Information related to COVID-19 can be found here.
Please review our Cancellation Policy and Acknowledgment of Risk form prior to booking. You will be required to sign this form before your hike.
If you have any questions, please Contact Us!
What to Expect on our Overnight Backpacking Trips
Terrain and Distance
Our Intro to Backpacking trip covers 6-12 miles of hiking per day for 3 days. Guests that can walk for several miles on flat terrain without stopping should be well prepared for this hike. The terrain is relatively flat, with minor ups and downs; however, the trail surface contains rocks, roots and is often uneven. We believe the trails we utilize to be great for beginner hikers and those looking for a relaxed pace. We will take many breaks! But just remember: the better in shape you are, the more fun you will have!
Our Intermediate trip covers 10-12 miles of hiking per day for 4 days in a row. This is a more physically demanding trip due to the increased mileage, however the terrain is very similar to the Intro trip. Guests who have never hiked this much before should be completing training hikes in the months leading up to the trip to be well prepared.
We want all guests going into one of our trips to be confident that they can complete it. For tips on how to get in shape for a hike, Click Here!
Food
All trips include breakfast, dinners and drink mixes (tea, hot chocolate, and coffee). Food is included in the cost of the tour. Guests must bring lunches and snacks. During the 2-hr class we go over resources for developing a backcountry meal plan.
When booking, please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies. We will try to tailor a meal plan for your specific diet. Breakfast will typically be oatmeal and dried fruits and nuts, while dinners will be an assortment of delicious, well-thought-out dehydrated meals. Lunches will be snack items like protein bars, nuts, tuna, peanut butter, and tortillas.
Logistics
The evening before the trip we will issue gear, split up food to carry, have a trip briefing, and go over safety. The following morning be prepared for an early AM departure to Pictured Rocks. A shuttle to the beginning trailhead once we are inside the park will be provided.
Transportation costs and reservations for these services are covered by us and are included in the price of the trip. Shuttles leave at a scheduled time so please plan your time accordingly.
Gear
We want to make sure everyone has a safe, successful trip. As such, our gear list has been developed to give you a blueprint on what to bring. It is split up into 1) the items we will supply, 2) the items you will need to bring with you.
1) Items we Provide
Group gear:
- Experienced guides
- All food, bowls and utensils
- Stove, fuel and pots for cooking
- Water filter
- Trowel
- Navigation (map, compass, GPS and SPOT emergency device)
- First aid kit
Individual gear (fit to size):
You are welcome to bring any items below that you personally own. Included in the price we will outfit you with the “big 4” items: backpack, sleeping bag, tent and sleeping mat. These items have been personally trail-tested by your guides and have proved to be durable, comfortable, and lightweight.
If you decide to be outfitted by us, you can expect these items to weigh roughly 7 pounds. Click here to view descriptions and pictures of our rental gear.
- Tent/ Tyvek Ground Sheet
- Sleeping Bag – 20 Degree Synthetic Bag
- 60-70 L Backpack
- Foam Sleeping Mat
2) Items you bring and/or wear
- Clothes (you don’t need fancy stuff, running clothes or other athletic wear you already own will work just fine; however, please do not bring cotton clothing such as jeans, sweatpants or hoodies. We recommend synthetic clothing as they will dry faster and keep you warmer if they get wet)
- Pants
- Shorts
- Socks (2 pair)
- Underwear (1 or 2 pair)
- Sports bra (for women)
- Long or short sleeved top
- A warm upper layer (fleece jacket, synthetic or down puffy, etc.)
- Base layer for sleeping or for extra warmth (thermal leggings, top)
- Rain gear (rain jacket/ pants or poncho) 3 Tips for Backpacking in the Rain
- Shoes (we prefer trail running shoes/ sneakers, or lightweight hiking boots; we discourage the use of heavy hiking boots that will not dry out easily after getting wet) Footwear for Happy Hiking Feet
- Warm hat, thin pair of warm gloves
- Headlamp/Flashlight
- Baseball cap or sun hat
- Sunglasses/sunscreen (optional)
- Bug net/bug spray (DEET is recommended; bug net is very beneficial to keep out mosquitoes and black flies)
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Toilet paper/feminine hygiene products
- Travel size hand sanitizer
- Any prescription medications
- Two, 1 Liter water bottles filled with water (Gatorade / Powerade / Smart Water bottles are great). We will use a group water filter along the way.
- Trekking poles/hiking stick (optional)
For some extra help, check out this post about one of our guide’s complete backpacking gear list.
4) Prohibited items
The following items are prohibited on any of our guided trips. Please leave these at home or in your car. This is for your safety and the comfort of your backpacking companions. You can enjoy a beer after successful completion of your wilderness trek – just not during!
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Illegal non-prescription drugs
Cancellation Policy
A great deal of planning and preparation go into each trip. However, we recognize that unforeseen events may change your plans. If you need to cancel a booking, please let us know as soon as possible.
There are no exceptions to this policy. Please read the information below carefully before booking.
Overnight Trips:
If you cancel within 10 days of making a reservation, your deposit plus any payment made towards the reservation will be refunded in full.
Trip payment balance is due 60 days prior to trip start date, or your trip is subject to cancellation.
Cancellations made 60+ days prior to trip start date will receive a full refund minus the deposit.
Cancellations made 30-60 days prior to trip start date will result in a 50% refund of total price.
Cancellations made 0-30 days prior to trip start date are non-refundable.
Weather policy:
Trips will run in rain, wind and cold/hot weather. Clients will be reminded to bring appropriate clothing/ rain gear for forecast conditions. Hiawatha Hiking Company’s decision to cancel will depend on the extended weather forecast and will be evaluated based on safety concerns. Unsafe conditions may include forecast gale force winds and extreme heavy rains that may result in flooding. Thunderstorms are typical in the summer months, and participants should be aware that they may be outside during lightning, rain and in some cases, hail. We make every effort to ensure the safety of all our guests; however, some risk is expected due to the nature of the activity. If we have to cancel an overnight trip due to hazardous conditions (very rare), a full refund will be given minus the $100 deposit.
Acknowledgement of Risk
Please Click Here to review a copy of our Acknowledgment of Risk form. We will require each customer to sign this form prior to trip departure.