Planning Your First Overnight Hike

The jump from day hiking to overnight backpacking opens up deeper trail experiences: remote lakes, alpine campsites, sunrises from a tent, and the satisfaction of carrying everything you need on your back. It also introduces new logistics around shelter, sleep, food, and water that day hiking does not require. This guide walks through the main planning steps for your first night on the trail.

When You Are Ready

Before your first overnight, you should be comfortable with:

Day hikes of 6 to 10 miles with a loaded daypack
The Ten Essentials and when to use each item
Basic trail navigation with a map and compass
Setting up your shelter and sleep system (practice at home first)

If any of these feel uncertain, log a few more day hikes first. REI’s beginner backpacking advice also suggests a few practice hikes carrying a loaded pack before the trip, so the weight is not a surprise on the trail.

Choosing Your First Route

Your first overnight should be forgiving:

Short distance: 3 to 5 miles to your campsite, so you have time to set up without rushing
Established campsites: Designated sites with cleared tent pads reduce setup complexity
Water access: A reliable water source near camp means you do not have to carry all your water in
Close to the trailhead: If something goes wrong, you can hike out within an hour or two
Good cell coverage (optional): Not necessary but reassuring for a first trip

Many national forests and state parks have hike-in or backpacking campsites a few miles from a trailhead that make a good first night. The local ranger station or the land manager’s website can point you to suitable sites and tell you about current conditions.

Permits and Rules

Check permit requirements early. Many national parks require a wilderness permit for every overnight stay; Yosemite, for example, requires one year-round for any overnight stay in its wilderness, and popular areas often limit how many permits are issued each day. National forests and other public lands set their own rules, so confirm whether you need a permit, where camping is allowed, and whether campfires are currently permitted. Our national park permit guide explains how the main systems work.

Before you leave, give a trusted person your route, campsite, and the time you expect to be back, along with when they should call for help if they have not heard from you.

Gear You Need Beyond Day Hiking

Your day hiking setup (see our essential gear checklist) forms the foundation. Add these systems for overnight:

Shelter

A freestanding two-person backpacking tent is the easiest shelter for most beginners. It is simple to pitch, stands on its own, and provides full weather and insect protection. Borrow or rent before buying to learn what features matter to you.

Sleep System

Sleeping bag: Choose a bag rated a bit colder than the lowest temperature you expect; a margin of about 10°F is a common rule of thumb, especially if you sleep cold. See our sleep systems guide for detailed advice.
Sleeping pad: The pad insulates you from the cold ground, which draws heat away by conduction all night. REI groups pads with an R-value of 2.0 to 3.9 as cool-weather pads and 4.0 or more as cold-weather pads; for three-season mountain trips, a pad around R 3 or higher is a sensible starting point. R-values add up, so a foam pad under an air pad boosts warmth.
Pillow (optional): A stuff sack filled with extra clothing works, or carry a lightweight inflatable camp pillow.

Cook System

Stove: A canister stove with a screw-on burner is the simplest option for beginners and boils water quickly. Cook outside your tent and vestibule, never inside, because of the fire and carbon monoxide risk.
Fuel canister: A small canister is usually ample for one person boiling water on a one- or two-night trip; check that it is full before you go.
Pot (700 mL to 1 L): Titanium or aluminum; just big enough to boil water for freeze-dried meals or oatmeal.
Utensil: A long-handled spoon that reaches the bottom of freeze-dried meal bags.
Food: Freeze-dried meals are lightweight and simple (add boiling water, wait, eat). Supplement with trail snacks from our trail nutrition guide.

Food Storage

Food storage rules are set by each land manager, so check them for your exact destination. Some areas require hard-sided bear-resistant canisters: in Yosemite’s wilderness, bear canisters are required for overnight hikers and counterbalance food hangs are no longer legal. Other areas provide food lockers or poles at campsites, allow approved bear-resistant bags, or permit a properly built food hang. Whatever the method, every item with a scent (food, trash, toothpaste, sunscreen) goes into storage, not into your tent.

Packing Your Backpack

For a one- or two-night trip, REI’s sizing guidance puts most hikers in a pack of roughly 30 to 50 liters, depending on how compact your gear is. Load it following the zone system from our backpack sizing guide:

Bottom: Sleeping bag and items you will not need until camp
Core (against your back): Heaviest items — food, water, stove, bear canister
Top: Rain gear, snacks, layers you might need during the hike
Hip belt pockets: Phone, snacks, lip balm, sunscreen

REI’s general guideline is that a loaded backpacking pack should not weigh more than about 20 percent of your body weight. For a 160-pound hiker, that is about 32 pounds, including food and water. Weigh your loaded pack a few days before the trip so you have time to leave things out.

At Camp: Setup Routine

Plan to arrive at camp with at least two hours of daylight remaining. Follow this sequence:

Select and inspect your site: Use a designated site when available. Elsewhere, Leave No Trace guidance is to camp on durable surfaces at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. Check overhead for dead branches before you pitch.
Set up shelter: Pitch your tent while you have light and energy.
Organize gear: Unpack your sleep system and let your sleeping bag loft. Organize your cook kit and food.
Treat water: Fill bottles from the nearest water source and filter or treat. See our hydration and water treatment guide.
Cook dinner: Cook well away from your tent, and in bear country follow the park’s guidance on distances between your kitchen, food storage, and sleeping area.
Store food: Before dark, secure all food and scented items using the storage method required for the area.
Wind down: Enjoy the evening. This is why you came.

Camp Hygiene

Carry hand sanitizer for use before eating and after using the bathroom
Use toilets where they exist; otherwise dig catholes 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails, as the Leave No Trace principles recommend
Wash dishes at least 200 feet from streams or lakes with a small amount of biodegradable soap, strain the dishwater, scatter it, and pack out food particles
Change into dry sleep clothes at camp; damp hiking clothes should not go into your sleeping bag

Morning Routine and Leave No Trace

Before leaving camp:

Pack everything; perform a ground sweep to confirm nothing is left behind
If you had a campfire where fires are allowed, burn wood to ash, make sure it is completely out and cold to the touch, then scatter the cool ashes
Restore the site to how you found it (or better)
Fill water bottles for the hike out

Follow Leave No Trace principles throughout your stay. A stove is the lower-impact choice for cooking, and many areas ban campfires during dry periods.

Common First-Timer Mistakes

Overpacking: Every extra pound drags on you. If you did not use an item on your first trip, consider leaving it home next time (safety items excepted).
Not practicing setup: Assembling an unfamiliar tent in the dark after a long hike is miserable. Set up everything in your backyard first.
Underestimating camp time: Cooking, filtering water, and setting up camp take longer than you think. Arrive early.
Underestimating overnight cold: Mountain nights can be far colder than the daytime high suggests. Pack a warm hat and an insulating layer for camp.
Forgetting creature comforts: Earplugs, a lightweight pillow, and dry camp socks can make the difference between sleeping well and staring at the tent ceiling all night.

Key Takeaways

Choose a first route that is short (3-5 miles), has established campsites, and is close to the trailhead
Check permit, campfire, and food-storage rules for your destination before you go
Practice setting up your tent, stove, and sleep system at home before your trip
Pack your overnight setup into a pack of roughly 30-50 liters and aim to keep total weight under about 20 percent of body weight
Arrive at camp with at least two hours of daylight and follow a systematic setup routine
Secure all food and scented items away from your sleeping area before dark

Next Steps

Sleep Systems for Overnight Hikes
Beginner Hiking Gear and Trail Skills Guide
Essential Gear Checklist
Leave No Trace Principles
Budget Hiking Gear Guide

Sources

Trail conditions change frequently. Always check current conditions with local ranger stations before heading out. This guide provides general information and is not a substitute for situational judgment on the trail.