Key takeaways
- A day hike is completed in one day with no overnight camping.
- You carry only a day's needs — a daypack, water, food, layers, and the Ten Essentials.
- Day hikes range from short easy walks to long strenuous all-day efforts.
- Still carry the Ten Essentials — even a day hike can turn into an unplanned night out.
What a day hike is
A day hike is a hike that begins and ends on the same day, with no overnight camping. Because you don’t carry camping gear, a day hike needs only a daypack with a day’s worth of essentials — which makes it the most accessible way to enjoy hiking, from a short nature walk to a long, strenuous all-day push.
What to bring
Even though it’s ‘just’ a day, carry the Ten Essentials scaled to the hike: water, food, extra layers, rain protection, navigation, sun protection, first aid, a headlamp, and emergency shelter. An injury or wrong turn can turn a day trip into an unplanned night out.
For a half-day summit hike, a hiker checks the route and weather, signs in at the trailhead, and carries a 20L daypack with water, lunch, a rain shell, and the Ten Essentials — prepared even though they plan to be back by mid-afternoon.
Day hike vs backpacking
A day hike is light and simple; backpacking adds overnight camping gear to reach remote places. See day hike vs backpacking when you’re ready to step up to overnighting.
The bottom line
A day hike — out and back in a single day with just a daypack — is the simplest, most accessible way to get on the trail. It needs far less gear than backpacking, but never skip the Ten Essentials: even an easy day hike can become an unplanned night out after an injury or wrong turn. Plan the route, pack the essentials, and enjoy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a day hike?
A day hike is a hike that starts and finishes on the same day, with no overnight camping. Because you don't carry camping gear, day hikes need far less equipment than backpacking — just a daypack with the essentials for one day on the trail — which makes them the most accessible form of hiking.
What should you bring on a day hike?
A daypack with water, food/snacks, extra layers, rain protection, navigation (map and compass or GPS), sun protection, a first-aid kit, a headlamp, and emergency items — essentially the Ten Essentials, scaled to the hike. Even short day hikes warrant these, since an injury or wrong turn can turn a day trip into an emergency.
What's the difference between a day hike and backpacking?
A day hike is completed in one day with minimal gear; backpacking involves camping overnight, so you carry shelter, a sleep system, and more food and water. Day hiking is lighter and simpler; backpacking lets you reach remote places but requires far more gear and planning. See our day hike vs backpacking comparison.
Sources
- Day hiking basics — American Hiking Society
- Hike safely — National Park Service