Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how HikingGuy.com (“HikingGuy.com,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) handles information when you visit https://hikingguy.com (the “Website”).

Effective Date: January 5, 2026

1) Overview

• You can browse the Website without providing personal information.
• We do not use Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, advertising pixels, or similar marketing tracking tools.
• Our hosting and security providers may process technical data (for example, IP address and browser/device details) to deliver and protect the Website.
• The Website contains affiliate links. Affiliate networks and merchants may set cookies or use similar technologies when you click through to their sites.
• If you support us on Patreon, Patreon collects and processes your information under Patreon’s policies. We may receive limited information from Patreon within the Patreon platform to manage supporter benefits.

2) Information We Collect

A) Information You Provide Voluntarily

You are not required to provide personal information to use the Website.

If you contact us by email or via social media, you may provide personal information such as your name, email address, and the content of your message. We use that information only to respond and communicate with you.

B) Information Collected Automatically (Technical Data)

When you visit the Website, technical information may be processed automatically, including:

• IP address
• browser type and settings
• device type
• pages accessed and timestamps
• referring and exit pages
• approximate location derived from IP address

This technical data is typically processed through:

• Cloudways (our hosting provider), which may generate and retain standard server logs for operations, troubleshooting, and security
• Cloudflare (security and performance services), which may process technical data to deliver content, mitigate abuse, and protect the Website

We do not use this technical data to build a personal profile about you, and we do not use it for behavioral advertising.

3) Cookies and Similar Technologies

HikingGuy.com does not intentionally set cookies for behavioral advertising or marketing tracking.

However, third-party services may set cookies or use similar technologies:

• Cloudflare: may set cookies or use similar mechanisms as part of security and performance features (for example, bot detection, rate limiting, or access challenges).
• Embedded content providers: if a page includes embedded content (for example, YouTube videos or CalTopo content), those providers may set cookies or collect data according to their own policies.
• Affiliate networks and merchants: when you click affiliate links, affiliate networks/merchants may set cookies to attribute purchases and commissions.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect how some third-party services function.

4) Affiliate Links

Some pages contain affiliate links to products or services. We participate in affiliate programs including:

• Amazon Associates
• Impact
• AvantLink

When you click an affiliate link, you will be sent to a third-party website (a merchant or affiliate network partner). Those third parties may collect information, set cookies, and track purchases or sessions in order to:

• attribute a referral to HikingGuy.com, and
• calculate or pay affiliate commissions.

We do not control the privacy practices of merchants, affiliate networks, or other third parties.

5) Patreon

If you choose to support HikingGuy.com via Patreon, Patreon collects and processes your information under Patreon’s privacy policy.

We may receive limited information about supporters within the Patreon platform (for example, your name/username, membership status, and messages you send through Patreon) to provide benefits and communicate with supporters. We do not operate our own supporter database from Patreon data outside the Patreon platform.

6) Embedded Content and Third-Party Services

Some pages may embed content or load resources from third-party services, such as:

• YouTube (video embeds)
• CalTopo (maps or map-related content)

When embedded content loads, those providers may collect technical information (including IP address and device/browser information) and may set cookies, depending on their configuration and your browser settings. Their handling of data is governed by their own privacy policies.

7) External Links

The Website contains links to external websites (for example, official park/land management sites, retailers, and other resources). Once you leave HikingGuy.com, you are subject to the privacy policies and practices of those sites. We are not responsible for external websites’ content or privacy practices.

8) How We Use Information

We use information for the following purposes:

• to operate, maintain, and secure the Website
• to deliver content efficiently and prevent abuse (including through hosting/security providers)
• to respond to messages you send us
• to comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms/policies

9) How We Share Information

We do not sell personal information.

We may share information in limited circumstances:

• Service providers: with vendors that help operate and secure the Website (for example, hosting and security providers) to provide services on our behalf.
• Legal and safety: if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of the Website, our users, or others.

When you click affiliate links or interact with embedded content, information may be collected by those third parties under their own policies (not by HikingGuy.com).

10) Data Retention

We retain personal information you provide (such as emails you send us) only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including responding to inquiries, maintaining records as needed, and complying with legal obligations.

Hosting and security providers may retain technical logs under their own retention policies. We do not maintain a personal-profile database based on technical logs.

11) Your Rights and Choices

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

If you have contacted us by email and want us to delete the personal information contained in your message, you may request deletion by emailing us at the address below. We will make reasonable efforts to comply, subject to legal and operational requirements.

Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights regarding your personal information. Nothing in this Policy is intended to limit rights that cannot be waived under applicable law.

12) Children’s Privacy

The Website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

13) International Visitors

The Website is operated in the United States. If you access the Website from outside the United States, your information may be processed in the United States and other jurisdictions where our service providers operate.

14) Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in practices, technology, or legal requirements. The effective date at the top indicates when it was last updated. Continued use of the Website after changes means you accept the updated Policy.

15) Contact

Questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy: [email protected]