Backpacking

Backpacking info, ideas, and photos

Bishop Pass area, Dusy Basin, Kings Canyon National Park
Photo: Nileguide.com, through a Creative Commons Attribution License

Backpacking is hiking which includes at least one overnight stay in the backcountry. (For backpacking travel, see our section on backpack travel)

Backpackers usually carry a pack on their back containing all of the essentials they will need to camp, sleep, cook, and survive in the wilderness. While some backpackers only do overnights on weekends, other backpackers do through hikes for months at a time. Backpacking is extraordinarily popular in the United States and Canada, with their vast tracts of wilderness land. See our section on trekking for backpacking trips outside of North America.

Backpacking went through a huge boom in the 1970's and 80's, causing some pretty crowded trails. Since the boom years, the number of people backpacking in the U.S. has fallen by about 20% according to recent work by the Outdoor Industry Association. This is actually good news because trails are less crowded and forest management agencies have improved permitting systems for trails in high demand.

While the idea of a big old leather boot with a vibram sole is iconic in the backpacking world, make sure that you really need it. Footwear for backpacking is far more variable than you might imagine, and unless you're carrying 80 lbs. on your back, for a short weekend trip, chances are you would do just fine in a lightweight hiker, a low top approach shoe, or even a sandal.

Don't expect to be completely alone, all the time in the backcountry. Chances are if you're reading it in a guidebook, or here, a lot of people know about it. The extreme example-- At the end of the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, groups of dozens of people actually live communally for months at a time. This surprises a lot of people. If you can't deal with that, be a little creative, find your own secret spot and don't tell anyone. There's far more wilderness out there than you'd think, even in the lower 48.

The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) leads trips with an emphasis building in backpacking skills.

Outward Bound teaches leads skills-focused trips as well.

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides has been highly rated in National Geographic Adventure's annual survey

Wildland Trekking company leads backpacking tours in the Grand Canyon, Utah, Yellowstone, and in Mexico's Copper Canyon

Wrangell Mountain Air Leads Backpacking trips in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Alaskan Alpine Treks

Stelia's Guides - Alaska Backpacking and Hiking Guides

Alaska Alpine Adventures

Alaska Wilderness Trails

Glacier National Park Glacier Guides

A Walk in The Woods, Backpacking Trips in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

The Last Season by Eric Blehm

Trailside Guide: Hiking and Backpacking, New Edition by Karen Berger

Lightweight Backpacking and Camping: A Field Guide to Wilderness Equipment, Technique, and Style by Ryan Jordan

Joy of Backpacking: Your Complete Guide to Attaining Pure Happiness in the Outdoors by Brian Beffort

The Backpacker's Field Manual, Revised and Updated: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills by Rick Curtis

The Backpacker's Handbook by Chris Townsend

Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking by Ray Jardine

The Fastest Hike: Quest For The Pacific Crest Trail Record by Raymond Greenlaw

BackpackingLight - The Community of Lightweight Hiking and Backcountry Travel

Daily Dirt - Backpacker Magazine

The Beginner's Guide to Backpacking

The Wilderness Backpacking Blog

Metzger Family Blog - Sawtooths Backpacking Trip

How to Plan a Backpacking Trip - WikiHow

The Pacific Crest Trail Association

The Continental Divide Trail Alliance

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Ultra-lightweight gear puts bounce in backpackers' stride - CS Monitor

Be Prepared When Backpacking with a Baby - USA Today

The Many Pleasures Of Backpacking