SOBO (southbound hiker)
Overview
SOBO, short for southbound, describes a hiker traveling from a northern starting point toward a southern terminus on a linear long-distance trail.
Key points
- Indicates direction of travel rather than speed or style.
- Often associated with specific start windows and seasonal patterns.
- Provides a different sequence of landscapes compared with northbound travel.
- May encounter different social and crowding patterns than NoBo groups.
- Used widely in long-trail communities as shorthand for direction.
Details
On trails with distinct northern and southern endpoints, SOBO hikers begin near the northern terminus and head south. This direction can offer advantages or challenges depending on climate, terrain, and typical weather patterns.
In some regions, starting in the north later in the season allows high-elevation snow to melt before heading into lower, warmer sections. In others, it may mean encountering cooler or shorter days earlier. Timing decisions are often tied closely to snowpack, heat, and the opening or closing of certain trail sections.
From a social perspective, southbound hikers sometimes travel in smaller groups compared with large northbound starting waves, though experiences vary year by year. The SOBO label is mostly descriptive, helping others quickly understand general trip direction and approximate seasonal phase on a shared route.
Related topics
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Illustrative hiking footage
The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.