An urge to keep enjoying the nature in the warmer parts of the year can make a summer hike to sound like a good idea. What actually happens is that the trails are dry, the sun is relentless, and a difficult climb that would normally feel energizing can suddenly feel like something you would rather avoid completely.
That doesn’t mean you have to stop spending time outdoors. You can simply change the kind of day you’re looking for.
In summer, some of my favorite hiking days include a river, a lake or somewhere I can get into the water. Very often, what starts as a summer hike becomes something closer to river tracking: walking along or through a river, stopping to swim, finding a nice place to sit for a while and continuing when you feel like moving again.
Over time, I’ve learned that what you pack for a summer hike should change accordingly. You don’t need a huge amount of gear. You need the things that make a hot day outside safer, easier and much more enjoyable. Here is a list of my summer hike essentials. 🙂
A light, breathable hat
A hat is one of the first things worth packing for a summer hike.
I prefer something light and breathable that I can almost forget I’m wearing. I have a trucker-style cap similar to this one from Decathlon, and it works well because the mesh lets some air through instead of trapping heat around your head.
For a longer day with very little shade, though, something with more coverage can be a better choice. A hiking hat like this one also creates shade around the neck, which can make a big difference after several hours outside.
It might not be the most exciting part of your hiking outfit, but by hour four in the sun you’ll be very happy you brought it.
Sunglasses you don’t have to worry about
River tracking and expensive sunglasses are not necessarily the best combination.
You want a pair that protects your eyes properly, but that won’t cause a minor crisis if you splash them, drop them on a rock or watch them disappear into the water for a second.
I prefer sunglasses I don’t have to think too much about on days like this. Summer hiking already involves enough things to keep track of. Your sunglasses don’t need to be one of them.
Water shoes that match the terrain
This is one thing worth thinking about carefully before leaving because the right shoes depend completely on the kind of route you’re doing.
If the route is easy and you’re mostly walking through shallow water, swimming and moving over relatively simple terrain, basic water shoes can be enough. I have these Decathlon Aquashoes 100, and they’ve been great for easy, shallow river tracking. I also use them on rocky beaches when I travel, which makes them one of those inexpensive things that end up being surprisingly useful.
If you’re going to walk significant distances through the river or deal with more demanding, slippery or rocky terrain, choose something sturdier. A water sneaker like this one makes more sense for longer river routes or activities such as canyoning and kayaking.
Always check the terrain before choosing your shoes. Water depth, recent weather and the surface underneath can completely change how demanding a river route feels.
Swimsuit or two
If swimming is part of the plan, bring at least two swimsuits. This is one of those small things that can sound unnecessary until you’ve spent half the day putting a wet swimsuit back on.
A second one takes up almost no room in your backpack, and having something dry to change into makes a surprisingly big difference when you’re spending the whole day outside.
SPF, especially if no shade is guaranteed
Being around water during summer hike can make it very easy to underestimate how much sun you’re getting because you’re constantly cooling down.
Apply SPF before leaving and bring it with you so you can reapply during the day, especially after swimming.
A thin, quick-drying towel
A normal beach towel takes up far too much space in a hiking backpack. A microfiber towel is much easier. I like this ultra-compact microfiber towel because it folds down small and dries quickly. It’s useful for swimming, sitting beside the river and seaside trips too, so it’s something that can easily earn its place in your luggage beyond hiking.
More drinking water than you think you’ll need
Being surrounded by water doesn’t mean you have drinking water.
Always bring plenty of your own, especially in summer. Even when there may be a natural spring somewhere along the route, I don’t think it’s worth relying entirely on finding safe drinking water along the way.
Heat changes how much you drink very quickly. This is one thing you would always rather carry too much of than too little.
Food that doesn’t complicate the day
For shorter trips, light snacks and fruit are usually enough.
If I know we’re going to stay for most of the day, I bring sandwiches or something more substantial too.
There’s no need to overcomplicate hiking food. Choose things that travel well, are easy to eat and don’t require you to carry half a kitchen in your backpack.
Something to do when you’re doing absolutely nothing
If you’re planning to stay beside a river or lake for a while, bring book, cards or another small travel game.
Because not every day outdoors has to involve constantly moving.
Some of my favorite moments on these trips happen when everyone finally stops, swims, eats something and spends an hour doing absolutely nothing productive.
And always: a trash bag
Obviously, everything you bring into nature should come back with you. But if you see a bottle, wrapper or another small piece of rubbish someone else has left behind, picking it up takes almost no effort.
Leave nature the way you found it, or, when you can, a little cleaner. 🙂
Why river tracking instead of regular hike became one of my favorite summer activities
I still love a proper mountain hike. But I’ve learned that you don’t have to force the same kind of outdoor day in every season.
In the middle of summer, conquering a difficult exposed trail under the midday sun doesn’t sound particularly appealing to me. Finding a mountain river, walking beside it for a few hours, swimming somewhere beautiful and spending the afternoon eating food on a rock with friends sounds much better.
River tracking gives you so much of what makes a summer day in nature worth having: movement, cold water, beautiful surroundings and nowhere particularly urgent to be.
And perhaps that’s one of the most useful things I’ve learned about summer hiking.
You don’t always need to make the trail harder to make the day better.
Keep exploring
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