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Backpacking trip guides

We provide in-depth backpacking guides to some of the most beautiful places on our planet. Each guide includes all the pre-trip details you'll need to plan an awesome backcountry adventure.

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United States & Canada

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THRU-HIKES

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Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail

Distance: 2,650 miles

Average # of Days Needed: 150 days

Approx. Elevation Change: 489,418 feet

# of States Traversed: 3

Best Time: Spring - Early Fall

Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail

Distance: 2,190 miles

Average # of Days Needed: 165 days

Approx. Elevation Change: 465,000 feet

# of States Traversed: 14

Best Time: Spring - Early Fall

Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide Trail

Distance: 2,700-3,000 miles

Average # of Days Needed: 150 days

Approx. Elevation Change: 457,000 feet

# of States Traversed: 5

Best Time: Spring - Early Fall

John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail

Distance: 210.4 miles (official) / 221 miles (end-to-end)

Average # of Days Needed: 18-21 days

Approx. Elevation Change: 46,000 feet

Best Time: July - Early October

Vermont's Long Trail
Vermont's Long Trail

Distance: 272 miles

Average # of Days Needed: 19 to 28 days

Approx. Elevation Change: 63,500 feet

Best Time: June to mid-October

Colorado Trail
Colorado Trail

Distance: 486 miles (give or take a few depending on route)

Time Needed: 4-6 weeks

Aprox. Elevation Change: 89,000 ft.

Best Time: July - September

OREGON

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Timberline Trail - Mount Hood
Timberline Trail - Mount Hood

Distance: 40 miles

Days Needed: 3-4 days

Difficulty: Difficult

Best Time: July - September

Three Sisters Loop - Central Oregon
Three Sisters Loop - Central Oregon

Distance: 50 miles

Days Needed: 3-6 days

Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult

Best Time: Late July - September

Wallowa River Loop - Eastern Oregon
Wallowa River Loop - Eastern Oregon

Distance: 36 miles

Days Needed: 4-5 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: July - September

Rogue River Trail - Southern Oregon
Rogue River Trail - Southern Oregon

Distance: 40 miles (one way)

Days Needed: 3-5 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time: April-May & September-October

Oregon Coast Trail - Bandon to Port Orford
Oregon Coast Trail - Bandon to Port Orford

Distance: 30 miles

Days Needed: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time: Spring, Summer, Fall

Steens Mountain, Southeastern Oregon
Steens Mountain, Southeastern Oregon

Distance: Varies, depending on trip

Days Needed: 2-5 days, varies

Difficulty: Easy to Difficult

Best Time: July-Early October

McKenzie River Trail - Central Oregon
McKenzie River Trail - Central Oregon

Distance: 27 miles (one way)

Days Needed: 2-4 days, varies

Difficulty: Easy

Best Time: Mid-April - Early November

Three Fingered Jack Loop - Central Cascades
Three Fingered Jack Loop - Central Cascades

Distance: 20.9-23.7

Days Needed: 2-3

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time: Late July-September

Alvord Desert Camping Tips
Alvord Desert Camping Tips

Drive Time: 7 hrs. from Portland, 4 hrs. from Bend

Best Time: Late spring-fall

WASHINGTON

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Enchantment Lakes Basin - Northern Cascades
Enchantment Lakes Basin - Northern Cascades

Distance: 19 miles

Days Needed: 1-4 days

Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult

Best Time: Late July - October

Goat Rocks Wilderness - South Central Cascades
Goat Rocks Wilderness - South Central Cascades

Distance: Varies, depending on route

Days Needed: 2-6 days

Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult

Best Time: Late July - October

Wonderland Trail - Mount Rainier
Wonderland Trail - Mount Rainier

Distance: 93 Miles

Days Needed: 9-12 Days

Difficulty: Very Difficult

Best Time: July - September

Round the Mountain Trail - Mount Adams
Round the Mountain Trail - Mount Adams

Distance: Varies

Days Needed: 2-5 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: July - September

Mount Margaret Backcountry - Mount St. Helens
Mount Margaret Backcountry - Mount St. Helens

Distance: 25-35 miles

Days Needed: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Moderate- Difficult

Best Time: Late July - October

Loowit Trail Loop - Mount St. Helens
Loowit Trail Loop - Mount St. Helens

Distance: 30 to 36, depending on trailhead

Days Needed: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Strenuous

Best Time: July - October

North Coast Route - Olympic National Park
North Coast Route - Olympic National Park

Distance: About 37 miles

Days Needed: 3-5 days

Difficulty: Difficult

Best Time: May - September

MONTANA

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Glacier National Park Backpacking Trips
Glacier National Park Backpacking Trips

Distance: Varies

Days Needed: Varies

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: Late July - September

10 Best Day Hikes in Glacier National Park
10 Best Day Hikes in Glacier National Park

Distance: Varies

Days Needed: Varies

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: Late July - September

UTAH

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Buckskin Gulch & Paria Canyon - Southern Utah
Buckskin Gulch & Paria Canyon - Southern Utah

Distance: 21-51 miles depending on trip

Days Needed: 2-5 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: April-June & September-November

The Narrows Top Down - Zion National Park
The Narrows Top Down - Zion National Park

Distance: 16 miles

Days Needed: 2 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: May-October

Zion Traverse - Zion National Park
Zion Traverse - Zion National Park

Distance: 48.3 miles

Days Needed: 3-6 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: April-May & September-October

Coyote Gulch - Grand Staircase-Escalante
Coyote Gulch - Grand Staircase-Escalante

Distance: 28.4 miles

Days Needed: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time: March-May & October-Early November

Reflection Canyon - Lake Powell Area
Reflection Canyon - Lake Powell Area

Distance: 16-18 miles out and back

Days Needed: 2 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: Late March-May & September-October

Under the Rim & Riggs Spring Loop - Bryce Canyon
Under the Rim & Riggs Spring Loop - Bryce Canyon

Distance: 31.8 miles for both trails

Days Needed: 3-5 days for both trails

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time: April-Mid October

Red Castle Lakes - High Uintas
Red Castle Lakes - High Uintas

Distance: 20 miles

Days Needed: 2-3 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time: Late June - Early October

Amethyst Basin - High Uintas
Amethyst Basin - High Uintas

Distance: 13 miles

Days Needed: 2-3 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time: Late June - Early October

Henry Forks Lake Loop, High Uintas
Henry Forks Lake Loop, High Uintas

Distance: 18.2 miles

Days Needed: 2-3 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time: Late June - Early October

COLORADO

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Collegiate Peaks Loop - Colorado Trail & CDT
Collegiate Peaks Loop - Colorado Trail & CDT

Distance: 160 miles

Days Needed: 10-16 days

Difficulty: Difficult

Best Time: Late June - Early October

Colorado Trail
Colorado Trail

Distance: 486 miles (give or take a few depending on route)

Time Needed: 4-6 weeks

Difficulty: Difficult

Best Time: July - September

WYOMING

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Teton Crest Trail - Grand Teton National Park
Teton Crest Trail - Grand Teton National Park

Distance: 40 miles

Days Needed: 3-5 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: July - Early September

Cirque of the Towers - Wind River Range
Cirque of the Towers - Wind River Range

Distance: 24 miles

Days Needed: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: July - September

Titcomb Basin - Wind River Range
Titcomb Basin - Wind River Range

Distance: Varies

Days Needed: 3-5 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: July - September

CALIFORNIA

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Trinity Alps Wilderness - Northwest California
Trinity Alps Wilderness - Northwest California

Distance: 20-50 miles depending on trip

Days Needed: 2-5 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult, depending on trip

Best Time: July - September

How to Hike Half Dome - Yosemite National Park
How to Hike Half Dome - Yosemite National Park

Distance: 16.4 Miles roundtrip via Mist Trail

Days Needed: 1-3

Difficulty: Very strenuous

Best Time: June - October

Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop - Death Valley
Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop - Death Valley

Distance: 26.3 and 31.8, depending on route

Days Needed: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time: Winter (or late fall, early spring)

John Muir Trail: A Complete Guide
John Muir Trail: A Complete Guide

Distance: 210.4 (official) / 221 (end-to-end)

Days Needed: 18-21 days

Difficulty: Difficult - Strenuous

Best Time: July to early October

GEAR GUIDE: John Muir Trail Gear List: What to Pack

CANADA

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Lake O'Hara Backcountry - Yoho National Park
Lake O'Hara Backcountry - Yoho National Park

Distance: Varies

Days Needed: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: July - Late September

Skyline Trail - Jasper National Park
Skyline Trail - Jasper National Park

Distance: 27 miles

Days Needed: 2-4 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: Late July - September

Sawback Trail - Banff National Park
Sawback Trail - Banff National Park

Distance: 46 miles

Days Needed: 4-6 days

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: Late July - September

International Backpacking TRIPS

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Santa Cruz Trek - Cordillera Blanca, Peru
Santa Cruz Trek - Cordillera Blanca, Peru

Distance: 50 kilometers / 31 miles

Days Needed: 3-4

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Best Time: May-September

Nepal Trekking - A Comprehensive Guide
Nepal Trekking - A Comprehensive Guide

Best Time to Visit: October-November & March-April

GEAR GUIDE: What to Pack for Hiking in Nepal

Backpacking & Hiking in Patagonia
Backpacking & Hiking in Patagonia

Best Time to Visit December-February & September-November

GEAR GUIDE: What to Pack for Hiking in Patagonia

Hiking in Torres del Paine, Patagonia
Hiking in Torres del Paine, Patagonia

Best Time to Visit December-February & September-November

GEAR GUIDE: What to Pack for Hiking in Patagonia

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