New Hampshire officials are encouraging hikers, climbers, backcountry skiers, and anyone who enjoys the outdoors to buy or renew their Hike Safe cards for 2026.
The Hike Safe card exempts holders from certain liability for repaying search and rescue costs if their actions are considered neither negligent nor reckless.
Incidents of hikers being billed because they were unprepared or reckless happen each year in New Hampshire.
In May 2025, New Hampshire Fish and Game officials said a hiker was likely to be billed after he got lost on Garfield Ridge and did not have a map with him.
A month earlier, officials billed two hikers who became “stuck” near the summit of Mount Cardigan. Neither hiker had any injuries, but they reportedly felt unsafe to move because the trail was steep and icy. The two hikers reportedly did not carry microspikes, food, extra clothing, or headlamps. Fish and Game officials said if they had packed those items, they would not have needed assistance.
The 2026 Hike Safe cards cost $25 for an individual, or $35 for a family, and are valid from January 1 to December 31, 2026. The price is the same for both residents and nonresidents.
Cards can be purchased online at www.wildnh.com/safe and at New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, New Hampshire.
Because of the Granite State’s extreme weather and rugged terrain, the Hike Safe card has become popular among outdoor enthusiasts, and revenues raised through their sale go to the department’s Search and Rescue Fund to help defray the cost of training and equipment.
Purchasing a hunting or fishing license also provides the same protection as a Hike Safe card. In addition to Hike Safe card revenues, Fish and Game’s Search and Rescue Fund is supported by a $1 fee collected for each boat, snowmobile, and OHRV registered in New Hampshire.
Before heading into the backcountry, make sure to check out our hiking safety tips here.
