Conducting a Hiking Risk Assessment: A Practical Guide for Australian Hikers

Hiking gives you access to some of Australia’s most stunning and remote landscapes, but that access comes with real risk, especially once you’re off well-travelled paths and into rugged or remote terrain. A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm: a snake, unstable terrain, a change in the weather. Risk is the likelihood that harm actually happens because of that hazard. That distinction matters, because a hazard on its own doesn’t tell you much. What you actually need before you head out is a sense of how likely each hazard is to affect you on this particular trail, and how bad it would be if it did. That’s what a risk assessment is for: doing one properly means thinking through what could go wrong before you leave, so you know what to prepare for and what to actually watch for once you’re on the trail.

What a Risk Assessment Actually Involves

Once you’ve spotted a hazard, the next question is how seriously to take it, and that comes down to two things: how likely it is to occur, and how bad the consequences would be if it did. It helps to think in three rough bands. Low means the risk is unlikely to occur or has minimal consequences. Medium means it’s possible, with moderate consequences if it occurs. High means it’s likely to happen, and the consequences could be severe.

The same hazard can sit in a different band depending on the conditions on the day. A cliff edge on a trail is a high hazard by itself, but if the trail is wide and dry, the actual risk of falling may be low. Make that trail narrow and icy and the risk becomes high, even though the hazard itself, the cliff, hasn’t changed at all. Getting lost tends to sit at medium risk, while a snake bite is usually a lower-risk factor that can carry severe consequences in certain areas, which is exactly the gap between likelihood and severity that this scale is meant to capture. Once you’ve placed each hazard on it, you can prioritise your efforts toward the ones that are actually most dangerous, rather than the ones that simply feel most dramatic.

With that scale in mind, here’s how it plays out across the things most likely to actually get you into trouble on an Australian trail: the environment itself, the terrain underfoot, and being a long way from anyone who could help quickly.

Environmental hazards

Australia’s diverse environment presents a variety of risks depending on where and when you’re hiking, including extreme temperatures, wildlife encounters, and natural disasters like bushfires. In warmer months, dehydration and heatstroke are the main concern, particularly in remote areas where water sources may be scarce, so carry plenty of water, wear sun protection, and choose trails with shade or water access when possible. If you’re hiking in hot conditions generally, aim to hike during the cooler parts of the day, carry at least 3L of water, and wear a broad-brimmed hat. In desert or remote areas, pack extra water and electrolytes as well, to replenish the fluids you lose in those conditions.

In colder, alpine areas the risk runs the other way: temperatures can drop below freezing at night, so be prepared for both heat and cold conditions, sometimes within the same hike.

Snakes are another significant risk in many regions, so wearing gaiters and long pants in grassy areas is a good preventive measure. It’s worth extending that habit into a broader approach around known snake habitats: stay on well-trodden paths, avoid tall grass, and always carry a snakebite bandage. Familiarise yourself with the first-aid procedures for snakebites as well.

Bushfire risk is especially high in summer, which is why checking local fire warnings before you head out matters, and why you should avoid hiking during extreme fire conditions. In practice that means avoiding hiking on Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger rating days, knowing your exit routes in case the weather turns dangerous, and carrying a fire-resistant emergency blanket and knowing how to use it if necessary. In some areas, falling branches (widow makers) pose a danger too, particularly during high winds or after droughts.

Terrain hazards

Many trails feature challenging terrain that requires its own preparation and skill, quite apart from the environmental risks above. Loose rocks, steep inclines, and water crossings can present serious risks, so always wear sturdy, supportive hiking boots, especially on rocky or uneven paths.

Be aware of your fitness level and select trails that align with your ability, and consider using walking poles for added stability on steep or slippery sections. For trails that require river crossings, make sure you have the right footwear and technique to navigate safely, or opt for alternative routes if you’re unsure.

Remote location hazards

Hiking in remote locations adds a different kind of challenge again, particularly around communication and access to basic facilities. Mobile phone reception can be unreliable in many parts of the Australian bush, so carrying a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or satellite communicator is recommended for emergencies.

In these areas you may also face limited access to water, toilets, or medical assistance, so make sure your hiking pack is well-stocked with essential supplies, including extra water, food, and a first-aid kit. Always inform someone of your itinerary and expected return time before you head out.

Getting lost belongs here too, and it’s worth carrying a map, compass, and offline digital maps, marking key checkpoints on your map, and telling someone your planned route. A GPS tracker or mobile app that provides location tracking is also worth using. Register your trip with the Trail Hiking Australia Trip Intentions Form, and always carry a PLB or satellite communicator for emergencies as well.

Keeping Your Assessment Current

A hiking risk assessment isn’t a one-time task, it’s an ongoing process. As you gain more experience, or when you gather new information about a trail, revise your risk assessment accordingly, because keeping it updated is what keeps you aware of any new risks and prepared for any changing conditions.

Putting It Together in a Table

Here’s an example of how to structure your risk assessment:

Final thoughts

None of this is complicated on its own. Heat, snakes, difficult terrain, and being a long way from help are all things most Australian hikers already know about in the abstract. What a proper risk assessment does is make you work out how those hazards actually apply to this trail, on this day, given your own fitness and the gear you’re carrying, rather than relying on a general sense that you’ll probably be fine. That’s the part that’s easy to skip, and it’s the part that matters most. Always revisit and update your risk assessment as conditions change, and be proactive in addressing new risks, because the point of doing this properly is that it changes what you pack and how you act, not just what you think about before you leave.

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