Basic Backpacking Course 2026

Course Information

Join the Museum of Camping in association with the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club for our 2026 Basic Backpacking Course. The course is offered as a four-part online symposium followed by a day of outdoor instruction, demonstration, and hiking. You’ll learn the essentials of backcountry travel that make it safe and enjoyable for you, and sustainable for the places you visit. We will place special emphasis on the gear, skills, and planning required to be responsible stewards of wilderness ecosystems.

Each evening installment will cover several related topics followed by an open discussion and question session. We will then convene at Huddart Park in Woodside, CA for a Saturday of additional instruction, skills demonstration, and a day hike in our backpacking gear. The course will culminate in overnight backpacking trips in Henry Coe State Park in Morgan Hill, CA in May and Sierra trips in June (space limited; dates may be affected by the snowpack). The Basic Backpacking Course has been offered by the Loma Prieta Chapter for over five decades.

The course consists of four online sessions, an in-person Saturday demonstration and group day hike, and overnight class trips. The online portion will be given via Zoom each Wednesday evening in April. The in-person demonstration and day hike will take place on Saturday, April 25 at Huddart Park near Woodside, CA. The course trip options are Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3 and Saturday-Sunday, May 9-10, both at Henry Coe State Park near Morgan Hill, CA. We currently plan to offer several options for Sierra trips in June. Additional trips may be offered depending on interest, weather, and instructor availability.

What’s Included

Your course fee includes instruction, permits, and demo-day giveaways. It does not include gear or food. The objective of the course is to teach you how to make intelligent gear and food choices in order to be self-sufficient.

Required Forms

This course is given in association with the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter. All in-person components will follow Sierra Club protocols. Sierra Club waiver and medical information form will be required from each student.