backpacking trip ideas

Cottonwood Lakes is a 23.3 mile loop surrounding High Sierra Landscapes. Hike by alpine lakes, vistas, wildflower-lined streams, and twisted ancient foxtail pine forest straight out of Ansel Adams— under the shadow of 14,000-foot tall Mt. Langley.

A trip guide for the 160-mile loop along the Colorado Trail and Continental Divide Trail with trailheads, gear list, resupply trail towns and suggested itinerary

The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) is a 310-mile backpacking trail in Minnesota along the North Shore of Lake Superior. We explain campsites, logistics, resupply and how to hike the SHT

Here’s everything I learned that you should know about backpacking, running, or hiking the Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop.

Mount Rainier’s premier trail, the 93-mile Wonderland Trail, is a backpacker’s dream. On this 5- to 10-day backpacking trip, you will circumnavigate Washington’s Mt. Rainier, the most topographically prominent mountain in the lower 48.

The definitive guide from a 2-time thru-hiker to backpacking the High Sierra Trail. To call the HST an alternative to the John Muir Trail would be to minimize its standing as a world-class trail in its own right.

The 565-mile Blue Mountains Trail (BMT) is Oregon’s newest thru-hike trail. Leaving Wallowa Lake State Park, it forms a spiral to finish at John Day. It passes through the lands of the Nez Perce, and Confederated Tribes of Umatilla and Warm Springs.

Read our backpacking and thru-hiking guide to the Tahoe Rim Trail, a 174-mile hike in California and Nevada. We cover gear, permits, camping, water, logistics, and more.

The Presidential Traverse is a 19-mile technical hike through the heart of the White Mountains in New Hampshire, with epic views and historic mountain huts with amenities.

Everything you need to know to run, hike, camp, or backpack the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore Trail (PRLT) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which includes views of Lake Superior, sweeping sand dunes, interesting rock features, and dense woods.

The Snowdonia Way is a new 97-to-122-mile route connecting must-see sights of Snowdonia National Park. This long-distance backpacking trip will take you through North and Mid Wales mountains, valleys, beaches, rivers, mountain ridges, and summits.

Hiking guide to the Camino de Santiago on the French Way route, the most popular walking pilgrimage from the French Pyrennes to Santiago de Compostela, Spain

How to plan your backpacking trip of the West Coast Trail in British Columbia, a 47-mile coastal trek: permits, transportation, logistics, gear, planning, and sample itinerary.

Prescott Circle is a 60-mile loop around Prescott, Arizona. Open to all non-motorized use and popular with hikers, backpackers, and more, the trail skirts defining places of the greater valley with amazing views from a well-maintained trail.

A guide to backpacking Hawai’i in Haleakalā National Park in Maui, including itineraries for the best 3-day overnight hikes in Haleakalā crater and to the summit

The Pemigewasset Loop (Pemi Loop) is a classic 30-mile hiking, trail running, and backpacking trip in the White Mountains, New Hampshire utilizing parts of the Appalachian Trail. Considered the 2nd hardest hike in the US, it passes Franconia Ridge, 4000 -footers and AMC huts.

The Oregon Desert Trail (ODT) is a long-distance (750-mile) hiking route extending through the Oregon Badlands to Owyhee State Park. It is a remote and challenging trek through central and southeastern Oregon’s high desert highlights.

Permits, logistics, camping, resupply, water and more for the Trans Catalina Trail (TCT) thru-hike, a 38-mile beginner friendly backpacking trip on Catalina Island, CA with beaches, swimming, and a mild climate.

A seldom traveled alternative to the southern Appalachian Trail, the Benton MacKaye Trail offers a remote and rugged wilderness experience.

80-mile trail from Fort William to Aviemore through Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. More solitude, route-finding than the West Highland Way. Amenities for inn-to-inn hiking

Starting in Talimena State Park, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail runs 223 miles through West Oklahoma and follows the Ouachita Mountains. The hiking trail avoids towns and roads, complicating resupply but resulting in true, necessary solitude.

The California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) is a 37-mile trail across Joshua Tree National Park ideal for winter and spring backpacking, wildflowers, and sunrises.

Hiking and backpacking guide to a ~400-mile thru-hike from border-to-border of Oregon. Walk sandy beaches, sea cliffs, and forested headlands with restaurant and inn-to-inn options

The Corvallis to Sea Trail (C2C Trail) is a 62-mile backpacking trip through Oregon’s coastal range to Ona Beach on signed hiking trail from Corvallis to the Coast.

Trip guide to Vermont’s Long Trail, 272-mile thru-hiking path in Green Mountain National Forest. We cover camping, shelters, resupply, gear lists, planning, transportation, logistics and more

The New England Trail (NET) is a ~200-mile new national scenic trail in CT and MA. This hiking and backpacking guide covers camping, water, resupply, logistics and more.

The Timberline Trail is a 41-mile loop in Oregon that circumnavigates Mt. Hood (11,244 feet), a stratovolcano that is the highest point in Oregon and the fourth highest peak in the Cascade Range. This thru-hike shares miles on the west with the Pacific Crest Trail and has views of glaciers, waterfalls, wildflowers, other volcanos, and the world-famous architectural wonder of Timberline Lodge.

Oregon’s Three Sisters Loop is a 50-mile, 3-6 day backpacking trip that circumnavigates three volcanoes! A highlight of the Oregon Cascades, it passes through a waterfall, wildflower meadows, wilderness, the remains of an old lava flow, and more!

The Foothills Trail is a 77-mile footpath along the Blue Ridge Escarpment of North and South Carolina. Layered in history, water features, and mountain views, this 4-season-friendly route provides new scenery each day.

The ~155-mile San Diego Trans County Trail (aka Sea to Sea Trail) is a winter thru-hike. This guide has a route, water, and resupply plan, and a gear list.