Backpacking Trips
Embark on a Backpacking Trip with NOLS
On a backpacking trip with NOLS, you’ll learn to travel the wilderness with all of your gear on your back. You’ll learn new skills like packing and carrying a backpack, navigating amazing places on and off trail in a small team, and how to make your way through different types of terrain. Depending on your course, you might encounter challenges from river crossings and snowfields to deserts and thick forests.
With trekking poles in hand, get ready to embark on a backpacking adventure that will ignite your passion for exploration and leave you with memories that last a lifetime.
The NOLS Backpacking Experience
The best way to discover the world and your own potential is through immersive experiences in the great outdoors.
Master Essential Backpacking Skills for the Trail
Whether you're a seasoned backpacker or a complete novice, our expert instructors will equip you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the wilderness, from familiarizing you with your backpacking gear to building backcountry campsites. Learn the art of navigation, campcraft, and Leave No Trace principles. Develop your wilderness first aid skills and gain the confidence to tackle any obstacle that comes your way. Our backpacking trips are not just about outdoor skills. We also emphasize leadership development, empowering you to become a capable and responsible outdoor enthusiast. Gain valuable leadership skills that extend far beyond the trail and into all aspects of your life.
Expert Instruction Every Step of the Way
Our backpacking trips and courses are perfect for those who want to explore the outdoors with the support of experienced leaders. Our instructors are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in the wilderness. They possess the knowledge and skills to teach you everything you need to know about backpacking, from technical skills to leadership development. Whether you're joining us for your first backpacking trip or you're a seasoned backpacker looking to enhance your skills, our knowledgeable instructors lead the way, ensuring an enriching backpacking experience. Benefit from their expertise as they share their insights on wilderness travel, natural history, and outdoor leadership.
Experiential Adventures for All Levels
We believe in learning by doing. Our hands-on approach ensures that you actively participate in the learning process, applying your newfound skills in real-world scenarios. You'll come away with practical knowledge and the confidence to take on future backpacking adventures. And no matter your skill level or preferred destination, our backpacking trips are designed to accommodate a variety of levels from beginner backpackers to the seasoned to suit your needs. Choose from a variety of durations and locations, including stunning national parks, remote wilderness areas, and international destinations.
Risk Management and Environmental Stewardship
Our experienced instructors are trained to assess and manage risks and ensure your well-being throughout the journey. We adhere to the highest outdoor expedition standards, providing comprehensive risk management protocols and emergency response systems. Additionally, we promote environmental stewardship, teaching Leave No Trace principles to minimize our impact on the natural world and preserve these incredible landscapes for future generations.
NOLS Backpacking Courses
Wind River Wilderness
Spend a month in the Wind River Range finding new experiences and places to explore every day. Climb high ridges and summit peaks carved by glaciers. Go fly fishing and learn about local ecology on clear, blue lakes. Wake up in the morning to cook breakfast for your group on a camp stove, and fall asleep listening to marmots whistle and wind blowing through lodgepole pines. As you travel from camp to camp, you’ll do all these things and more while learning the skills to live comfortably in the wilderness.
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Himalaya Backpacking
Embark on the Himalaya Backpacking Expedition and experience a side of India that most travelers never get to see. Throughout the course, you’ll trek deep into the rugged landscapes of the Kumaon region, exploring ancient trade routes, remote villages, and towering peaks. Along the way, you’ll not only hone backpacking and wilderness skills but also immerse yourself in the rhythms of life in the Himalayas, where traditions remain untouched by modernity.
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Alaska Backpacking - Adult
This Alaska Backpacking Adventure immerses you in a rugged wilderness expedition, where you will develop essential outdoor skills, strengthen your leadership abilities, and experience nature's untamed beauty. Whether navigating the diverse Alaskan terrain or leading a group through unpredictable weather, this course offers more than just wilderness survival—it’s an opportunity to grow as a leader and adventurer.
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Women's Alaska Backpacking - Adult
Set off on an unforgettable 8-day wilderness adventure designed for women seeking to strengthen their leadership skills, build lifelong connections, and push their personal limits while immersed in Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes. Explore rugged terrains, experience the wild heart of Alaska, and gain the outdoor skills you need for self-reliance—all while empowering yourself through the support of an inspiring, like-minded community.
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Wyoming Backpacking Adventure for Teens 14-15 - 2 Weeks
Hiking among the pine forests, up and over high mountain passes, through meadows of wildflowers, and in boulder fields, you will experience the best of the Rockies. Whether you climb your first peak, catch your first fish, or make your first dinner from scratch, this course is designed to maximize hands-on learning in the backcountry.
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Yellowstone Backpacking - Adult
Venture deep into Yellowstone National Park on your own two feet. On this course for adults, you’ll join a group of your peers for a week of backpacking in the remote corners of Yellowstone. Challenge yourself as you climb steep ridges and high peaks. As you hike, you’ll start with the basics like setting up camp, navigating with a compass, and Leave No Trace principles, then move to more advanced skills.
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Backpacking Tips
How to Pack Your Backpack [Video]
Get ready for your next trip with these tips on how to pack your backpack.
Backpacking Media from Students and Instructors
Watch and Learn About NOLS Backpacking Skills
Backpacking with NOLS
The days begin early when you light your stove, cook and enjoy breakfast, and then organize and pack your pack. You’re usually hiking by mid-morning. Lunch on the trail might be bread you baked the day before, or a trail mix of nuts and dried fruits. You may stop for a short class on natural history, or to learn how to cross a river, travel through boulders or snow, or move over a high pass. When you arrive at your new camp location, you’ll first spend time choosing a Leave No Trace site, organizing camp, then preparing and enjoying dinner. If the day was long, a short evening meeting may wrap up the day. If the hike was short, there may be a class or discussion.
