Hiking solo as a female backpacker can be an incredibly rewarding experience. You have the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want without having to wait for anyone else to go with you.
As someone who spends a lot of time out on trail, I know how important it is to prioritize safety and preparedness, especially as a solo female backpacker or hiker.
So if you’re a backpacker or hiker who is looking to build up your confidence to go out on trail by yourself, here 10 tips every solo female backpacker should know before hiking alone in the backcountry.
10 Tips Every Solo Female Backpacker Should Know Before Hiking Alone
Tip #1: Know Your Fears
It’s okay to have fears about hiking solo. It’s not okay to let fears (or other people’s fears) hold you back from doing something you may love and want to do. Start by acknowledging each of the fears you might have about being out on trail alone.
Make a Fear List and write down all the fears you have about hiking alone. If you have friends and family that have expressed concerns with you wanting to be out on trail by yourself, jot down the things that they’re afraid of too.
Then, put together a plan on how you’re going to face each of those fears. Often, just the act of acknowledging fears, whether they’re your fears or someone else’s, can help reduce their power.
Tip #2: Trip Planning
Maybe one of your fears of hiking solo is figuring out the logistics and planning a trip.
The thought of knowing where to go, having to put together a route, arranging transportation to get to and from the trailhead and even knowing how to find water sources and safe tentsites might seem overwhelming.
Here are some tips that can help you start to overcome the fear and overwhelm of trip planning:
Choose A Popular Trail: Start by choosing a popular, well-marked trail with lower mileage and elevation, especially if you’re new to solo hiking. Even though you’re out there by yourself, you’re more likely to end up at a tentsite with other backpackers nearby on a popular trail, reducing your chances of having to camp alone at night.
Picking a popular trail will also most likely mean easier access to the trailhead where you can safely park your car, reducing your chances of needing to take public transportation to the trailhead or having to hitchhike back to your car after your hike.
Research Your Route: Learn about the trail’s difficulty, terrain, current trail conditions and road conditions getting to the trailhead. You can do this by checking for recent trail reports online or call the local ranger station for the area you want to travel in to get real-time information.
Learn The Rules: You’ll also want to learn what the local rules and regulations are for the area. Do you need a permit to park your car at the trailhead? Do you need a permit to camp along the trail? Are their specific rules for food storage? What wildlife might you encounter in the area?
Look Up the Weather: Look up the current weather forecast for the area as well. I personally like to check the weather about a week before my trip, a couple days before and then again, the morning before I head out.
While you’re in the research phase of your trip planning, also take the time to look at a map of the area and see if you can locate nearby water sources and potential tentsites.
Once you’ve completed your research, put together your trip itinerary including mapping out the route for your trip.
Create Waypoints on Your Map: Make sure you note on your route any nearby water sources, tentsites, possible hazards like downed trees, snowfields and water crossings and mark any potential exit routes and alternates along your route that you could take in the event of an emergency where you’d need to get off of the trail.
Knowing what you can expect while you’re out on trail by yourself can help relieve a lot of anxiety for your upcoming trip.
Tip #3: Pack the Right Gear
Another fear you might have as a solo female backpacker is trying to decide what kind of backpacking gear you’ll need to pack for your trip.
It can be overwhelming trying to decide what gear is the right gear to pack, especially if you’re new to backpacking. Every trip is going to be different depending on the time of year, location of the trail, conditions of the trail and the forecasted weather for the area.
You’ll want to pack the right gear for the right conditions and only pack the gear you’ll need. Not only should you invest in good gear that you’re comfortable with, but you’ll also need to know how to use all the gear you bring with you.
Let’s start with the 10 Essentials. The 10 Essentials are a list of 10 items every hiker should have in their pack for every trip they go on, no matter how long they plan on being out on trail.
The 10 Essentials are designed to help you be prepared for the worst-case scenario, in the event of an emergency where you have to stay out on trail longer than you anticipated due to adverse weather, getting lost, getting injured or having to help another hiker.
The 10 Essentials include:
- Navigation
- Sun Protection
- Insulation
- Illumination
- First Aid Kit
- Fire
- Repair Kit and Tools
- Extra Food
- Extra Water/Hydration
- And an Emergency Shelter
Another gear tip I have for you is to choose proper footwear. Invest in good hiking boots or shoes like a pair of trail runners, which can help prevent blisters and ensure comfort. You also might want to consider getting your shoes a half size up so that your feet have plenty of room to swell whenever you’re hiking longer distances.
When it comes to clothing, layer your clothing. Wear moisture-wicking base layers, which will be the layer closest to your skin. Then, an insulating mid-layer to help keep you warm like a fleece or a puffy jacket and then use waterproof outer layers to help you stay dry if it’s wet out.
One of my all-time favorite hiking clothing tips is to: Be Bold and Start Cold
This means leaving the trailhead and starting your hike wearing less layers and feeling a little cold. Chances are once you start hiking, you’ll warm up quickly. By not wearing all of your layers at the start of your hike, you’ll reduce the chance of sweating underneath your clothing. Sweating and being wet in cold conditions can not only be uncomfortable and make it so that it takes longer for you to warm up, but in adverse conditions could also be deadly.
Now, let’s talk about safety gear.
As a solo female backpacker and hiker, you might have worries about your personal safety whenever you’re out on trail alone, whether it’s encountering a creepy stranger, wildlife or needing to signal for help while you’re out of cell and WiFi service. This is why it’s important to always pack gear that will help you feel safe while you’re out on trail alone.
Safety gear can be navigation tools like a reliable paper map and compass, a fully charged cellphone with a digital map of the area downloaded on it that has GPS capabilities and/or a satellite messenger with two-way messaging. It can also be as simple as a whistle, a knife or multi-tool and/or even a can of bear spray.
Most packs will have a built-in whistle on the sternum strap so check to see if your backpack has one. If so, this is one less thing you’ll need to remember to pack for your trip!
If you’re planning on doing solo travel in the backcountry, you might want to consider carrying a satellite messenger with two-way messaging. Satellite messengers allow you to have two-way messaging with search and rescue officials in the event of an emergency where you need to hit the SOS button and call for help. You’ll also have an option for two-way messaging with friends and family at home while you’re out of cell and wifi service.
Not only can this help provide peace of mind for those at home while you’re on trail by yourself, but you’ll also have peace of mind knowing that your people at home won’t have to worry as much about you while you’re out there. Even without cell and wifi service people at home are able to track you along your hike. They can send you text messages if they need to reach you. Sometimes having this type of communication when you’re out on trail by yourself can also help you feel less lonely too.
If you choose to use a satellite messenger, make sure it’s fully charged, the device and subscription is set up ahead and activated ahead of time and you know how to use the device and all of its features.
I’d also consider bringing a portable charger to charge all of your electronics while you’re out on trail.
If you plan on traveling through an area that’s known to have bear activity, you might also want to consider bringing bear spray with you and keep it somewhere easily accessible on your pack.
You’ll want to check park and wilderness area regulations for carrying bear spray before heading out to the trail. Carrying bear spray in wilderness areas like Yosemite National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park is prohibited while parks with grizzly bear populations like Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park strongly recommend hikers always carry bear spray.
My final tip when it comes to backpacking gear is to use a checklist when packing for your trip.
I’ve created a Backpacking Gear Packing List to help you figure out all the gear you might need to pack for any backpacking trip.
Each section of the list is broken down by system and has a checkbox that you can mark once you have the item packed. I’ve also marked each of the items on the list that’s considered one of the 10 Essentials, making it easy to ensure that you have all 10 packed for every trip you go on.
This list is intentionally comprehensive. You don’t need to pack every single item on this list for every trip. Just use this as a guideline for what gear you’ll need to pack.
CLICK HERE to download your own Backpacking Gear Packing List for FREE!
Knowing that you have reliable gear, everything you’d need for your trip and having a checklist you can use to make sure you don’t forget to pack something you might need, can help boost your confidence when it comes to packing gear for your next trip.
Tip #4: Practice Using Your Gear
When it comes to being out on trail by yourself, you might have feelings of uncertainty when it comes to your backcountry skills like knowing how to use all of your gear, especially if you’re new to hiking and backpacking.
This is why I always recommend practice using your gear before getting to the trailhead. This means:
- Break in your hiking shoes by wearing them a few times
- Set up your stove and boil a pot of water
- Practice filtering water using your water filter
- Set up your tent and make sure you have all the right pieces
- Practice using your navigation tools as you plan your route
- Practice using your navigation tools while navigating through your neighborhood
- Dig a cathole using your trowel
- I’d also recommend trying some of your backpacking meals, just to make sure you like them
Get comfortable with using all of your gear before heading out on trail alone. The more comfortable you are using your gear, the more prepared you’ll be for your trip and the more confident you’ll feel being out there by yourself.
Tip #5: Stay Connected
Let someone you trust who isn’t going out on trail with you know of your plans before heading out on trail for your solo trip. Share your itinerary and the route you created for your trip along with your expected return day and time.
If you can, plan on checking in with your trusted person regularly during your trip. This is where having a satellite messenger with two-way messaging really comes in handy.
Knowing that someone off-trail is aware of your whereabouts while you’re hiking alone can provide peace of mind, both for you and the person at home, especially if you have a way to communicate with them during your trip while you’re out of cell and WIFI service.
Tip #6: Join A Community
As a woman who prioritizes spending time out on trail alone, I know all too well what it’s like to be judged by others and the social stigma that comes with being a female who wants to be out on trail by herself.
When I first started my solo backpacking journey, some of my friends and family projected their own fears of me onto me. I’d often hear things like:
- You can’t go backpacking alone. It’s not safe.
- What are you going to do if something bad happens?
- What about bears?
- What if you get lost?
- Are you going to carry a gun?
- You shouldn’t go out in the backcountry alone if you’re not carrying a gun
If you’re new to backpacking and don’t have a lot of experience being out on trail by yourself yet, hearing objections like these might have you start second guessing yourself.
Having to deal with the social stigma of being a solo female hiker or backpacker can often discourage a lot of women from wanting to get out on trail by themselves, long before they even gotten the chance to try to build up their own confidence and skillsets to do it safely and comfortably.
Trust me, I know.
I’ve not only had to deal with this in my own life, but I’ve also talked to a lot of women who have wanted to enroll into The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System but ended up talking themselves out of pursuing their goals of solo hiking and backpacking. All of the objections from friends and family members caused these women to second guess if they could even do something like this in the first place.
My heart goes out to all of those women. Maybe this is you too.
My hope is that one day these women will be willing to face and want to overcome, not only their own fears, but also the fears that have been projected onto them by others so that she can finally give herself permission to achieve her solo hiking and backpacking dreams.
If you’re a woman who’s ready to face your own fears and deal with objections from friends and family who might not understand why going out in the backcountry alone is important to you, I suggest start by actively seeking out likeminded people who can help provide you with support and encouragement as you make your way through your solo backpacking journey.
One way to do this is by engaging with local hiking and backpacking groups, whether they’re online or in-person.
As part of The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System, we have a private online community that’s made up of students who are both currently making their way through the program and have graduated from the program.
Women in this program often have a desire for connection, are looking for motivation and inspiration to keep working towards their goals, want accountability partners and are interested in meeting other likeminded women for support, looking for other women to share their experiences with and to potentially plan future trips with one another. Those in the program seeking this type of connection are able to do so with one another here within this active community.
Often times, I hear students say that The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System community is the community of women they never knew they needed and that being able to connect with other likeminded women in this fashion is one of their favorite parts of this program.
Tip #7: How to Stay Found
I often hear from the women whom I talk to that getting lost is one of their biggest fears when it comes to wanting to be out on trail by themselves, especially if it’s an area they’re unfamiliar with.
Being a solo female backpacker or hiker, means you need to be prepared to be 100% self-reliant whenever you’re out in the backcountry alone.
If this is you, then this is your cue to learn some basic navigation skills.
Learn how to read a map and use a compass. Consider taking an online or in-person wilderness navigation course. If you’re using a digital navigation app, make sure you always download a map of the area you’ll be hiking in before heading out to the trail.
Keep in mind, electronics can fail so it’s always a good idea to have a backup like a paper map and compass when using a digital navigation system…and make sure you know how to use each of these tools. Otherwise, their just deadweight in your pack.
Tip #8: Know How to Stay Safe (and Uninjured)
Another fear you might have as a solo female backpacker is a fear of getting injured or having a health issue or accident while out hiking alone and not having immediate access to help.
If this is you, consider this your cue to learn basic first aid.
Familiarize yourself with common injuries and their treatments. Consider taking a Wilderness First Aid course and learn how to customize your own first aid kit based off common injuries, your personal needs and any allergies you might have.
Tip #9: Know How to Deal With Wildlife Encounters
Maybe one of your fears of hiking alone is having to encounter wildlife while you’re out there. If so, take the time to learn about the different types of wildlife that could be in the area you plan on traveling in. Learn how to safely and responsibly react in the event of an encounter with local wildlife.
Here a couple of other wildlife encounter tips:
If you see wildlife out on trail, always give them a wide berth and plenty of space.
Make noise while you’re out on trail, especially if you’re hiking solo. Don’t ever approach wildlife too closely and NEVER feed them.
You’ll also want to learn how to practice proper food storage while you’re out on trail. Start by learning what the local rules and regulations are for proper food storage in the area you plan on traveling in.
- Are you required to use a hard-sided bear canister?
- Are there poles provided at each tentsite for you to hang your food?
- Can you use an Ursack or are there trees in the area to be able to do a proper food hang?
When using a hard-sided bear canister, Ursack or food bag, make sure you know what items need to be stored in the container. Know how to properly close the container and know where the container should be stored while you’re at camp.
One of the best ways to prevent unwanted wildlife encounters is to always properly store your food whenever you’re out on trail. Never ever store food or smelly items in your tent at night.
Tip #10: Safety Tips for Both On & Off Trail
And finally, the last tip I want to share is regarding safety concerns for solo female backpackers and hikers, either if you’re on trail or off.
Before you head out to the trailhead alone:
Create a communication plan with your trusted person at home and try to stick to it. You’ll want to make sure your trusted person at home as a copy of your trip itinerary, your planned route, your expected return day and time and how you plan on communicating with them when you’re on trail and after you finish your hike.
It’s also a good idea to have some sort of backup plan for your trip. As you’re doing the research portion of your trip planning, mark any potential exit routes and alternates along your route that you could take in the event of an emergency and make to share this with your trusted person back at home as well.
Also, prior to getting out on trail by yourself, you might want to consider taking a self-defense class if you feel like this is something that will help you feel more confident and prepared as you venture out on trail alone.
Once you’re out on trail by yourself:
Practice personal safety tips, like always being aware of your surroundings and the other people you see out on trail. Tune into your senses and always stay alert to your surroundings and any potential dangers.
Try to avoid distractions like limiting your phone use. If you’re using an app on your phone to navigate, make sure you look up from the screen so that you don’t trip or miss a junction.
Avoid listening to music, audio books and podcasts while hiking. These are great distractions once you’re at camp and safely in your tent for the night. If you do listen to anything on your phone while hiking during the day, make sure you keep the volume down and only use one ear bud at a time. This way, you’re able to stay aware of your environment and hear things around you like adverse weather, nearby wildlife, water sources or another hiker who might be coming up behind you.
Make it a goal to select a tentsite and set up camp before dark. This way you’ll have plenty of time to select a safe site and do all of your camp chores like setting up your tent, collecting and filtering water and eating dinner while it’s still light out.
Finally, always trust your instincts. If something or someone you meet out on trail feels off, uncomfortable or unsafe, get yourself out of the situation immediately. Change your route, pick a different break spot or tentsite or turn around and head back to the trailhead. Never share that you’re hiking alone with anyone on trail you don’t know and never feel obligated to have to be overly friendly with strangers.
If you’ve been thinking about wanting to go on a solo day hike or maybe you’re ready to start planning a solo backpacking trip, whatever it is that you want to do, I want you to know that you can do this.
The only thing standing in your way…is YOU.
It’s totally normal to feel anxious about going out in the backcountry alone, especially if you’re a woman who’s heard a bunch of objections from others telling you why they think it’s not safe for you to do so. But with enough preparation and planning, you can enjoy the freedom of solo backpacking. Solo hiking and backpacking can be an incredible experience. It’s the ultimate confidence booster.
Trust me, if you can be self-reliant in the backcountry, you can do anything. This might even change your life if you let it.
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