Hiking
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Hiking Requirements
Current Scouts BSA requirements
as of June 6, 2026
as of June 6, 2026
1.
Do the following:
a.
Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may
encounter while hiking, and what you should do to anticipate,
help prevent, mitigate and respond to these hazards.
b.
Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that
could occur while hiking, including hypothermia, frostbite,
dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, sunburn,
hyperventilation, altitude sickness, sprained ankle, blisters,
insect stings, tick bites, and snakebite.
2.
Do the following:
a.
Explain and, where possible, show the points of good hiking
practices including proper outdoor ethics, hiking safety in the
daytime and at night, courtesy to others, choice of footwear,
and proper care of feet and footwear.
b.
Read aloud or recite the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, and
discuss why each is important while hiking.
c.
Read aloud or recite the Outdoor Code, and give examples of how
to follow it on a hike.
3.
Explain how hiking is an aerobic activity. Develop a plan for
conditioning yourself for 10-mile hikes, and describe how you will
increase your fitness for longer hikes.
4.
Take four 10-mile hikes and one 20-mile hike, each on a different day,
and each of continuous miles. Prepare a written hike plan before each
hike and share it with your counselor or a designee for approval before
starting the hike. Include map routes, a clothing and equipment list,
and a list of items for a trail lunch. You may stop for as many short
rest periods as needed, as well as one meal, during each hike, but not
for an extended period such as overnight.
a.
10-mile hike #1
b.
10-mile hike #2
c.
10-mile hike #3
d.
10-mile hike #4
e.
20-mile hike
5.
After each of the hikes (or during each hike if on one continuous trek)
in requirement 4, write a short report on your hike. For each hike, give
the date and description (or map) of the route covered, the weather, any
interesting things you saw, and any challenges you had and how you
overcame them. It may include something you learned about yourself,
about the outdoors, or about others you were hiking with. Share this
with your counselor.