Outdoor Weather
Hiking Lightning Safety Guide: Ridges, Summits, Trees, and Turnaround Times
Lightning safety for hikers, including when to turn around, what terrain to avoid, and why storms can move faster than expected.
Quick answer: Hikers should treat thunder as the signal to leave exposed terrain immediately and move toward a safer shelter.
Plan the timing
Start early when afternoon storms are common and set a turnaround time that gets you below exposed terrain before clouds build.
Mountain storms can form and move quickly.
Avoid exposure
Ridges, summits, open fields, isolated trees, metal fences, and wet rock can increase lightning danger.
Moving below tree line is better than staying on a high point, but a vehicle or building is safer when reachable.
If caught outside
Spread out from the group, avoid the tallest object nearby, and move away from water and metal objects.
This is a last resort, not a substitute for leaving early.