Published Apr 15, 2019by d.light

6 Best Backpacking Trips in the U.S.

6 Best Backpacking Trips in the U.S.

While one can discover unique wonders of the world from traveling to far off places, plenty is within the country. The landscapes in the U.S are a real treat for hikers whether they’re from the U.S or anywhere else from the globe.

America offers diverse types of landscapes within its borders, some of which are considered as the best hikes in the world. Here are some of the great places to take a backpacking trip in the U.S.

Yosemite National Park (California)

Yosemite National Park features the most formidable natural landscapes with nearly 1,200 square miles of activities and sightseeing landmarks. With 4 million visitors annually, its popularity doesn’t come without consequences as, like typical tourist destinations, crowds create obstacles to an enjoyable vacation.

Many activities take place within the 8-square-mile area of Yosemite Valley with landmarks such as Half Dome and El Capitan, as well as the excellent hiking trails through the national monuments can be found.

Even inexperienced hikers can enjoy backpacking at Yosemite as local adventure outfitters offer guided tours and climbing lessons.

Visit the Yosemite National Park at the right time, and nature’s wonder will reveal serenely in the late spring when the melting snow creates the most active flows. These miracles don’t end as the sun sets as nights at Yosemite are glorious through enjoying stargazing and moonlit walks.

Teton Crest Trail (Wyoming)

Serious hikers should visit the Teton Crest Trail at least once. It’s one of America’s most iconic mountain ranges with approximately 40 miles of breathtaking views of jagged peaks, sparkling alpine lakes, and vibrant wildflower meadows.

The trail usually takes between three and five days to complete, but a shorter trip is possible by diverting to the many side trails winding their way down to the east or west. In general, the hike is best during the late summer.  This time is the longer and warmer days have melted out much of the high-elevation snow.

Teton Crest Trail is also a home to different animals that you might encounter on your hikes such as deer, elk, bighorn sheep, bears, mountain lions, wolves, and others.

As with any trails with bears, backpackers are required to bring bear spray and use bear canisters along the path which they can carry on their own, or they can avail from the park.

Glacier National Park (Montana)

Glacier National Park is a favorite among hikers. This million acres of pristine wilderness contains deep forests, sparkling lakes and ponds, mountains, streams, rivers, and creeks as well as wetlands, swamps, and marshes. It’s also a home for many faunae from bighorn sheep, to mountain goats, moose, and grizzly bears.

Besides its beauty and wildlife, the park is enjoyable for hikers with different skill sets as it features a variety of trails for all skill levels, ranging from easy to challenging.

The park is near the Canadian border and named for the remnants of the glaciers from the ice age. It’s also called the “Crown of the Continent” as it sits at the headwaters of the streams that flow into the Hudson Bady, Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainer National Park (Washington)

The Mount Rainer National Park’s Wonderland Trail takes ten days to complete, but the National Park Service advises hikers to plan for a more extended stay. Rushing through the hikes will miss the sights that the park can offer.

During their hike, they will find glaciers, cascading waterfalls, canyons, subalpine meadow lakes, and stands of the temperate rainforest at every turn. The environment is continuously changing that each section of the trail will be remembered uniquely as a hike to someplace different.

Camping is only allowed in designated camps and permits are required, but the numbers of backcountry permits issued are limited, so the campgrounds are nearly always at full capacity.

Appalachian Trail (Virginia)

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail known as the Appalachian Trail runs 2,175-mile long footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine and it’s famous for thru-hikers attempting to hike through the entire trail in just a single season.

The trail provides a continuous green pathway through a chain of mountains and hills, but it’s not a full wilderness hike. Hikers can easily pop into town to resupply in towns along the way. The only exception to this is the Hundred-Mile Wilderness in Maine where hikers will need to carry enough food for 8+ days.

It’s also possible to get a cell signal nearly everywhere, even in the Hundred-Mile Wilderness.

Lost Coast Trail (California)

The Lost Coast Trail is one of the most breathtaking coastlines found in the United States. Throughout the years, this trail gain popularity throughout the years.  It lies along one of California’s most beautiful rugged costliness and follows some of its most isolated and breathtaking beaches.

As the name suggests, the trail has the tendency to vanish at high tide and the area has a scarcity of roads, but since most of the path is at the beach, the scenery is stunning.

The difficulty in backpacking in this coastline is that hiking in the sand and among the rocks can be difficult on your knees. There are also a few miles that are impassable during the high tide. A misjudgment in the tide schedule could do a lot of harm, so make sure to do your research before going.

Most people backpack for three to four days to complete the trail, depending on which portion of the Lost Coast trail is explored. The North Section is mostly referred to when someone says the Lost Coast Trail. The trail passes through a slice of California’s coast, from Mattole beach to Black Sands Beach.

Meanwhile, the Southern Section goes into Sinkyone Wilderness State Park to Usual Beach, running more than 30 miles south of Black Sands Beach.

There is nothing more thrilling than surviving and thriving while backpacking through a scenic trail in the mountains. However, bringing along the appropriate tools and equipment is essential to enjoy the trip and nature at its fullest. This includes a reliable light source that serious trekkers will need to move around at night.

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