The most dangerous part of hiking isn't the mountains

During a 140 km (87 mi) walk from Wellington to the Wairarapa in New Zealand, nearly half the distance – about 70 km (44 mi) – was spent walking on roads. The route gradually shifted from busy urban streets to quiet rural lanes, with occasional backcountry sections in between.

Somewhere north of Upper Hutt a logging truck thundered past close enough that I felt the turbulence tug at my pack straps. It was a good reminder that road walking isn’t passive. You’re not just covering distance; you’re actively managing risk with every step.

Walking beside traffic is more dangerous than any exposed ridgeline. At least on a ridgeline the mountain isn’t texting while driving.

Road walking is the least glamorous skill in long-distance hiking, and one of the most common. Trails rarely exist in isolation. They pass through towns, cross farmland, and connect sections of public land using the one piece of infrastructure that already exists everywhere: roads. Because of that, road walking is a skill worth learning.

Here are the essential lessons:

Walk facing traffic

Do the opposite of what the road rules say for vehicles. Walk against traffic. If a country drives on the left side of the road, you walk on the right (and vice versa). Facing oncoming traffic gives you more time to react if something goes wrong. Always have an escape route: verge, driveway, ditch, or bank. Be prepared to take a dive if necessary.

Watch your footing

Roads look simple, but they’re riddled with hazards. Potholes, kerbs, gutters, drains, gravel, broken glass, and the occasional unfortunate possum. None of them are especially dangerous on their own, but they can trip you when you’re tired or distracted. Place your feet deliberately.

Remove distractions

Don’t look at your phone. Not even briefly. Road walking demands full attention. A quick glance at a map or message can easily become the moment you miss the sound of a vehicle approaching. The car you didn’t notice might be the last thing you notice.

Skip the headphones

Headphones shrink your awareness bubble. One of your best early warning systems on the road is sound, particularly vehicles approaching from behind. Headphones remove that entirely. Save the podcasts for camp.

Change the surface

Asphalt is monotonous. Whenever possible, mix up the surfaces you walk on. Move between the sealed road, gravel shoulders, and grassy verges when it’s safe. Your feet will appreciate the variation.

Hydrate or fry

Asphalt absorbs heat all day and radiates it back upward like a giant frying pan. On hot days the road slowly cooks you from below. Add the lack of shade common on rural roads and dehydration creeps up quickly. Drink early and often.

Cover up

Roads rarely offer shelter. Sun, wind, and dust become constant companions. Long sleeves, a hat, and sunglasses make a significant difference over long distances. Sunglasses also protect your eyes from dust and debris kicked up by passing vehicles.

Protect your trekking poles

If you’re using trekking poles, and you kept the rubber tips, use them. Asphalt is abrasive and will wear down carbide tips quickly. Rubber tips preserve them for when you actually need traction on dirt or rock, and for fending off wild animals in the jungle.

Wave to every car

Wave to every vehicle that passes. Even the school bus driver who has already seen you several times that day. A friendly wave signals awareness and humanises you. Bizarrely, I once had a driver approach delivering a middle finger, only to soften immediately when I waved back. Politeness can be disarming.

Be visible

Drivers rarely expect pedestrians on rural roads. Help them notice you earlier. Bright clothing, reflective strips on your pack, or a small flashing light can dramatically increase the distance at which drivers see you. Visibility matters even more in fog, rain, or low light.

Corners and crests

Blind corners and hill crests are the most dangerous parts of road walking. If you’re approaching one, cross to whichever side gives you the best view of oncoming traffic. If you can’t see around the bend, assume drivers can’t see you either. Give yourself as much reaction time as possible.

Step off early

If a vehicle approaches and the road is narrow, step off the road early rather than waiting until the last moment. Drivers appreciate predictable behaviour more than last-second heroics.

Trucks change the rules

Large trucks occupy most of the lane and generate significant wind blast when they pass. Give them extra space whenever possible and brace for the turbulence.

Fatigue management

Road walking often happens when you’re tired. At the end of a long day your attention drifts. Your brain switches to autopilot. That’s when mistakes happen. If you feel your awareness slipping, take a break. Five minutes of rest is cheaper than one close call.

The mountains get the glory. The road quietly does the damage.

And if you’re walking through rural New Zealand with no music, podcasts, or Netflix, you may as well practice your farm animal calls. Because what else are you going to do?

Edit (2025): Since first publishing this piece, I’ve walked the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail during the 2024/25 season. That experience only reinforced the point above: road walking isn’t a minor inconvenience on long trails. It’s part of the deal. Depending on alternates and route choices, roughly 10–15% of Te Araroa involves road walking. That adds up to hundreds of kilometres spent sharing space with vehicles.

I also saw plenty of hikers doing the exact opposite of what keeps you safe: walking with traffic instead of facing it, wearing headphones, staring at phones, or drifting down the middle of narrow rural roads as if they were still on trail. Most drivers are considerate. But the margin for error is thin. If anything, Te Araroa made me more convinced that road walking is one of the most overlooked skills in long-distance hiking.