How to Identify Poisonous Plants on a Hike

Learn to spot dangerous plants like poison ivy, oak, and sumac to keep your family safe on hiking adventures.

1. Learn the Big Three: Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac. These three plants cause the most problems for hikers. Poison ivy has three shiny leaflets and grows as a vine or shrub. Remember 'leaves of three, let it be.' Poison oak also has three leaflets but looks more like an oak leaf with rounded edges. Poison sumac has 7-13 leaflets arranged in pairs along a red stem, plus one at the top. All three contain oils that cause itchy, painful rashes. The leaves can be green, red, or yellow depending on the season.
2. Spot Dangerous Berries and Mushrooms. Teach kids never to eat any wild berries or mushrooms, even if they look familiar. Bittersweet has bright red berries that look appealing but are toxic. Pokeweed has dark purple berries in grape-like clusters. Wild mushrooms can be deadly - there's no safe way for non-experts to tell edible from poisonous varieties. When in doubt, assume any unknown plant part is dangerous to eat.
3. Recognize Other Common Hazards. Stinging nettle has heart-shaped, serrated leaves and causes immediate burning and stinging when touched. Wild parsnip looks like a large carrot plant with white umbrella-shaped flowers, but its sap causes severe burns in sunlight. Giant hogweed is similar but much larger, reaching 8-14 feet tall. Both have hollow, ridged stems. These plants can cause blistering that looks like a burn.
4. Use the Look-Don't-Touch Rule. Teach everyone in your family to observe plants without touching them. Point out interesting plants from a safe distance. If you need to move plants aside on the trail, use a stick rather than your hands. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes when hiking in areas with dense vegetation. Stay on marked trails when possible to avoid brushing against unknown plants.
5. What to Do If Someone Touches a Poisonous Plant. If someone touches a suspected poisonous plant, rinse the area immediately with cool water if available. Remove any contaminated clothing carefully and wash it separately. Don't rub or scratch the area. Clean under fingernails to remove plant oils. Wash the area with soap and water as soon as you get home. Monitor for signs of reaction like redness, swelling, or blistering.