I’ve been backpacking in BC for 20 years (and I even wrote two books about it), but I still remember what it was like to be a beginner backpacker. I’ve also taken countless friends backpacking for the first time, so I know what kinds of BC backpacking trips are best for beginners.

In this guide, I recommend 25 easy backpacking trips spread across BC with trips near Vancouver, on the Sunshine Coast, on Vancouver, and in Eastern British Columbia including the Rocky Mountains.

The easy backpacking trips in this guide are completely beginner-friendly. Each trip:

• Involves hiking no more than 7 km to a campsite (although some trips have options for more)
• Has less than 400 m elevation gain
• Includes a stay at one or more designated campsites or huts that has a toilet and bear-proof food storage

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Map of Easy Backpacking Trips in BC

I made a custom Google Map that shows the location of these easy BC backpacking trips. Click to zoom in.

Beginner Backpacking in BC Basics

Is this your first backpacking trip? Read my guide to Backpacking for Beginners. It includes a run-down on gear, trip planning, fitness, and key skills like navigation and bear safety.

Are you backpacking with kids? This guide to Backpacking With Kids was written by a tween and his mom with nearly a decade of backpacking experience.

Not sure what to pack? I’ve also got a super-detailed Backpacking Gear Checklist that explains it all.

Considering a trip that requires reservations? Read my guide to BC Backpacking Reservation Dates. It includes an annual calendar of booking dates. And then read my post about how to make backpacking reservations in BC.

Couldn’t get the reservation you wanted? Check out a service like Campnab or Schnerp. They scan for cancellations for you, then send you an alert so you can book. My guide to camping cancellation apps has all the details.

Don’t want to make reservations? I got you! Read my guide to Going Backpacking in BC Without Reservations.

Worried about bears? If you are prepared and responsible, you don’t have to worry. Read my guide to Bear Safety for Backpackers.

Afraid of being cold? Read my Tips for Staying Warm in a Tent.

Nervous about rain or snow? Get my list of the Best Weather Apps for Hiking

Do you find hiking jargon confusing? Do you know what alpenglow means? What about cairn or false summit or post-holing? Get the answers in my Hiking Terms Glossary – it has over 300 entries.

Want to keep the wilderness wild? Learn about How to Leave No Trace (And Why It’s Important).

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Beginner Backpacking Trips Near Vancouver

Cheakamus Lake, Garibaldi Provincial Park

Heads up: Day passes are required at Cheakamus Lake in summer. However, if you have a backcountry camping reservation, you don’t need a day pass. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 50 m

Distance: 7 to 14 km round trip

Best months: May to November

Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and camping fees are charged.

This is the only easy backpacking trip in Garibaldi Provincial Park and my number one pick for the best easy backpacking trip near Vancouver. The trail is flat and easy as it heads through the old-growth forest and then along the shore of the lake.

There are two campgrounds to choose from: Cheakamus Lake at the lake outlet at the 3.5 km mark and Singing Creek further down the lake at the 7 km mark.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on camping fees and reservations, see Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Joffre Lakes

Heads up: Day passes are required at Joffre Lakes in summer. However, if you have a backcountry camping reservation, you don’t need a day pass. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 10 km round trip

Elevation Gain: 320 m

Best Months: Late June to October

Fees and Reservations: Reservations are required and camping fees are charged.

This is one of the Vancouver area’s most popular hikes thanks to the three gorgeous turquoise glacial lakes along the trail. The campground at Upper Joffre Lake does require hiking up some steep hills, but it’s only 320 m of elevation gain, so it is suitable for beginners.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my Joffre Lakes hiking guide and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on reservations, see Joffre Lakes Provincial Park.

Psst! Joffre Lakes is one of the most popular backcountry campsites in BC and gets booked up really fast. One of the best ways to get a spot is to use an app like Campnab or Schnerp. Read my guide to camping cancellation apps to find out how they work and which one I recommend.

Semaphore Lakes

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 6 km round trip

Elevation Gain: 385 m

Best Months: July to late September

Fees and Reservations: None. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

It’s a short and easy hike into the alpine to reach the gorgeous Semaphore Lakes. There are three lakes to camp at and incredible views of glaciers. Now that it has toilets and food caches (installed a few years ago), it makes a great beginner backpacking destination.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my Semaphore Lakes hiking guide.

Viewpoint Beach, Golden Ears Provincial Park

Heads up: Day passes are required at Golden Ears Provincial Park in summer. However, if you have a backcountry permit registration, you don’t need a day pass. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 9.6 km loop

Elevation Gain: 170 m

Best months: April to November

Fees and Reservations: Camping fees charged. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

This easy loop hike follows the banks of Gold Creek to a campground on a sand bar. It has a great view of the surrounding mountains. On hot days, cool down in the icy creek. The East Canyon trail is an old road so it is slightly easier hiking than the West Canyon Trail.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on camping fees, see Golden Ears Provincial Park.

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Lindeman Lake, S⨱ótsaqel / Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 3.4 km round trip

Elevation Gain: 200 m

Best Months: April to early November

Fees and Reservations: Camping fees charged. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

The hike to Lindeman Lake is short but fairly steep, so take your time. The small campground is very popular since it sits next to a gorgeous blue lake surrounded by mountains. More experienced hikers can carry on across tougher terrain to Greendrop Lake, 6.5 km from the trailhead.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on camping fees, see S⨱ótsaqel / Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park.

Skagit River Trail, Skagit Valley Provincial Park

Note: Access to this trail was disrupted by the November 2021 storms. The river has changed course at the Sumallo Grove trailhead and the bridge is not accessible at times of high water. In late summer, it’s an easy ford. However, the western trailhead on the Silver-Skagit Road in Skagit Valley Provincial Park recently re-opened so you can access it from that direction.

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 8 km round trip or 14 km traverse

Elevation gain: 75 m

Best months: April to November

Fees and Reservations: None. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

The historic Skagit River Trail dates back to the fur trade and follows the banks of the river. Delacey Camp is an easy 4 km hike from the Sumallo Grove trailhead. If you have two cars, you can make a 14 km traverse of the trail, ending at Silver-Skagit Road.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and Skagit Valley Provincial Park.

Buckhorn Camp (Heather Trail), Manning Provincial Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 10 km round trip

Elevation gain: 160 m

Best months: July to mid-September

Fees and reservations: Camping fees charged. Reservations are required and cost $6/tent pad/night.

The Heather Trail in Manning Park is one the most picturesque backpacking trips in BC as it meanders through wildflower meadows along a ridge top. Beginners can tackle the first section of trail to Buckhorn Camp. Keep in mind that it is downhill from the parking lot to camp, so you’ll have a climb on the return trip.

More info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on camping fees, see Manning Provincial Park.

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Strike Lake (Lightning Lakes), Manning Provincial Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 13 km round trip

Elevation gain: none

Best months: June to October

Fees and reservations: Camping fees charged. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

The flat trail along the Lightning Lakes chain in Manning Park is one of the best easy backpacking trips in BC. The trail passes Lightning, Flash and Strike Lakes before arriving at the backcountry campsites. Its low elevation location also means it is snow-free earlier than other trails in the park.

More info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. For info on camping fees, see Manning Provincial Park.

Palmer’s Pond, HBC Heritage Trail

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 6-12 km round trip

Elevation gain: 190 to 385 m

Best months: July to September

Fees and reservations: None. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

The challenging HBC Heritage Trail traces a historical route from Hope to Tulameen. Beginner backpackers can hike the picturesque central section. There are two campgrounds to choose from: Conglomerate Flats is 3 km and 190 m of elevation from the trailhead. Campement du Chevreuil is 6 km and 385 m along and passes gorgeous Palmer’s Pond along the way. (Camping is not allowed at the pond.)

More info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and on the HBC Heritage Trail website.

Falls Lake, Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2 km round trip

Elevation gain: 50 m

Best months: July to September

Fees and reservations: None. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

This short trail is one of the easiest backpacking trips in BC. It’s a slightly uphill walk through a beautiful mountain forest to a small campsite on the shores of the lake. There are dramatic views across the water to the steep granite peaks.

More info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and on the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area website.

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Little Douglas Lake Recreation Site

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 3.5 km round trip

Elevation gain: 100 m

Best months: Late June to October

Fees and reservations: None. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

Little Douglas Lake is a bit of a hidden gem, tucked away just off the Coquihalla Highway. The short trail to the lake passes through forest and marsh, and also includes wading a creek. Once you arrive at the lake, you’ll enjoy great views of the mountains.

More info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and on the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area website.

Lower Stein Valley, Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park

Note: A large wildfire burned the lower Stein Valley trail in July and August 2023. The trail is currently only open up to Devil’s Staircase camp 4 km from the trailhead.

Duration: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 4-26 km round trip

Elevation gain: 30-350 m

Best months: April to October

Fees and reservations: None. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

The lower section of the Stein Valley is a great beginner backpacking trip in BC with gorgeous river valley scenery. This is an important spiritual place for the Nlaka’pamux Nation so be respectful. Watch for culturally modified trees and petroglyphs along the trail.

Choose from five different campgrounds (Loop, Devil’s Staircase, Teepee, Earl’s, and Suspension Bridge) to create an itinerary that works for your group. The terrain is fairly flat except for a big hill between Devil’s Staircase and Teepee Camps.

More info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and on the Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park website.

Beginner Backpacking Trips on the Sunshine Coast

Batchelor Lake and Edwards Lake, Tetrahedron Provincial Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 7-12 km round trip

Elevation gain: 100-280 m

Best months: Mid-June to October

Fees and reservations: Cabin fees charged. All cabins are first-come, first-served.

The Tetrahedron plateau is speckled with lots of pretty little lakes. Camping is not allowed but the local outdoor club maintains several cabins that anyone can use. A cabin trip is a great option for beginners since you don’t have to carry as much gear.

Batchelor Lake Cabin is down a spur trail 3.5 km from the trailhead with 100 m of elevation gain. Edwards Lake Cabin is 6 km from the trailhead with 280 m of elevation gain.

More info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and on the Tetrahedron Provincial Park website. For info on cabins and fees, see the Tetrahedron Outdoor Club.

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Fairview Bay Hut, Sunshine Coast Trail

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 12 km round trip

Elevation gain: 145 m

Best months: Year-round.

Fees and reservations: None but donations are welcome. The hut and campsites are first-come, first-served.

The southern section of the Sunshine Coast Trail from the Earl’s Cove Trailhead to Fairview Bay Hut makes a great beginner backpacking trip. The trail has great views of the ocean. Stay at the rustic hut or pitch a tent nearby.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and on the Sunshine Coast Trail website.

Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Manzanita Bluff Hut, Sunshine Coast Trail

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 7 km round trip

Elevation gain: 295 m

Best months: March to November.

Fees and reservations: None but donations are welcome. The hut and campsites are first-come, first-served.

This hut along the Sunshine Coast Trail has incredible views of the Strait of Georgia. You can stay in the rustic hut or camp nearby. It’s a short hike to get here, but it is entirely uphill and often steep, so take your time.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and on the Sunshine Coast Trail website.

Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Beginner Backpacking Trips on Vancouver Island

Narvaez Bay, Gulf Islands National Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2 km round trip

Elevation gain: 80 m

Best months: Year-round.

Fees and reservations: Reservations and fees are required between May and September. Camping is first-come, first-served the rest of the year and fees can be paid on-site in cash.

It’s a very easy downhill hike to this coastal campground on Saturna Island. If you want to avoid driving, you can walk onto the ferry, then hike the 8 km road to the trailhead in about 2 hours. Biking from the ferry to the campground is also an option as the trail is open to bikes.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.

Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

BC Backpacking in Your Inbox!

Sign up to receive a bi-monthly newsletter from Taryn at Dawn Outdoors stuffed with the latest on backpacking in BC including:

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• seasonal trip recommendations,
  
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• backpacking news,
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Mystic Beach, Juan de Fuca Trail

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 4 km round trip

Elevation gain: 105 m

Best months: Year-round.

Fees and reservations: Camping fees charged. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

This easy hike is a Vancouver Island favourite for beginners and families. Unfortunately, on weekends partiers like it too. The trail runs downhill through the rugged rainforest to remote Mystic Beach. Camp on the sand and cool off under the waterfall that runs down the cliff.

More Info: Read my Juan de Fuca Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island for full details. For info on camping fees, see Juan de Fuca Provincial Park.

Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Wild Side Trail, Flores Island

Duration: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 22 km round trip

Elevation gain: 30 m

Best months: May to October

Fees and reservations: Trail fees charged. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

This trail on a water taxi-accessed island near Tofino has one of the best effort-to-reward ratios around. It’s an easy walk almost entirely on sandy beaches. There are three campsites along the way to break up your trip. The trail is in Ahousaht Nation territory and includes signs explaining Indigenous culture and history.

More Info: Get details on this hike in my Wild Side Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. For info on trail fees and camping fees, see the Wild Side Trail website.

Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Get My Book…

Backpacking on Vancouver Island

Discover Vancouver Island’s best day hikes and overnight trips

• 25 backpacking trips and 10 day hikes throughout Vancouver Island
• Info about permits, reservations and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Lake Helen Mackenzie and Kwai Lake, Strathcona Provincial Park

Duration: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 8-15 km loop

Elevation gain: 190 m

Best months: July to September

Fees and reservations: Camping fees charged. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

This loop provides the easiest access to Vancouver Island’s alpine terrain and is my pick for the best easy backpacking trip on Vancouver Island. It starts at the Mount Washington ski area, then heads past lots of beautiful subalpine lakes and flower-filled meadows. Camp at Lake Helen Mackenzie (4 km along ) or Kwai Lake (7.5 km).

More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.

Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Raft Cove

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 4 km round-trip

Elevation gain: 70 m

Best months: Year-round

Fees and reservations: Camping fees charged between May and September. (Otherwise, it is free.) All campsites are first-come, first-served.

The hike to Raft Cove is short, but rough and very muddy, so it will seem longer. The remote beach is located on northern Vancouver Island, accessed via a maze of logging roads from Port Hardy. The sandy beach is popular with surfers.

More Info: Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.

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San Josef Bay, Cape Scott Provincial Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 5 km round-trip

Elevation gain: 45 m

Best months: Year-round

Fees and reservations: Camping fees charged between May and September. (Otherwise, it is free.) All campsites are first-come, first-served.

The trail to San Josef Bay is the easiest trail in Cape Scott Provincial Park. It is flat enough to pull a wagon or wheelbarrow. Camp on the sand at one of two beaches and explore the sea stacks in between the two at low tide.

More info: For more info, see my Cape Scott guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island. . For camping fees, see Cape Scott Provincial Park.

Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Beginner Backpacking Trips in Eastern BC and the Rocky Mountains

Spectrum Lake, Monashee Provincial Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 12 km round-trip

Elevation gain: 209 m

Best months: June to October

Fees and reservations: Camping fees charged. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

Okanagan locals love Spectrum Lake near Cherryville. The short and easy hike is beginner-friendly, making it easy to include on this list of the best easy backpacking trips in BC. The trail leads to a lake nestled between mountains. There is even a dock to swim from.

More Info: Get the details from my friend Gemma’s Spectrum Lake trail guide. For info on camping fees, see Monashee Provincial Park.

Eva Lake, Mount Revelstoke National Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 12 km round-trip

Elevation gain: 180 m

Best months: Mid-July to September

Fees and reservations: Reservations required. Camping fees are charged. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees.

Eva Lake is my pick for the best hike in Mount Revelstoke National Park. You walk through alpine meadows and along a ridgeline with great mountain views. The backcountry campground has a historic hut to cook in.

More Info: Get the details in my Mount Revelstoke National Park guide. See Mount Revelstoke National Park for reservations.

Laughing Falls, Yoho National Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 8.8 km round-trip

Elevation gain: 125 m

Best months: July to September

Fees and reservations: Reservations are required. Camping fees charges. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees.

The flat hike to Laughing Falls is a beginner-friendly backpacking trip in Yoho National Park and one fo the best easy backpacking trips in BC. It follows the Yoho River upstream, with great views of other waterfalls along the way.

More Info: My Yoho Valley Loop trail guide includes info on backpacking to Laughing Falls. See Yoho National Park for reservations.

Kinney Lake (Berg Lake Trail), Mount Robson Provincial Park

Duration: 2 days

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 14 km round-trip

Elevation gain: 130 m

Best months: July to September

Fees and reservations: Reservations are required. Camping fees charged.

The epic hike to Berg Lake in Mount Robson Provincial Park is challenging, but beginners can hike the first section as far as Kinney Lake. The trail climbs gently on an old road beside the Robson River. Kinney Lake is a gorgeous blue colour and the campsites have incredible views.

More Info: Get details on this hike in my Berg Lake Trail guide. For reservation info, see Mount Robson Provincial Park.

Psst! You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

BC Backpacking in Your Inbox!

Sign up to receive a bi-monthly newsletter from Taryn at Dawn Outdoors stuffed with the latest on backpacking in BC including:

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Get My Books

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and Backpacking on Vancouver Island

Discover BC’s best backpacking trips

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• 35 backpacking trips and day hikes on Vancouver Island
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos

Get the books

That’s my big list of easy backpacking trips in BC for beginners. I’m sure you’ll find a trip that is perfect for you. Have fun out there – that’s why we go backpacking!

READ NEXT: BEGINNER BACKPACKING RESOURCES

• Backpacking for Beginners: Tips for Getting Started
• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• 20+ Ways to Reduce Your Backpack Weight
• How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• How to Stay Warm in a Tent: Over 40 Tips

The post 25 Easy Backpacking Trips In BC For Beginners appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I’ve been friends with Elliott’s parents for years and have been on lots of backpacking trips with them, including his first-ever backpacking trip when Elliott was 4 and his sister was 7. At 12, Elliott has almost a decade of backpacking experience so I was really happy when he agreed to write this post. (His mom, Laura, also chimed in with some tips from the parent’s perspective.)

In this guide to backpacking with kids you’ll find:

• Real-world advice from a kid and his mom who have been backpacking for years
• Reasons kids will love backpacking
• Tips for making your family backpacking trip a success
• How to overcome challenges when you go backpacking with kids
• Kid-recommended picks for the best backpacking food
• What to pack when backpacking with kids
• How to find kid-friendly backpacking destinations

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Why Kids Will Love Backpacking

Besides spending time in nature and enjoying incredible views, here are a few reasons to take your child backpacking.

Spending time with family

Elliott: I backpack because my family backpacks, but I love it too. It isn’t just my parent’s thing anymore. What I love the most is the free time that you get to spend with your family. With no devices at all, my parent’s attention is directed on just me and my sister.

Swimming

Elliott: Another great thing about backpacking is you get to go to special places, sometimes with amazing swimming spots. My favourite swimming spot so far has been Tsusiat Falls on the West Coast Trail. I don’t mind swimming in cold water and I always like to swim.

Food

Elliott: I like backpacking food. Backpacking food is really good, and it often doesn’t include a lot of vegetables! We also get to have dessert every night.

Learning new skills

Elliott: Backpacking is a fun experience where you get to develop special skills that you might not have learned otherwise. I have learned how to make a fire, put up a tent, filter water, navigate, and lots of general life safety skills.

When I was little, I helped to put up the tent and filter the water. My sister started making campfires on her own by 10, and she won’t let me help her now. Now that we are both older (12 and 14), we are responsible for setting up the tents on our own. We also help with cooking and setting up the tarp.

How to Make Backpacking with Kids a Success

Pick the right trail

Elliott: Picking the right trail for our family is important. When we pick a trail, we try to consider the elevation we all can walk up, the difficulty of the terrain, and we always backpack to a rewarding destination.

I always want to hike to some type of water that I can swim in. I like ocean beaches or alpine lakes. Don’t forget that a good campsite needs a good drinking source and a proper pit toilet is preferred. There are not usually campfires backpacking, so don’t be disappointed if there isn’t one. We go car camping for campfires.

Laura: Generally, the parents pick the trail but we consider the kids’ preferences. Our kids have a maximum distance we know that they can travel in a day and we know they prefer rugged trails, over smoother flatter trails. Before we head out on a trip, we often print out a trail map for them to look at and show them photos to get them excited. They like to know what is expected of them before we head out.

Pack the right food

Elliott: Packing the right food is important. I have more advice about that below. Food is a really important part of a good trip for me.

Keep backpack weight in mind

Elliott: Keeping backpack weight in mind and how far we can travel with it on is also important. When I was 4, I carried my blankie and my own water. That was it. On the West Coast Trail when I was 9, I carried around 18 pounds. It was 22 pounds to start with, but it was way too heavy. I can carry that now that I am 12.

Different children can carry different amounts. It depends on how much experience you have with carrying a backpack. If my pack is too heavy, it slows me down and I can’t go that far.

Laura: Each trip we plan backpacks differently. We pack and weigh the backpacks at home. We try the fully loaded bags on to make sure the weight is ok before we leave. Even then, we need to be flexible out on the trail. We try and keep a little extra space in our adult packs, just in case. The kids take a lot of pride in carrying their age-appropriate amount of the family’s supplies.

Psst! I have a whole guide to reducing your backpacking weight.

Know if your child is ready to go backpacking

Laura: How do you know if your child is ready to go backpacking? There is a good chance that they are – it is us adults that need to be prepared to take them.

We did a lot of car camping when the kids were little. It gave us all the opportunity to develop more confidence and provided the kids with time to develop independence and familiarity with camping skills. Along with car camping, day hikes are a great way to get kids ready for backpacking.

If your child is comfortable doing both those things, chances are they are ready for backpacking too! We didn’t start backpacking until the kids were both old enough to independently walk the distance we wanted to travel (ages 4 and 7), but I know that lots of families are ready to go sooner than that!

READ NEXT: Backpacking for Beginners: Tips for Getting Started

How to Overcome Challenges When Backpacking With Kids

Hiking in the rain

Elliott: I have a hard time feeling motivated backpacking when there is non-stop rain. I don’t like non-stop rain because you can’t see anything and you can’t get dry. If it is raining, I just keep walking to get to camp as soon as possible, so we can sit under the tarp and have a warm drink.

Laura: When possible, we plan trips with flexible dates, and we are not shy about cancelling or delaying trips in the case of bad weather. It isn’t just kids that don’t like a weekend in the rain. No matter the weather, we always carry good rain jackets for everyone, a large lightweight tarp (also good for creating shade), extra socks, and camp shoes to change into.

READ NEXT: The Best Weather Apps for Hiking

Issues with food

Elliott: I love backpacking but my least favourite thing is when my parents forget to pack a meal. True story, when we were hiking the West Coast Trail, my parents forgot to pack one dinner and one lunch. There were some minor meltdowns when we realized it. Luckily, some people we were hiking with had plenty of extra food that they didn’t want to pack out and they shared it with us.

Staying motivated

Elliott: When I am hiking, I really like it when my parents talk to me while we walk. It helps distract me and keeps me thinking about something other than being tired.

My parents sometimes buy gummy candies and hide them along the trail for us. It keeps us excited at the end of a long trip or during a boring stretch.

Sometimes my Mom starts singing when she thinks there might be bears, but I like it, and it is fun to sing with your family.

We like hiking with friends like Taryn because it is someone else we can talk to.

Laura: Both of our children love backpacking, and they both enjoy it for different reasons. You know your kids best, and what keeps them positive and motivated. Kids are likely to complain at some point along the way, be that getting out of the house, along the trail, or at camp. Be prepared for that.

We have one child that needs extra-front loading before we head out the door and one that might need a little extra encouragement or distractions along the trail. Kids are all different and we have to keep their challenges and strengths in mind when we are planning for and carrying out a backpacking trip. There is rarely an outing where that little extra effort to get over a difficult spot, wasn’t worth it.

Worrying about safety

Elliott: I’m scared of the dark sometimes at home, but not when I’m backpacking because we all sleep together. We all have our own headlamps, so I can turn mine on whenever I need to.

We sometimes bring a small string of battery-powered fairy lights to put up at the campsite, but usually, we don’t stay up late enough to enjoy them.

I’m not scared of bears, but my sister says that she plugs her ears at night when she thinks she hears something. She says it calms her down.

Laura: We have some pretty clear expectations for the kids when we are out in the woods backpacking, biking, or hiking. The number one rule for us is that we stick together. I want to be able to see the kids on the trail. If we can see them, most safety concerns (animals, water, injury) can be better predicted and hopefully prevented.

The kids might get more freedom once we get to camp, but even then, their boundaries are outlined when we arrive. I do pack an extra-large first aid kit, equipped with extra bandages and an antihistamine like Benadryl, just in case.

Toilets

Laura: Our kids have learned to go to the bathroom in the woods, but we usually prefer to camp at a location with proper pit toilets. We find the kids can be more independent going to the bathroom when there are four walls around them.

When Elliott was small, he worried about falling in, but we held his hand when he went and that concern went away quickly. We do tend to pack a little extra toilet paper.

Challenges build resilience

Laura: You are likely to encounter some tough moments on backpacking trips, with or without kids. I like to think of them as learning experiences, that teach our kids and us adults to be a little bit more resilient. Yes, the kids have had a few nights where they didn’t like the food we brought (or we forgot to bring), but we all learned from these experiences. We try and anticipate and plan for these challenges, but that is not always possible.

Best Backpacking Food for Kids

General backpacking food tips

Laura: We eat differently on the trail than we do at home. Don’t worry: our kids eat lots of fruits and veggies on a regular day, but a day backpacking isn’t a regular day. Just like we often eat differently on other types of vacations, backpacking is a vacation for us, and we treat the food we eat the same way.

We eat high carbs and protein backpacking, but also include a little more sugar and treats into the day. The kids get a lot of say in the food we pack, so Elliott’s favourites below are packed on most trips.

Snacks

Elliott: Snacks are a very important part of backpacking for me. Snacks motivate me and make me work harder. My favourite backpacking snacks are stroopwafel cookies, Hobnob cookies, chocolate, trail mix, and gummy candies. Also, my dad and I sometimes bring a bag of crushed Doritos on trips we do alone. That way the big bag of chips fits into a small Ziploc bag.

Breakfast

Elliott: I don’t usually love backpacking breakfast, but oatmeal is my favorite. We often have dehydrated eggs and pre-cooked bacon, but I don’t love it. Another way to make breakfast better is to bring hot apple cider. Sometimes we bring Poptarts, just because.

READ NEXT: Beyond Oatmeal: 6 Hot Backpacking Breakfasts

Lunch

Elliott: We usually eat lunch sitting on the side of the trail. Lunch is usually quick and easy. We often have wraps with peanut butter and jam. We often add a pepperoni stick and one of the snacks above, and lunch is done. On the trail, we don’t do fancy lunches and often eat the same lunch every day.

Dinner

Elliott: Dinner is my favourite meal of the day when backpacking. Since there are four of us, and we try to keep the food weight down, we usually bring dehydrated or freeze-dried meals.

My favourite two dinners are Kraft Mac and Cheese with pre-cooked bacon strips and Flirp (we named it ourselves). Flirp is instant mashed potatoes that you make in large amounts in a big Ziploc freezer bag. It’s called Flirp because it makes that sound when you pour it out of the bag when it is cooked. We always have Flirp with freeze-dried chicken.

We also bring pre-packaged backpacking meals on longer trips. My sister and my favourite packaged backpacking food is AlpineAire Forever Young Mac and Cheese.

Don’t forget to check the expiration date on backpacking food. They don’t taste good after they expire!

READ NEXT: Grocery Store Backpacking Meals for Cheap

Dessert

Elliott: Dessert is delicious. Another main motivator in my day. We have dessert every night because the meals are smaller, the packaged food sometimes isn’t filling enough, and dessert is simply delicious.

I like AlpineAire Cinnamon Apple Crisp. The dessert we bring the most is pistachio Jell-O pudding (my sister likes chocolate) and we dip cookies like stroopwafels in the pudding. I also like astronaut ice cream but that isn’t filling.

Water

Elliott: Sometimes filtered creek water doesn’t take like what I am used to. We bring water flavouring drops to help with the taste and to keep us drinking. I like Country Time Lemonade.

READ NEXT: How to Choose the Best Backpacking Meals

What to Pack When Backpacking With Kids

Start with this general backpacking gear checklist, then customize it for your family. Elliott and Laura have some kids’ backpacking gear advice.

Gear to make bedtime comfortable and familiar

Elliott: I always bring my special stuffed animal or blanket with me when we backpack. It’s important to me to bring it because it gives me comfort when I’m away from home and it helps me fall asleep. We got inflatable pillows recently and it is also way more comfortable for sleeping.

Laura: We buy our kids light, compact, and warm sleeping bags. It is worth the cost for us to keep the weight down and the nighttime comfort level high.

As the kids spend more time in the tent lounging than we typically do, they can be a bit rougher on their sleeping pads. We have decided not to upgrade them to lightweight inflatable pads like we have. Both kids are using our older self-inflating pads, as we feel that they are more durable and it saves us some money.

Things to keep kids entertained in camp

Elliott: My sister always brings her e-reader because she loves to read in the tent. I keep busy at camp by playing nearby. On shorter trips, we sometimes pack a small game, like Exploding Kittens or Coup.

Laura: We don’t find it challenging to keep the kids busy at camp. They both have jobs that they are responsible for, such as setting up the tent, mattresses, and sleeping bags. Generally, they are pretty tired from the day and remain content. If we have extra weight to carry a hammock or two, we bring those along for relaxing.

Kids backpacking clothing and footwear

Laura: Kids grow out of their clothes quickly, and we find that it isn’t necessary to spend extra money on hiking-specific clothing for kids.

Most clothing items that we bring for the kids are just their regular clothes that we get on sale from kids’ clothing stores and thrift stores. We try and stay away from bringing too much of their cotton clothing, particularly on longer trips.

We don’t compromise on footwear though. They always have sturdy and comfortable hiking shoes and they each have two pairs of soft wool hiking socks, to help keep their feet dry.

We use Taryn’s backpacking packing list when we head out on a trip. The kids re-wear their hiking clothes too so we don’t tend to pack many changes.

One thing that is different from the standard backpacking packing list is that we do bring the kids a set of camp clothes and a separate set of pajamas and sleep socks. The jammies never leave the tent, as we want to keep them dry and free of food spills.

Backpacking tent

Laura: One tent or two? For us, the situation is evolving as the kids age and often depends on the trip we are on. When the kids were little, we mostly used two small backpacking tents. We have one child who is a night owl and one who likes to wake early. We found it was worth us all getting a good night’s sleep, and we brought two backpacking tents on most trips.

As we started taking longer trips with the kids, where weight was needed for food, we began taking one larger backpacking tent. This works well for us now, and putting up one tent, is faster than putting up two. This is an advantage on trips, where getting moving in the morning can be important.

Backpacks for kids

Laura: On trips when the kids were little and carried just a few of their own personal items, they used school backpacks or our small day packs. Now that they are carrying a good share of the weight, they are using older backpacking bags that we (or our friends) passed along. We decided that we would upgrade the parents’ backpacks first, because we aren’t growing anymore!

READ NEXT: Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking

How to Find Kid-Friendly Backpacking Destinations

If you’re looking to start backpacking with your kids, look for lists of beginner-friendly backpacking trips in your area. Short trails with not too much elevation gain are the best bet. Elliott and Laura also recommend picking a campsite with a toilet and a lake, creek, or ocean to swim or play in.

After they get some backpacking experience, kids can tackle any backpacking destination.

Backpacking trips for kids in British Columbia

In British Columbia, check out these easy, beginner-friendly backpacking destinations. You can find details on most of these trips in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.

• Cheakamus Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park (Trip 6)
• Gold Creek Canyon in Golden Ears Provincial Park (Trip 23)
• Lindeman Lake in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park (Trip 25)
• Lower Stein Valley in Stein Nlaka’pamux Heritage Provincial Park (Trip 29)
• Falls Lake in the Coquihalla Recreation Area (Trip 32)
• Skagit River Trail in Skagit Provincial Park (Trip 34)
• Buckhorn Camp on the Heather Trail in Manning Provincial Park (Trip 35)
• Lightning Lakes in Manning Provincial Park (Trip 37)
• Lake Helen Mackenzie in Strathcona Provincial Park (included in my next book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island, out in 2024)

All of the trips above (plus lots more) are in my guide to the Best Easy Backpacking Trips in BC.

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

More experienced kids can hike any trail that adults can do. Here’s what Elliott recommends after your kids graduate from easy trips:

Elliott’s favourite overnight backpacking trip in BC: Garibaldi Lake, in Garibaldi Provincial Park. I have done it twice now. (It’s trip 9 in Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.)

Elliott’s favourite multi-day backpacking trip in BC: The West Coast Trail, in Pacific Rim National Park because it has lots of ladders and cable cars.

Thanks so much to Elliott (and Laura) for their advice on how to go backpacking with kids. Family backpacking requires a bit more preparation, but it can be lots of fun. Do you have questions about backpacking with children? Ask in the comments!

Read Next:

• Backpacking for Beginners: Tips for Getting Started
• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• 20+ Ways to Reduce Your Backpack Weight
• 24 Easy Backpacking Trips In BC For Beginners
• 300+ Hiking Terms explained: A Hiking Glossary
• How to Choose the Best Backpacking Meals
• Grocery Store Backpacking Meals for Cheap
• Beyond Oatmeal: 6 Hot Backpacking Breakfasts
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• The Best Weather Apps for Hiking

The post Backpacking with Kids: Tips from a Tween and His Mom appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

This handbook for first-time backpackers includes:

• Backpacking gear for beginners: What gear do you need and what should you look for when shopping
• Backpacking fitness for beginners: How to get in shape for backpacking
• Backpacking skills for beginners: A run-down on key skills like navigation, bear safety, going to the bathroom, and more
• How to plan a backpacking trip: Everything you need to do before you hit the trail
• Step-by-step beginner backpacking plan: Go from day hiker to backpacker in 5 steps

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Day Hiking vs Backpacking: What’s the Difference?

Day hiking can be defined as a hike that you start and finish on the same day. When you go backpacking, you hike for at least two days, camping in the wilderness each night. Backpacking is a natural progression from day hiking and uses a lot of the same skills.

READ NEXT: 300+ Hiking Terms Explained: A Hiking Glossary

Why Should You Go Backpacking?

Backpacking allows you to enjoy the wilderness in a different way than day hiking. I find it to be a much more immersive experience. When you backpack you get to enjoy sunrises, sunsets, and the stars overhead. You’re more likely to encounter animals since they are more active at dawn and dusk. You can travel further into the backcountry and see places that few people do.

With no screens to distract you, you can really unplug. I’ve done some of my best thinking on backpacking trips. (In 2019, I decided to quit my day job and work on this website and my book full-time while hiking the Overland Track in Australia.)

Going on a backpacking trip is also a great way to gain self-confidence. You’ll learn all kinds of new skills and prove that you can be self-reliant without the creature comforts of home.

My Backpacking Experience (And Why You Should Trust My Advice)

My first backpacking trip was a six-day trip on the West Coast Trail back in 2004. Before that, I had been on a few long day hikes and one overnight hut trip, but in a lot of ways, I wasn’t prepared. I had a borrowed backpack that rubbed my collarbone raw. I didn’t know basic skills like navigation or how to go to the bathroom. And the trail was so tough that I cried.

But I still had an incredible time! The scenery was incredible. I learned that I loved immersing myself in the backcountry. It made me want to go hiking all the time. And I discovered that I was more resilient than I thought.

That trip changed the course of my life in a few ways: It eventually led me to a career writing about the outdoors. And the boyfriend who invited me on that trip has been my husband for over a decade. We hiked the West Coast Trail together again in 2019 and it was MUCH easier that time.

In the years since, I’ve honed my skills and refined my gear to the point that I feel more comfortable in my tent in the middle of nowhere than I do in a random hotel room.

I’ve been on dozens of backpacking trips near home in British Columbia, as well as in the USA, Nepal, Iceland, and Australia. I worked in an outdoor store for three years, and then for six years at the head office of a large outdoor retailer writing about gear for their website, so I know a lot about hiking gear.

And I wrote a whole book about backpacking, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia, which was published in 2021.

Going on a backpacking trip may not be so profoundly life-changing for you. But I guarantee that you will create some beautiful memories and learn something about yourself and what you can accomplish.

Backpacking Gear for Beginners

If you’re already a day hiker, you probably have some of the gear you’ll need for backpacking like hiking boots and a rain jacket. But for backpacking, you’ll need a lot more gear. For a full list of everything you will need, read through my Backpacking Checklist. It lists every single piece of gear you’ll need and has advice on how to choose.

Read next: Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking

Unfortunately, backpacking gear can be quite expensive. And you want to make sure you are buying quality gear because your life could literally depend on it. If it’s your first time backpacking, consider renting gear or borrowing from friends to see what you like. You can also buy lightly used gear or wait for sales.

Psst: I’ve got 17 ways to save money on hiking gear

In general, choose gear that is lightweight and compact. Ideally, the total weight of your full backpack should be no more than 15-20% of your body weight. In practice, that works out to about 25 to 40 pounds. And make sure you try out your gear before your trip and know how to use it.

Psst: Read my guide to reducing your backpack weight

Here’s a brief overview of some of the backpacking gear you’ll need to get along with tips on how to choose:

Backpacking Pack

You’ll need a pack large enough to carry all of your gear. Look for one that holds between 40 and 75 litres. Smaller packs (40-50 litres) are great for overnight trips, warm weather, and people with ultralight gear. Larger packs are good for longer trips, cold weather, or people with bulkier budget gear.

It’s important to choose a pack that fits you well. Packs are sized based on the length of your torso. You can also buy women’s specific packs that have hip belts and shoulder straps designed to fit women’s curvier bodies. Read my guide to women’s specific gear to find out if a women’s pack is right for you.

Read next: Which Women’s Specific Hiking Gear is Actually Worth Buying?

I use a women’s Gregory Amber 65 Backpack. (The men’s version is the Gregory Stout 70.) It’s a good size for trips up to a week, and on shorter trips, I cinch down the straps since it’s not full. I love that the hip belt pocket fits my phone. It is also quite reasonably priced.

Backpacking Tent

Get a lightweight tent designed for backpacking, ideally one that weighs less than 4 lbs/1.8 kg. You’ll also want to make sure it has a waterproof fly that extends all the way to the ground. There are tons of good tents on the market, so do some reading and see which features are most important to you.

Make sure you practice setting up and taking down your tent in your yard or a park before you go on your first backpacking trip.

For beginners, I recommend the MSR Hubba Hubba 2-Person Backpacking tent. I’ve had several versions of this tent over the years. It’s lightweight, easy to set up, and holds up to storms. It’s not the cheapest, but you’ll use it for years.

READ NEXT: How to Stay Warm in a Tent: Over 40 Tips

Sleeping Bag

A warm sleeping bag can be the difference between a great trip and a miserable one. It can get quite cold at night, especially in the mountains. For most backpackers, a 3-season sleeping bag rated between 39°F/4°C and 15°F/-9°C is a good choice. Choose one that weighs less than 3.5 lbs/1.5 kg. Get one with a hood for extra warmth.

For beginners, the MEC Draco and Delphinus down sleeping bags are great. I started out with an earlier version of these bags. The Marmot Trestles sleeping bag is a good alternative.

Sleeping Pad

Sleeping pads serve two important purposes: They provide comfort since the ground is hard. But more importantly, they provide insulation since the ground is cold. You’ll still be shivering in a super warm sleeping bag if you don’t have a sleeping pad.

For a balance of comfort and warmth, choose an inflatable pad with some insulation. Look for ones with an R-value of at least 2.5 to ensure you’ll stay warm when the temperature dips.

I recommend the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite. It’s comfortable, warm, and packs down really small.

Water Filter or Purifier

It’s tempting to think that burbling mountain creeks are pristine and safe to drink from, but usually they aren’t. Humans and animals may have pooped or died upstream of you. To be safe, always filter or purify your water.

You can treat water by boiling it on your backpacking stove, but that is slow and uses lots of fuel so most backpackers choose to carry a filter or method of purification. There are lots of different options.

Some people prefer purification drops or tablets since they are lightweight and compact. But they can add a chemical taste to your water.

I like to use the Platypus GravityWorks Water filter because there is no pumping or squeezing. It’s also a good option for groups since you can filter a lot of water at once.

Backpacking Stove and Cooking Gear

While some multi-day hikers choose to forgo the stove and eat cold meals, a hot dinner at the end of the day or coffee in the morning is non-negotiable for many backpackers. Choose a single-burner backpacking stove that is lightweight, compact, and easy to use.

Many backpackers like to use stove systems with an integrated pot like the Jetboil or MSR Windburner. Those stoves are great for boiling water faster, but they aren’t great for cooking other meals.

I use an MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe because that way I can choose which pot to bring depending on what I need. For solo trips where I’m just boiling water, I use a tiny Vargo Titanium BOT pot. On trips where I’m doing actual cooking for two or more people, I bring a Primus Lite pot.

Clothing

For backpacking, it is essential to bring lightweight, quick-drying hiking shirts, pants, or shorts made of nylon, polyester, or wool. Dress in layers so you can easily adjust your temperature. Don’t bring cotton – it absorbs sweat and doesn’t dry quickly. It’s also not that warm.

Read Next: 12 Best Women’s Hiking Pants (Picks for Every Body Type)

Depending on the temperature and weather, you’ll also need jackets and base layers. A good rain jacket is a must on any trip. You may also want a fleece jacket or an insulated jacket for colder weather. Base layers made of synthetics or wool are also great for sleeping or for adding warmth on cold trips.

The right underwear is also key – you don’t want to be stuck with a pair that rubs or chafes.

Read Next: Best Hiking Underwear For Women and Men

Hiking Boots for Backpacking

Blisters can end your hike, so picking the right hiking boots is the key to a good backpacking trip.

Read Next: How to Prevent Blisters When Hiking

You might be able to get away with wearing your regular running shoes on casual hikes, but for backpacking, you’ll need proper hiking boots. If you plan to carry a heavy load or have weak ankles, look for hiking boots with lots of ankle support.

The most important factor is comfort – try on lots of pairs of boots to find ones that work for you. Everyone has different feet so don’t rely on recommendations from friends or random online reviews.

The Ten Essentials

The ten essentials are key safety and emergency supplies that you should have on every hike, whether it’s a short walk or a multi-day expedition. They include a first aid, headlamp, knife, navigation gear, and a communication device.

Read next: The 10 Essentials: Things You Should Bring on Every Hike

More Beginner Backpacking Gear Resources

• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• 17 Ways to Save Money on Hiking Gear
• How to Stay Warm in a Tent: Over 40 Tips
• Which Women’s Specific Hiking Gear is Actually Worth Buying?
• Best Hiking Underwear For Women and Men
• How to Prevent Blisters When Hiking
• The 10 Essentials: Things You Should Bring on Every Hike

Backpacking Fitness for Beginners

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: backpacking can be challenging and requires good fitness. It’s tougher than day hiking because you’ll be carrying a heavy pack and sometimes you have to deal with bad weather or unexpected trail conditions.

Backpacking is most enjoyable when you’re in good shape. But if you’re new to hiking, you can still go backpacking – you’ll just need to choose easier trails. My philosophy is that you should pick backpacking trips that are just a little bit easier than the day hikes you are comfortable with. So if you feel comfortable doing a moderate-rated trail as a day hike, choose one rated easy for backpacking.

To improve your fitness, train by doing progressively harder hikes. If you aren’t able to get out on the trails, you can also try simulating hiking conditions. Try working out at the gym on the Stairmaster or the treadmill on an incline. For an added challenge, wear your backpacking pack.

You can also go for walks in your neighbourhood with your pack on. If possible, walk on uneven surfaces instead of pavement and seek out hills and stairs. Walking on the beach is a great way to build stamina.

Building your strength and fitness is also key. Try yoga or bodyweight exercises like lunges, squats, step-ups, and crunches designed to strengthen your lower body and core. Balance exercises are also great.

Backpacking Skills for Beginners

For the most part, the skills you need to go backpacking are the same as the ones you need for longer day hikes. But even if you are an expert day hiker, it’s worth brushing up on your skills before you go backpacking. That way you’ll be safe, have minimal impact on the wilderness, and most importantly, have fun.

Here’s a quick overview of the basic backpacking skills for beginners.

Navigation

Backpacking can take you further into the wilderness than you can reach on a day hike. Sometimes these trails aren’t as well marked so mastering navigation is key.

Carry paper maps and a compass, just in case. I also often carry guidebook pages or trail descriptions (either as paper copies or as photos stored on my phone).

I also use the Gaia GPS app on my phone to orient myself. It shows tons of trails along with your current position overlaid on a topographic map. (Don’t forget to bring a battery pack if you’re using a phone for navigation.)

Practice navigation on easy day hikes before you go backpacking to get familiar with using a map and compass or GPS app.

Bear and Wildlife Safety

Going backpacking means sharing the trails and campgrounds with bears, cougars, wolves, raccoons, mice, porcupines, birds, and lots more. Actually, it’s more accurate to say they will be sharing the trails with you since it’s their home.

Give animals lots of space to maintain their natural behaviours. Don’t approach or touch animals.

To avoid negative bear interactions, hike in a group, make lots of noise, and keep dogs on a leash. If you see a bear, don’t run. Instead, talk to it while avoiding eye contact and backing up slowly. Carry bear spray and know how to use it if you are charged or attacked.

Be sure to protect your food from wildlife. Never feed animals – it’s bad for their health and encourages them to continue to seek out human food. Keep a clean camp. Never leave food unattended. Store all food and garbage in a food locker (if provided) or bring a bear canister or construct a bear hang.

Read next: Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers

Going to the Bathroom

Many popular backcountry campsites have pit toilets. Do research about toilet locations before your trip and plan to use one whenever possible.

If you have to go to the bathroom and there isn’t a toilet nearby, go to the bathroom the Leave No Trace way. Find a spot well away from trails, camp, and water sources (at least 200ft/70m). Dig a hole 6″/15 cm deep and poop in the hole. Afterward, cover it up. Pack out your toilet paper as it doesn’t break down well and animals may dig it up.

I carry a dedicated toilet kit that includes hand sanitizer, toilet paper, a plastic bag for packing out used toilet paper, and a small trowel.

Backpacking Hygiene

It can be tough to stay clean on a backpacking trip. When people get sick on a hike, they often blame contaminated water. But in reality, poor hygiene is more often the case. Bring some hand sanitizer and use it after going to the bathroom and before eating or cooking.

To keep yourself clean, use a quick-dry towel to give yourself a quick sponge bath. (I use a face cloth-sized Pack Towl.) Disposable wipes are also a good idea, but please pack them out as they don’t break down.

You can also use biodegradable soap, but keep in mind that it isn’t safe for plants or fish. That means you’ll need to collect water in a cooking pot or bucket and wash well away from water sources. The soap needs to filter through the soil to properly biodegrade.

Women and people who menstruate will also want to be prepared by bringing supplies.

Read next: How to Camp and Hike on Your Period

Leave No Trace

The seven principles of Leave No Trace help hikers and backpackers have minimal impact. I’m a Leave No Trace Master Educator and have been teaching Leave No Trace for over 15 years. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “pack it in, pack it out”, and know to pick up your trash, but there is lots more to Leave No Trace.

You’ll learn ways you can prepare beforehand to minimize your impact, how to avoid damaging the trail when you walk, where to pitch your tent, how to have a responsible campfire, and how to share the wilderness with other users.

Read next: How to Leave No Trace (And Why it’s Important!)

More Beginner Backpacking Skills Resources

• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• How to Camp and Hike on Your Period
• How to Leave No Trace (And Why it’s Important!)

How to Plan a Backpacking Trip

So, you’re ready to go on your first multi-day hiking trip. Congrats! That’s exciting. But it can also be a bit daunting to figure out how to get ready. Here are my tips for planning a backpacking trip.

Pick a Trail

Choose a trail that is a good match for your abilities. For beginners, that usually means picking something rated easy or moderate where you’ll be hiking about 5-8 mi/8-13 km each day on fairly flat terrain. Avoid remote areas and trails with lots of elevation gain, tricky stream crossings, or technical sections.

Do some research and pick a trail that is appropriate for the time of year you want to go. You don’t want to deal with snow and cold. Check the weather and make sure you have the right gear for the forecast. Or be ready to change to a different destination or postpone your trip.

If possible, choose to stay at an established campsite with flat tent sites, a water source, and a toilet.

READ NEXT: 24 Easy Backpacking Trips In BC For Beginners

Get a Permit

Many backcountry camping areas require permits to avoid overcrowding and protect the environment. Check park and trail websites to find out if a permit is required and how to get one.

In some places, you’ll have to make a reservation months in advance. In others, you just need to fill out a form at a trailhead kiosk. Some places have a limited number of permits per day while others have unlimited permits. Most permits cost between $5 and $30, but others are free.

READ NEXT: 2023 BC Backpacking Reservation Dates You Need to Know

READ NEXT: How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC

Check Local Rules

Each park and trail has its own rules about campfires, drones, dogs, food storage, group size, and more. Check local rules ahead of time so you aren’t disappointed at the trailhead or campsite. These rules are in place to prevent damage to the environment and make sure all hikers have a good experience, so it’s important to follow them.

Organize Transportation

In most cases, transportation is fairly straightforward. But you may need to pay for parking or get a parking pass at a trailhead. And if you are doing a one-way hike you may need to arrange a shuttle or research buses or taxis. As well, some trails can only be accessed via rough roads that require a 4WD vehicle. Do some research and make a transportation plan.

Check Your Gear

Make sure you have the gear you need for the trip you are planning. Find out if there are food storage lockers or if you’ll need to bring a bear canister or build a bear hang. Check the weather forecast to see if you’ll need extra gear for cold weather or rain.

READ NEXT: 40+ Tips for Hiking in the Rain

Talk to your trip partners about sharing gear like tents, stoves, and water filters to save space and weight. You also may want to share safety gear like first aid kits, navigation gear, and a communication device.

Pick Hiking Partner(s)

Seasoned backpackers might have the experience to go on a multi-day hiking trip alone, but it’s not a great idea for beginners. Team up with a few other backpackers while you are still learning. Go with friends, join a hiking club, or find hiking partners through MeetUp or Facebook groups.

Make sure that your skills and personality mesh with others in the group. If you’re an absolute beginner, it’s best if someone else in the group has some experience and can help answer your questions when you’re unsure. And make sure that everyone in the group has the fitness and skills to complete the trip. It’s unsafe to leave people behind (and it’s such a dick move), so you’ll have to travel at the pace of your slowest hiker.

Group dynamics are important on a backcountry trip. If possible, go on a day hike with potential partners first so you can see if you get along and have a similar hiking style. You don’t want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere with someone you can’t stand.

Make a Meal Plan

The food you bring on a backpacking trip needs to meet a few criteria: it should be lightweight, compact, high in calories, and tasty. Avoid canned food and most fresh food. Bring dry foods with short cooking times like pasta, rice, and oatmeal. You can also buy prepackaged backpacking meals.

You will burn more calories on a backpacking trip than you do at home, so don’t skimp on calories. Be sure to bring snacks you can eat on the go. And pack a treat or two – I like to bring a little bit of chocolate as a reward for tough days.

Read next: How to Choose the Best Backpacking Meals and Grocery Store Backpacking Meals for Cheap

Leave a Trip Plan

If you get lost or hurt will anyone know where to look for you? Will they even know you are missing? Leaving a trip plan with a family member or friend can be the difference between life or death.

Put together a trip plan that includes the names and contact info of your hiking partners, your planned route with campsite locations, and the dates you’ll be gone. Also include info about the car you’ll be leaving at the trailhead including the licence plate number. Establish a check-in time for the end of your trip. If you don’t call or text your emergency contact by the check-in time, they will know to call search and rescue.

I also carry a Garmin inReach Mini communication device. It uses satellites to let me text my family at home to let them know if I’ve changed my route or am going to be late. It also has an SOS button I can push in an emergency to call for rescue.

Step-By-Step Plan for Beginner Backpackers

If you’ve never been on a backpacking trip before, it can be tempting to jump right in. But that can result in a less-than-awesome trip. Here’s my step-by-step plan to ensure your first backpacking trip is a success. It has lots of backpacking tips for beginners.

1. Build-up your fitness

Ensure you are in good shape for hiking. Working out at the gym is great, but the best training for hiking is hiking.

Start going hiking more often, building up to longer and longer hikes with more elevation. If possible, go hiking once or twice a week. If you can’t get to the trails that often, walking in your neighbourhood (especially if it has hills) or working out at the gym on a stair climber are also good options.

2. Gather Gear and Practice Packing

Backpacking requires a fair amount of gear. Use the backpacking gear overview above and my backpacking gear checklist to see what you’ll need.

Once you have your gear, practice packing your backpack. Place heavy items in the middle, closest to your back to maintain a good centre of gravity. Put items that you won’t need until later, like your tent and sleeping bag, at the bottom. Put things you will need on the trail like snacks, water, maps, and your rain jacket in outside pockets or at the top.

3. Do Day Hikes Fully Loaded

Once you’ve got some of your gear together, take it for a hike. Load up your backpacking pack with everything you’ll need for an overnight trip. (If you don’t have all your gear yet, try stuffing your pack with clothing and pillows for bulk and bottles of water for weight.)

The extra weight of your pack will really affect your stamina. It also shifts your centre of gravity.

Choose a moderate hike (both in distance and elevation) to start, then work up to carrying your pack on harder hikes. You could also try putting your loaded pack on to walk around your neighbourhood or on the stair climber machine at the gym.

4. Do a Shake-Down Camping Trip (With a Car)

Book a night at a drive-up campground, but pretend you didn’t bring your car. Pack like you’re going backpacking. When you arrive, unload your backpack, lock your car, and try not to open it until you leave. This exercise can really help you get used to the realities of using your backpacking gear in a safe environment.

5. Go On Your First Backpacking Trip

Pick a short and easy hike for your first time backpacking. It’s also a good idea to pick a designated backcountry campground that has pit toilets, good water access, and food storage.

If you’re near Vancouver, my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia, has some great beginner backpacking trip suggestions.

So that’s everything you need to go backpacking for the first time. Do you have questions about backpacking as a beginner? Ask in the comments – I’m happy to help!

READ NEXT:

• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• 20+ Ways to Reduce Your Backpack Weight
• 12 Best Women’s Hiking Pants (Picks for Every Body Type)
• 300+ Hiking Terms Explained: A Hiking Glossary
• 17 Ways to Save Money on Hiking Gear
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• The 10 Essentials: Things You Should Bring on Every Hike
• How to Choose the Best Backpacking Meals
• Grocery Store Backpacking Meals for Cheap
• 24 Easy Backpacking Trips In BC For Beginners
• 30 Best Backpacking Trips in BC
• Backpacking with Kids: Tips from a Tween and His Mom
• How to Stay Warm in a Tent: Over 40 Tips
• 40+ Tips for Hiking in the Rain

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