Ultimate Guide to Planning a Multi-Day Hiking Trip

*Girl In The Wild, BC CANADA. August 2021 - Photo Credit Bobbi Barbarich @barbarichphoto*

Going on a multi-day hiking trip takes plenty of planning and organisation. However, once you get out onto the trail, the feeling of freedom, adventure and connection with nature is better than almost anything you will experience.

If you are ready to get out onto the trail and experience all of this or want to take a deep dive into the backcountry for the first time, this is the article to get you onto the right path. Use these steps to lay out the parameters for your hike. This way, you stay safe and have the kind of trip you have always dreamt of up to this point.

The Steps to Plan Your Multi-Day Hiking Trip

You don’t have to follow all these steps in the order we have put them in. However, we put them this way to try to make the process of organising your first multi-day hiking trip less overwhelming. When you use these steps, you will find that you don’t get to a certain point and can’t answer essential questions.

Without further ado, let’s launch into our first step to plan your multi-day hiking trip!

Choose Your Trail and Route Details

Selecting your trail depends on a variety of factors. Two of the most important you need to weigh out are time vs. distance. How much time you have and how far you can go each day. Set yourself realistic goals. It is fine to push yourself, but if you are new to the backcountry trail, don’t assume you will be able to go too far too fast or put yourself in hazardous situations.

Many of the other considerations are more personal. For example, how far are you willing to go? What kind of aesthetics are you looking for? Maybe you have an excellent multi-day trail in your backyard. Other people might be interested in a specific state or region.

Although not the last consideration, you should also remember the weather’s impact on a trip like this. If you plan on camping each night instead of finding accommodation at waypoints, you need to make sure you stay warm. Specific trails also won’t be accessible if they are covered in snow or flooded during particular times of the year.

Plan How Many Days You Will Spend on the Trail

The next part of planning your backpacking trip is to figure out how many days you will be on the trail. Again, knowing your route details will help you figure out how far you need to go each day to fit your hike into the number of days you have to hike it.

Keep in mind, the longer you hike, the longer planning and preparing will take. So if you only have a couple of weeks, or even days, to plan your trip, be willing to pair down on the time you will spend on the trail. This point is even more applicable if you haven’t tested most of your gear out before.

Photo Credits- Ben Tibbets , Chamonix 2021

Check for Permit Requirements

Are you heading into the backcountry? Part of planning your summer adventure is applying for it in some cases. Most areas in the United States in the backcountry require some kind of permit. If even part of your trail goes through an area requiring a permit, make sure you have it ready.

Set Up a Transportation Plan

We nature enthusiasts often get so excited for our trip that we spend hours planning our route, waypoints, buying our gear, and everything else. Then we realize we forgot how to get to and from our planned beginning and ending points!

First, we suggest trying to use green transportation if you can. For example, if you are going as a group, try to carpool. You can also check to see if public transportation will take you to or from these points. Otherwise, be ready to drive to the beginning and have someone pick you up from your end location.

Establish Your Gear List

You can get a start on your gear list once you have decided what route you are doing, how long you will be out and if you plan on camping each night.

You can use gear lists to give you an idea of anything you might need on a backpacking trip. Customize these comprehensive lists for your trip since it won't be necessary to carry everything you might need on the PCT if you are backpacking for three days in Texas.

Another facet to packing your gear is testing it. Make sure everything works by setting it up once in your home or backyard. If you have time to test it, try going out for a day of camping and hiking before the big trip.

Plan Your Meals

Next, plan your meals and adjust your gear list accordingly. Planning your food out for your multi-day hiking trip will be one of the more significant siphons for your time in the planning process.

You need to eat well and provide yourself with plenty of carbohydrates and calories but still keep it lightweight. There are plenty of ideas for lightweight backpacking foods you can pack. Before you dig too deeply into the food you want to pack, consider the requirements in your area for food storage. For example, do you need to have a bear canister or pack your food in another protected method?

Keep Safety in Mind

The outdoors might be a beautiful place, but it can also be a perilous place in the wrong situation. Even if you are a seasoned hiker, you need to take the outdoors seriously and respect it.

Part of keeping yourself safe is being thorough throughout the previous steps. Know your route well and have maps and backup notes on landmarks and wayfinding points. Be prepared for the weather and ensure you have protection from the sun and rain. Pay attention to the weather reports.

Finally, you shouldn't be the only one aware of your route. Tell people where you plan on being and when. Tell them when you might be able to check-in and keep safety numbers on your person as you hike.

Remember Best Practices for the Trail

Another part of respecting the outdoors is keeping it pristine. We want our backcountry to be beautifully maintained for generations to come. Remember best practices like pack-in, pack-out. That means anything that you take with you on the trail should come out with you.

‘Keep Backcountry Beautiful’ with Holly Walker, Photo Credits: Alex Ratson

Try to have as little impact on the world around you as you can. After all, you are passing through as a guest in the backcountry.

Amy Stanton-FooNovember 15, 2021hiking, adventure planning