When I set out on my first ever solo trip, I never intended it to be a thing. I desperately needed a break from work and my crumbling marriage so I planned a trip. Hiking had been a fun, stress-free activity for me and I wanted to go to more National Parks since I had only been to Rocky Mountain National Park up until then. I saw that Women Who Explore was hosting a trip to hike Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park, which looked breathtaking, so I signed up and decided to plan my trip around that.
My budget was small and since I was using airline points for my flight, my biggest expenses would be the rental car and lodging. To keep costs low, I looked at National Parks that were less than 6 hours away from Zion. I considered packing in all the Utah parks into one trip, but really wanted to see the Grand Canyon. The plan become: visit Zion first with the Women Who Explore group, then spend the rest of the trip solo driving to Grand Canyon National Park, then back to Utah for Bryce Canyon National Park. Yes, it was silly to leave Utah and then go back again a few days later, but the lodging options were cheaper that way, plus I didn’t mind the windshield time.
With the trip in November, I used the summer and fall to take hiking and camping best practices classes offered by REI, I hiked on the weekends to break in my hiking boots, and I already had my first aid certification. Since I wasn’t doing any extreme hiking distances or altitudes, I felt reasonably prepared to complete the trails I wanted to hike. Doing the trip mostly solo was a combination of proving to myself that I could do it on my own and to reconnect with myself because I was desperately aching for time and space to breathe and think.
I didn’t consider that my trip could be dangerous or that I could be unprepared for what might happen. But a couple weeks before my trip when I started sharing my plans with friends and co-workers, they gave me looks of shock. I got a ton of questions like “Why?” or “Aren’t you scared?”, then they demanded I share my itinerary. I’ve noticed that people who love you and care about your safety don’t always understand why you want to solo travel. Honestly, I had a difficult time articulating my why at the time, but don’t let that stop you! Plus, giving people my itinerary was something I should have thought of. ALWAYS have someone know where you, especially when you’re solo traveling.
It didn’t hit me until I got to the airport that I was actually going on the trip and that I would finally get time to do what I want, at my pace, and simply enjoy where the week takes me. I started crying. Not because I was scared but because a tiny weight was lifted from shoulders and I could breathe again.
It was a small reminder that I was going to be okay on my own.
I love how my trip turned out. Starting the week with the Women Who Explore was energizing. The group was very supportive of one another and it was lovely to share the experience of hiking to the top of Angel’s Landing with a group of like-minded women. They gave me trail suggestions and recommended places to visit on my way down to the Grand Canyon, like Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon, which I was able to work into my trip because it was just me! How freeing!
Then I was on my way with a lot more confidence then I had just two days before. I ate my meals alone and got more confident as the week went on asking for a table for one. I sang at the top of my lungs in the car. I got blisters so bad on my heels that they bled through my socks and I could barely walk the rest of the day. I spoke with kind strangers who took my picture or recommended a good restaurant for dinner. I woke up early for a sunrise (a true feat for me) so colorful and peaceful I felt moved me to tears. I got a private horseback tour at Bryce Canyon because no one else signed up for that ride. I saw sunsets that filled me with hope and wonder. I felt like myself for the first time in months.
If you’re considering taking a solo trip, whether its your first time or its been a long time, my advice is: DO IT. It doesn’t have to be a big trip. You can leave the state or just start with leaving your home for a few hours or even one night. Go stay in a hotel with a pool you’ve always wanted to swim in, or go camping and fall asleep under the stars. It doesn’t have to be a thing and you don’t have to post about it on social media if you don’t want to.
My first solo trip wasn’t just about hiking or checking off National Parks from my bucket list. It was about reminding myself that I could breathe, choose for myself, and be okay. Every solo adventure since has carried a piece of that same freedom and reconnection with it. I hope you make time for yourself and find a little wonder in your life again.
And if you’re waiting for a sign to take your first step into solo travel, maybe this is it.