Urban Hiking

Urban Hiking is a great way to get Scouts outside and exploring.  Depending on where you troop is and what resources you have available, urban hiking may be one of the more practical outing options you have.  But even in our part of the world, where excellent wilderness areas can be accessed and most of us have cars and SUVs that can take us there, Urban Hikes are still fun and something to consider. 

Fun Places to Visit

Cities and Towns are full of people, and people need to be entertained.  A little research and planning will allow you to set up outings with some really fun places to go visit.

Conditioning

Two big things to consider when prepping for High Adventure is getting miles on your feet and building your team.  Getting Scouts out in the wilderness every weekend sounds great but requires a lot of resources and time that Scouts and Adult Leaders don't have.  Adding higher milage walks in the city may allow you to try out gear, get conditioned and build your team while finishing up by noon.  Twenty mile hikes may also be possible and even more desirable in an urban area.

Consider setting up the Hiking Merit Badge in an urban setting.  Have different 10 mile hikes on various weekends other than your main outing weekend.  Scouts interested in working on the Hiking Merit Badge and build up conditioning and confidence without missing out on their regular outings.  A final 20-miler can also be easily completed in a day. 

10-Milers

10-milers are doable by just about any aged Scout.  Adults will also want to take part in these hikes.  One way to motivate Scouts to do 10-milers is to work on the Hiking Merit Badge.  This (currently) requires 4 10-mile hikes and a 20-miler.  Not only are Scouts working on a Eagle Scouts required Merit Badge, they are also getting ready for bigger adventures. 

It can be really easy to set up 10 mile hikes locally.  Because of proximity, Scouts can show up early on a Saturday and finish by lunch time.  This leaves the rest of the weekend free for other activities.  That said, Scout and Adults new to hiking may choose to veg out at home after their hike. 

20-Milers

An urban 20-Miler has many benefits over a wilderness hike.  The main ones being safety and easy access to the route. 

• Safety

  • You are less likely to get injured in an urban area than in the wilderness, assuming you are careful when crossing streets

  • If someone gets injured, even with just blisters, your crew may be stuck overnight in the wilderness

  • In an urban area, if some gets injured, you just need to call car in to pick them up

• Local access usually mean more adult support

  • Having a roving emergency team is great on extended hikes

  • Having support at rest and lunch stops is great!

• Easy access to crew

  • Start and finish areas can be plotted at easy drop off and pickup points. 

  • Easy access to rest stops makes resupply easy

  • Easy access to lunch break may mean a special Pizza lunch with other goodies!

  • Easy access to crew if someone needs to get picked up (blisters or fatigue)

• Easy to plot distance specific routes

  • If you need a hike that is at least 10 miles long, it is far easier to plot one that is exactly 10 miles in an urban area

  • Easy to set up multi distance events such as 5/10/20 miles hike were some choose to just go 5 or 10 or 20 miles

• Point-to-point routes are more feasible

  • There and back routes are fine, but there is something about reaching a real destination

  • Urban hikes generally have easier access to points and more adult support, meaning you have an adult crew drop you off at the start point and pick you up at the end point

    • It is nice to have someone waiting for you at the finish point

    • It is nice to not have to drive yourself home at the end of a 20-miler

Short Urban Hikes

Short local hikes can be really fun.  Take the Troop on a 5-miler and maybe even stop for Ice-Cream.

Discovery Park Stairs