Hiking and Guns: Is Compromising Hiking Safety Worth the Risks?

Mixing hiking and guns is a controversial practice. Since February 22, 2010, carrying loaded handguns is legal in most U.S. national parks, provided that individuals are legally allowed to carry handguns in the state in which the park is located.

While it's legal in some states, carrying a gun while hiking isn't always a good idea. Consider the risks before you take a gun on your next hiking trip.

Hiking Safety: Do You Need a Gun to Keep Yourself Safe on a Hike?

Proponents of hiking with guns presumably do so to protect themselves from predatory animals or from fellow hikers.

However, carrying a gun doesn't guarantee your safety on the trails. Consider the following:

• Carrying a gun can provide a false sense of security and lower your natural caution towards strangers and dangerous animals, increasing your risk of finding yourself in a dangerous situation.
• Having a gun strapped to your person may create a contentious atmosphere with hikers you encounter.
• Judging and determining potentially dangerous hikers and situations is difficult.
• Have a firearm in your hand at all times while hiking is impractical. Thus, if a dangerous situation presents itself, you may be unable to access your gun in a reasonable amount of time.
• Simply showing an attacker your gun may not stop a confrontation. A 2009 American Journal of Public Health study found that people in possession of a gun during a confrontation were 4.5 times more likely to be shot than those not carrying a gun.

Practicing Hiking Safety

Consider these alternative strategies for hiking safety:

• Always hike with a partner.
• Always be keenly aware of your surroundings.
• Before you go hiking, tell someone where you're going, and when you plan to return.
• Take a cell phone or satellite phone along when hiking. Leave it off to preserve the battery.
• Avoid areas that attract "party hikers," such as hiking shelters located near paved highways. Their atmospheres are remarkably different from those of the more remote hiking areas.

Gun Laws

If you decide to hike with a gun, knowing your state's gun laws is imperative, as gun laws vary by state. Determine whether your out-of-state permit is valid in the particular state in which you want to hike.

Even if you're legally able to carry a gun in a national park, other restrictions may apply. For example, property owners and managers may not allow gun possession, and possession of a gun in a place where alcohol is sold is illegal.