Basic Backpacking Field Trip

Field trip: Basic Backpacking

Basic Backpacking Field Trip - Dosewallips River/Abandoned National Park Road

Overnight field trip for the Basic Backpacking Course. This is the last scheduled activity for the course.

  • Moderate, Bikepacking MTB I
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 30.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 3,000 ft
  • Pace: 2
  • 6 (6 capacity)
  • 1 (2 capacity)
  • Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:31 AM
  • Wed, Jun 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google

Trip Leaders: HERE's how to post your Field trip for the 2025 Basic Backpacking Course

  • Set the registration opening time to 9am on April 17 (the morning after the second  lecture for 2025 course).
  • Please consider replacing the image with one that shows your specific route.
  • If you plan to have an instructor as Co-Leader or Assistant Leader don't forget to set "Instructor or Assistant Leader Capacity" to 2.
  • Delete  these instructions and replace them with a description of your trip.  Please do not delete the section below that starts with "About Basic Backpacking Field Trips".

=== PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE ===

About Basic Backpacking Field Trips

The Basic Backpacking Field Trip is the final scheduled activity of the Basic Backpacking Course.  For most students it will be their first overnight trip in the backcountry.  Basic Backpacking Field Trips are usually single-night trips along Easy or Moderate routes that do not present any unusual technical challenges.   

We will meet at the trailhead around 8:30am with plan to start hiking at 9am. Coming from Seattle or the Eastside you can take the 7:10am Edmonds/Kingstone ferry. 

My plan is to camp at Big Timber, about 10 miles from the trailhead. Permit for Big Timber will be available after April 15th, if not there are other options in the area. 

Plan for day 1 is to hike to Big Timber. We'll stop for launch at the old campground, about 6 miles from the current trailhead. 10 miles is relatively long, but the trail is not very steep, and we'll stop when necessary. Make sure you are in good physical condition, though. 

Day 2 I plan to day hike towards Anderson pass. We may or may not reach the pass, it depends on trail conditions and how far we decide to go. There are a couple of easy river crossings to get to Anderson pass, so make sure you have sandals (they double has camp shoes) or other water shoes with you. 

Day 3 we hike out to TH.

Route/Place

Dosewallips River/Abandoned National Park Road



  • Green Trails Olympic Mountains East No. 168S

    Green Trails Tyler Peak No. 136

    Green Trails The Brothers No. 168

    Green Trails Mt Steel No. 167

    Custom Correct Gray Wolf - Dosewallips

    Custom Correct Buckhorn Wilderness
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

See course lectures and handouts.

10 essentials

Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad

Food for 2 dinners, 3 launches, 2 breakfast. 

Water treatment, there is plenty of water on the trail. 

Small Bear canister (required in Olympic NP), you can rent it at the mountaineers, park entrance (Port Angeles) or REI, I think. 

Trip Reports