| Duration | One day, no overnight |
| Pack | A light daypack |
| Range | Easy walks to big summits |
| Difficulty | Beginner-friendly |
A day hike is a hike completed in a single day, without camping overnight. Day hikes range from short nature walks to long, strenuous summit pushes, and let hikers access trails and views with a light pack and minimal gear. They are the most popular and accessible form of hiking.
Why it’s so popular
With no overnight gear to carry, you travel light from a trailhead and return the same day — the easiest entry into hiking.
What to bring
Even short day hikes warrant the Ten Essentials, scaled to the length and remoteness.
Day hike vs backpacking
When a trip needs an overnight, it becomes backpacking. See day hike vs backpacking.
Frequently asked questions
What is a day hike?
A day hike is any hike you start and finish within the same day, without camping out. Because you carry only what you need for the day, the pack is light, making day hikes the most accessible way to get out on the trail.
What should you bring on a day hike?
Even on a short day hike, carry the Ten Essentials: navigation, sun protection, extra insulation, a headlamp, first aid, fire, a repair kit, extra food and water, and emergency shelter. Scale the amount to the length and remoteness of the hike.
How long is a day hike?
It varies enormously — from a one-mile nature loop to a 20-mile summit day. What defines a day hike isn't distance but that it's completed in a single day without an overnight stay.
Sources
- Hiking basics — National Park Service