Hiking

Hiking requirements

1. Do the following:
   1. 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.
   2. 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. 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.
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 the five following hikes, each on a different day, and each of continuous miles. These hikes MUST be taken in the following order:

   One 5-mile hike

   Three 10-mile hikes

   One 15-mile hike

   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 (example: overnight). Prepare a written hike plan before each hike and share it with your Scoutmaster or a designee. Include map routes, a clothing and equipment list, and a list of items for a trail lunch.*
5. Take a hike of 20 continuous miles in one day following a hike plan you have prepared. You may stop for as many short rest periods as needed, as well as one meal, but not for an extended period (example: overnight).*
6. After each of the hikes (or during each hike if on one continuous "trek") in requirements 4 and 5, write a short reflection of your experience. Give dates and descriptions of routes covered, the weather, and any interesting things you saw. It may include something you learned about yourself, about the outdoors, or about others you were hiking with. Share this with your merit badge counselor.

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* The required hikes for this badge may be used in fulfilling hiking requirements for rank advancement. However, these hikes cannot be used to fulfill requirements of other merit badges.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Scouts BSA Requirements, 2019 Edition (BSA Supply SKU #648914)

A FREE workbook for Hiking is available here! (PDF or Word) with the maps, charts, links, diagrams, and checklists you need! Or click here to print just the Hiking requirements.

usscouts.org has PDF and Word versions of workbooks for Scouts BSA ranks and merit badges, Cub Scouting ranks and adventures, and STEM Nova awards.

• Per the BSA: "You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject." The Hiking merit badge pamphlet can purchased at ScoutSthop.org or at your local Scout Shop.
• "Get a signed Application for Merit Badge ... from your unit leader." An electronic, fillable, and printable PDF file version is available.

• Scout ranks: Scout  •  Tenderfoot  •  Second Class  •  First Class
• Scout awards: Firem'n Chit  •  Totin' Chip  •  Paul Bunyan Woodsman  •  National Outdoor Badges  •  National Medal for Outdoor Achievement
• Scout merit badges: Archaeology  •  Archery  •  Astronomy  •  Athletics  •  Backpacking  •  Bird Study  •  Camping  •  Canoeing  •  Climbing  •  Cooking  •  Cycling  •  Environmental Science  •  Farm Mechanics  •  Fire Safety  •  Fish and Wildlife Management  •  Fishing  •  Fly-Fishing  •  Forestry  •  Gardening  •  Geocaching  •  Geology  •  Golf  •  Hiking  •  Horsemanship  •  Insect Study  •  Kayaking  •  Mammal Study  •  Motorboating  •  Nature  •  Oceanography  •  Orienteering  •  Personal Fitness  •  Pioneering  •  Reptile and Amphibian Study  •  Rifle Shooting  •  Rowing  •  Scuba Diving  •  Search and Rescue  •  Shotgun Shooting  •  Signs, Signals, and Codes  •  Skating  •  Small-Boat Sailing  •  Snow Sports  •  Soil and Water Conservation  •  Space Exploration  •  Sports  •  Surveying  •  Swimming  •  Traffic Safety  •  Weather  •  Water Sports  •  Whitewater  •  Wilderness Survival
• Venturing: Wilderness Survival Ranger Core  •  Backpacking Ranger Award elective  •  National Outdoor Badges  •  National Medal for Outdoor Achievement
• Sea Scouting: National Outdoor Badges  •  National Medal for Outdoor Achievement

• An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
• Merit Badge revision dates – latest revision dates of each merit badge pamphlet.
• Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
• Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
• Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
• Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
• Also see: List of how many youths have earned each Merit Badge – Merit Badge policies – Merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank – Merit Badge Days
• Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)
• See Submitting New Merit Badge Ideas for guidance on how to submit suggestions for new merit badges to BSA.