Use this handy day hiking checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything important on your next day hike.
Essential Skills
- Backcountry bathroom skills
- Backcountry handwashing skills
- Preventing the spread of illnesses
- Avoiding crowded hiking destinations
- Following local regulations or closures
Clothing
- Comfortable clothes you can get dirty
- Insulating layer
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Active footwear
- Hiking boots/shoes
Equipment
- First aid kit
- Daypack
- Map/compass/trail guide
- Water bottles or bladder
- Emergency Whistle
- Water treatment system
- Lighter
- Head lamp
- Trowel and unscented hand sanitizer
- Toiletries – including hand washing kit
Food
- Calorie-dense, lightweight food
- Trash bag
Dakota Jackson
Optional Items
- Rain pants/skirt
- Sunscreen/sun hat
- Bug spray
- Hiking poles
- Gaiters
- Bandanas
- Buff/neck gaiter
- Pocket knife
- Binoculars
- Nature guidebooks
- Satellite communication device
