Helpful Links
A little guidance goes a long way. Explore our favorite online tools, maps, and websites to expand your backpacking knowledge, plan safer trips, and stay inspired wherever your adventures take you.
Permits
Recreation.gov
Permits for federal land including National Parks.
ReserveCalifornia
Permits and reservations for California State Parks.
CalFire Permits
California campfire permits and fire safety tips.
Reference Material
Leave No Trace
Rules and guidelines for responsible outdoor behavior.
The Mountaineers: The Ten Essentials
List of items one needs to survive in the wilderness.
National Park Service: Experiencing Bears in Parks
Guidelines for outdoor behavior in bear country.
Trip Planning
Hillmap.com
Create and print free, custom topographical maps.
CalTopo.com
Create and print free, custom topographical maps.
NOAA National Weather Service
Weather forecasts and warnings for the USA.
Mountain-Forecast.com
Weather forecasts for over 17,000 mountain locations.
InciWeb - Incident Information System
Interagency fire incident information system for the USA.
USFS and USEPA Fire and Smoke Map
Air quality ratings for the USA.
Avalanche.org
Avalanche information for the USA.
Trail Information
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Information about hiking the Appalachian Trail.
The JMT Wilderness Conservancy
Resources for John Muir Trail hikers and backpackers.
Los Padres Forest Association: Hike Los Padres
Information about locations in Los Padres National Forest.
Pacific Crest Trail Association
Information about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.
Pacific Northwest Trail Association
Information about hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail.
Tahoe Rim Trail Association
Information about hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail.
TrailInfo.org
Real-time fire information for satellite communicators.