Trailhead etiquette

[Blacktail_]

Wondering if I can get some trailhead etiquette tips from y’all! Where I do most of my hunting, you find a locked gate and walk in, never would I park at the same gate someone else is at, and never has anyone done that to me. Heading to Idaho this year and from what I can tell there are often very popular trailheads that people park at before hiking in further. Is this just a normal part of the game and feel free to head on in or are those usually big hunting parties it would be better to stay away from? Probably a dumb question but I’m not used to this so don’t flame me too hard!

 

[JREG19]

I frequently hunt from the same trailhead as other guys. Most times I get back there a little ways and get off the trail and never see anyone else. It's public land, feel free to head on in.

With that being said, if I talk with the other hunters, I try to figure out where they are going so we don't go to the same spot.

 

[taskswap]

If you can fit, you can sit.

In general in the West you'll find that because it's a popular destination, lots of folks will be at trailheads. And in many areas we have long/late recreation seasons so half those folks will be hardy "7-mi is a short walk for my dog" types mixed with birders, quadders, and more. If you passed by every trailhead with somebody parked there, you'd fall into the Pacific. But also, parking is usually generous and easy. It's actually rare IMO in most places to not have enough parking at all.

The one thing to be careful of is while many USFS and similar lands have locked gates, a locked gate is not an invitation. Get OnX or some other tool to keep you on public. Leases, private property with easements, and other reasons can leave you with a USFS-LOOKING gate but now you're trespassing.