#33: Off the Beaten Path

Trust us, nature is the one place where everyone should follow the rules. We don’t care how boring it sounds. Mother Nature does not care how experienced you are or how confident you are in your navigation skills. Wild animals, unexpected weather, and dangerous hiking conditions are just a few reasons to stay on designated hiking trails.

Although it seems romantic, you definitely shouldn’t take the road less traveled. Sorry, Robert Frost. Wildlife professionals and organizations create designated hiking paths for a reason. No one should hike off the trail, regardless of how experienced someone thinks they are. Hiking off-trail can result in someone getting lost, injured, or worse.