How to Plan A Backpacking Route

When it comes to doing multi-night backcountry hiking trips, there are a lot of things to consider! Type and quantity of gear, potential hazards to prepare for, and the logistics of planning and executing the trip all come into play. But before you worry about which tent to use or the amount of food you’ll need, you need to have a good idea of your route for your trip.

There are many famous, tried-and-true backpacking routes with tons of useful information out there. Sometimes, though, it’s fun or necessary to plan your own route. That’s part of the fun and adventure of backpacking! Here are some things to consider while working on planning a multi-night trip.

• What am I looking for in a trip? Are stunning views from tall heights important to you? Do you want to camp at an alpine lake and catch fish? Are you trying to get away from the crowds or are you looking forward to meeting other campers? Every route is different, and especially on long hikes, you can get a little bit of everything. Researching the area where you want to go to get an idea of popularity, interesting sights like waterfalls or overlooks, and difficulty will help you decide if a trip is right for you.
• How long do I want to make this trip? Depending on your average pace and amount of time you have allotted for the trip, planning around your schedule is one of the first things to consider. Depending on what activities you intend to do on the trip, you may want to spend more time in some areas than others, do side hikes, or have a day off from hiking to relax. Knowing what your pace might be like and being able to realistically estimate your daily mileage is also important so that you are able to stay roughly on schedule with your trip.
• Do I need a shuttle? If this is an out-and-back or loop route, you can return to your vehicle where you left it at the trailhead. If not, you may need to plan for someone to pick you up at your final location and bring you back to your vehicle. Alternatively, you could leave your vehicle at the exit point and have someone drop you off at the beginning of the trail. This gives you some extra flexibility so you don’t have to worry about relying on someone to come and get you if you get a little off schedule.
• What is the land ownership of the area I’ll be hiking? Looking at a map and learning the land designations of the places you’ll be passing through is an important part of responsible trip planning. Each type of land ownership has different regulations when it comes to where you can camp, whether you need a permit or reservation, or even whether you can be there at all. For example, in many national forests, you can partake in dispersed camping at a location of your choice. Contrarily, national parks are often much more strict and require advance permits and reservations for backcountry campsites. Other regulations may include requirement of a bear-proof canister for food storage or areas that are closed for environmental restoration, as a few examples.

• What hazards should I prepare for? If you’re hiking out west during fire season, it’s a good idea to have some form of communication like a radio or satellite phone so that you can remain aware if there are any new or growing wildland fires. Having access to this knowledge can give you essential advance notice if you need to get out of the area. Other hazards to plan for include flash floods, high water in rivers you may need to cross, extreme cold, lack of access to water sources, grizzly bears… the list can be as long as you want. Keep in mind what challenges you could potentially face on the trip and be prepared to overcome them or avoid them altogether.
• How will I acquire drinking water? Just because the map shows lots of little creeks doesn’t mean they’re running! Pay attention to the weather in the area you’ll be traveling through and be prepared with a backup plan for how to get water if your planned creek is dry. Try to plan a route with ample opportunity to refill water bottles or have an alternative plan (i.e., carrying more water) if that isn’t possible.
• How difficult do I want this trip to be? Looking at a topography map can go a long way in trip planning! Without topo lines, a route can appear a lot easier than it actually is. Being prepared for long or steep climbs is an important part of trip planning if you want a heads up about how physically challenging a route might be.

Taking your outdoor adventures to the next level is easy with backpacking, and planning your own route adds even more novelty to the trip! There can be a lot of things to consider when planning a multi-night trip, but with some forethought and preparation it will definitely be worth it.

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