Cannabis and Hiking: The Ultimate Guide to Outdoor Adventures

Ganja and the Great Outdoors

Some of the best memories when hiking or traveling outdoors include cannabis. The view of mountains while enjoying a joint is one of the most euphoric and amazing experiences you could have. Cannabis can help you slow down and be present with yourself, others, and your experiences in nature. Who doesn't want to enjoy nature with cannabis? For anyone looking to enhance their hiking experience, there are plenty of tips and tricks in this guide.

Important Legal Notice: It is illegal to consume cannabis on federal and state land in most jurisdictions. This guide is for informational purposes only. Always know and follow local laws, consume responsibly on private property where legal, and never drive under the influence.

How Can Cannabis Boost the Outdoor Experience?

The myth that people who smoke weed are lazy and unmotivated is coming to an end, as we start to realize the variety of benefits that cannabis can provide and how it can enhance our feelings and experiences. When it comes to enjoying cannabis in the great outdoors, certain strains high in Alpha-Pinene can help improve mental alertness and enhanced focus, which are great for longer hikes and days full of travel.

Understanding Pinene

Alpha-Pinene is responsible for giving cannabis its pine-like scent and is one of the most commonly found terpenes in cannabis. It can also be found in dill, parsley, orange peels, and rosemary.

Alpha-Pinene may provide medicinal benefits, and research suggests this terpene can improve airflow to the lungs and exhibit anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce swelling in the body.

This makes pinene one of the best terpenes to consume while hiking. Pinene has also shown the ability to help improve memory impairment that can sometimes be associated with THC.

What to Pack for Your Cannabis Hiking Trip

Ensuring you have all the necessary items for your hiking trip will help you have the best experience possible. Hiking can be physically demanding, so bringing extra water is always a good idea. Using a water bladder can be especially helpful; it's easy to store in a backpack and holds more water. You can bring additional water bottles if your backpack has water bottle holders for extra hydration.

Snacks and Munchies

When bringing water, it's always a good idea to bring extra snacks. Protein bars, sandwiches, granola, or trail mix are good options as snacks to bring along, as we all know how the munchies can start to creep in. Some great options for hiking are applesauce pouches and portable sandwiches.

Best Travel Cannabis Options

Pre-Rolls and Joints

Pre-rolls are small and easy to share with others you're traveling with, and they are also portable. Many consumers prefer visiting the dispensary to purchase 5-packs of pre-rolls when available. They're already rolled up and usually come in a portable tin or pack ready to go!

Portable Vaporizers

Portable vaporizers are a great option if you don't want to have to worry about rolling up. Vaporizers for flower or concentrates eliminate the need for a lighter or torch. Most portable vaporizers have an internal oven that will heat up your cannabis and will have different pre-set temperature settings that you can pick from as well.

Cartridges

Disposable cartridges and standard cartridges are one of the most discreet ways to travel with cannabis and are portable as well. With a regular cartridge, all you need is a battery to go with it, charge it up, and travel on! The batteries you purchase will be reusable; you just need to buy a new cartridge when you've run out of oil. Disposable cartridges are pre-loaded with oil and a precharged battery.

Pipes

Pipes are an easy travel piece as well. You can bring your favorite bowl piece, as it's easy to store and clean. With the wind, it can be difficult to light, but if you find a nice place to stop and rest, bringing out the bowl is a great option. If you didn't want to bring an entire bowl piece, a chillum or one-hitter is another great option, and is smaller.

Water Pipes

Water pipes are great because the water filtration can make your hit smoother and cooler. There are a variety of travel bongs, bubblers, and rigs on the market. Silicone pieces are always a good option because they are lightweight and there's less risk of damaging them while traveling.

Edibles

Edibles are another discreet method of consumption that is easy to travel with. Be conscious of what kind of edible you may want to purchase. If there's a chance they will be sitting in a warmer climate, there's a possibility for gummies or chocolate to melt. Next time you visit a dispensary, try looking for edibles made with Pectin. Gummies made with pectin are less likely to melt in higher temperatures. Pectin is a fibrous component made from fruits and vegetables and is vegan.

Recovery After Outdoor Adventures

It's important to recover and wind down after traveling and being outdoors. Making sure you rest and take care of yourself is important. After longer days of hiking, yoga, stretching, and meditation are great ways to relax and help your body wind down at the end of the night.

Recovery Products

Topicals such as balms, oils, transdermal patches, or salves are absorbed through the skin and can provide pain relief and help with inflammation. Many topicals have combinations of CBD and THC and offer fast-acting results.

Edibles with THC and CBD are another good option as CBD can help relax the body and help keep you asleep at night. Try taking a 2:1 (20mg CBD: 10mg THC) ratio gummy an hour before bed to help you relax and get a good night's rest after a long day.

Leave No Trace and Be Respectful of Others

It's important to remember to be mindful of other people and especially kids on the trails. You never know when people might be approaching, and many people want to enjoy the trails as well but don't want to be around cannabis. Find a nice spot to stop and sit away from others where you can enjoy a session and not smoke directly on the trail itself. If you do choose to stray from the trail, make sure you know your way back and are familiar with your surroundings.

Pack Out What You Pack In

When traveling with cannabis, it's also important to remember to not leave anything behind that could be potentially harmful to the environment. Get into a habit of hanging on to your roaches or bringing along a tin or something to hold your trash. It's easy to think that it might be ok to toss a roach onto the ground because it's a natural plant, and most papers are going to be hemp; however, it's important to leave trails and places the way you found them. When it's dry out, tossing a roach is a good way to potentially start a fire.

Knowing the Laws

When traveling with cannabis it is important to understand the laws on a federal and state level. In Michigan, you can buy and carry up to 2.5 ounces of flower and up to 15 grams of concentrates towards that limit.

Critical: It is illegal to consume cannabis on federal and state land. Be sure to be safe and conscious when you are traveling with cannabis. Knowing the laws in the areas you are traveling is important information to know. Always consume cannabis on private property where legal and with permission.

Stock Up at Quality Roots

There are so many different cannabis products available that can help uplift and enhance your experience or help you relax after a long day. Quality Roots offers premium flower, pre-rolls, edibles, and concentrates perfect for your outdoor adventures.

Find us at locations across Michigan and New Jersey, including Monroe, Detroit, Battle Creek, Owosso, Hamtramck, Berkley, Kalamazoo, Madison Heights, Waterford, Evesham, and Marlton.