Solo Backpacking can certainly be intimidating; however, once you go on your first solo trip, I think you’ll find it to be a freeing and empowering experience. There is undoubtedly more planning and precautions when it comes to backpacking solo, but it is worth it. These are my top solo backpacking tips!

These tips apply to everyone, whether you want to start backpacking in general or are trying to hype yourself up for backpacking without your best friend.

Before I backpacked solo, I had experience backpacking with others, where I learned the ins and outs of backpacking. I could gauge my comfort level with challenging trails while carrying a heavy pack and figured out what aspects of backpacking scared me a little bit, because let’s be real, your first time sleeping in the wilderness is SCARY.

However, even before I started backpacking, I was solo hiking. If you haven’t solo hiked, I recommend trying it out before backpacking on your own.

In this blog post, I will share tips for solo backpacking, from picking a good trail to discussing necessary gear and safety precautions to consider.

Why this blog? Hi! My name is Sarah, and I have been solo hiking and backpacking since college. I plan women’s hikes and backpacking trips to get more people outdoors and comfortable doing hard things. I’ve also committed to being a lifelong learner, so I can pass that information on to people like you!

Just a heads up! This post contains affiliate links, which means purchases made through my site could earn me a small kickback at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

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Comprehensive List of Safety Tips for Backpacking Solo

Every outdoor enthusiast reaches a point at which they need to decide if they want to keep waiting around for others to join them or hit the trail on their own.

I started solo hiking in college when I didn’t have anyone to go with. I started small at the local nature preserve, and I’ll be honest, there were a few times that my solo hike turned into a solo trail run when I psyched myself out and wanted to hightail it out of there.

I continued to solo hike but didn’t start solo backpacking until my partner’s work schedule changed, and I had no choice but to go alone. Now, I regularly travel, hike, camp, and backpack alone. Here are my tips for solo backpacking!

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Why Solo Backpack?

When I backpack (or do anything) solo, I am regularly asked, “Why?” Originally, my answer was always that I had no one to go with, but over the years, my answer morphed into “I actually really enjoy backpacking alone.”

There are tons of benefits when it comes to solo backpacking like…

• Go your own pace: When you’re backpacking with others, your pace is typically limited by those you choose to backpack with.
• Challenge yourself: Push your limits on your own!
• Timing: Schedules are complex to coordinate, but don’t let that stop you from getting outside.
• Your decisions are yours to make: Picking the trail, when you go, where to break, etc.
• Empower yourself: Prove to yourself you can do challenging things. I.e., you don’t need no man.

Whatever your decision is to backpack on your own, I’m positive it is a good one!

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1. Start Simple

Your first solo backpacking trip doesn’t need to be long or strenuous. It can be a couple-mile trek to a nearby lake for a night under the stars.

This is especially important if you’ve never backpacked before. By doing a short, easy trail, you can test out your gear, get a feel for your comfort level being alone, and have a relaxing first experience.

2. Start with a Well-Known Trail

My first solo trip was the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker. I picked it because it was a familiar trail to me, so I knew what to expect. I also knew that plenty of people would be hiking and backpacking around me in case I needed help.

Consider going to a well-known trail for your first backpacking trip so you won’t be completely alone.

3. Pick a Route You’re Comfortable With

Your comfort zone for trails should be considered when planning your trip. While it is always good to challenge yourself, limit your challenges on your first couple of times out.

Once you have a good understanding of your solo backpacking abilities, you can start taking on more challenging routes on your own. This can look like more days on the trail, longer days, more elevation, or going somewhere new.

If you combine too many challenges on your first time out, it could ruin the experience for you.

Read Next: Choosing a Backpacking Sleeping Bag

4. Share Your Plan

Before hitting the trail, you should share the following information with a trusted friend.

1. Where your car will be parked
2. What trail are you doing
3. Where you will be camping or a rough estimate (Ex: near Snow Lake)
4. Your intended start time
5. Your intended end time
6. When should they hear from you after the trip

If you do not contact them by a specific time post-trip, talk to them about what they should do. The first step should be to contact the local forest service office; they can check for your car at the trailhead and contact any rangers currently onsite.

While I would advise against changing your plan, sometimes that cannot be avoided. If you do change your route en route, have a means of contacting your friend and let them know.

5. Plan for Emergencies

For peace of mind, consider what challenges you could face on the trail. This can be anything from limited water resources, animal activity, poor weather conditions, and first aid emergencies.

If you’re going alone, consider taking a wilderness first aid class. The skills you gain in these courses can set you up for success in the face of an emergency.

Additionally, I highly recommend some sort of personal locator beacon or GPS tracker like the Garmin inReach. In light of an emergency, you would be able to contact someone if you needed to be rescued.

Satellite Messengers

I use my Garmin inReach Mini multiple times a day when I am on the trail solo so I can communicate with my partner. Every message I send includes my exact coordinates so he knows where I am.

This is extremely helpful for tracking my progress and providing my latest coordinates to SAR if needed.

Cell service is never guaranteed; a satellite communicator could be your only means of reaching someone off-trail.

You can learn about the different available PLBs with this guide.

6. Carry the Essentials

You should carry the ten essentials with you on every backpacking and hiking trip. These items will keep you covered in case of emergencies and keep you generally safe and comfortable on the trail.

Here is the list of ten essentials:

1. Navigation – Map & Compass
2. Light – Headlamp (I also carry a Moji)
3. Shelter System – Tent or Emergency Bivvy
4. Sun Protection – Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, sunhoodie
5. Means of fire – Flint or Lighter
6. First Aid Kit
7. Multipurpose Knife
8. Extra Food
9. Extra, Dry Clothes
10. Water Filter

You can learn more about the ten essentials here.

Solo Backpacking Essentials

In addition to the ten essentials, there are some items I try to carry when I’m solo backpacking.

• Two water filtration systems: Gravity filter and Emergency Filter like a Sawyer Squeeze Mini or LifeStraw
• Extra Fuel or New Fuel
• Freshly charged battery pack (or two)
• Garbage Bag: Pick up trash, use for rain gear, or compartmentalize your gear

For a complete packing list of backpacking gear with budget items, check out my guide here!

7. Keep it Light

While this can be challenging, try to keep your backpack as light as possible. When you’re backpacking with others, it can be easy to distribute gear among them. However, when you’re solo backpacking, you have to self-carry everything.

Try to minimize the extra things you pack and keep things simple. You don’t need to go out and buy all new ultralight gear, but bring the lightest of your options.

• One outfit for hiking & one outfit for sleeping
• Extra socks – I bring one extra hiking pair and a sleeping pair
• One extra day of food
• Use a smaller water container. I use a 1.5L filtering water bottle, and it has been a game-changer
• Limit toiletries – Avoid full-size products

Your loaded backpack should not weigh over 20% of your body weight. While you will have a heavier pack backpacking on your own, you might want to keep some of your luxury items at home.

Related Read: How much should your backpacking pack weigh?

8. Download the Trail

If you are not using a paper map, have the map downloaded on your phone. You can do this with a Gaia GPS, OnX, or AllTrails.

I use AllTrails since I have the Plus version. The topographic map on the app is detailed enough for on trail backpacking.

AllTrails has a couple of versions you can try out, but the Plus version at least allows you to download offline maps, get alerts for wrong terms, and view a 3D preview of the trail.

Snag an AllTrails Subscription here!

9. Check Conditions Ahead of Time

It’s good practice, regardless of whether you’re backpacking solo or not, to check conditions before heading out. However, I find that when you check conditions ahead of time before a solo trek, you can make decisions for yourself that you might not make with others.

Weather Conditions

Check weather conditions right before your trip and from multiple sources. I will also check weather conditions using my Garmin Inreach throughout my hike and before bed. Look out for storms and high winds. Those two are typically a challenge to backpack in.

You will also want to check for fire conditions in your area. With wildfires on the rise, be aware of what is happening around you. You cannot get fire information when you’re in the backcountry. If you see billowing smoke, consider turning around.

I typically will not solo backpack in bad weather.

Trail Conditions

The local USFS will have the most up-to-date trail conditions and information on any trail closures. Trail conditions can include anything from washouts, snow, fallen trees, and animal activity.

If you’re hiking in Washington, the Washington Trails Association has some of the best user-generated trail reports I have ever seen. People go above and beyond when discussing conditions on the trail and provide valuable insight on what to expect.

AllTrails typically has a few trail reviews; however, I find that people tend to lack details and only provide their opinion on the actual trail.

Do your research on the trail you choose and absorb all the information you can!

Hiking in shoulder season? Check out the Snow Pak report on NWAC.

Road Conditions

Is there anything more disappointing than reaching the forest service road of your trail just to realize it is closed? Probably, but that still sucks!

On one of my recent solo backpacking trips, I decided to do a solo hike the day before and ended up putting myself 5 hours instead of 1 hour away from my backpacking trailhead because the connecting forest service road was closed. Even though the two trailheads looked close on a map, if I would have looked online, I would have seen the connector road was closed. oops.

You also want to make sure your car can actually reach the trailhead. Some of the forest service roads are gnarly and littered with potholes.

10. Bring Entertainment

Is solo backpacking boring, or did you just forget to download your smutty fairy book onto your phone before heading out? Of all my solo backpacking tips, this might be my favorite.

I pack a Kindle for every backpacking trip, but I use it the most on my solo trips.

Especially if you’re doing a shorter trip, bringing a book or a card game is a must.

With a pack of cards, you can play spider, pyramid, and solitaire. I also really enjoy “The Game,” which can be played single-player or in a group.

Read Next: Essential Car Camping Gear

11. Trust your Instincts

The most important solo backpacking tip is to trust yourself. If something feels “off”, that is a good enough reason to turn around or move campsites.

“The vibes weren’t vibing” is a strong enough reason to get yourself out of there.

Stop what you’re doing, take some deep breaths, and assess your surroundings. What do you see, hear, feel, and smell? Is there something physically making you uneasy?

If you feel uncomfortable around a person, write down details about their physical appearance. If I ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable around an individual, I will leave. In the process of leaving, I let my partner know I am going to hike out and why, with a detailed description.

12. Be a Solo Hiker First

The best way to understand your comfort with solo backpacking is to do a day hike alone first. While you can absolutely hit the ground running in your solo adventures, consider camping and hiking yourself first.

A solo day hike can help you mentally prepare for being your own company.

This will be a good indicator of whether you will have a good experience backpacking alone.

13. Keep it off Social Media

Under no circumstances should you post your plan, location, or relevant information to the outside world before your solo backpacking trip. Even if you’re going with a group, it’s a good idea to keep that information off social media until you are back safe and sound.

14. Go on a Group Backpacking Trip with Strangers

Plenty of companies offer solo backpackers an opportunity to do things solo, but in a group. Companies like Intrepid offer backpacking trips for solo backpackers, like the Inca Trail in South America or Sapa in Southeast Asia.

You can find plenty of multi-day treks to different countries with travel companies. The beauty of solo backpacking is that you can meet some amazing people on the way.

This is a great option if you want to travel solo but aren’t ready to make the leap.

You can also do women-only trips with Explorer Chick or Wild Women Expeditions.

Related Read: Backpacking Spray Park Loop in Mount Rainier

15. Bring the Bear Spray

Pack bear spray and keep it on you. IMO, bringing some form of self-defense device provides unparalleled peace of mind, especially for solo women backpackers. Bear Spray is a good choice because it is lightweight, has a good range, and is multipurpose.

Bear spray isn’t just for bears.

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Pack It Up

Welcome to the world of solo backpacking! I can assure you that it will be a rewarding and empowering experience as long as you take the time to prepare.

I find that the more mentally and physically prepared you are for your trip, the more successful your solo backpacking trip will be.

Your first backpacking trip on your own will involve some mental challenges, but I promise it will get easier with each trip!

Have questions about solo backpacking? Let me know!