What should you do if you get lost while backpacking?
If you get lost while backpacking, stop, set your pack down and orient yourself with your map, compass or GPS before taking another step. Because you carry shelter, food and water, you're equipped to stay put, which is usually the safest choice if you can't confirm your way. Make a visible camp, conserve food and battery, call 911 or use a satellite device if you can, and trust that a missed exit date on your itinerary will start a search.
Step by step
01Stop and take stock
Put your pack down and sit for a minute. Look at your map and compass or GPS and work out your position relative to the last campsite or junction you're sure of. Count your food, water and fuel so you know how many nights you can wait comfortably.
02Retrace only well-known ground
If you can clearly follow your own route back to the trail, do it slowly. Don't strike out across country to find a different trail. A tired backpacker with a heavy pack falls more easily on rough ground, and a sprained ankle turns a navigation problem into a rescue.
03Use your camp to stay put
The U.S. Forest Service advises staying in place if you're not very confident of the route, or if it's nightfall or you're exhausted. You carry shelter, so set up in a safe, open spot away from dead trees and flood channels. A bright tent or fly helps searchers see you.
04Reach out with whatever works
Call 911 if you have any signal. If you carry a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon, use its SOS function; NOAA notes a PLB is activated manually and must be registered, so do that before the trip. On iPhone 14 or later, Emergency SOS via satellite can connect in open areas with a clear view of the sky and horizon.
05Make a signal that works while you sleep
Three of anything is the recognized distress signal, so blow your whistle in threes and flash a mirror at aircraft. Lay bright gear such as a rain cover or sleeping pad sack in the open where it contrasts with the ground. Keep your headlamp handy for flashing at night.
06Count on your itinerary
This is why your contact holds a detailed itinerary with a firm overdue time. When you don't come out, they call for help with your campsites and route. If you started a Holler live link while you had signal, the route you walked and your last known location are waiting for them too. See solo backpacking safety.
Related questions
How long should I wait before trying to walk out?
If you've contacted rescuers, stay put and follow their instructions. If you haven't, staying put is still usually safer, because searchers begin from your itinerary and the National Park Service advises moving only if there's an immediate threat to life. Ration so your food lasts past your overdue date.
Should I leave my pack to scout?
No. Your pack holds your shelter, water and food. If you do look around, stay within sight of it, mark your way back with a bright item, and give yourself a short time limit before you return.
What should my itinerary include?
Your trailhead and car, each night's planned campsite, alternate routes, your gear and tent color, and the time your contact should call for help. Our trip plan explainer lists the details search teams ask for.
Is a PLB or a satellite messenger better for backpacking?
A PLB only sends a distress signal, with no conversation. A satellite messenger usually adds two-way texts and daily check-ins, which help on a multi-day trip. Our satellite messenger explainer compares them.
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Sources, checked September 2026: National Park Service: Outdoor Emergency Plan, U.S. Forest Service: If you get lost, NOAA SARSAT: Frequently asked questions, Be Ready Utah: Signaling, Apple Support: Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone.
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