The North Shore Rescue team has issued a warning after helping three young unprepared female hikers to safety.

The trio, all in their 20's, phoned for assistance after getting turned around on a trail near Dog Mountain, without flashlights or maps, after dark.

Several search teams were dispatched and the women were located within a few hours.

They were cold, but otherwise in good shape.

"You've just gotta be prepared," said NSR search manager Jeff Yarnold.

"I mean going out at night without lights right now just doesn't make sense. You've gotta make sure you know where you are going, you have a proper plan and you're actually bringing decent equipment."

Yarnold added that despite the women not being prepared, they did the right thing by staying put and called 911 for help when they realized they were in trouble.

The hikers were walked out of the woods early Friday morning.

North Shore Rescue says they’ve dealt with a rash of unprepared hikers in recent days.

Earlier on Thursday crews were activated for two other searches, including one by helicopter for a pair of tourists that got caught in bad weather.

North Shore Rescue says it needs to get the message out that hikers need to be prepared, and it’s getting darker earlier every day.

Crews say hikers should always make a detailed trip plan and leave it with someone who knows when you’re supposed to return, so they can call for help if you can’t.

With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Nafeesa Karim