Plan Your Next Route or Backpacking Trip – How to Research Hiking Trails Like a Pro

Doesn’t going on an adventure sounds like a great time? They make it seem like it’s a piece of cake in the movies. Just go out and set forth! That’s all well and good but to have a successful and rewarding trip, especially overseas, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into.

For example, I went on my very first backpacking expedition to Iceland without really checking it out and ran into a few unexpected situations as you can imagine. You can still have a great time don’t get me wrong, but what you don’t want to do is forget a valuable piece of equipment, or haul around too much, creating a less-than-ideal trip.

The success of a journey often hinges on what’s learned before ever setting forth. When it comes to researching hiking trails, a little bit of forethought goes a long way. Each adventure, from serene nature walks to challenging mountain ascents, offers a unique and sometimes unexpected, experience, so why not brush up on a few valued skills?

So let’s get to it. In this guide, I’ll explain the differences between the various types of hiking trails, decipher trail terminology, and outline a comprehensive approach to planning your hiking or backpacking trip. I’ll even share the basics of trail etiquette for those who are unaware.

Whether you’re a beginner going for a straightforward day hike or a seasoned backpacker preparing for the Everest Base Camp trail, always expand your knowledge by picking the perfect pathway! Happy hiking!

1. Understanding Trail Types

First, you need to know what to expect. What are the features you’re likely to come across? How difficult is it going to be? Which gear is going to suit you best?

You don’t want to wear hiking shoes in a hiking boots situation. Some routes are incredibly technical with handholds and rope bridges while others are extremely narrow with loose rock and the occasional mudslide. Know before you go!

No two paths are alike. Let’s go over a quick breakdown of the most common trail types so you’ll know exactly what to look for when you’re picking your next walkabout.

Nature Trails:

These are the bunny slopes in the hiking world. They usually are short and easy paths that are typically found in parks or nature reserves. Great for families and those with limited time on their hands. Think more of a stroll than anything else. You’ll find these everywhere in the world, and some of them are quite nice!

Day Hikes:

As you would imagine, these are routes that are completed within a single day. The term covers all levels of difficulty and usually describes more so the length of the trip, so don’t be fooled.

For instance one of the hardest day hikes in the world is the Skyline Trail – Cactus to Clouds. Over 20 miles and 10,000 of elevation gain. I’m tired just thinking about this one. It’s important to be aware of the trail difficulty for any day hike.

Loop Trails:

A loop trail starts and ends at the same point, forming a complete circuit. It allows hikers to experience different scenery without retracing their steps and can range in difficulty.

One of the most famous in the world is the O circuit of Torres del Paine in Patagonia. An absolute must for any hiking or backpacking enthusiast!

Out and Back:

An out-and-back trail involves hiking to a destination and then returning the same way. It’s a straightforward route, often chosen for its simplicity. They are extremely common when it comes to day hikes.

A lot of these walkways have additional paths that shoot off here and there or even contain a loop at the end. The point is the start and the finish are at the same spot.

Point-to-Point:

A point-to-point trail starts in one location and ends in another with the idea of not returning the way you came. They are usually very long day hikes that almost always require arranging transportation ahead of time for the finish line.

Make sure you have somebody lined up to give you a lift back before setting off or you might be spending a night under the stars!

Overnight Trails:

As the name implies these are much longer trails than a typical day hike and normally require camping overnight so don’t forget your camping gear, food and anything else you might need.

Thru-Hikes:

Have you ever heard of the Pacific Crest Trail? If you have then you know it’s thousands of miles long, check it out below. Thru-hikes are extremely long in design and cover vast distances, often spanning multiple states or countries.

You of course don’t have to do the entire leg of the trip, as most people only do small sections at a time. If you have the opportunity though, it can be one of the greatest achievements of your life.

Technical Trails:

These are the “scary” trails that might come to mind if you see pics of people holding onto dear life as they walk on a few pieces of wood overhanging the side of a mountain. They are full of challenging terrain and sometimes even require specific skills like rock climbing or rope work.

Many more types are fairly self-explanatory like mountain trail, coastal, desert, waterfall, alpine, historical, family friendly, and so on. I won’t bore you with listing the definitions of all of these as I’m sure you can put 2 and 2 together.

2. Deciphering Trail Terminology

When you’re evaluating your next trail, you need to know what the more common terms are. Beginners especially need to know the basics so they bring the proper hiking shoes, trekking poles, and other pieces of valuable gear. Below is a quick breakdown of the most common descriptions you’ll come across –

Trail Difficulty

Every hiker needs to know what they’ll be getting into. You need to know the basics before picking where to go. Different locations have their custom rating systems since there isn’t a worldwide standard but generally, it goes as follows:

Trail Features

These are obstacles, points of interest and other general geographical/artificial things you’ll be coming across along your journey.

Trail Conditions

When you’re out and about in mother nature, you’ll come across basically anything you can imagine under the sun. Here’s a list of the 20 most common terms and conditions you’ll face in Mother Nature –

Trail Etiquette

Just like most things in life, there’s a right way and wrong way of doing things and this is no different out on the trails, especially if there are a bunch of people in a very popular spot. There might be some very specific local adhere to rules and regulations but for the most part, you’ll be safe if you follow these guidelines –

3. Optimizing Hiking Trail Resources

When I look into a potential trail there are a few things I usually do. First I look for any websites dedicated to that trail specifically. Sometimes there is, sometimes there isn’t but you’d be surprised how many niche websites are out there! If there isn’t I go to my old reliables!

Websites

There are many websites out there that you can use to check out potential excursions. They come in all shapes and sizes. Here are my top 2 –

AllTrails –

If you are a hiker and don’t know about AllTrails, then you are missing out. It’s the very first hiking app I ever downloaded and if there’s even a remote chance a pathway has been bushwhacked, it’ll be on this site.

I highly recommend checking it out, especially the paid version that opens up a ton more features.

HikingProject –

Another great resource, especially if you are in the U.S. It’s completely free and has a great user interface. It doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as AllTrails, but it’s very handy and fun to use.