Hickson grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. During her childhood, family trips to Banff National Park, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone National Park exposed her to the natural world, including to geysers and volcanoes. As a student in 1980, Hickson was camping 14 km east of Mount St. Helens when the volcano erupted; she credited this event with changing the course of her career. She completed her undergraduate degree in 1982 and her PhD in 1987, both at the University of British Columbia. She undertook PhD-related field work in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia.