Best Backpacking Trips in the US

What factors contribute to an excellent backpacking trip? Without a doubt, breathtaking scenery is a must. In my opinion, a sense of adventure adds to the thrill of a hike. Although a long trek in the wilderness can be inspiring, many of the best trips in the country can be completed in just a few days, and a significant portion of the hikes on this list are less than 50 miles in length. Additionally, a genuine wilderness experience is a crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked.

Appalachian Trail – Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of hiking trails, with some trails leading to granite summits and others descending into the park’s woodland hollows. This total also incorporates the famous Appalachian Trail, which spans 105 miles within the park.

The Appalachian Trail, also known as AT, stretches for over 2,180 miles from Georgia to Maine, and it follows the entire length of Shenandoah National Park, which is the only national park located in Virginia.

Following the scenic mountain road known as Skyline Drive, the route sometimes intersects with it, then carries on across to the opposite side.

The Appalachian Trail begins its entry into Shenandoah at the Rockfish Gap Entrance Station located in the southern part of the park, and it exits the park in its northernmost region. Along its route, the trail traverses the Blue Ridge Mountains’ crest, reaching the summits of numerous peaks and providing breathtaking vistas.

Wonderland Trail – Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

The Wonderland Trail, which is one of the best backpacking loops in the Pacific Northwest, goes around the impressive Mount Rainier.

With a length of 93 miles, the trail has a total elevation gain of approximately 23,000 feet. In Mount Rainier National Park, the trail traverses various significant life zones, including forests, valleys, slopes, and ridges.

Because of its diversity and challenge, this hike is regarded as one of the finest multi-day hikes in the national parks of America. Another reason for its popularity is the breathtaking vista of Mount Rainier, known as “Tacoma” in Native American culture.

While most individuals finish their Wonderland Trail hike within 10 days, the National Park Service provides a timeframe of 14 days for its completion.

There are numerous campgrounds on the way, which consist of three developed campgrounds and at least eighteen backcountry wilderness camps.

For all overnight trips in the wilderness of Mount Rainier National Park, it is necessary to obtain a wilderness permit.

Two Hikes in Glacier National Park

Glacier is immensely popular with backpackers due to its expansive wilderness within Montana’s Northern Rockies, spanning over a million acres. It boasts stunning scenery with rivers of ice cascading down craggy mountains, verdant forests, and more than 760 lakes offering reflective views. Moreover, the presence of various megafauna, including bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, moose, grizzly and black bears, adds to the allure of this remarkable destination.

This list includes two significant hikes that are both over 90 miles long and also offer multiple shorter routes. These hikes have the privilege of being featured on this list because, during both expeditions, my companions and I witnessed the mentioned breathtaking sights and encountered majestic creatures, such as grizzly bears. Furthermore, despite visiting many popular destinations within the park, we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of solitude we experienced.

I customized a variation of the Northern Loop hike in Glacier, which was split into 65- and 25-mile legs, covering a total of 90 miles. This route allowed me to experience some of the most breathtaking scenery in Glacier, including the Highline Trail, Many Glacier area, Piegan Pass and Stoney Indian Pass, the Ptarmigan Wall and Tunnel, and some of the park’s most beautiful lakes and remote wilderness areas.

Teton Crest Trail

I went on my first major backpacking trip in the Western region, specifically on the Teton Crest Trail located in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The experience left a profound impact on me, leading me to revisit the location over 20 times for various activities like backpacking, day hiking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and canoeing. The striking outline of the mountains on the horizon never fails to evoke a sense of awe and excitement within me.

The Teton Crest Trail runs from north to south in the national park and nearby national forest lands. It primarily stays above the treeline and provides panoramic views of the peaks. However, it also descends into the gorgeous South Fork and North Fork of Cascade Canyon, Paintbrush Canyon, and the upper forks of Granite Canyon. Additionally, it passes through Paintbrush Divide, which is located at 10,720 feet.

One of America’s premier multi-day hikes can be experienced by accessing various trails, which offer multiple route options.

Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hike – Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

When it comes to a grand adventure in a desert wilderness, few backpacking trips in America can compare to crossing the Grand Canyon. A journey from one rim to the other entails descending to the very bottom of one of the world’s largest canyons and then ascending back up.

This is a national park hike that lasts several days, and it will assess your mental strength, push your physical limits, and create incredible memories.

This activity is not easy at all. Actually, individuals who are unprepared or underestimate their physical abilities may face severe consequences when attempting a rim-to-rim hike in Grand Canyon National Park.

If you have prepared, conducted your research, and have the appropriate hiking equipment, you are about to embark on an extraordinary adventure. Undoubtedly, this is among the top backpacking journeys in the national parks of the United States.

When considering how to hike from the North Rim to the South Rim, you have two options available. It is generally recommended to take the north-south route as it offers a significant advantage – the way up is considerably shorter due to the North Rim being more than 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim.

North Kaibab Trail to River Trail to Bright Angel Trail
North Kaibab Trail to South Kaibab Trail

In my opinion, I would recommend the North Kaibab Trail for descending and the Bright Angel Trail for ascending. Despite being slightly longer, this option conveniently leads you directly into Grand Canyon Village.

Zion’s Narrows

In Utah’s Zion National Park, the North Fork of the Virgin River creates a remarkable redrock canyon that is exceptionally deep, slim, and impressive. The canyon walls reach heights of up to 1,000 feet and narrow down to a mere 20 feet in certain areas. Cracks in the walls release springs that nourish beautiful hanging gardens. During cloudless evenings, the narrow gap between the towering rock walls offers a view of a pitch-black sky adorned with countless stars.

During low-water levels, when backpackers usually complete the two-day descent of The Narrows, the majority of your time is spent walking in water ranging from ankle-deep (most commonly) to waist-deep occasionally, as you traverse a cobblestone riverbed that hinders swift movement.

However, you will not feel any urge to hurry along one of the most captivating hikes in the National Park System. This is especially true as the lower end of the hike is often crowded with dayhikers, whereas the first day and second morning of the journey are significantly more peaceful.