10 Times When You Should Turn Around Hiking

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When exploring the outdoors, I encourage you to follow Leave No Trace Principles and be respectful of where you are so we can preserve these spaces for future generations. ♥️

Not sure when you should turn back while hiking?

While it’s never fun to start out a hike and feel as though you need to turn around, there are definitely times when this is necessary. I’m very stubborn when it comes to finishing the hiking trails I choose, I also have come to learn that my safety is more important than summiting or enjoying the payoff of a great view.

However, it’s not always easy to tell the difference of when it’s time to challenge yourself and when it’s time to attempt your chosen trail another day–especially if you are a beginner. Also, there are some instances, like severe weather or lack of access to food and water, when there is no question of whether or not you should turn around.

Injury or worse is not a reason to keep hiking, and knowing when it is time to head back is one of the best things you can learn as an outdoorsperson. We’ll go over some of the instances when it is a good idea to save the hike for another day.

In summary: This guide will cover when need to turn back while hiking in order to remain safe for your next adventure.

Quick tip: Always prepare by looking at the trail map before you head out on your hike. I also recommend using AllTrails so you can see if trail conditions have changed from other hikers.

1. When the weather looks bad

Don’t ignore warning signs of approaching bad weather. If you see dark clouds building, hear thunder in the distance, or feel sudden temperature drops, it’s time to turn around. Mountain weather changes rapidly, and thunderstorms can develop in minutes, especially above treeline where you have zero protection.

I’ve seen hikers caught in lightning storms because they pushed forward thinking they could “make it to the summit quickly.” The summit will always be there another day. Afternoon thunderstorms are predictable in many mountain ranges—if you’re not at your destination by early afternoon, turn back. Wet rocks become incredibly slippery, visibility drops, and hypothermia becomes a real risk even in summer. Your safety is always more important than reaching a goal.

2. When you don’t have enough food or water

Dehydration and low blood sugar impair your judgment, slow your pace, and create dangerous situations on the descent or the return to your car. If you realize you’ve run low on food or water and still have significant distance to cover, turn around immediately. Don’t wait until you’re genuinely thirsty or starving—these are late-stage warning signs.

I always carry more snacks and water than I think I’ll need specifically because miscalculating distance or pace happens. Running out of fuel means slower hiking, poor decision-making, and increased injury risk on technical terrain. Even if you’re close to your destination, turning back with adequate energy and resources is smarter than arriving exhausted and dehydrated.

3. When you don’t have enough energy to make it back

This is critical: always reserve energy for your return. The first half is tough, but getting back to your car requires just as much energy and actually puts more stress on your knees and joints if you are coming down from elevation.

If you realize you’re already exhausted and still have a significant climb ahead, turn around now while you still have reserves. Don’t get caught in a situation where you barely made it to the summit or the payoff of you hike and now must make it back when utterly depleted.

I’ve seen hikers make dangerous mistakes because they’d already exhausted themselves. Be honest about your energy levels and turn back if you don’t think you have enough left. It’s better to feel disappointed now than injured or in danger later.

Quick tip: If you are filling winded, this is a sign that you might not have enough juice to make it all the way through your hike.

4. When you don’t have the right gear

Showing up underprepared is never worth pushing forward. If you left your rain jacket at home and dark clouds are approaching, turn back. If you’re wearing cotton that’s now soaked and temperatures are dropping, turn back. If you realized you forgot your headlamp and sunset is approaching, turn back. Continuing without essential gear puts you at serious risk.

Weather can change drastically, temperatures drop significantly at altitude and after sunset, and visibility becomes critical. I’ve made the mistake of hiking longer than planned and found myself needing gear I didn’t bring. Now I turn around the moment I realize I’m unprepared rather than hoping conditions stay perfect.

5. When trail conditions are bad

Washouts, rockslides, fallen trees blocking the path, or unsafe snow/ice patches are all legitimate reasons to turn around. Just because a trail is marked on a map doesn’t mean it’s currently hikeable. Spring snowmelt can wash out sections, storms can fell trees, and winter conditions can make trails treacherous with ice. If the trail ahead looks genuinely dangerous or impassable, turning back is the right call.

Don’t try to scramble over obstacles or find workarounds—this is when accidents happen. Daniel and I recently chose not to take on the Mount Marcy hike in the Adirondacks because a large section of the trail was inundated with water. If trail conditions are dangerous or even just unpleasant enough to ruin your hike, then you might want to turn back.

6. If you don’t feel comfortable hiking in the dark

If you realize you won’t make it back to your car before dark and you’re not comfortable hiking by headlamp, turn around now. Hiking in the dark is riskier than daylight hiking—footing is harder to judge, you can’t see obstacles ahead, and wildlife encounters feel more threatening.

If you’re anxious about darkness or not experienced hiking at night, don’t push yourself into that situation. The trail will be there tomorrow. I know some incredible night hikers who tackle summits in darkness for sunrise views, but if that’s not you, plan your hikes to finish before dusk. Turning around to avoid nighttime hiking is completely legitimate and shows good judgment.

7. If you are unprepared for wildlife encounters

If you haven’t researched what wildlife lives in the area you’re hiking or don’t know how to respond to encounters, consider turning back before entering high-risk areas. Different regions have different wildlife—bears in the Rockies, mountain lions in the West, moose in the Tetons, snakes in lower elevations. Each requires different knowledge and preparation.

Carrying bear spray in parks like Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton, is essential, but it won’t help with a moose encounter. Know what animals are active in your area, understand their behavior, and bring appropriate safety items. If you’re genuinely anxious about wildlife or unprepared for what you might encounter, find a different trail.

Quick tip: If you are hiking in bear country, also make sure that you know how to use bear spray before you leave your car. It’s no help if you don’t know how to use it!

8. If someone on the trail makes you uncomfortable

Trust your gut about other people on the trail. If someone’s behavior makes you uneasy—whether they’re being creepy, aggressive, or just giving off bad vibes—you have every right to turn around or take a different route.

Women especially need to listen to that internal alarm. I’ve encountered creepy guys on trails before, and my instinct was to turn around and leave, which I did. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Your safety is paramount. If someone is following you, acting strangely, or making inappropriate comments, get off that trail. Hike with friends when possible, carry communication devices, and trust your intuition about people.

9. If the hike feels way too difficult

This is different from normal hiking difficulty. If a trail is genuinely beyond your current fitness level and you’re struggling far more than expected, it’s okay to turn back. Not every hike is right for every person, and that’s completely fine. Pushing through a hike that’s way too difficult leads to exhaustion, poor decisions, and potential injury.

I’ve attempted a few hikes and realized halfway up that I wasn’t acclimatized enough and the altitude was hitting me hard. I turned around despite being committed to summiting. I came back another time when I was better prepared and successfully completed it. There’s no shame in turning back—it’s the smart choice.

10. If you have a bad feeling

Sometimes you just have a gut feeling that something is off. Maybe the trail doesn’t feel right, or something seems dangerous that you can’t quite articulate, or you’re just feeling weird about continuing. Listen to that instinct. Your subconscious mind picks up on details your conscious mind might miss.

I’ve turned around hikes before because something just felt wrong, even though I couldn’t explain exactly why. In retrospect, I usually realize I’d noticed subtle signs—trail conditions I didn’t fully process, weather changes I wasn’t consciously acknowledging, or situations that didn’t feel safe. Trust your gut. The mountains will be there tomorrow, but your safety is irreplaceable right now.

Conclusion

Turning around isn’t failure—it’s wisdom. The best hikers know when to push forward and when to retreat. Every successful hiker has turned around on a trail. Protecting yourself and making smart decisions is what separates safe adventures from dangerous ones.

Have any questions about hiking safety? Let me know in the comments!