What is a trip plan for hiking?
A trip plan is a short written itinerary you leave with a trusted person who is not coming with you. It says where you are going, your route, who is with you, what you are carrying, when you expect to be back, and what your contact should do if you are not. The National Park Service recommends one because the details help search and rescue teams if something goes wrong.
What a trip plan does
A trip plan turns "I'm going for a hike" into something a rescuer can act on. If you do not come back, your contact does not have to guess which trailhead, which loop or which day you meant. They can hand the plan to authorities, who can narrow the search.
The National Park Service describes a trip plan as a written plan with your travel details, activity details and expected return date and time, left with a trusted contact who is not going on the trip. It is not for park officials: the NPS says they will not accept it. The NPS is also clear that a plan does not guarantee your safety or rescue, and that wrong information, changing your plans, or a contact who never gets it or never alerts authorities can all undermine it.
What to put in one
Our outing plan tool turns these into a fill-in template you can send by email or text, and the guide on how to leave a trip plan walks through each field. The daylight calculator helps you set a return time that beats sunset.
- Trailhead or start point, and where your car is parked (make, color, plate)
- Planned route, including any alternates or side trips you might take
- Everyone in your group, with phone numbers
- What you are wearing and carrying: jacket color, pack, shelter, light, water
- Relevant medical details and medications
- Expected return time, and a separate "call for help by" time
- Communication plan: when you expect signal, and whether you carry a satellite device
- The local emergency number and the land agency responsible for the area
A trip plan, filled in
Here is what a good short plan looks like for a solo day hike. It fits in one text message and answers every question a ranger would ask:
"Sat Oct 3. Parking at Bear Creek trailhead, gray Subaru, plate ABC1234. Solo. Ridge Loop clockwise, about 9 miles. If the ridge is windy I will drop to the Creek Trail instead. Wearing a red jacket, black pack, carrying a headlamp, jacket, 2 liters of water, first aid kit. No signal after the first mile until the ridge top. Expect to be back by 3 p.m. If you have not heard from me by 5 p.m., call me, then call 911 and read them this."
Notice the alternate route. Plans change on the trail, and naming the likely change up front means searchers check both. If you do get turned around, our answer on what to do if you get lost while hiking covers staying put and being found.
The two times that matter
Many plans list one return time. It helps to give two. The first is when you expect to be done. The second, usually later, is when your contact should stop waiting and act. The gap covers a slow descent, a detour or a dead phone battery without triggering a rescue for nothing.
The NPS template works the same way: if you are not back by your expected return, your trusted contact first tries to reach you, then contacts authorities and shares your plan if they cannot. Agree on this in advance, so your contact is not left wondering whether they are overreacting. Our guide on when to call 911 if someone is overdue is a good one to send them.
Trip plan vs live location vs return time
A trip plan is static. It describes what you intended, not what happened, and it depends on a person remembering to check the time. It does not help during the outing itself; it only matters once you are overdue. The other two tools fill those gaps.
| What it tells searchers | Updates during the outing? | Who notices you are late? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip plan | Route, group, gear, clothing, car, intentions | No, unless you message a change | Your contact, if they watch the clock |
| Live location link | Where you are, or were last seen with signal | Yes, while you have signal | Nobody automatically |
| Return time with an overdue alert | That you missed your deadline, plus your last known location | Not needed | The system alerts your contact |
Making it work with Holler
Leave your written plan as usual, then start a Holler share and add the link to it. Your Guardians can open it in any browser without an app or account. Set a return time to match your "call for help by" time; if you have not checked in five minutes after it, Holler's server sends them an overdue alert with your last known location.
Holler needs cell or data signal, so in the backcountry the map may stop updating and show where you last had coverage. The NPS advises hikers not to rely on a cell phone because there may be no coverage, and suggests a personal locator beacon or a satellite messenger as a backup. Holler does not call 911; your contact does, using your plan and your last known location. For the bigger picture, see our hiking alone safety guide.
Questions people ask
Who should I give my trip plan to?
Someone reliable who is not on the trip, who will notice the time and is comfortable calling authorities. The NPS calls this person your trusted contact and says park officials will not accept trip plans.
Do I need a trip plan for a short day hike?
Short hikes are where people most often skip it, and injuries happen on short hikes too. A two-line message with your trailhead, route and return time takes a minute.
What if my plans change on the trail?
Update your contact as soon as you have signal. If you cannot, leave a note at the trailhead or in your car describing the change.
Is a trip plan required in national parks?
No. The NPS says a trip plan is not required to visit a national park. It is recommended for safety.
Keep reading
Questions people ask about this
Sources: National Park Service: Trip Plan, National Park Service: Hike Smart.