The Ultimate Backpacking Guide for Beginners

The Ultimate Backpacking Guide for Beginners

Written by Gabby Robles
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Published on November 23, 2021

There’s nothing like spending time in the backcountry. Whether it’s the breathtaking natural beauty or the idea of disconnecting, backpacking and backcountry camping can be one of the most freeing outdoor hobbies. It’s one of the most rewarding outdoor activities but, for many, it’s also one of the most overwhelming. Whether it’s knowing the right gear to purchase, understanding how to safely and responsibly camp, or even figuring out where to go, there are a lot of questions that need answering. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate backpacking guide for beginners to walk you through everything you need to get started. We even have an easy-to-follow packing checklist at the end of the article, so you make sure to bring everything you need.

Here are the topics in this backpacking guide for beginners:

  1. Essential backpacking gear 
  2. What to wear
  3. Toiletries
  4. Food and nutrition
  5. Hydration 
  6. Where to go
  7. Trail navigation
  8. Safety tips
  9. Leave No Trace Principles

Lay out your gear, start pitching your tent, and fire up the Jet Boil. It’s time to unpack the topic of backpacking and back country camping. 

Photo by Nathan Lee Allen

Essential backpacking gear

Depending on the location, climate, and season, your essential camping gear can fluctuate throughout the year. Backpacking gear can also fluctuate due to weight, with some items left behind to minimize pack size.

However, there are items that are essential to every backcountry camping kit during the primary three seasons of spring, summer, and fall. It’s important to pack every item listed for the best overall experience possible. 

Here are the essentials:

What to wear

When it comes to what to wear, it’s important to wear clothing that keeps you warm, dry, and comfortable, but are also durable enough to handle outdoor adventures. 

You also want to be sure to stay away from cotton clothing. Cotton is heavy, fast-absorbing, and slow to dry. That means when you sweat in cotton or get it wet, not only can you not wick that moisture away quickly, but it also loses all of its insulating properties. If you’re backpacking in an area with colder temperatures, this can be a serious issue — leading to discomfort, chafing, sickness, and even hypothermia.

Here is the list of what to wear: 

Photo by Nathan Lee Allen

Toiletries

While you do want to take care of yourself, you also want to leave the majority of your products at home to minimize bulk. So, only bring the essentials. 

Here are some examples: 

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Wet wipes 
  • Toilet paper
  • Bug spray
  • Plastic zip-lock bags or small trash bags for trash
  • Sunscreen (mineral-based, in case you are around a lake or river and want to enjoy the water without contaminating it)
  • Camp soap for showers or baths (free of toxic chemicals that could harm water sources) 
  • Chapstick with SPF protection

If you need to go to the bathroom, always go 100 feet away from a water source. Dig a hole six inches deep or greater with your trowel, and once you’re finished, cover up the hole. Pack out all toilet paper or wipes you use. 

Don’t be that person that leaves their bathroom trash or doesn’t go to the bathroom properly. Be responsible and pack out what you pack in. 

Food and Nutrition

Regardless of the length of your camping trip, it’s always important to bring more than enough food. Aim for 2-3 camping meals a day. Freeze-dried or dehydrated food is best. Bring plenty of snacks that are packed with protein, carbs, and healthy fats. Your body is going to burn a lot of calories, so you need to feed it well. Backpacking meals aren’t heavy and are actually quite compactable.

Another important tool to always remember — in relation to your food — is your camping stove or cooker. A simple cooker like Jetboil or MSR will do the trick and provide a fantastic cooking option that is efficient, portable, and reliable. Since most backpacking meals require only boiling water, you won’t need to bring any excess food items that weigh your pack down. 

Here are the essentials for cooking in the backcountry: 

Hydration

There are a lot of important topics in this guide, but hydration might be the most important. Simply put, if you don’t properly hydrate before, during, and after your backcountry camping trip, you’ll be in for a really difficult experience. You also need electrolyte tablets or chews that help retain all of that water, so you won’t just sweat it out. 

It’s recommended to drink 1-2 liters of water before, 2-3 liters during, and 1 liter after, depending on your trip difficulty and length. 

Here are some essential hydration pieces you need in your camping kit: 

A self-filtering water bottle, like a Grayl bottle, or even a reservoir filtration system, like the Platypus GravityWorks 4.0L Water Filter, provides even greater filtration opportunities. 

Not only does it allow for you to have clean water anywhere there is a good water source, but it also allows for you to pack in less weight.

Photo by Nathan Lee Allen

Where to go backpacking

When it comes to the United States, there are endless places to explore in almost every state. But there are a few that are truly exceptional, with multiple options for any experience level. 

Here are some amazing camping destinations, from east to west: 

  1. Acadia National Park, Maine
  2. Baxter State Park, Maine  
  3. White Mountains National Forest, New Hampshire
  4. The High Peaks Wilderness, Adirondack Mountains, New York 
  5. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia 
  6. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina
  7. Linville Gorge Wilderness, North Carolina 
  8. Red River Gorge, Kentucky 
  9. Big Bend National Park, Texas
  10. Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
  11. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
  12. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
  13. Gunnison National Forest, Colorado
  14. San Juan National Forest, Colorado
  15. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
  16. Wind River Range, Wyoming
  17. Glacier National Park, Montana
  18. Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho
  19. Canyonlands National Park, Utah,
  20. Grand Staircase of the Escalante, Utah
  21. Sedona, Arizona
  22. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
  23. Great Basin National Park, Nevada
  24. Lake Tahoe, Nevada/California
  25. Yosemite National Park, California
  26. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California  
  27. Joshua Tree National Park, California 
  28. Redwoods National and State Parks, California
  29. Three Sisters Wilderness, Oregon
  30. Willamette National Forest, Oregon
  31. Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon
  32. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon/Washington
  33. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
  34. Olympic National Park and Forest, Washington
  35. Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington 
  36. North Cascades National Park, Washington
  37. Denali National Park, Alaska
  38. The Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska
  39. Kōkeʻe State Park and Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Kauai, Hawaii
  40. Haleakalā National Park, Maui, Hawaii

Trail navigation

Most backpacking trails are very straightforward and easy to navigate. Although, if you go on a hike that requires a little more route-finding, here are five things you do to navigate with confidence. 

  1. Do as much research beforehand. Resources like Alltrails and BackcountryX provide tons of information, on-trail tracking, and the latest trip reports. It’s important to understand everything you need to know about a more complex trail before going. 
  1. Save trail content for when you hike. If there are photos or videos that provide a visual representation of the trail and tricky parts you may run into, download, and save those to have them readily available.
  1. Download and track yourself on the official trail maps. With apps like Alltrails and BackcountryX, you have the ability to track your whereabouts and progress on official trail maps, even offline. This really helps, especially if route finding is particularly difficult on a trail you’re planning to hike. 
  1. Follow on-trail markers when backpacking. Typically, trails that have confusing sections also have markers you can look out for. These could be ribbons, painted marks on trees or stones, or cairn stacks, which are basically stacked rocks to mark a part of the trail. The signs are usually there — you just have to look for them and keep your eyes peeled. 
  1. Ask for help. Finally, when in doubt, ask for help! If you or your group feels lost, simply ask a fellow hiker for directions or ask to accompany them on that part of the trail, until you get more comfortable. Not only is this smart, but you can make new backpacking friends along the way. It’s a win-win. 

Safety tips

Now, it’s time to talk about safety. While backpacking might be one of the most enjoyable outdoor experiences, you’re still in the wild. Outdoor places can turn dangerous fast if you aren’t prepared. 

Here are ten simple tips to keep you safe: 

  1. Consult with a professional or park ranger before beginning your trip. You might do all the research in the world, but asking a professional or park ranger about current conditions and trail information is something you should always do, especially if you aren’t familiar with the area. Calling or asking in-person can also make you aware of day-of closures, concerns, or dangers like weather and wildlife. If you’re not sure, just ask.
  1. Know and share where you’re going. It’s incredibly important to always know everything there needs to know about the trail or destination you are backpacking to. It’s even more important to share that information with your friends and family, so they know exactly where you’ll be in case of emergencies.
  1. Be ready for emergencies. Always be ready for when things go south. Whether it’s an unexpected injury or sudden change in weather, know what to do in those situations and always have a plan. One of the most important pieces of gear for emergencies is a GPS locator and satellite communicator. Not only do these devices allow for texting and calls by satellite, but they allow for emergency calls that send your location to authorities. It’s one of the most important devices you can carry on a camping trip and should be with you at all times. 
  1. Go with a group. Solo backpacking can be really enjoyable if you are comfortable and familiar with the area. However, for most people, a rule of thumb is to always go with at least 2-3 people. Not only does this make backpacking safer for everyone, but it gives peace of mind knowing if you get injured or lost, people would be there to help.
  1. Be prepared for changing weather. Another rule of thumb is to always prepare and be on the lookout for changing weather that could turn dangerous fast. Whether you’re in the mountains or high desert during monsoon season, storms can form in a matter of minutes. It’s important to pack what you need and always be watching for systems rolling in so you don’t get stuck above tree line, in a slot canyon, or other dangerous situations when backpacking. 
  1. Give wildlife their space.  No matter where you backpack or camp, you’ll most likely run into wildlife — big or small. While it may be tempting to get close or feed these animals, it’s important to respect their space and not feed them anything.
  1. Be bear aware. One of the most frequently seen and dangerous animals while backpacking are bears. In the lower 48 states, black, brown, and grizzly bears are most common. While most are equally as afraid of us as we are of them, it’s best to always be bear aware and bring the right gear. If backpacking in bear country, you will need a bear canister for food and scented items like deodorant and toothpaste, a bear bell for your backpack, to alert bears of your presence from far away, bear spray that is within reach in case you need to use it fast, and a knife or weapon to protect yourself. Finally, always place your food canister or any scented items 50-100 yards away from your campsite to eliminate the chance of a curious bear stumbling into your tent at night searching for food. 
  1. Bring the right essentials for the season and elements. It’s important to always bring the right essentials for the season you backpack. Whether it’s bug spray, sunscreen, or hand warmers, the smallest essentials can make the biggest difference and make for a much safer, enjoyable trip. 
  1. Leave enough in the tank for the journey out. If you aren’t used to backpacking, it can be really easy to use all your energy on the journey in, leaving very little for the journey out. This can lead to more injuries, trips, and falls, which can be very dangerous. Be sure to give your body plenty of adequate rest in between trips and start training to improve your endurance so you can start and finish with the same amount of strength. 
  1. Don’t be ashamed to turn around. Last but not least, don’t be ashamed to turn around and go back. Whether you’re concerned about the weather, safety, or health, no backpacking trip is worth a life-threatening situation. If you feel in your gut that you should turn around, do it. It might just save your life. 
Photo by Nathan Lee Allen

Practice “Leave No Trace” Principles

Finally, let’s end with one of the most important topics that covers every activity in the outdoors. It’s called “Leave No Trace.” This slogan is centered around being responsible in the outdoors, and doing everything we can to preserve the beauty and tranquility of our natural planet. There are seven easy principles to know and remember to help you enjoy the outdoors responsibly. 

The Seven “Leave No Trace” Principles: 

  1. Plan ahead and prepare
  2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces (or 100 feet from a water source)
  3. Dispose of waste properly (pack in, pack out everything)
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts and never start a fire during an active fire ban
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Again, all these are simple. If abided by, they makes everyone’s outdoor experience so much better. If we care about experiencing the outdoors, we should care about protecting and conserving it for generations to come. So, when we go backpacking, let’s leave it better than we found it. 

Checklist of all backpacking essentials:

Article and some photos by Nathan Lee Allen

Nathan Lee Allen is a storyteller and photographer from Kentucky. Check out his work on his website nathanleeallen.com, on Facebook.com/peaktopierglobalstudio, and Instagram @nathanleeallen. 

Gabby Robles

Gabby Robles