, and familiar hike to do with the kids. Even your backyard or neighborhood forest can host the best nighttime adventures!Have FUN!
A great way to make a night hike or snowshoe unforgettable is to plan it around a special natural event. The full moon, winter solstice, the northern lights, meteor showers, and firefly season all provide nature’s natural shows to be enjoyed.
