Backpacking for Beginners
What you need to know before going on your first overnight backpacking trip
The author’s backcountry backpacking campsite in the mountains of Idaho.
We share backpacking tips and advice for going on your first overnight backpacking trip, including a food and gear checklist and how to finding a trail and backcountry campsite.
Walking in the woods and backcountry camping under the stars can be a magical and unforgettable experience. You're completely distanced from civilization, social networks, work, and obligations.
Backpacking can also be a total failure. It's a matter of preparation and expectations.
Below we explain the necessary steps and backpacking tips for making an unforgettable first hiking trip that includes camping for one to several nights.
En español: El senderismo por varios días...con campamento por el bosque
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A beautiful sunset from a campsite in Big Bend National Park, Texas.
Backpacking for beginners: What to do before you start
Before going on your first backpacking trip, you must develop your skills as a hiker. You’ll want to have completed day hikes and experienced car camping in a state park, on the beach, or even in your backyard. You should be comfortable hiking with some elevation gain. We have guides for hiking and camping, so be sure to read those and have a few trips under your belt before undertaking a backpacking trip.
One thing to keep in mind is that when someone goes camping in the woods without proper preparation, it can put the lives of search and rescue teams at risk. It is irresponsible to go on a camping or backpacking trip without the proper planning and practice.
Luckily, it's easy to get some experience before you go. If you have not read Hiking for Beginners and How to Get Started Camping, we suggest you read them and develop your skills before planning an overnight backpacking trip.
To get started as a beginner backpacker, we'll cover how to select the right trail and backcountry campsite for your trip. Then we'll discuss the necessary gear, food and meal preparation, personal safety, mental preparation, and a few final safety steps.
View from the author’s tent in American Basin, Colorado. Her trekking pole is holding up her tent as a tent pole, so you see it in the foreground as well as guylines for the tent.
How to choose where to take your first backpacking trip
Choose a familiar place
The first tip for a successful trip backpacking as a beginner is to go to a place you know well or a place that a friend who is going with you knows well.
While many people choose grand destinations like the Grand Canyon, Shenandoah National Park, or Yosemite National Park as their first backpacking trips, a safer option is to choose a local destination that you are very familiar with as your first trip.
Find a well-traveled place
While we recommend a familiar place as your first backpacking trip, depending on where you live, this may not always be easy or possible. If you choose to have your first backpacking trip to be in a national park, find a well-known trail with more established campsites and rangers who can help you.
Who to go backpacking with
We recommend going with at least one other person for your first backpacking trip. As you learn backpacking skills by going with others, you can then tackle a solo backpacking trip.
How far should I hike to my backcountry campsite?
You don't have to hike very far to your campsite for your first trip. In fact, some people opt to backpack to "walk-in" campgrounds that are 1/4 mile from their car as their first backpacking trip. Some backpacking areas require you to camp a certain number of miles from the trailhead, but many do not. Check local rules and find a place that will let you camp not too far from your car.
What kind of trail should I choose for backpacking?
Since backpacking requires you to carry all the camping gear you need, it's easier to choose a gentler hiking trail with less elevation gain.
It is critical to know the trail distances to and from the camping location and any bail-out options in case of an emergency.
Many first-time backpackers learn the hard way how difficult it is to choose the hike from Yosemite Valley to Half Dome as their first overnight trip. This hike has over 4,000 feet of elevation gain. A better alternative for a first backpacking trip may be a gentler trail with less elevation gain in Yosemite National Park, such as the Tuolumne Meadows region. An even better choice is a gentler local trail that you are familiar with close to home. Then, as you become more familiar with backpacking, the hike to Half Dome will be much easier and more enjoyable.
Choose a hiking trail with cell reception and/or a backcountry campsite with a BACKCOUNTRY ranger
Choose a hiking trail that will have cell phone service and where the campsites are relatively close to the trailhead; this way, if something happens, you can return to your vehicle without too much difficulty.
Similarly, some popular backcountry campsites, such as those in national parks, may have a backcountry ranger. These campsites are good options for first-time backpackers as the rangers are there to help you and answer your questions.
Check regulations and rules and get any necessary permits
Finally, be sure the chosen area allows overnight camping when you plan to go. Call the local ranger to make sure you have the necessary permits and learn of trail conditions.
Related: Where to Go Backpacking
The author’s tent in the Blue Lakes Basin in Colorado.
How to choose your campsite on a backpacking trip
Unlike car camping campgrounds, many backcountry campsites do not have numbers indicating areas where you can camp. Instead, you'll have to find a good place for yourself.
Alternately, some more developed backcountry sites, like those in the Grand Canyon National Park, may have designated camping areas and even a ranger or campsite manager to guide you to the numbered campsite on your reservation. Before you go, check to see what kind of backcountry campsite your destination has.
Finding a Backcountry Campsite
Many maps or apps will mark known camping areas along popular trails. These areas tend to have larger, flat areas where multiple people can fit tents. Many first-time backpackers prefer a camping area that has access to water. To follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics, be sure to select a tent site that is at least 200 feet away from water to give wildlife a wide berth to drink there.
Once you reach your destination camping area, choose a backcountry campsite that is more or less flat. If you have the option of choosing your site, you'll want your site to have trees to protect it from the sun and the weather. For your safety, check that there are no dead trees or branches above your campsite.
Be sure there is not a lot of garbage or abandoned food near your campsite because it may attract animals. If there is garbage or food, you can clean the site using gloves and a garbage bag or choose another site.
Cleaning your campsite
Prune the place where you will set up the tent, removing sticks, pebbles, pine cones, and other things that can damage the floor of the tent and the inflatable mattress. However, be careful to not remove any live vegetation or dig trenches. If the site you found will need a lot of work, choose another site.
Spread out the groundsheet and get on all fours, checking the entire groundsheet (also called a tent footprint) to ensure there is nothing sharp underneath it.
Setting up the tent
Try practicing setting up your tent in your yard or park before going on your first camping trip. After you're very familiar with setting up your tent on car camping trips, it should be easy to set up while backpacking.
After you set up the tent, when putting in the stakes, make sure you have a taught pitch; there should be no sags or wrinkles on any surface of the tent. Buckling and wrinkling can let in water in a deluge. While wind or rain can be inconvenient on a car camping trip, it can be more dangerous on a backpacking trip because it can be more difficult to extract yourself to stay warm.
Set up your sleeping bag and sleeping pad
Now that the tent is set up, it's time to make your "nest" inside. Check the floor one more time to make sure there's nothing sharp before you put the sleeping pad, foam mattress, or air mattress down. Spread the sleeping bag on top of your mattress and inflate your pillow if you brought one.
Finding a good campsite is one of those backpacking skills that takes time and experience to learn. Get to your campsite early with lots of daylight left, so you have plenty of time to scout out the area to find a good campsite.
A campsite in the Sierra mountain range in California with Liz “Snorkel” Thomas, a friend of the author.
Assembling your Backpacking Gear
A backpacking trip requires a combination of day hiking and camping gear. Here is a list of backpacking gear that we recommend you bring. As with other outdoor gear, we recommend renting or borrowing from a friend before making a large purchase. That way, you can get a better idea of what you like and don't like in a particular gear item.
Compared to hiking or camping, backpacking trips require you to carry everything you need. As a result, many backpackers are weight-conscious when choosing what to pack. Ultralight backpacking is the practice of trying to carry the lightest gear possible and only the essentials. The more you backpack, the more you will understand what is essential for you and how much weight you want to carry on the trail.
A backpacking gear spread including sleeping bag, tent, trekking poles, clothes, sun protection, and accessories.
Backpacking Essentials Gear Checklist
Backpack
You will need a backpack (between 40 and 60 liters capacity) for all of your gear. See our Best Backpacking Backpacks guide for recommendations.
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bag, warm clothing layers (including hat and gloves), and a sleeping pad. See our Best Sleeping bags guide and Best Camping bags guide for recommendations.
Tent, tent poles, tent stakes, and groundsheet
See our Best Backpacking Tents guide or the lighter-weight options in our Best Camping Tents guide for recommendations.
Food
Bring what you would bring for a long day hike as well as something for dinner and some additional snacks like trail mix.
First aid kit
We delve into what we carry in our first aid kit, as well as other small essentials like blister care, in our guide to Essential Backpacking Accessories.
Headlamp
You'll need a light to see around camp after dark, especially if you will need to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. See our Best Headlamps guide for recommendations.
Personal locator device or Sattelite Messenger
This is an emergency device that allows you to activate an SOS button to get in touch with Search and Rescue teams. Two models we like are the InReach and SPOT). See our Best Personal Locator Beacon and Sattelite Messenger guide for recommendations.
Water and additional water carrying capacity
Collapsable bottles and bladders like the Platypus are easy to pack and make sure you have enough water for the trip.
Water treatment kit
Never drink untreated water from lakes or streams! See our Best Water Filters and Purifiers for Backpacking guide for recommendations.
Trekking poles (Optional)
Many backpackers find that trekking poles help with stability when hiking with a heavy backpacking backpack. If you think this is something that would benefit you, our Best Trekking Poles guide has recommendations.
Clothing
Bring warm clothing layers (including hat and gloves). You likely will want to include a puffy jacket or fleece jacket, rain jacket, and sleeping clothes. We get into clothing more in the How to Dress for Yosemite guide. Even if you aren't going to Yosemite, it has a packing list that is helpful for first-time backpackers.
A friend of Felicia Hermosillo chose to pack a sandwich instead of a stove. North Maroon Peak, Maroon Bells Wilderness.
Should I bring a backpacking stove?
Some backpackers use backpacking stoves, and some don't. We think packing simple meals is significantly easier for your first backpacking trip! We prefer something less complicated to eat like a sandwich, cheeses and dried meats, cold pizza, etc.
Also, some forests do not allow stoves when there is a high wildfire danger level and many forests never allow campfires. In these cases, it is best not to bring a stove. If you choose to go without a stove, opt to take your first backpacking trip on a warm, summer day.
If you want to use a stove, we recommend that you have cooked several times with the stove and the specific food before going out into the forest; that is to say, cook with the same stove in the backyard at home or car camping several times before doing it in the forest. See our Best Backpacking Stoves guide and Best Backpacking Cookware guide for recommendations.
![Felicia Hermosillo on the summit of Mt. Shavano 14,229 [4337m] with her InReach emergency device clipped to her shoulder strap with a strong carabiner.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b4544e485ede17941bc95fc/82acc2d0-774e-4555-b62a-2c4ccf2eb6a8/felicia-hermosillo-Mt-Shavano.jpg)
Felicia Hermosillo on the summit of Mt. Shavano 14,229 [4337m] with her InReach emergency device clipped to her shoulder strap with a strong carabiner.
What to do in case of emergency
Even with the best preparation, anything can happen.
It is essential to have a plan for the unexpected.
Consider a rescue device, sometimes called a Personal Locator Device or Satelite Messenger (this article evaluates several devices).
Two models we like are the InReach and SPOT). See our Best Personal Locator Beacon and Sattelite Messenger guide for recommendations.
It is essential to know how to use it, activate it, make test messages, and notify all programmed contacts what to do if they receive an emergency message.
Anyone who accompanies you should also know how to turn on and use the device.
I always carry mine hanging from the shoulder strap for better access.
The Milky Way viewed from a campsite by Lake Zapata. Photo by Steven Shattuck.
What to do about fear while backpacking
Yes, fear. You have all the experience, equipment, and knowledge, but it can still be uncomfortable and even scary to sleep in the woods, away from civilization.
Here are some strategies and backpacking tips to overcome fear:
CHOOSE A CAMPSITE NOT FAR FROM THE VEHICLE
Knowing that you can get out of the woods quickly can put you at ease
GO WITH A PARTNER
Having someone to share fears with can help overcome them
TRY TO ASSOCIATE THE NEW AND STRANGE SOUNDS OF THE NIGHT WITH SOMETHING FAMILIAR.
For example, you might liken crackling leaves to the sounds of a campfire (this is a tip from www.herodyssey.com ).
LIGHT CAN BE COMFORTING
Check your headlamps and lanterns to make sure they have lots of batteries before you go.
USE YOUR HEADPHONES
Listen to something relaxing when it gets dark
PRACTICE A MANTRA BEFORE GOING OUT
Use it in the forest (for example, something like "I'm safe, I'm prepared, I'm content").
The author backpacking among wildflowers in Idaho.
What to do before heading out
Now that you are ready, it is vital to ensure that in addition to the necessary equipment, you have completed all the steps to be completely prepared:
Discuss the plan with hiking partners.
Leave a detailed plan with a family member/friend. It should have the names of your trail, the direction of travel, where you plan to camp, park, and when you plan to return. It should also have the names and emergency contact of all your hiking partners.
Check the rules and restrictions of the area where you want to visit
Review the principles of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics
Purchase paper maps and download digital maps and written trail descriptions to your phone if you use an app for navigation
Check the weather forecast to anticipate the weather, including rain, low and high temperatures, and wind. It is a good idea to do this first overnight backpacking trip in good weather as many things can become complicated in bad weather.
The author checks a map while backpacking in the Idaho mountains.
How to embrace the learning process
Remember that knowing how to navigate and be comfortable is a learning process. You have to learn what works for you with gear, distance, landscapes, partners, food, and much more.
It's also a matter of being flexible with expectations. If you don't feel comfortable at first, don't give up!
When things aren't going as you had planned, think about what you can change for a better experience next time. That may mean changing or bringing more or different equipment. It may mean setting different expectations. Or it simply may be backpacking on short trips for multiple times until it feels natural.
The first few times I went hiking and backcountry camping, I felt uncomfortable and miserable. But now, nothing in the world gives me more peace, tranquility, and happiness than hiking in the mountains for several days and sleeping under the stars. It makes me feel alive.
Felicia Hermosillo is a hiker and backpacker who is passionate about getting more people outdoors safely.
Why you should trust us
Felicia Hermosillo is a hiker, adventurer, and co-host of The Trail Show podcast. She has thru-hiked the Triple Crown--the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail. She also thru-hiked the Colorado Trail with her dog, Gimpy. She has thru-hiked the Te Araroa in New Zealand, the Idaho Centennial Trail, as well as many off-trail high routes and all the Colorado 14ers.
She's a trail maintainer on the Colorado Trail and loves to encourage others to give back to the trails. She's passionate about getting more people outside safely and of lowering barriers to entry into the outdoors. She's a former board member of the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West. You can read her beginner guides to hiking, camping, and backpacking in English or in Spanish.
