For a short hike of 2 to 4 miles, pack water, an extra snack, a small first aid kit, sun protection, a rain shell, a charged phone and a paper map, and a whistle.
The checklist below has the details, and the reasons follow it.
Before you leave, tell someone your route and when to expect you back. The NPS asks for that before you head out, and it’s a step, not an item.
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The Short-Hike Checklist
Check these off before you leave:
- Water: about half a liter per hour of walking, plus extra
- One more snack than you think you need
- A small first aid kit and any medicines you take
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat
- A rain shell, and a warm layer if the day is cool
- A charged phone with an offline map, and a paper map
- A whistle and a sealable bag for trash
On your feet, wear well-fitting shoes you’ve already walked in, with wool or synthetic socks. The American Hiking Society lists footwear among its ten essentials, for traction, support and protection.
Carry Enough Water
The American Hiking Society’s guideline is half a liter of water per hour in moderate temperatures and terrain. A two-hour walk means about a liter, plus extra. Bottles or a hydration bladder both work.
The National Park Service says physical activity raises your risk of dehydration, especially in hot weather. Drink often, before you feel thirsty.
A walk can run longer than planned, so pack more water than you expect to drink.
If you take medication, or you have a heart or kidney condition, ask your doctor how much to drink on hot days.
On a hot day, read the warning signs in hot weather hiking safety before you go.
Pack High-Energy Snacks
A short hike needs less food than a long one, but a snack keeps your energy steady and helps you avoid that heavy-legged feeling. A few good options:
- Nuts and dried fruit pack plenty of energy into little space
- Granola bars are convenient and don’t need refrigeration
- Rice cakes with nut butter travel well and keep you full
- A piece of fruit that survives a bumpy pack, like an apple
Pack one more snack than you think you’ll need. It weighs almost nothing and is welcome if the walk runs long.
First Aid Basics
A compact first aid kit handles minor problems on a short hike. The NPS suggests starting with a pre-made kit and adjusting it to your trip and your medical needs.
If you don’t own one, you can compare small pre-made first aid kits on Amazon.
Items worth checking for:
- Adhesive bandages in a few sizes
- Antiseptic wipes
- Moleskin for blisters
- A tick removal tool if you’re hiking in wooded areas
- Any personal medications you take, including allergy pills or an inhaler
Check expiration dates before each season. Ask your doctor which pain relievers are safe with your medications and health conditions, and pack only those.
Dress in Layers
Weather changes faster on a trail than you expect. The American Hiking Society advises layers you can adjust, moisture-wicking items and a warm hat.
Wool and synthetics move sweat off your skin, while cotton holds water. A simple system:
- Moisture-wicking base layer
- Insulating fleece middle layer on a cool day
- Waterproof rain shell
The NPS advises packing an extra layer for the worst weather you could meet, such as a raincoat, hat or gloves. Pack the rain shell even when the forecast looks dry.
For outfits by temperature and rain, see what to wear hiking in different weather.
Maps and Backups for Finding Your Way
Batteries die, signals disappear and screens crack. Carrying more than one navigation option is a reasonable habit.
The NPS advises bringing a physical map as a backup and an extra battery for your phone.
Before you leave home, download a map onto your phone, or use the NPS app in a national park, so it works without cell service.
A compass is a lightweight backup that needs no battery, and how to use a compass covers the basics. Check the park’s website for trail closures before you head out.
Learn to use the map and compass before you need them, as the NPS advises.
Tell Someone Where You Are Going
Distance from a cell tower doesn’t have to mean distance from help, but it takes some planning.
- Tell someone your route and your expected return time before you leave
- Carry a whistle on your pack, since its sound carries farther than a shout
- Keep your phone in a pocket you can reach
- Set a turnaround time before you start, and head back when you reach it, or sooner if the weather turns
If you hike where bears live, what to do if you see a bear explains how to carry deterrents and when they apply. Most short hikes outside bear country don’t need them.
Set Up Quick-Access Zones in Your Pack
How you pack matters almost as much as what you pack. Digging through a full bag for a snack or a rain jacket slows you down.
Use outer pockets for snacks and water, which you’ll reach for often. Keep your map or phone in a pocket you can check without removing the pack.
Put heavier items close to your back and near the center of the pack to keep it balanced. A water bladder usually sits in the internal sleeve, while bottles go in the side pockets.
Give your first aid kit its own spot, and pack the rain jacket near the top.
Sun and Bugs
The American Hiking Society says sun protection belongs in every season, whatever the temperature or cloud cover.
For sun, the NPS lists sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat as essentials. Add lip balm with SPF, and reapply sunscreen as the label directs.
For insects, pack a repellent and check your clothes and skin for ticks after every wooded walk. Light, long sleeves help in tick country, and tick safety for walkers covers clothing, repellent and the check after every walk.
Bring Backup Power
Navigation apps and the camera both pull from your phone’s battery.
Pack a small power bank and a short cable. Switching on airplane mode when you’re not using navigation saves battery.
A dead phone removes both your map and your way to call for help, so start the hike fully charged.
Pack Out What You Carry In
What you carry out matters as much as what you carry in. The Leave No Trace hiking principles cover the full picture, but the daypack basics are short.
- Pack sealable bags for all trash, including food wrappers
- Carry out used toilet paper and pet waste
- Follow local rules on human waste
- Keep pets leashed and pack out what they leave behind
Carry out everything you carried in.
If your bag is the wrong size for all this, compare lightweight daypacks on Amazon to find one that carries these essentials comfortably.