How To Plan a Backpacking Trip: A Beginners Guide
Hi there! If you’re here reading this, I’m guessing you are a day hiker looking to get into overnight backpacking. GREAT! Backpacking is lots of fun, but I know it can be overwhelming figuring out how to get started. In this post, I am going to focus specifically on trip planning. I’m going to try to keep things as simple as possible, while also being comprehensive. Feel free to leave questions in the comment area!
STEP ONE: INSPIRATION
FIND SOMEWHERE AMAZING THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO GO!
If you’re here, I’m guessing you probably have already seen or heard of a really cool place that you’d like to visit. We can find inspiration in so many places: books, maps, Instagram, blogs, nature calendars, YouTube, etc. It is one of the only reasons I even use social media: to inspire others (and myself) to get outside to beautiful places!
However, that doesn’t mean that if your dream excursion is to camp at some remote high alpine lake, you necessarily need to take your first backpacking trip there! If your mind is set on your dream locale, by all means, DO IT. If you’re a little hesitant, or maybe your dream destination is halfway around the world, you might want to find somewhere more accessible to you first.
Think a little bit about what you are looking for in a backpacking trip and what you are (or could be) capable of. Do you want an athletic endeavor, pushing miles and changing campsites every night? Or would you rather hike in a few miles, set up a basecamp, and do day hikes from there for a few days? There is no right way to backpack. Find out what you want, and find something that fits your dreams.
STEP TWO: LOGISTICS & RESEARCH
THIS IS THE HARDEST PART. LET’S WORK THROUGH IT TOGETHER!
This is usually the part that trips everyone up and makes you more anxious about planning a backpacking trip. I still get stuck here when I don’t know much about the area I want to visit! Let’s run through a list of things you need to know and research before you venture out. The below list is meant to be exhaustive, but not necessarily comprehensive.
How do you research these things? Usually typing in [place you want to go] + [what you need to know] into Google helps a lot. Like “Yosemite National Park backpacking permit information”. Also, going to the official website for the land management agency for your hike will usually give you the most official, up-to-date information. Calling the wilderness ranger office or visitor center is also a good option!
PERMITS
What land agency oversees this hike? United States Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, State Parks, Land Conservancy, Private Property are all options & have different permit/ reservation requirements.
Do you need to make advance reservations? Or are there walk-up or self-issue permits? This could be different for the same trail in different seasons.
Do you need to go with a guide? Some locations require you to hire a guide to enter certain wild areas (Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, some Navajo Nation Land in the American Southwest).
What is the cost of permits, if any?
SEASONALITY
When is this area best enjoyed? Many mountain areas are covered in feet of snow in the winter. Some desert locations can be dangerous during flash flood seasons in the summer. Mud season in the northeast closes certain trails in the spring. Hunting season can impact your clothing choices (i.e. wearing something bright orange).
If you already know when you want your trip to be, find a place that works with your travel plans. Sierra Nevada is a no-go in April. Moab, Zion, the Grand Canyon, or Joshua Tree sound much better!
PARKING & DIRECTIONS
Is there a parking fee?
Do you need a special parking permit or pass or gate code to park at the trailhead?
Is parking a challenge? Are gates to parking areas closed in certain seasons?
Are there amenities in the parking lot? Pit toilet, trash cans, bear lockers, etc.
Does Google Maps actually bring you to the correct trailhead?
Is there public transportation to the trailhead?
If you’re planning a point-to-point hike - is there a shuttle service to bring you back to your car?
Is there cell phone service in the parking lot?
Are there other special considerations for parking - like known wildlife issues or car break-ins?
How are road conditions? Do you need a 4WD or a high clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead?
Is camping allowed at the trailhead? Some places have special campsites for backpackers in the front country (like Yosemite National Park).
CAMPING RESTRICTIONS
Are there designated campsites you must stay in?
Can you disperse camp anywhere you want within Leave No Trace guidelines?
Are certain areas closed due to wildlife issues?
What do the campsites look like? Are there shelters on the trail? Maybe platforms? Solid rock? Or just plain ole’ dirt.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Can you have a campfire? You can’t in certain places, like Mt. Rainier National Park, or over a certain stated elevation.
Are certain compact stoves (like wood-burning or alcohol) not allowed? Or is there a complete fire ban and no stoves are allowed at all?
Do you need a campfire permit to operate a stove or have a fire?
What stage of fire restrictions is the area under and what does that mean? - You should always look this up when recreating in the Mountain West, even for day use & front country camping.
LEAVE NO TRACE CONSIDERATIONS & SPECIAL RULES
Do you know the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace?
Do you have to pack out your poop in a WAG bag?
Are there pit toilets or privies you should use instead of digging cat holes?
Should you pee directly on rock due to damaging animal behavior? (Like in Washington’s Enchantments)
Are you required to pack out your used toilet paper?
Do you need a bear canister for food storage?
Are pets allowed on the trail?
Can you fly a drone?
SPECIAL GEAR CONSIDERATIONS
Do you need self-arrest gear like an ice axe?
Would gaiters be helpful?
Should you treat your clothes with permethrin beforehand? (Yes, usually when ticks & mosquitos are bad.)
Are you going to a high altitude and might need a prescription for Diamox?
How much water capacity do I need? / Are water sources flowing?
GROUPS
Can you share gear? Like a tent, water filter, cook set, etc.
Do you have enough cooking fuel for a group if you’re sharing?
Will campsites be conducive to a large group?
Are there group size limits where you’re going?
Are there special camp areas made for large groups? “Group sites” like in Mt. Rainier or Grand Teton National Park.
Is everyone on the same page? LNT, itinerary, comfort zones, bailing, etc.
OK, I know all of that is a ton of information, and I probably didn’t consider every possible logistical question. But, this should give you a decent idea of the things you need to think about when planning a backpacking trip. Some of these things you may already be familiar with if you day hike in an area already! And, many of these questions can be answered by rangers who work for the forest/park/land that you are visiting.
You might not need to have all the answers for these things until you actually commit and get permits for the trip, but you should have a general idea of what you’re getting yourself into and if there are tricky logistical problems that might make you second guess your choice of trip.
STEP THREE: PERMITS
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE HARDEST PART, SOMETIMES.
Yes, I know I mentioned permits above a little bit. BUT, many land management agencies are moving more towards online, advance permit reservations. And some (especially during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic) don’t even have in-person walk-up permits. Everything has to be done ahead of time online. I know that is highly inconvenient for many people, but it also helps encourage you to actually plan trips, which when done thoroughly, will help you be a better land steward and Leave No Trace champion!
Permits are important because it helps with tracking use and preventing overuse of certain areas. Please, always get a permit if a permit is required! Also, if you don’t have a permit, you could get fined and/or escorted out of the wilderness. Even in non-quota areas when you can just get a permit at the trailhead: Fill it out! These are collected and do have an impact on funding for the land/ wilderness area. The more use a place gets, the higher the priority for funding and maintenance will be.
So, do your research ahead of time! If you want to go somewhere highly desirable or popular (Mt. Whitney, Havasupai, Half Dome, the Wave, the Wonderland Trail - just to name a few examples), you should start planning one year in advance. This doesn’t mean permits are available one year out, but you should start your research to see when permits become available, if there are lotteries involved, etc., and mark those important dates in your calendar!
Some places that have advance registration also save some permits for walk-ups for those last-minute planners. So, if you missed the advance date, see if a walk-up permit is available! These usually become available 2 weeks to 1 day ahead of your planned trip, depending on the jurisdiction.
Believe it or not, there are so many places that don’t require an advance permit. In some places you just fill one out at the trailhead. Other hikes don’t need any permit at all! If you do your logistics research correctly, you’ll know what the permit situation is like.
STEP FOUR: MAPS
READING A TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP IS ONE OF THE BEST BACKCOUNTRY SKILLS TO ACQUIRE.
Maps are crucial to safety and comfort in the backcountry. They are part of the Ten Essentials, after all. Seriously, once you learn how to read a topo map and can place yourself on a map, the world will become your oyster! There are a lot of opinions out there about paper vs. digital maps. I’m going to be completely honest: I usually only have 2 different virtual map options with me.
I use the Gaia GPS all on my phone on nearly every single hike. On thru-hiking trips, I will always use FarOut Guides (formerly Guthook) if they make a trail guide for the route. And for most of my hikes, I am also wearing my Garmin Fenix 6 Sapphire watch, which has small-scale topo maps too. I also have a Garmin inReach Mini, which allows you to use topo maps on your phone in the app. I should be clear here too: the maps on my phone are downloaded, so I do not need cellular data to load them. If you do not have maps downloaded before your trip, you won’t be able to access them once you have no cell reception or WiFi.
It would be remiss of me to not mention the usefulness of paper maps. Paper maps are a super important backup and you should carry them. Electronics run out of battery, or you drop them in a creek and they die. Not having to rely on power for something supercritical (like staying found in the backcountry), is ideal.
But I base this blog on honesty, and to be honest, I don’t carry them in places that I know will be well signed. How do I know? From all that research I did earlier. I usually have a contingency plan too, in case my digital maps fail me: I carry a power bank on all trips that are longer than one night, and the power bank is stored in a dry bag buried inside my backpack. Most of my trips are also with another person who is either carrying electronic or paper maps too.
I prefer electronic maps for a few reasons:
I get a wider area on one screen, and it is super easy to zoom in and pan around to see more.
The ability to zoom on the map and scale better allows me to read topo lines on a map much easier to see the relative grade of the terrain around me.
My phone is usually super accessible to me. It’s usually in my shoulder pouch or hip belt pocket, and I probably already have it out to take a picture.
I like using GPS to place my location on the map.
Despite preferring electronic maps, I always bring paper maps in the following scenarios:
When I don’t know the area well.
Battery life is iffy.
Going on cross-country or off-trail hikes.
Compasses:
Compasses are a useful tool to be able to triangulate your location on a map when you are lost. They can also be used to follow a bearing.
Again, I’m going to be honest here. I do not carry a compass. I try to focus on not getting lost in the first place, by using my topo maps to identify the peaks and ridges and valleys around me. Compasses, however, are very useful in terrains like dense forests or flat deserts where there aren’t many terrain features that help with reading a topo map. I’d recommend signing up for an actual outdoor learning class to learn how to use a compass, like the ones offered through REI or NOLS. Here’s a quick video though to give you the basics.
STEP FIVE: GEAR & TESTING
GET YOUR STUFF, AND MAKE SURE IT WORKS!
Gear can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. It seems like there are too many things you need to bring into the backcountry to function and feel safe and warm.
You truly don’t need that much. Minimalism wins out in the backcountry. Remember, you’re backpacking to get away from all the extra fluff in life and connect with nature, right?
I like to use this very basic list from REI.
You can also view some of my specific pack lists from certain backpacking trips here.
If you already have basic gear but are maybe just missing a few items, think about renting! This can be much more cost-effective, and if you have decision paralysis over buying, renting is more risk-free and lets you trial some gear that you might end up wanting to buy! REI has an excellent rental program where you can rent gear by REI, MSR, Big Agnes, and more!
If you have most of your gear, during this step, make sure you have everything and that it is in good working order. Blow up your sleeping pad, inspect the tent, don’t leave the tent stakes behind, make sure everything fits in your pack. How terrible would it be to get out for a few nights and your pad won’t inflate?! Along the same vein, if you bought new gear or are renting or borrowing, make sure you know how to use the item before going into the field! Set up the tent, test the stove. You’ll be happy you did!
You might need specialty gear for certain conditions or locations too, like a bear canister or microspikes. Figure out now if you would want to (or even can) rent or buy.
STEP SIX: FOOD
BACKPACKING IS A GREAT EXCUSE TO EAT YUMMY SNACKS!
Food can also be overwhelming! This is a hard one to give one size fits all advice: so many people out there have different dietary needs and restrictions.
I like to bring dehydrated meals like from Mountain House or Good to Go, especially if the rest of the trip has been very planning-intensive and I just don’t have the energy to also plan meals.
When I am a little more weight conscious or don’t feel like the mass-produced backpacking foodstuff, I turn to Backcountry Foodie for awesome, nutritionally balanced, super light, DIY backpacking meals. Other grocery store finds like ramen, mashed potatoes, couscous, tortillas, and tuna or salami are popular as well.
For beginners, I recommend doing food the easy way to start, aka just boiling water and pouring it into a bag meal. It’s super easy, has no clean-up involved, and makes camp life a little easier to think about for a first backpacking trip. PRO TIP: you can put boiling water into freezer ziplock bags and Stasher reusable bags too.
Figuring out how much you need to pack and eat can be tedious work. You’ll probably want to be eating 2,000 calories per day at least on a backpacking trip. So, you could count the calories of all the snacks and meals you are thinking about and see what fits. Personally, I take a much less scientific approach and just throw in whatever I’m feeling like. For all of my trips, I eat a dedicated dinner. For most of my trips, I also have a dedicated lunch. And for some of my trips, I eat a real breakfast. For those times when I don’t have a “real” breakfast or lunch, I’m usually just snacking on power bars, dried fruit, energy gummy bites, peanut butter packets, and chips.
If you are cooking with a stove, you’ll also need fuel. The 4 oz canisters have enough fuel for a weekend backpacking trip unless you are doing a lot of simmering or boiling a ton of water. If you’re just boiling 4 cups/ day, the 4 oz is fine for a few days.
STEP SEVEN: WEATHER & CONDITIONS CHECK
RAIN OR SHINE?
I like to start preparing for this about 1-2 weeks out depending on where and when I’m going.
If I’m going into the mountains in early summer, I’m pretty much checking weather and trail condition reports daily to see how snow levels and water crossings will be. For most other times of the year, just a normal weather forecast about 4-5 days beforehand is enough preparation and another one the day before I leave.
There are official and unofficial ways to look up this information.
If you’re going to an NPS location, there’s a weather link on the website. There also might be a wilderness conditions webpage where backcountry rangers update trail conditions during the high season. Popular national forest locations may also have these reports as well. I also use weather.gov and mountain-forecast.com for forecasts. These are pretty great because you can give a general forecast region, but then also can pinpoint an area on a (kind of sucky) topo map. This is useful for selecting a higher elevation, which the original forecast might not show.
Facebook groups can be good resources for trail conditions as well, for more colloquial, boots-on-the-ground information. In addition to the weather forecast, you’ll want to know if water sources are flowing, if smoke is in the area, or if snow is on sketchy slopes and passes still. This is where those crowd-sourced conditions groups come in handy.
I don’t advocate using a clear weather forecast to nix important items of gear like a rain fly or rain jacket on any trips to the mountains. Weather can change quickly, and you don’t want to get wet and potentially hypothermic. For myself, the only time a weather forecast changes the gear I’m going to bring is if temperatures are much colder than I originally thought. Then I’ll consider bringing an extra fleece layer or a warmer puffy jacket, and maybe throw some hot chocolate packets in my food bag.
STEP EIGHT: GO!
Enjoy that trip! You deserve it! Take only pictures & memories, leave only footprints. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back, and hit the trail! The backcountry is an amazing place, and there is SO much of it to explore and enjoy!
