A few years ago, I was on night two of (what was supposed to be) an 8-day solo backpacking trip on the Collegiate Peaks Loop in Colorado. I had set up camp near a high alpine lake, sheltered next to a few trees. I settled in for the night, but was awakened around midnight by heavy footsteps around my camp. A large animal was lapping water from the nearby creek, and I heard a low purr that made my skin crawl.
Although I admit I never saw this mountain lion — I was not about to shine my headlamp into the darkness and startle the big cat — it didn’t leave the site until the sun started rising over the peak. For hours, I lay in my tent, wide awake, with my inReach in one hand and a very small knife in the other.
I almost always adventure solo, whether traveling internationally or backpacking. But since that trip (which I promptly bailed out of and hitchhiked into town), I have been hesitant to head out alone.
More than one person has recommended buying a gun. I’ve never owned a firearm and honestly didn’t think I’d ever really consider owning one. But as I’ve felt my fear hinder my drive for adventure, I’ve started to consider it more and more.
Rethinking Backcountry Safety: Carrying for the Unknown
Guns are controversial by nature. Choosing to carry one while backpacking is equally divisive. Some friends and acquaintances that I’ve talked to balked at the idea, while others sent me direct links to guns they think I should buy and immediately offered to take me shooting.
Everyone has an opinion about this topic, and many of them are strong.
“The reason that I carry one is for the unknown, really,” says Kevin Madler, a game warden for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and previously a guide for backcountry horse trips. “You just don’t know what you’re going to get into, whether that’s an encounter with an animal that’s acting aggressively or sick, or a person that’s acting aggressively.”
Madler has a point. Most of the time, nothing will happen and you’ll be fine. But for those one-off chances, having some sort of security could ease your fears. In those cases, a firearm could be a potentially life-saving deterrent.
How Necessary Is a Gun While Backpacking?
While researching for this piece, I came across a few articles about whether backpackers should carry guns. In one from Outside, a (male) author boldly claims, “We are not in danger on our favorite hiking trails and in our national forests,” and calls the idea of carrying while recreationally hiking “unnecessary and dumb.”
However, there are dangers in national parks and forests, and on BLM land. That article from Outside opens with a description of a murder that happened on the Appalachian Trail. This June, two teens were shot dead in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest. And anywhere there are bears, moose, or other big wildlife, the potential for danger lurks. Over 1,000 people reportedly go missing in U.S. national parks every year for various reasons.
In another article from Backpacker, a (female) author called animal attacks “rare” and said being worried about dangerous people is just “paranoia.” She concluded, “I personally see no reason to carry a gun while backpacking. For me, one of the main joys of backpacking is escaping from stress. Guns require serious responsibility, and serious responsibility causes stress.”
Call me paranoid. Or call me a solo, female adventurer in 2025. What I don’t prefer is panicking at every breaking-branch sound as I try to fall asleep or having to tell every other hiker I meet that I’m “with a friend, they are just up ahead.”
Deterrence Is Another Option
This isn’t to say that the only option for protecting yourself when in the backcountry is with a gun.
“One of my favorite things that I recommend to folks is a portable air horn, because they’re very lightweight and can be stashed in a side pocket,” Madler says.
Bear spray is another good option for anyone who isn’t well trained or who is unfamiliar with firearms, says John Hetchtel, a retired wildlife biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the president of the International Association for Bear Research and Management.
These forms of deterrent are both nonlethal and can be used to deter both animals and people. They’re lighter than a gun and easier to acquire. But if either of those is discharged in a tent or enclosed space, you could potentially blind or deafen yourself (as well as whatever threat you were aiming at). All forms of deterrents, lethal and nonlethal, should be treated with similar care when packed and used. Understand how to use and store your deterrent safely to avoid accidental discharges.
Responsible Gun Ownership
Know Where You Can Legally Carry
Familiarize yourself with the specific laws in the state where you’ll be backpacking and carrying your gun. Every state has different laws concerning open firearm carry, and they change very frequently.
Before you go backpacking in another state with a gun, make sure you won’t be breaking any laws. There are specific open carry restrictions in California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and the District of Columbia.
If you’re crossing state lines, there might be specific rules you need to follow or permits you’re required to obtain.
Take a Class
If you choose to carry a gun, the most critical factor is knowing how to use it safely and confidently. You should take a hunter safety course or a firearm training class.
Most classes will last a day or two and cover the fundamentals of gun use, combining in-classroom lectures with live-fire training. You’ll learn about the components and mechanics of a gun, ammunition, loading and unloading, as well as proper maintenance and cleaning.
Classes should also include overall safety, such as storage, handling, and the use of safety devices or gear. You should learn the four basic rules of firearm safety:
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded
- Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
- Identify your target and what’s around or behind it
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot
Once you’ve taken a gun safety class, you should practice using your gun, not just once, but a few times a year or before backpacking season. A general Google search for “Basic Firearm Safety Courses Near Me” should pull up some possible options.
Storing Your Firearm
Peter Ticali is an NRA Chief Range Safety Officer and Certified Instructor for pistol, rifle, shotgun, and NRA CCW (Concealed Carry). Ticali is also the owner of NY Safe Inc., a licensed and insured firearms training company based on Long Island, NY. He recommends considering how you’ll carry and secure your firearm, both when it’s on your person and when you can’t have it with you.
“You have to balance having quick access versus secure access,” Ticali said.
When you’re hiking, you can carry it on your hip. But what about during other times during a trek? If you stop in town for food or other supplies, many establishments prohibit gun carry. Public transportation likewise prohibits people from boarding with guns. Many rec centers and gyms where backpackers often get showers prohibit them, too. Think about how you’ll navigate that, and where you’ll store your firearm if not on you.
When you can’t carry the gun on your person, Ticali recommends small portable lockboxes (which will add even more weight to your pack). The rest of the time, a holster is your best option.
He recommends mimicking what could happen on a hike with that gun in a holster. He said, try falling with it or wearing it with your heavy pack on. Put the gun in an unloaded state and ensure it is absolutely secure. Then, tip it upside down, roll around, take your pack off — anything that could happen while on your trek to make sure that your gun stays put on a hike.
Pros & Cons of Backpacking With a Gun
Ultimately, it’s you on the trail. Only you can predict how you will react to a threat and what deterrent works best for you. You need a tool that you will actually feel confident, comfortable, and safe using. If that’s a gun, wear one. If it’s something else, carry that instead.
Here are some basic pros and cons of carrying a gun while backpacking.
Pros
- Carrying a weapon can provide a sense of confidence, safety, and general peace of mind. Even if you don’t fire it, you might feel more comfortable standing your ground.
- A firearm could be a more effective defence against much larger and more powerful threats than an airhorn or bear spray.
- Perhaps you find a new hobby in target shooting at your local gun range.
Cons
- You are now carrying a lethal weapon, which carries serious responsibility. You must ensure it’s both secure and safe at all times.
- It’s more expensive than alternative deterrents.
- Guns could make fellow trekkers uncomfortable if they know that you’re carrying.
- A gun, no matter the size, plus ammunition, adds a lot of weight to your pack.
- If you make a mistake with a gun versus bear spray, the consequences can be far more serious.
- You will not be able to enter many establishments or use most public transportation while carrying a firearm.
- Some states have restrictions on open firearm carry.
A Few Key Things to Stay Safer in the Backcountry
- Stay aware: Ditch the headphones and stay vigilant. You should be aware of your surroundings to hear or see something that might be a threat. Look around, talk out loud, and make some noise, Madler recommends. You don’t necessarily have to dangle bear bells behind you, he said; just don’t be one of those head-down, earphones-in joggers. That’s asking for trouble.
- Feel confident in whatever deterrent you use: Madler and Hechtel were adamant that whatever deterrent you choose to use, make sure you are confident with it and that it is accessible. Bear spray or mace stuffed into the bottom of your pack isn’t going to do anything if a bear charges. Make sure your defense is easy to access and won’t accidentally discharge.
- Consider leashing your dog: In Colorado, where I tend to trail run and hike, moose are prevalent on many trails, even when you aren’t deep in the backcountry. And if your dog runs up on a moose or bear, the likelihood of you both being charged is high. Consider keeping your pup on a leash, especially if moose or bears frequent the area.
- Check the laws: Before any adventure, you should familiarize yourself with whatever information you need to know about that area. You might need a permit or be required to carry a bear bin and spray; perhaps firearms aren’t allowed at all, or you can carry one, but it can’t be concealed. Know the rules so you can try and follow them.
- Know what to do if you do have a wild animal encounter: Stay confident and don’t act erratically. If having a gun or can of bear spray in your hand helps you channel your assertiveness and confidence, then that’s your key, Hetchtel said.
The Final Word: Don’t Let Fear Keep You Off the Trail
“You know, everybody wants a simple answer on some of this stuff,” Hetchtel said about whether or not to carry a gun while backpacking. “And the reality is, there’s no one piece of advice relative to a deterrent that works for everybody all the time.”
I’m not quite ready to commit to buying a gun and taking classes, but most of that is due to expenses and time. I want to ensure that I choose the right gun for myself and take the proper steps to understand its use, carry it safely, and store it securely.
This summer, I like the idea of using an airhorn, whether that’s on longer backpacking treks, car camping, or just on a trail run. Making a loud, deterring noise to humans or animals seems like a great way to scare away predators without expending a ton of energy on training and time. In the fall, I’ll have more time to research training classes seriously and determine which pistol would work best for me. Either way, I’m done letting fear keep me off the trail.
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