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Fall is SUCH a gorgeous time to get out and hike- the leaves are changing, the air is crisp and there are fewer people! 

The only problem is the weather (at least here in the Pacific Northwest!) can be a bit bipolar if you know what I mean. If you have ever asked yourself “what to wear hiking in the Fall?” this blog post is for you! 

Keep reading to find out the best Fall hiking outfits for your next hike through golden forests 🙂

Table of Contents:

1. What To Wear Hiking In The Fall FAQ

2. Fall Hiking Base Layer

3. Hiking Pants For Fall

4. Fall Hiking Mid Layer

5. Fall Hiking Outer Layer

6. Fall Hiking Footwear

7. Fall Hiking Accessories

8. Fall Hiking Tips

9. What To Wear Hiking In The Fall Conclusion

 What To Wear Hiking In The Fall: FAQ

How Should I Dress for Fall in the Mountains?

When heading into the mountains, especially in the Fall, you have to understand that the weather can change instantly. At high elevations you will encounter weather that is totally different from the valley you came from.

To dress for this you will need to use the concept of layering.

How to Layer for an Autumn Hike?

Hiking Layers Fall

When layering for Fall you will need a few select types of clothing.

This includes base layers, mid layers and outer layers. These pieces will ensure that no matter the weather elements you encounter you will be prepared to stay warm and dry. These few pieces allow you to choose how protected you are from the elements by adding or removing clothing.

What are the Best Fabrics for Fall Hiking?

When shopping for hiking clothes you will find there are a few types of fabric that end up being best for fall hiking.

Merino Wool

When looking for base layers and socks, really anything close to your skin, merino wool is the best fabric. Merino wool is inherently warm and naturally resistant to odor.

Merino wool is highly breathable allowing for wonderful temperature regulation when you are working hard and your body temp raises. When you slow down though, the wool is thick enough to keep you warm.

Fleece

Fleece is a synthetic material- mostly made from polyester. It is amazing at trapping heat and sustaining warmth. Fleece is plush, comfortable, lightweight, durable, breathable, moisture resistant and stays warm even while wet. You will mostly find mid layers in this fabric.

Synthetic Material

This material is used for base layers, puffy jackets and soft shell tops and pants. It is water resistant, breathable, flexible and regulates our body temperature.

Down

Down is made from the “plumage” of birds- which is essentially the soft, fluffy parts underneath the exterior feathers. Down is very durable, easy to pack down and comfortable. You will normally find down in puffy jackets.

Gore-Tex

Gore-Tex is the end all be all material for outer shells (rain jackets)- it is completely waterproof, windproof, and breathable.

Fall Hiking Base Layer

First off is your base layer! A base layer is meant to keep you warm and dry. I recommend buying a couple of different options for different temperature conditions.

Ideally, a good hiking base layer will quickly wick away any moisture from your body and will release the perspiration– it should be breathable yet warm enough to keep your body temperature at a consistent level.

Two of the best base layer fabrics you will see on the market are made from merino wool and polyester. 

The next base layer I recommend is a long sleeve 150 base layer. This one can be perfect for those days that are a bit on the moodier side or it is late in the Fall and the temperature is starting to drop.

This will keep you warmer than the short sleeve but will still be super breathable for those uphill sections. 

Finally, I recommend a ¼ zip 250 merino wool base layer. If you run cold, are hiking in late Fall, or around sunset, I recommend wearing this guy.

I personally wore this specific one almost every hike in Glacier National Park this Fall. While this won’t be as breathable as the previous options it will keep you much warmer as it is thicker! 

Hiking Pants For Fall

When Fall hits I still like to wear leggings- but this time of year I will opt for something a little bit thicker than my normal lululemon options.

You still want breath-ability and comfort-ability but getting something thicker helps keep you warm! 

You can also find hiking pants made of a soft shell material, this gives you more protection and can be water resistant which is really nice on those rainier days.

If you are looking for pants that can handle intense rain, these water proof and windproof pants are perfect to protect you from the weather. They are great for rainy hikes!

Fall Hiking Mid Layer

Mid layers are one of the main items that help you navigate the weather changes.

Unlike base layers which stay on the entire trip, you can easily remove a mid layer if it becomes too hot to wear. 

When you are actively moving it can be in your backpack, but while sitting still it helps to keep you warm as your temperature cools down. 

The top material to look for in a mid layer is fleece. 

It is amazing at trapping heat and sustaining warmth. Fleece mid layers are also much lighter than wool and even considered warmer. 

If your more of a Patagonia girl (I know we all have our sides) this fleece would be perfect! Plus it comes in tons of different colors and is great for everything from casual day use to an extra layer on the trail.

Looking for a cute statement piece? This half zip fleece is made with fully recycled fleece and is thick enough to keep you warm.

This full fleece jacket is medium weight and perfect for keeping you cozy on a long hike.

This lightweight fleece is perfect for those looking for some extra warmth without the bulk a thicker fleece can bring. Plus its super cute!

Another lightweight fleece made from 100% recycled polyester microfleece. I have one of these and love it!

A form fitting, lightweight jacket made from stretch fleece for mobility and comfort! This fleece is specifically developed for the mountains as it is stretchy, warm and fast drying.

Fall Hiking Outer Layer’s

The Puffy Jacket For Fall

The PUFFY- aka my favorite piece of hiking clothing I own. I love my puffy- I am always so impressed by how warm it instantly makes me and how lightweight it is to bring.

When searching for a puffy you have two options for materials- synthetic or down.

Simply put, down is more expensive, lighter weight, compresses better (it can be smaller in your bag) and has that instant “warm” feeling but once wet it completely loses its heat. 

Synthetic on the other hand is cheaper, heavier, and bulkier- BUT it will still hold its warmth while wet.

Personally, I own both a down jacket and a synthetic jacket. On hikes with a chance of rain, I will wear my synthetic option but when I know I will have a rain jacket, I will need to be extra warm and I’m hiking far I always opt for my down jacket.  

A Rain Jacket For Fall

Hiking in the Fall- especially in the Pacific Northwest, there is always a chance that you will get rained on.

I always have a rain jacket stuffed inside my day pack- in fact, it doesn’t really leave my hiking bag during the Fall season.

Remember, keeping dry is your ticket to staying warm! 

Gore-Tex is the end all be all material for outer shells- it is completely waterproof, windproof, and breathable. It is also going to the most expensive of all of the shells.

You can find cheaper options with different material but they do tend to seep water at a certain point and get really muggy inside since they aren’t as breathable.

Beta LT Jacket

This is the hard shell I use! The Gore-Tex makes it so you are completely waterproof and it is surprisingly light weight. It also features pit zips, and an awesome hood that will fit easily over hats and beanies. I personally think this is the best rain jacket on this list and worth the price!

This rain jacket is awesome because it is super light-weight and easy to stuff in your backpack (it even packs itself into it’s own pocket!) It has micro-fleece at the neck for comfort, venting under the arms and an adjustable drawstring at the waist!

Another great rain jacket, this jacket is made with Gore-tex and has a fully adjustable hood and zippered chest pockets. It is windproof, waterproof and has 2 layers of Gore-tex fabric to keep you nice and dry!

If you are looking for a bit of a cheaper rain jacket, this jacket may just fit the bill. Stylish, windproof and waterproof with an adjustable hood- this is a great jacket for those who don’t want to break the bank.

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Fall Hiking Footwear

In the Fall it becomes essential to have good water-resistant boots and traction. With the trails getting wetter, and icy those Nike tennis shoes won’t be doing you any good. 

Do yourself a favor and invest in a nice pair of hiking boots! Look for ones that are waterproof, have ankle support, good grips, and feel good- you can thank me later.

Fall Hiking Boots

Oboz Bridger Mid B-Dry Hiking Boot Women’s

These are my personal boots of choice! I love Oboz and have had them for years.

I personally think the mid top of the boots gives me great ankle support and has stopped me from rolling my ankle multiple times.

These boots are also super cushy and have a super thick bottom sole that makes it so you never feel any rocks through the bottom of your shoes.

Another thing to note is that these are completely leather and completely waterproofed.

I find that leather shoes seem to dry out faster than their synthetic friends and are more likely to mold to your foot over the years due to the natural give of leather

Salewa Alp Mate Mid WP Hiking Boot

Another of my favorite boots! I only learned about Salewa about a year ago but they have quickly become one of my favorite boot brands.

These specific boots are made of a mix of suede and mesh with a waterproof membrane- this makes the boot super breathable while still protecting you from water.

The thing I like most about these boots is how comfortable they are and how amazing their tread is. Salewa specializes in making boots that will transition easily from the trail to a scree field or boulder field.

They have amazing grip and can handle more intense terrain easily without losing the level of comfort ability most hiking boots have.

The Lowa Renagade

The Lowa Renegade is great for someone with normal to a bit on the wider side of feet.

The leather allows it to form nicely to your feet and the thick and stiff bottom sole allows for you to be protected from any type of terrain.

Fall Hiking Socks

Fall Hiking Accessories

While these aren’t technically apart of your layering system I think it is important to understand that layering happens here as well.

Keeping your extremities warm is essential to keeping your entire body warm. Much of our heat ends up leaving through our hands, feet and head so it is important to have a system to keep them warm. 

There are a few extra essentials that can help you in the Fall. Micro spikes, the right day pack are also important- you can find my favorites below!

I love these gloves! I actually own two pairs of them and they have worked great for everything from daily hiking to rock climbing. With the sensor you can even use your phone with them on!

Extra Hiking In The Fall Tips

• Bring more food than normal as you will burn more calories keeping warm.
• Bring hiking poles to keep you stable if you come across ice or snow
• Bring a bigger day pack for all of your layers.
• Have an extra pair of gloves handy in case one of your pairs gets wet.
• Bring a headlamp and extra batteries
• If your using a water bladder, bring a water bottle just in case the hose freezes.
• Bring hand warmers!
• Bring bear spray if your in an area with bears. Wildlife gets extra active and aggressive in the Fall as they are preparing for hibernation.
• If going far into the mountains, bring a satellite phone to be able to call for help.
• Have your map downloaded– check out All Trails for offline maps!
• Tell someone where you’re going
• Have a first aid kit

What To Wear Hiking In The Fall Conclusion!

Hiking in the Fall is one of those things that is super fun when you are prepared, and not so fun when you are missing that one perfect item.

When you have the right base layer, a perfect mid layer (or layers!) and an outer layer to keep you dry, hiking becomes a much more enjoyable experience.

Fall is such a wonderful time to get out and hike, with these tips you should be ready to take on all different types of landscapes!

Drop me a comment below if you have a favorite piece of clothing you never leave behind- I would love to hear from you!

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