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.
For more popular CleverHiker resources, we recommend checking out the following:
- CleverHiker Gear Guide
- CleverHiker Skills Tutorials
United States & Canada
Thru-Hikes
Pacific Crest Trail
Distance: 2,650 miles
Time Needed: 3 – 5 months
Approx. Elevation Change: 489,418 feet
# of States Traversed: 3
Best Time: Spring – Early Fall
Appalachian Trail
Distance: 2,190 miles
Time Needed: 3 – 5 months
Approx. Elevation Change: 465,000 feet
# of States Traversed: 14
Best Time: Spring – Early Fall
Continental Divide Trail
Distance: 2,700 – 3,000 miles
Time Needed: 3 – 5 months
Approx. Elevation Change: 457,000 feet
# of States Traversed: 5
Best Time: Spring – Early Fall
John Muir Trail
Distance: 210.4 miles (official) / 221 miles (end-to-end)
Time Needed: 2 – 3 weeks
Approx. Elevation Change: 46,000 feet
Best Time: July – Early October
Vermont’s Long Trail
Distance: 272 miles
Time Needed: 2 – 4 weeks
Approx. Elevation Change: 63,000 feet
Best Time: June – Mid-October
Colorado Trail
Distance: 486 miles (give or take a few depending on route)
Time Needed: 4 – 6 weeks
Approx. Elevation Change: 89,000 feet
Best Time: July – September
Arizona Trail
Distance: 800 miles
Time Needed: 6 – 8 weeks
Approx. Elevation Change: 113,000 feet
Best Time: March – April & October – November
California
Trinity Alps Wilderness – Northwest California
Distance: 20 – 50 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 5
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: July – September
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
Distance: 26.3 and 31.8, depending on route
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Winter or Late Fall / Early Spring
John Muir Trail: A Complete Guide
Distance: 210.4 (official) / 221 (end-to-end)
Days Needed: 18 – 21
Difficulty: Difficult – Strenuous
Best Time: July to Early October
Gear Guide: John Muir Trail Gear List: What to Pack
Colorado
Collegiate Peaks Loop – Colorado Trail & CDT
Distance: 160 miles
Days Needed: 10 – 16
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: Late June – Early October
Colorado Trail
Distance: 486 miles (give or take a few depending on route
Time Needed: 4 – 6 weeks
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Idaho
Grand Sawtooth Loop
Distance: 60-70 miles
Days Needed: 5-7 days
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: Mid-July – Mid-September
Montana
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
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
Oregon
Timberline Trail – Mount Hood
Distance: 40 miles
Days Needed: 3 – 4
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Three Sisters Loop – Central Oregon
Distance: 50 miles
Days Needed: 3 – 6
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
Wallowa River Loop – Eastern Oregon
Distance: 36 miles
Days Needed: 4 – 5
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Rogue River Trail – Southern Oregon
Distance: 40 miles (one way)
Days Needed: 3 – 5
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: April – May & September – October
Oregon Coast Trail – Bandon to Port Orford
Distance: 30 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
Steens Mountain – Southeastern Oregon
Distance: Varies, depending on trip
Days Needed: 2 – 5
Difficulty: Easy to Difficult
Best Time: July – Early October
Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Loop – Eastern Oregon
Distance: Abount 20 miles, varies
Days Needed: 2 – 3
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best Time: July – October
McKenzie River Trail – Central Oregon
Distance: 27 miles (one way)
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Easy
Best Time: Mid-April – Early November
Three Fingered Jack Loop – Central Cascades
Distance: 20.9 – 23.7 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 3
Difficulty: Easy
Best Time: Mid-April – Early November
Alvord Desert Camping Tips
Drive Time: 7 hrs. from Portland, 4 hrs. from Bend
Best Time: Late Spring – Fall
Utah
Buckskin Gulch & Paria Canyon – Southern Utah
Distance: 21 – 51 miles depending on trip
Days Needed: 2 – 5
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: April – June & September – November
The Narrows Top Down – Zion National Park
Distance: 16 miles
Days Needed: 2
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: May – October
Zion Traverse – Zion National Park
Distance: 48.3 miles
Days Needed: 3 – 6
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: April – May & September – October
Coyote Gulch – Grand Staircase-Escalante
Distance: 28.4 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: March – May & October – Early November
Reflection Canyon – Lake Powell Area
Distance: 16 – 18 miles out and back
Days Needed: 2
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late March – May & September – October
Under the Rim & Riggs Spring Loop – Bryce Canyon
Distance: 31.8 miles for both trails
Days Needed: 3 – 5 for both trails
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: April – Mid-October
Red Castle Lakes – High Uintas
Distance: 20 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 3
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late June – Early October
Amethyst Basin – High Uintas
Distance: 13 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 3
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late June – Early October
Henry Forks Lake Loop, High Uintas
Distance: 18.2 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 3
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late June – Early October
Washington
Enchantment Lakes Basin – Northern Cascades
Distance: 19 miles
Days Needed: 1 – 4
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – October
Goat Rocks Wilderness – South Central Cascades
Distance: Varies by route
Days Needed: 2 – 6
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – October
Wonderland Trail – Mount Rainier
Distance: 93 miles
Days Needed: 9 – 12
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Round the Mountain Trail – Mount Adams
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: 2 – 5
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Mount Margaret Backcountry – Mount St. Helens
Distance: 25 – 35 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – October
Loowit Trail Loop – Mount St. Helens
Distance: 30 to 36, depending on trailhead
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best Time: July – October
North Coast Route – Olympic National Park
Distance: 30 to 36, depending on trailhead
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best Time: July – October
Wyoming
Teton Crest Trail – Grand Teton National Park
Distance: 40 miles
Days Needed: 3 – 5
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: July – Early September
Cirque of the Towers – Wind River Range
Distance: 24 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Titcomb Basin – Wind River Range
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: 3 – 5
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Canada
Lake O’Hara Backcountry – Yoho National Park
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: July – Late September
Skyline Trail – Jasper National Park
Distance: 27 miles
Days Needed: 2 – 4
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
Sawback Trail – Banff National Park
Distance: 46 miles
Days Needed: 4 – 6
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
International Backpacking Trips
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
Best Time: October – November & March – April
Gear Guide: What to Pack for Hiking in Nepal
Backpacking & Hiking in Patagonia
Best Time: December – February & September – november
Gear Guide: What to Pack for Hiking in Patagonia
Hiking in Torres del Paine, Patagonia
Best Time: December – February & September – november
Gear Guide: What to Pack for Hiking in Patagonia
