THE BEST BACKPACKING IN THE UNITED STATES
There are fantastic areas for backpacking all across the United States, even in states and areas you might not expect there to be. As you look through the lists below,
please let me know if you believe I have omitted any of the classic backpacking trails or areas in the country.
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TOP BACKPACKING TRAILS AND AREAS IN THE U.S.
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Here are my choices for the very best backpacking trails or areas in the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii):
California
✮ Desolation Wilderness
✮ John Muir Trail
✮ Kings Canyon National Park - e.g. Humphreys Basin / Evolution Basin, Rae Lakes Loop, etc.
✮ Lost Coast Trail
✮ Pacific Crest Trail (CA, OR, WA)
✮ Sequoia National Park - e.g. High Sierra Trail
✮ Sierra Mountains, The - e.g. Inyo National Forest (including Mount Whitney), Ansel Adams Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, etc.
✮ Tahoe Rim Trail
✮ Trinity Alps Wilderness
✮ Yosemite National Park - e.g. John Muir Trail, High Sierra Camps
Utah
✮ Canyonlands National Park-Needles District - e.g. Chesler Park, Joint Trail, Druid Arch, Salt Creek, Angel Arch, etc.
✮ Coyote Gulch
✮ Death Hollow
✮ Uinta Highline Trail
✮ Zion National Park - e.g. Virgin River Narrows, West Rim Trail
Washington
✮ Enchantment Lakes / Alpine Lakes Wilderness
✮ Mount Rainier National Park - e.g. Wonderland Trail
✮ North Cascades National Park - e.g. Desolation Peak, Gothic Basin, Hannegan Peak/Copper Rid
✮ Olympic National Park - e.g. Enchanted Valley, Hoh River Trail, North Wilderness Beach, Royal Basin, Seven Lakes Basin Loop, etc.
✮ Pacific Crest Trail (CA, OR, WA)
The rest of the western U.S.
✮ Bob Marshall Wilderness (MT)
✮ Buckskin Gulch / Paria Canyon (UT, AZ)
✮ Continental Divide Trail (NM, CO, WY, ID, MT)
✮ Denali National Park (AK)
✮ Gates of the Arctic National Park (AK)
✮ Glacier National Park (MT) - e.g. Granite Park Chalet, Sperry Chalet, Highline Trail, Many Glacier Loop, St. Mary to Lake McDonald
✮ Grand Canyon National Park (AZ) - e.g. South Kaibab Trail/Bright Angel Trail loop, Rim-to-Rim, Escalante Route
✮ Grand Teton National Park (WY) - e.g. Teton Crest Trail
✮ Havasupai / Havasu Falls (AZ)
✮ Kalalau Trail (Kauai, HI)
✮ Pacific Crest Trail (CA, OR, WA)
✮ Rogue River National Recreation Trail (OR)
✮ Sawtooth Recreation Area (ID)
✮ Three Sisters Wilderness (OR)
✮ Timberline Trail, Mt. Hood National Forest (OR)
✮ Wind River Range (WY) - e.g. Cirque of the Towers
✮ Yellowstone National Park (WY) - e.g. Bechler River Trail, Dunanda Falls, Heart Lake, Shoshone Lake, Specimen Ridge, High Lake Loop
Central U.S.
✮ Big Bend National Park (TX) - e.g. Outer Mountain Loop
✮ Colorado Trail (CO)
✮ Continental Divide Trail (NM, CO, WY, ID, MT)
✮ Ice Age Trail (WI)
✮ Isle Royale National Park-Greenstone Ridge Trail (MI)
✮ Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness (CO) - e.g. Four Pass Loop
✮ Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (MI) - e.g. North Country National Scenic Trail
✮ San Juan Mountains (CO)
Eastern U.S.
✮ Adirondack Park (NY)
✮ Appalachian Trail (GA, NC, VA, MD, PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA, VT, NH, ME) - e.g. 100-Mile Wilderness (ME)
✮ Art Loeb Trail (NC)
✮ Baxter State Park (ME) - e.g. Chimney Pond, Russell Pond
✮ Cohos Trail (NH)
✮ Dolly Sods Wilderness (WV)
✮ Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC, TN) - e.g. Mount LeConte Lodge
✮ Long Trail (VT)
✮ Northville-Placid Trail (NY)
✮ White Mountain National Forest (NH, ME) - e.g. Pemi Loop, Great Gulf, AMC's High Mountain Huts
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THE BEST BACKPACKING TRAILS AND AREAS IN EACH U.S. STATE
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The following sections describe my selections for the best backpacking trails and areas in each U.S. state:
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Alabama offers several backpacking opportunities, including:
✮ Conecuh Trail, Conecuh National Forest
✮ Cathedral Caverns State Park
✮ DeSoto State Park
✮ East Bee Branch Canyon
✮ Oak Mountain State Park
✮ Pinhoti Trail, Talladega National Forest
✮ Sipsey Wilderness
✮ Skyway Backpack Loop, Talladega National Forest
Many of the backpacking trails and areas listed above are infrequently maintained. You may need a GPS to help you navigate on at least some of these trails.
Discover Alabama travel ideas with my comprehensive Alabama Travel Guide.
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Arizona offers several outstanding backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Arizona include:
Northern Arizona
✮ Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon
✮ Rainbow Bridge in Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding area
✮ Escalante Route (South Rim)
✮ Grandview/Tonto/Bright Angel Loop (South Rim)
✮ Havasupai / Havasu Falls
✮ Hermit/Tonto/Bright Angel Loop (South Rim)
✮ Rim to Rim - a private shuttle or two vehicles is required; significant planning is important here since the driving distance is so far
✮ South Kaibab/Bright Angel Loop (South Rim) - a park shuttle is required to reach the South Kaibab trailhead; try to win the lottery (which historically has run 13-14 months in advance) to stay at Phantom Ranch if you can
Central Arizona
✮ Rincon Mountains of Saguaro National Park
✮ Superstition Wilderness - e.g. White Rock Springs
Backpacking in the Grand Canyon is a world-class backpacking experience. Permits are difficult to obtain, and you should expect extremely challenging (and often very hot) hiking conditions. The classic backpacking experience in the Grand Canyon is going down the South Kaibab Trail and exiting via the Bright Angel Trail. This is an 18-mile loop and it requires a park shuttle to get to the start of the South Kaibab Trail. I did this hike in 2023 and it was phenomenal.
crossing the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park
Discover Arizona travel ideas with my comprehensive Arizona Travel Guide.
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Arkansas several excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Arkansas include:
✮ Butterfield Trail - 15 mile hiking loop in Devil's Den State Park
✮ Cane Creek Lake Trail, Cane Creek State Park
✮ Cove Lake Trail, Mt. Magazine State Park
✮ Eagle Rock Loop - 26 mile hike in Ouachita National Park
✮ North Sylamore Creek Trail, Ozark National Forest
✮ Ouachita Trail - 192-mile hike from near Talimena State Park in Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Arkansas (near Little Rock)
✮ Ozark Highlands Trail - this 165-mile route is considered one of the country's premier medium-distance backpacking routes
✮ Pigeon Roost Trail, Hobbs State Park Conservation Area
Discover Arkansas travel ideas with my comprehensive Arkansas Travel Guide.
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California offers some of the very best backpacking opportunities in the country. Here is a list of many of the premier backpacking routes in California:
✮ Ansel Adams Wilderness trails - e.g., Ediza Lake and Shadow Lake, Minaret Ridge and Minaret Lake
✮ Desolation Wilderness trails
✮ High Sierra Camp Loop in Yosemite National Park
✮ High Sierra Trail in
Sequoia National Park and Inyo National Forest
✮ Humphreys Basin and Evolution Basin in Kings Canyon National Park
✮ Inyo National Forest trails
✮ John Muir Trail
✮ John Muir Wilderness trails - e.g., Big Pine Lakes Basin
✮ Kings Canyon National Park trails
✮ Lassen Volcanic National Park Lakes Loop
✮ Lost Coast Trail
✮ Mount Whitney
✮ Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park
✮ Sequoia National Park trails
✮ Skyline-To-The-Sea Trail in Castle Rock State Park
✮ Tahoe Rim Trail
✮ Trans-Catalina Trail, Catalina Island
✮ Trinity Alps Wilderness trails - e.g., Canyon Creek Lakes, Grizzly Lake
✮ Yosemite National Park trails
Take note that an increasing number of hikes in California are requiring permits/advance reservations. Make sure to research any entry requirements before attempting to go on a backpacking trip in California.
In addition to the backpacking trails/areas listed above, the Sierra Mountains of California offer an unbelievable amount of off-trail backpacking opportunities. If off-trail backpacking is your thing, perform some research and you'll discover some of the most mind-boggling alpine scenery in the U.S.
Mount Whitney
Discover California travel ideas with my comprehensive California Travel Guide.
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Colorado offers some of the best backpacking opportunities in the country. Here are some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in Colorado:
Northwestern Colorado (including Steamboat Springs)
✮ Continental Divide Trail
Southwestern Colorado (including Cortez, Durango, Ouray, and Telluride)
✮ Chicago Basin, Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest
✮ Colorado Trail
✮ Continental Divide Trail
✮ San Juan National Forest
Central Colorado (including Aspen, Breckenridge, Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Salida, and Vail)
✮ Colorado Trail
✮ Continental Divide Trail
✮ Conundrum Hot Springs, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Four Pass Loop, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest
✮ Lost Creek Wilderness Loop
✮ Pikes Peak via Barr Trail
Southcentral Colorado (including Alamosa, Canon City, and Pagosa Springs)
✮ Wheeler Geologic Area, La Garita Wilderness, Rio Grande National Forest
Rocky Mountain National Park area (including Boulder, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Grand Lake, and Winter Park)
✮ Devil’s Thumb to King Lake Loop, Indian Peaks Wilderness
✮ Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
✮ Rawah Lakes, Rawah Wilderness
Discover Colorado travel ideas with my comprehensive Colorado Travel Guide.
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Connecticut offers several good backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Connecticut include:
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Mohawk Trail
✮ Natchaug State Forest trails
✮ Nipmuck Trail
✮ Pachaug State Forest trails
✮ Tunxis State Forest trails
Discover Connecticut travel ideas with my comprehensive Connecticut Travel Guide.
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I am not aware of any backpacking opportunities in Delaware. Please email me if you know of any trails or areas in Delaware where this is possible.
Discover Delaware travel ideas with my comprehensive Delaware Travel Guide.
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Florida offers a few good backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking areas in Florida include:
✮ Coastal Prairie Trail, Everglades National Park - warning: this trail may be overgrown! check the nps.gov site for updates
✮ Florida National Scenic Trail
✮ Hal Scott Preserve
✮ Lake Kissimmee State Park
✮ Little Manatee River Trail
✮ Myakka River State Park
✮ Prairie Lakes Loop
✮ Tamiami Trail, Big Cypress National Preserve
✮ William Bartram St. Johns River Loop
✮ Withlacoochee State Forest
The premier backpacking trail in Florida is the Florida National Scenic Trail. The entire trail is 1,500 miles from Big Cypress National Preserve to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore at Pensacola Beach.
Discover Florida travel ideas with my comprehensive Florida Travel Guide.
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Georgia offers several great backpacking opportunities, most of which are in northern Georgia. Some of premier backpacking routes in Georgia include:
✮ Appalachian Trail - hike some or all of the 78-miles of the A.T. that pass through Georgia
✮ Bartram Trail
✮ Benton MacKaye Trail
✮ Conasauga River Trail
✮ Cumberland Island National Seashore
✮ Len Foote Hike Inn, Amicalola Falls State Park
✮ Jacks River Trail, Cohutta Wilderness
✮ Pine Mountain Trail, F.D. Roosevelt State Park
✮ Pinhoti National Recreation Trail
Discover Georgia travel ideas with my comprehensive Georgia Travel Guide.
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Idaho offers several amazing backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Idaho include:
✮ Alice Lake-Toxaway Lake Loop, Sawtooth National Recreation Area
✮ Big Boulder Lakes, Salmon-Challis National Forest
✮ Boulder Chain Lakes, Sawtooth National Recreation Area
✮ Hells Canyon-Snake River Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and Hells Canyon Wilderness
✮ Lost River Range Traverse, Salmon-Challis National Forest
✮ Sawtooth Lake, Sawtooth National Recreation Area
✮ Seven Devils Loop, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
✮ Ship Island Lake, Frank Church-River Of No Return Wilderness
✮ Standhope Peak, Salmon-Challis National Forest
✮ Thompson Peak, Sawtooth Wilderness
✮ White Cloud Peaks Loop, Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Sawtooth Lake
Discover Idaho travel ideas with my comprehensive Idaho Travel Guide.
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Illinois offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in Illinois include:
✮ Giant City State Park
✮ River-to-River Trail
✮ Sand Ridge State Forest
✮ Shawnee National Forest
Discover Illinois travel ideas with my comprehensive Illinois Travel Guide.
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Indiana offers several good backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in Indiana include:
Northern Indiana (including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Shipshewanna, and South Bend)
✮ Bloodroot Trail, Salamonie Lake State Park
Central Indiana (including Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Nashville)
✮ Adena Trace Loop, Brookville Lake
✮ Low Gap Trail, Morgan-Monroe State Forest
✮ Tecumseh Trail, Morgan-Monroe State Forest
✮ Three Lakes Trail, Morgan-Monroe State Forest
Southern Indiana (including Evansville and Santa Claus)
✮ Adventure Hiking Trail, Harrison-Crawford State Forest & O'Bannon Woods State Park
✮ Charles C. Deam Wilderness, Hoosier National Forest
✮ Hoosier National Forest - several backpacking options exist in this national forest
✮ Knobstone Trail, Jackson-Washington and Clark State Forests
Discover Indiana travel ideas with my comprehensive Indiana Travel Guide.
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Iowa offers a few backpacking opportunities, including:
✮ Backpack Trail in Yellow River State Forest
✮ Preparation Canyon State Park
✮ Stephens State Forest
Discover Iowa travel ideas with my comprehensive Iowa Travel Guide.
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Kansas only offers a few backpacking opportunities. Here are the only trails/places that I know of:
✮ Elk River Trail, Elk City State Park - southeastern Kansas; 15 miles one-way; this is the premier backpacking trip in Kansas
✮ Woodridge Park - eastern Kansas near Topeka
Discover Kansas travel ideas with my comprehensive Kansas Travel Guide.
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Kentucky offers some great backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in Kentucky include:
✮ Beaver Creek Wilderness
✮ Carter Caves State Resort Park
✮ North/South Trail, Land Between the Lakes NRA - 59 miles across the entire length of the national recreation area
✮ Ridge Trail, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
✮ Sal Hallow Loop, Mammoth Cave National Park
✮ Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail - 290 miles from northern Kentucky to Pickett State Park in Tennessee
Discover Kentucky travel ideas with my comprehensive Kentucky Travel Guide.
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Louisiana only offers a few backpacking opportunities. Here are the only backpacking trails/areas that I'm currently aware of:
✮ Lake Chicot Loop Trail, Chicot State Park
✮ Wild Azalea Trail, Kisatchie National Forest
Discover Louisiana travel ideas with my comprehensive Louisiana Travel Guide.
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Maine offers many outstanding backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking routes in Maine include:
✮ 100-Mile Wilderness (of the Appalachian Trail)
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Baxter State Park
✮ Bigelow Mountain
✮ Camden Hills State Park
✮ Cutler Coast
✮ Deboullie Public Reserved Land
✮ Grafton Notch Loop
✮ International Appalachian Trail
✮ Maine Huts & Trails lodges
✮ Maine Public Reserved Lands
Katahdin, Baxter State Park
Discover Maine travel ideas with my comprehensive Maine Travel Guide.
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Maryland offers a few backpacking opportunities/areas, including:
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Assateague Island National Seashore walk-in sites
✮ Green Ridge State Forest
✮ Potomac-Garrett State Forest
✮ Savage River State Forest
Discover Maryland travel ideas with my comprehensive Maryland Travel Guide.
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Massachusetts offers several excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Massachusetts include:
✮ Appalachian Trail - 90 miles from the Connecticut border to the Vermont border; there are several overnight shelters on the trail
✮ Midstate Trail - 92 miles from the Rhode Island border to the New Hampshire border; there are several overnight shelters on the trail
✮ Monroe State Forest
✮ Mount Greylock State Reservation - climb to scenic views, including those at the MA highpoint; the park has several overnight shelters
✮ Mount Washington State Forest
✮ Tully Trail - 22-mile loop with overnight lodging at the Royalston Falls Shelter; route may be difficult to follow (maintenance is spotty)
Discover Massachusetts travel ideas with my comprehensive Massachusetts Travel Guide.
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Michigan offers many excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Michigan include the following:
Upper Peninsula: West (including Copper Harbor, Marquette, Ontonagon, and Isle Royale National Park)
✮ Greenstone Ridge Trail, Isle Royale National Park
✮ McCargoe Cove Trail to Rock Harbor, Isle Royale National Park
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail
✮ Porky Loop, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Upper Peninsula: East (including Grand Marais, Munising, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore)
✮ Lakeshore Trail, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
✮ Mosquito & Chapel Falls / Chapel Loop, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail
Lower Peninsula
✮ Jordan Valley Pathway, Mackinaw State Forest
✮ Manistee River Trail / North Country Trail loop, Huron-Manistee National Forests
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail
✮ North Manitou Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
✮ Shore-To-Shore Trail
✮ South Manitou Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Discover Michigan travel ideas with my comprehensive Michigan Travel Guide.
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Minnesota offers many great backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking trails/areas in Minnesota include:
✮ Chippewa National Forest - various trails in this national forest offer backpacking opportunities
✮ Itasca State Park
✮ Maplewood State Park
✮ Myre-Big Island State Park
✮ Pow Wow Trail, Boundary Waters Wilderness Area
✮ Sioux Hustler Trail, Boundary Waters Wilderness Area
✮ Snowbank Lake Trail, Boundary Waters Wilderness Area
✮ Superior Hiking Trail (SHT)
✮ Superior National Forest - various trails in this national forest offer backpacking opportunities
✮ Wild River State Park
Discover Minnesota travel ideas with my comprehensive Minnesota Travel Guide.
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The only backpacking trail in Mississippi that I am aware of is the Black Creek Trail. This trail is about 40 miles long and it passes through De Soto National Forest.
Discover Mississippi travel ideas with my comprehensive Mississippi Travel Guide.
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Missouri offers some great backpacking opportunities. Here are a few great backpacking areas/trails in Missouri to get you started:
✮ Big Piney Trail
✮ Mark Twain National Forest
✮ Ozark Trail
Discover Missouri travel ideas with my comprehensive Missouri Travel Guide.
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Montana offers some of the most exceptional backpacking opportunities in the United States. Some of the premier backpacking areas/routes in Montana include:
Glacier National Park
✮ Bowman-Kintla Loop in Glacier National Park
✮ Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park
✮ Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park
✮ Gunsight Pass in Glacier National Park
✮ Highline Trail in Glacier National Park
✮ Many Glacier Loop in Glacier National Park
✮ North Circle Loop in Glacier National Park
✮ Sperry Chalet in Glacier National Park
✮ St. Mary to Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park
The rest of Montana
✮ Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
✮ Bob Marshall Wilderness
✮ Custer Gallatin National Forest
✮ Lee Metcalf Wilderness
✮ Lewis & Clark National Forest
✮ Rainbow Lake / The Beaten Path - near Cooke City
Glacier National Park
(photo courtesy of Katherine Varn Hawkins)
The national forests and wilderness areas of Montana offer near-unlimited on and off-trail hiking and backpacking opportunities. You likely won't find great information about these routes online; instead, you'll likely need to purchase some guidebooks and/or talk to folks that have experience with them. I promise the rewards will be worth the research effort.
Discover Montana travel ideas with my comprehensive Montana Travel Guide.
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Nebraska is fairly limited in its offering of backpacking opportunities. I am only currently aware of these backpacking trails/areas in Nebraska:
✮ Indian Cave State Park - several Adirondack-style shelters are available for use
✮ Niobrara State Park
✮ Pine Ridge Trail, Nebraska National Forest
✮ Ponca State Park
✮ Soldier Creek Wilderness
Discover Nebraska travel ideas with my comprehensive Nebraska Travel Guide.
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Nevada offers only a few backpacking opportunities. You'll find a lot more backpacking routes in adjacent states (like CA or UT). Some of the premier backpacking trails/areas in Nevada include:
✮ Great Basin National Park (e.g. Baker & Johnson Lakes)
✮ Mount Charleston Trail
✮ Lakes Loop in the Ruby Mountains
✮ Liberty Lake and Wines Peak in the Ruby Mountains
✮ Little Lakes Loop in the Ruby Mountains
✮ Overland Lake in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
✮ Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail
✮ Tahoe Rim Trail
✮ Toiyabe Crest National Recreation Trail
Discover Nevada travel ideas with my comprehensive Nevada Travel Guide.
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New Hampshire offers many outstanding backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in New Hampshire include:
Northern New Hampshire
✮ Cohos Trail - 170 miles from Crawford Notch State Park (US 302) north to the Canadian border
White Mountains Region
✮ Appalachian Trail - 161 miles from the Vermont border to the Maine border; passes by 8 AMC mountain huts (reservations required)
✮ Cohos Trail - 170 miles from Crawford Notch State Park (US 302) north to the Canadian border
✮ Franconia Ridge / Franconia Range - White Mountain National Forest near Lincoln, NH
✮ Great Gulf Wilderness - White Mountain National Forest; access from NH 16 between Jackson and Gorham, NH
✮ Pemigewasset Wilderness ("Pemi Loop") - White Mountain National Forest near Lincoln, NH
✮ Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness - White Mountain National Forest; access from US 302
✮ Presidential Range Traverse - White Mountain National Forest; hike from US 302 to US 2
✮ Thirteen Falls - White Mountain National Forest near Lincoln, NH
✮ Wild River Wilderness - eastern section of White Mountain National Forest
✮ Wildcat-Carter-Moriah Range - White Mountain National Forest near Jackson, NH
Central New Hampshire
✮ Appalachian Trail - 161 miles from the Vermont border to the Maine border; passes by 8 AMC mountain huts (reservations required)
✮ Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway - 50 miles from Mt. Monadnock to Mt. Sunapee
Southern New Hampshire
✮ Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway - 50 miles from Mt. Monadnock to Mt. Sunapee
Presidential Range of the White Mountains (near Mt. Adams)
If you want a wilder and more remote backpacking experience, hike a section of the Cohos Trail. Expect mixed trail conditions (well-maintained in some areas, not so much in others).
Discover New Hampshire travel ideas with my comprehensive New Hampshire Travel Guide.
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There is only a limited number of places where you can go backpacking in New Jersey. One is obviously the Appalachian Trail. With a permit, you can also backpack the 53-mile Batona Trail in the Pine Barrens region of New Jersey.
Discover New Jersey travel ideas with my comprehensive New Jersey Travel Guide.
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New Mexico offers a few excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking trails/areas in New Mexico include:
✮ Continental Divide Trail
✮ Crest Trail
✮ Gila River Canyons Loop
✮ Gold Hill
✮ Horseshoe Lake
✮ Lake Katherine
✮ Mogollon Crest Trail / Mogollon Baldy
✮ Pecos Baldy Lake
✮ Pecos Skyline Trail
✮ Santa Fe Baldy
✮ Trampas Lakes
✮ Wheeler Peak
White Sands National Park used to offer primitive backcountry camping, but it looks like it may have been permanently closed by the National Park Service.
Discover New Mexico travel ideas with my comprehensive New Mexico Travel Guide.
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New York offers many excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking trails/areas in New York include:
Western New York (including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester)
✮ Allegany State Park, Salamanca
✮ North Country Trail
Central New York (including Ithaca, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes region)
✮ Finger Lakes Trail
✮ North Country Trail
Northern New York (including Lake Placid, Old Forge, and the Adirondack region)
✮ Algonquin Peak-Indian Pass Loop
✮ Cold River-Seward Range Loop
✮ Cranberry Lake 50
✮ Dix Mountain
✮ High Peaks Loop (Avalanche Lake, Mt Marcy, Mt Basin, Saddleback Mt)
✮ Mount Marcy-Avalanche Lake Loop
✮ North Country Trail
✮ Northville-Placid Trail
✮ Pharaoh Lake Wilderness
✮ West Canada Lakes Wilderness Loop
Eastern New York (including Albany, Cooperstown, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and the Catskills region)
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Burroughs Range Loop (Wittenburg, Cornell, Slide)
✮ Devil's Path
✮ Escarpment Trail
✮ Harriman State Park
✮ Lake George Wild Forest
✮ South Taconic Trail
Long Island
✮ Fire Island National Seashore
Discover New York travel ideas with my comprehensive New York State Travel Guide.
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North Carolina offers many great backpacking opportunities, including some of the best trips on the East Coast. Some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in North Carolina include:
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Art Loeb Trail
✮ Black Mountain Crest Trail
✮ Grandfather Mountain
✮ Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness
✮ Linville Gorge
✮ Mountains-to-Sea Trail
✮ Mount Mitchell
✮ Shining Rock Wilderness
✮ Uwharrie National Forest
Discover North Carolina travel ideas with my comprehensive North Carolina Travel Guide.
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North Dakota offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in North Dakota include:
✮ Maah Daah Hey Trail
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST)
✮ Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit)
✮ Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)
The Maah Daah Hey Trail is the premier long-distance backpacking trail in North Dakota. There are currently 16 trailheads along the route. The trail is much more popular with mountain bikers and horseback riders, but hikers and backpackers do utilize the trail.
Backpacking in Theodore Roosevelt National Park requires a permit, but they are easy to get and currently unlimited. Visit the backpacking page of the NPS site for more information.
Discover North Dakota travel ideas with my comprehensive North Dakota Travel Guide.
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Ohio offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in Ohio include:
✮ Backpack Trail
✮ Buckeye Trail
✮ Mohican-Memorial State Forest
✮ North Country Trail
✮ Oak Openings Metro Park
✮ Tar Hollow State Forest
✮ Twin Valley Trail
✮ Shawnee State Forest
✮ Wayne National Forest
✮ Zaleski State Forest
Discover Ohio travel ideas with my comprehensive Ohio Travel Guide.
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I only know of a few backpacking opportunities in Oklahoma:
✮ Ouachita National Recreation Trail - 192-mile trail connecting Talimena State Park in Oklahoma with Perryville in Arkansas
✮ Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge - e.g. Charons Garden Wilderness Unit
Discover Oklahoma travel ideas with my comprehensive Oklahoma Travel Guide.
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Oregon offers some amazing backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in Oregon include:
Coastal Oregon
✮ Hikers Camp, Ecola State Park
✮ Oregon Coast Trail
✮ Rogue River National Recreation Trail - includes some backcountry lodges
Northwestern Oregon (including Hood River, Portland, Salem, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge)
✮ Eagle Creek Trail in Mt. Hood National Forest
✮ Pacific Coast Trail
✮ Timberline Trail in Mt. Hood National Forest
Central Oregon (including Bend, Eugene, and Sisters)
✮ Mount Jefferson Wilderness - although a fire in 2017 heavily impacted this place
✮ Pacific Coast Trail
✮ Three Sisters Loop / Three Sisters Wilderness
Southcentral Oregon (including Ashland, Klamath Falls, Medford, and Crater Lake National Park)
✮ Pacific Coast Trail
Northeastern Oregon
✮ Eagle Cap Wilderness
✮ Elkhorn Crest National Recreation Trail
✮ Hells Canyon Loop in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
✮ Strawberry Mountain Wilderness
✮ Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Discover Oregon travel ideas with my comprehensive Oregon Travel Guide.
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Pennsylvania offers many great backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Pennsylvania include:
✮ Appalachian Trail (AT)
✮ Baker Trail
✮ Black Forest Trail
✮ Chuck Kepier Trail
✮ Laurel Highlands Trail - this is part of the part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
✮ Loyalsock Trail
✮ Mid State Trail (MST)
✮ North Country Trail (NCT)
✮ Old Loggers Path, Loyalsock State Forest
✮ Quehanna Trail
✮ Susquehannock State Forest trails
✮ West Rim Trail
Discover Pennsylvania travel ideas with my comprehensive Pennsylvania Travel Guide.
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I only know of two areas in Rhode Island that are rumored to allow backpacking:
✮ Arcadia Management Area
✮ George Washington Wildlife Management Area
Discover Rhode Island travel ideas with my comprehensive Rhode Island Travel Guide.
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South Carolina offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in South Carolina include:
✮ Caesars Head State Park trails
✮ Chattooga Trail
✮ Foothills Trail
✮ Jocassee Gorges Management Area trails
✮ Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area (includes Jones Gap State Park and Caesars Head State Park)
✮ Palmetto Trail
✮ Sassafras Mountain
Discover South Carolina travel ideas with my comprehensive South Carolina Travel Guide.
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South Dakota offers several good backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in South Dakota include:
✮ Black Hills National Forest - many different options exist
✮ Centennial Trail - 123-mile backpacking route from Wind Cave National Park to Bear Butte State Park; trail conditions are variable
✮ Indian Creek in Buffalo Gap National Grassland
✮ Sage Creek Wilderness Area in Badlands National Park
The premier backpacking trip in South Dakota is the Centennial Trail. This 123-mile route leads from Wind Cave National Park north to the open summit of Bear Butte in Bear Butte State Park. Most people hike the trail in 7-10 days. The trail quality is mostly good, but the ability to perform brief route-finding is required. You'll also share portions of the trail with ATV/ORV riders, which some consider less than ideal. The biggest challenge of this trail is probably the unpredictable weather (storms, excessive heat) and somewhat limited water resupply points.
You can pretty much go backpacking anywhere in Badlands National Park, so long as you hike far enough away from the road and you camp where you are not visible from the road. Check in with the NPS staff at the visitor center to learn more.
Badlands National Park
Discover South Dakota travel ideas with my comprehensive South Dakota Travel Guide.
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Tennessee offers several great backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in Tennessee include:
Central Tennessee (including Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Nashville)
✮ Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail - 290 miles from northern KY to Pickett State Park in TN; only a small portion is in TN
Northeastern Tennessee (including Bristol, Johnson City, and Knoxville)
✮ Appalachian Trail - about 66 miles of this 2,200 mile long trail is located in Tennessee
✮ Bald Mountains Ridge Scenic Area trails - within Cherokee National Forest
✮ Cherokee National Forest trails
✮ Shady Valley Loop - includes the Iron Mountain Trail and the Appalachian Trail
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (in eastern Tennessee)
✮ Appalachian Trail - about 66 miles of this 2,200 mile trail are in Tennessee
✮ LeConte Lodge on Mount LeConte
Southeastern Tennessee (including Chattanooga)
✮ Cherokee National Forest trails
✮ South Cumberland State Park trails
Discover Tennessee travel ideas with my comprehensive Tennessee Travel Guide.
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Texas offers a surprising amount of great backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Texas include:
✮ Caprock Trailway
✮ Colorado Bend State Park trails (e.g. the Big Loop)
✮ Cross Timbers Trail
✮ Goodwater Loop
✮ Grasslands Outer Loop, Caddo-LBJ National Grasslands
✮ Guadalupe Mountains National Park trails (e.g. McKittrick Canyon)
✮ Lone Star Hiking Trail, Sam Houston National Forest - 92 miles long
✮ Lost Maples State Natural Area, Vanderpool
✮ Outer Mountain Loop, Big Bend National Park
✮ Rancherias Loop, Big Bend Ranch State Park
✮ South Rim Trail, Big Bend National Park
✮ Trail Between the Lakes, Sabine National Forest
Discover Texas travel ideas with my comprehensive Texas Travel Guide.
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Utah offers outstanding backpacking opportunities, and there are great options across the whole state. Some of the premier backpacking routes in Utah include:
Northern Utah (including Park City and Salt Lake City)
✮ Amethyst Lake
✮ Highline Trail
✮ High Uintas Wilderness Loop
✮ King's Peak
✮ Naturalist Basin
✮ Red Castle Lakes
Southwestern Utah (including Kanab, St. George, and Zion National Park)
✮ Buckskin Gulch / Paria Canyon - a permit is required
✮ Hop Valley / Kolob Arch - a permit is required
✮ West Rim Trail in Zion National Park - a permit is required
✮ Zion Narrows / Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park - a permit is required
Southcentral Utah (including Escalante, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park)
✮ Coyote Gulch - a permit is required
✮ Death Hollow / Box-Death Hollow Wilderness
✮ Escalante River
✮ Halls Creek Narrows
✮ Reflection Canyon in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
✮ Under-the-Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park - a permit is required
Southeastern Utah (including Moab, Arches National Park, Bears Ears National Monument, and Canyonlands National Park)
✮ Canyonlands National Park, Needles District (e.g. Chesler Park, Joint Trail, Druid Arch) - a permit is required
✮ Grand Gulch - a permit is required
Needles District of Canyonlands National Park
Discover Utah travel ideas with my comprehensive Utah Travel Guide.
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Vermont offers excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Vermont include:
✮ Appalachian Trail (the entire 150-miles within the state or just part of it; the first 100 miles coincides with the Long Trail)
✮ Long Trail (the entire 272-miles or one of 15 commonly defined sections of it; the first 100 miles coincides with the Appalachian Trail)
✮ Lye Brook Wilderness near Manchester
Camel's Hump along the Long Trail
Discover Vermont travel ideas with my comprehensive Vermont Travel Guide.
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Virginia offers several great backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in Virginia include:
✮ Appalachian Trail
✮ Massanutten Trail
✮ Ridge Trail, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park
✮ Three Ridges Wilderness Circuit
✮ Triple Crown Loop - this loop combines the classic views of McAfee Knob, Tinker Cliffs, and Dragon's Tooth
✮ Wild Oak Trail, George Washington National Forest
Discover Virginia travel ideas with my comprehensive Virginia Travel Guide.
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Washington offers some of the very best backpacking opportunities in the country. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in Washington include:
Olympic National Park and surrounding area (northwestern WA)
✮ Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park
✮ Hoh River Trail / Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park
✮ North Wilderness Beach, Olympic National Park
✮ Royal Basin, Olympic National Park
✮ Seven Lakes Basin Loop, Olympic National Park
✮ Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park
✮ Third Beach-Hoh River Wilderness Beach, Olympic National Park
North Cascades National Park and surrounding area (northcentral WA)
✮ Cathedral Basin, Pasayten Wilderness/Okanogan National Forest
✮ Desolation Peak, North Cascades National Park
✮ Gothic Basin, North Cascades National Park
✮ Hannegan Peak & Copper Ridge, North Cascades National Park
✮ Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Mount Rainier National Park (central WA)
✮ Carbon River to Mystic Lake, Mount Rainier National Park
✮ Wonderland Trail, Mount Rainier National Park
Central Washington
✮ Enchantment Lakes, Alpine Lakes Wilderness / Wenatchee National Forest
✮ Ice Lakes, Glacier Peak Wilderness / Wenatchee National Forest
✮ Image Lake, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
✮ Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Southern Washington
✮ Loowit Loop Trail, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
✮ Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Permits are required for many of the backpacking routes listed above, and some are incredibly difficult to obtain due to strong demand. The weather window is also very short for most of the hikes listed above (with July-September being the general season for most of them).
Enchantment Lakes
Discover Washington travel ideas with my comprehensive Washington Travel Guide.
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West Virginia offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking areas in West Virginia include:
✮ Cranberry Wilderness in Monongahela National Forest
✮ Dolly Sods Wilderness
✮ Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area
Discover West Virginia travel ideas with my comprehensive West Virginia Travel Guide.
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Wisconsin offers a few backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes and areas in Wisconsin include:
✮ Black River State Forest
✮ Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area
✮ Ice Age National Scenic Trail
✮ Jones Spring Trail, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
✮ Newport State Park
✮ North Country Trail
✮ Rock Island State Park
Both the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the North County Trail offer some backcountry shelters. At least some of these shelters must be reserved in advance.
Discover Wisconsin travel ideas with my comprehensive Wisconsin Travel Guide.
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Wyoming offers world-class backpacking opportunities. Some would say Wyoming has the best backpacking in the U.S. outside of Alaska. Some of the premier backpacking routes and areas in Wyoming include:
Yellowstone National Park
✮ Bechler River Trail
✮ Bighorn Pass & Sportsman Lake Loop
✮ Black Canyon of the Yellowstone River
✮ Dunanda Falls / Mr. Bubbles
✮ Heart Lake
✮ Shoshone Lake
✮ Specimen Ridge
✮ High Lake Loop
Yellowstone National Park has nearly 300 designated backcountry campsites, and the areas mentioned above represent only a few that the park offers.
Grand Teton National Park
✮ Cascade Canyon/Paintbrush Canyon Loop
✮ Teton Crest Trail
The rest of Wyoming
✮ Alaska Basin, Caribou-Targhee National Forest
✮ Big Sandy Lake / North Lake / Arrowhead Lake, Bridger Wilderness
✮ Lost Twin Lakes, Cloud Peak Wilderness Area
✮ Wind River Mountains
Grand Teton National Park
Discover Wyoming travel ideas with my comprehensive Wyoming Travel Guide.
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