Best Backpacking Books & Guides [Top 10] [2024 Update]

What are the best books about backpacking? We have listed the best recommendations for you so that you are well prepared for your backpacking adventure. Read along…

The best backpacking books ever made

We start our recommendations with the top 10 best books about Backpacking of all time. This list has been updated this year, including all the recent titles.

Best Backpacking Books & Guides	Author
Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter & GPS, 3rd Edition	Mike Burns, Bob Burns
A Walk in the Woods	Bill Bryson
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail	Cheryl Strayed
The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools and Techniques to Hit the Trail	Andrew Skurka
The backpacker’s handbook Chris Townsend	Chris Townsend
Awol on the Appalachian Trail	David Miller
Into the Wild	Jon Krakauer
I Hike: Mostly True Stories from 10,000 Miles of Hiking Lawton Grinter	Lawton Grinter
Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips: 153 Amazing & Inexpensive Tips for Extremely Lightweight Camping	Mike Clelland
Beyond Backpacking	Ray Jardine

The updated top 10 list: the best books about backpacking

The North Country Trail: The Best Walks, Hikes, and Backpacking Trips on America’s Longest National Scenic Trail

America has eleven National Scenic Trails and the North Country Trail is the longest one. Enjoy hiking the 4600 miles and everything along the way, from rivers and mountains, to shorelines and prairies.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

When you think you have lost everything in life, it is time to experience the wild and walk a trail. In this (audio)book, that is also a movie with Reese Witherspoon, Cheryl finds herself in a dramatic situation and all she can think of is hiking. This is her memoir of that hike.

Hiking Grand Canyon National Park: A Guide to the Best Hiking Adventures on the North and South Rims (Falcon Guide Hiking Grand Canyon National Park)

Many tourists only follow the main signs and visit the viewpoints, but did you know how many hikes you can do around the Grand Canyon? Hiking both the North and South Rim is now easy and fun with this hiking guide.

The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide to Europe on a Budget: Advice on Trip Planning, Packing, Hostels & Lodging, Transportation & More!

Visiting Europe is on a lot of people’s bucket list, and every European country has its cities and parks worth visiting. Plan your trip to Europe with this backpacker’s guide and find your way whether you are going to France, the Netherlands or Denmark.

Backpack Gourmet: Good Hot Grub You Can Make at Home, Dehydrate, and Pack for Quick, Easy, and Healthy Eating on the Trail

We think this is an absolute must-have if you are planning a longer hiking trip. You need to know what to pack and what you can easily make while ‘on the road’. Rehydration, snacks, and home-dried meals are part of the deal.

Lost on Purpose: Adventures of a 21st Century Mountain Man (Adventures of a 21st Mountain Man Book 1)

Patrick Taylor went over the Rocky Mountains by foot, and coming from an executive background, this is already quite remarkable. If you liked the second title on this top ten list, then we think you will definitely enjoy reading about Patrick’s adventures as well.

She Explores: Stories of Life-Changing Adventures on the Road and in the Wild (Solo Travel Guides, Travel Essays, Women Hiking Books)

This book shares the travel adventures of 40 women, and we can suggest ‘She Explores’ to anyone who is planning a hike. The photographs are the cherry on the pie.

Explore Europe on Foot: Your Complete Guide to Planning a Cultural Hiking Adventure

Skip the museums, the big cities, and regular transport systems, and discover Europe while you are on foot. If you want culture, hike your way through Europe and plan ahead with this guide.

Kilimanjaro – The Trekking Guide to Africa’s Highest Mountain: All-in-one guide for climbing Kilimanjaro. Includes getting to Tanzania and Kenya, town … on 35 detailed hiking maps. (Trailblazer)

Have you always had the ambition to climb Africa’s highest mountain? This practical guide is full of details. It comes, among other things, with maps, travel suggestions, gradients and walking times.

The Last Englishman: Book 1

Keith Foskett is an experienced hiker when he starts walking the Pacific Crest Trail. This is his story and how he dealt with his personal fears (animals in the wild, camping in the dark) and surviving America’s worst winter.