Trailhead
From Trail-Finder -- Dedicated to getting you outside
Contents |
Overview
A trailhead is, in its most basic form, the place where the trail starts. Of course, it rarely comes in its most simple form. For many trails, there's more than one trailhead.
For purposes of Trail-Finder.com, trailheads are not only for hiking trails, but also include boat launch sites, cave entrances, etc.
Parking
Nearly every trailhead has plenty of parking available. Those in major parks may have shuttles available to take you from the parking area to the trailhead. These are often free or dirt cheap, and often give you a way to hike a linear trail without needing to spend half your hiking time backtracking.
Maps
Most major trailheads now also contain a map on a large sign, and sometimes printed trail guides. If these guides have a requested donation, the money usually goes, directly or indirectly, to support trail maintenance, so please don't forget to donate, although it's fine to donate in groups (ie: 25 cent donation requested for a trail guide you take at each of three or four different trails in the same park, it's fine to donate a dollar at just one).
Trailhead Registers
Many backcountry trailheads, or even long day hiking trailheads, have trailhead registers. These are simple notebooks where you record your name, the date, your destination, your anticipated return time, and car license number. Using these registers is usually optional, and have both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- If a ranger finds your car, sees that you're not due back yet, it probably won't get towed.
- If you're lost or injured and unable to return on your own, search parties know where you were headed, so you'll likely be found sooner.
Disadvantages:
- Anyone can look at the trailhead register to see that you're not due back for hours, even days, and know that it's probably safe to break into or steal your car with no risk of getting caught by the owner.
If you're concerned about the trail, it's probably best to sign in. If you're not concerned about it, then its usually up to you. If the trail is big enough to have a trailhead register, it's probably big enough to have park rangers not too far away. Don't hesitate to ask them any questions about the trail or risks, including risks to your car. They'd much rather answer the same question a hundred times than have to rescue even one unprepared hiker.
A safer variation on the standard trailhead register is a pad of pre-printed forms with a lockbox. Fill out the form, drop it into the box, and you have all the advantages without any of the risks. If a park is serious enough to set these up, use them!
