- New research has revealed the states with the safest hiking trails for beginner hikers.
- The findings analyzed the total number of hiking trails in each state, and then worked out what percentage had a level five difficulty
- Montana had the most dangerous trails, whilst Florida, Louisiana, and Delaware have the best hiking trails for beginners
- An expert offers advice on the cardinal rules of hiking safety, including bringing a first aid kit and remaining attentive on the trail
New research has revealed which states have the most dangerous and difficult hiking trails for beginners and novice hikers.
The personal injury firm DeMayo Law Group analyzed the number of hiking trails in each state that hold a level five difficulty rating, and used this to determine which states had the most dangerous hiking trails for new or inexperienced hikers.
When it comes to hiking trails, there are five difficulty ratings, from one (easy) to five (difficult). These ratings consider three factors: effort, technical skill, and risk involved.
For a trail to get a level five rating, it would require an excessive amount of physical exertion (think climbing, high altitudes, and steep inclines), a high level of technical skill (how to use specialized hiking equipment), and there will be a risk of death or injury.
Florida has 2,464 trails, and out of those, only 1 is considered to be difficult and only suitable for experienced or expert hikers. This means that almost all of the hiking trails in these states are more accessible to those with less experience and are less likely to pose a risk. This could mean that the terrain is more even, the trails are shorter, and the paths are easier to follow.
The Five States with the Safest Hiking Trails for Beginners
| Rank | State | Total Number of Trails | Number of Difficult Trails | Proportion of Difficult Trails |
| 1 | Florida | 2,464 | 1 | 0.04% |
| 2 | Louisiana | 263 | 1 | 0.38% |
| 3 | Delaware | 214 | 1 | 0.47% |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 1,436 | 11 | 0.77% |
| 5 | Illinois | 1,601 | 13 | 0.81% |
Florida, Louisiana, and Delaware all only have one level five trail each, making them good choices for those new to hiking.
Following Delaware is Wisconsin, with just 11 out of the 1,436 trails available being rated for just experienced hikers, equating to just 0.8%.
Finally, Illinois has the fifth lowest percentage of “difficult”-rated hiking trails, at 0.81%. Yet, regardless of the difficulty ranking, it is vital that hikers always exercise caution.
On the other end of the scale are states with a lot of beginner-friendly hiking trails. For example, Montana is the most dangerous state for novice hikers as more than one-third (35.9%) of its hiking trails are rated a level five.
The states with the next highest percentage of “difficult” rated hiking trails were Idaho (31%) and Alaska (30.9%). There are 1,437 different hiking trails in Idaho, and over 400 of them are listed with a level five difficulty rating, so novices need to be cautious.
Following very closely behind Alaska is New Hampshire, as 30.5% percent of the state’s 2,047 hiking trails are considered difficult and could pose a risk to life for hikers who try them without proper precautions.
The Five States with the Most Dangerous Hiking Trails for Beginners
| Rank | State | Total Number of Trails | Number of Difficult Trails | Proportion of Difficult Trails |
| 1 | Montana | 1,505 | 540 | 35.88% |
| 2 | Idaho | 1,437 | 446 | 31.04% |
| 3 | Alaska | 870 | 269 | 30.92% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 2,047 | 624 | 30.48% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,192 | 950 | 29.76% |
Speaking on the findings, personal injury lawyer Michael DeMayo of DeMayo Law Group had this advice for anyone looking to take up hiking as a hobby: “There are certain cardinal rules that you must follow if you’re going to go out hiking, and these apply for people who have been going out on trails for years as well as those who just bought their first pair of hiking boots last week.
“First of all, you must make sure let someone know where you’re going, what trail you’re following, and when you’re planning to be back. This way, if you end up getting lost or injured, somebody will know to alert the rangers and get you found as soon as possible.
“Second, you must concentrate right up until you’ve finished the trail. Many accidents occur in the last half an hour of a hiking trek because the terrain tends to level out and the path becomes clearer. But this just makes more room for silly mistakes and accidents to occur. Just like driving, stay switched on for the whole journey.
“Finally, remember that there’s no such thing as being over prepared. Bring a first aid kit, pack more than enough food and water, save an offline map to your phone but also print a copy out physically as well in case you lose signal or your phone dies.
“It’s always better to have something and not need it than need something and not have it. Following these rules, and respecting the path, will help keep you and your group safe to hike another day.”
All information was gathered from AllTrails.com. The total number of trails in each state was taken, and then the number that were marked as “difficult” were calculated as a percentage of the overall number to reveal the states with the highest ratio of dangerous trails.
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