Build your route,
take the hike
Backpack Rat is a backpacking trip planner for the Midwest and East Coast — curated trails, real permit info, honest camping rules, and trip reports from people who've actually hiked them.
Explore every trailhead in the catalog and open one directly in the Route Builder.
Real trail intel
Distance, elevation, difficulty, best season, and trailhead coordinates — for every trail in our catalog.
Permits & camping
Know upfront whether you need a permit, where to camp, and whether sites are designated or dispersed.
Community trip reports
Read and write notes from real hikers. Conditions change — rely on the people who were just out there.
Route builder
Drop waypoints on an interactive map and watch the mileage follow the actual trail — not a straight line. Save routes to your account and pick up where you left off.
Trip Planner
Tell us your constraints and the AI ranks real trails from our catalog — with honest reasoning and a day-by-day itinerary.