Backpacking Trips | Explore Hiking Trails and Backpacking Routes - Backpacker

Trips

Your dream backpacking trips are waiting for you. Find and explore new hiking trails and backpacking routes across the country with advice, adventure travel stories, topo maps, photography, and more from the experts at Backpacker.

Appalachian Trail

Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Everything You Need to Know

Backpacker Editors

Michael Lanza

Zion National Park

Hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park: Everything You Need to Know

Morgan McFall-Johnsen

Colorado Trails

The Complete Guide to Hiking the Colorado Trail

Ryan Wichelns

Washington Trails

The 10 Most Dangerous Hikes in America

Kelly Bastone

Latest in Trips

Grand Canyon National Park

Everything I Wish I Knew Before Hiking Rim to Rim at the Grand Canyon

Hiking Rim-to-Rim in Grand Canyon National Park is an exercise in strategic planning. Here’s what I did right and could have done better.

Alisha McDarris

Watch Whales from Camp On These 6 Beachside Hikes

Alisha McDarris

37 Super-Size Hikes Worthy of the Longest Day of the Year

Corey Buhay

Everything I Wish I Knew Before Climbing Mt. Rainier

Corey Buhay

These 7 Scottish Hikes Will Convince You to Buy a Plane Ticket

Andrea Bussell

North America’s Best-Kept Adventure Secret

Bonjour Québec

This Town Has 100 Alpine Lakes. Here’s How to Hike the Best 10.

Mary Beth “Mouse” Skylis

72 Life-Changing Hikes to Celebrate America’s Trails

Adam Roy

The Colorado River Is Drying Out. I Paddled it to See What’s at Stake.

Adam Roy

The 9 Best Beginner Slot Canyons for Hikers

Corey Buhay

5 International Parks Worth Planning an Entire Hiking Vacation Around

Karthika Gupta

4 Kentucky Adventures That Will Surprise You

Kentucky Tourism

Brighten Up Your Summer with These 7 Incredibly Colorful Hikes

Corey Buhay

These Dog-Friendly Backpacking Trails Are Great Alternatives to the National Parks

Zoe Gates

We Tracked Down the 50 Best Waterfall Hikes in America—One in Every State

Alisha McDarris

6 Hikes That Are at Their Absolute Best on Memorial Day

Corey Buhay

Dangerous, Expensive, and Illegal: 9 Hikes That Can’t Escape Controversy

Corey Buhay

Want to Hike with Polar Bears? These Guides Will Lead the Way.

Alisha McDarris

Is This North America’s Best Summer Getaway?

Tourism Whistler

I Thru-Hiked the Long Trail. Here’s What I’d Do Differently.

Corey Buhay

The 6 Biggest Hiking Adventures You Can Have in a Single Weekend

Alisha McDarris

Everything I Wish I Knew Before Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park

Corey Buhay

6 Trails to Rock Formations That Look Straight Out of Dr. Seuss

Karthika Gupta

Step Into a Galaxy Far, Far Away With These 4 Star Wars-Inspired Hikes

Adam Roy

10 Trails That Make Us Want to Rewatch The Lord of the Rings

Corey Buhay

8 Underground Hikes That Will Make You Forget The Outside World Exists

Corey Buhay

You Can Visit These 4 Legendary Mountain Towns Without a Car

Alisha McDarris

Trace King Arthur’s Footsteps on These 5 Snowdonia National Park Trails

Mary Beth “Mouse” Skylis

The West Coast Snow Map is Bleeding Red—and for PCT Hikers, That Means Trouble

David Gleisner

Closures, Restrictions, and Bans: Here’s How the U.S. Border Security Push Is Affecting Long Trails

Adam Roy

Looking for Post or Mid-Hike Luxury? Eat, Drink, and Relax in These Appalachian Trail Towns

Eric J. Wallace

Are You Tough Enough to Handle These 42 Hard Hikes?

Adam Roy

90 Spectacular Views Every Hiker Needs to See Before They Die

Adam Roy

6 Gorgeous Backpacking Trips You Can Do Without a Permit

Karthika Gupta

The 37 Best Waterfall Hikes in America

Adam Roy

7 Otherworldly Hikes That Will Make You Feel Like You’re on Another Planet

Alisha McDarris

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Hiking Half Dome

Emma Veidt

You Can Rent Yourself an Island and Camp With Goats in Downtown Chattanooga

Mary Beth “Mouse” Skylis

What This Year’s Historically Low Snowpack Means for Pacific Crest Trail Hikers

David Gleisner

Forget National Parks, Geoparks Are the Most Underrated Hiking Spots on Earth. Here’s Why.

Erica Zazo

Hike Your Way Through Spring Break On These 5 Snow-Free Trails

Emma Veidt

Your Basecamp for Adventures On and Off the Water

Ventura County

Forget DC, These Are the Best Cherry Blossom Hikes Around the World

Alexandra Gillespie

“Soft Hikers” Can Become Backpackers On These Low-Effort Trails

Alisha McDarris

Skip the Pass: These 4 National Parks Are Free to Visit

Erica Zazo

Hike to March’s Blood Moon at These 6 Deserts, Parks, and Dark-Sky Spots

Emma Veidt

Is California Heading for Another Superbloom? Here’s Where the Flowers Are Starting to Pop.

Mary Beth “Mouse” Skylis

Texas Is Becoming America’s Surprise Public Lands Success Story

Mary Andino

I’ve Hiked Most Bucket-List Trails Around The World. This Untouched Place Tops It All.

Karthika Gupta

19 Outdoor Adventures for Every Timeline—From One Minute to a Lifetime

Kassondra Cloos

Incorporate Wellness Into Your Hike With These 24 Luxurious (Yet Rugged) Trails

Emma Veidt

National Parks Canceled Free MLK Day Entry. California Just Made 200 State Parks Free Instead.

Emma Veidt

Moab’s Even Better In The Off Season. Here’s Why.

Mary Beth “Mouse” Skylis

This 430-Mile Coastal Trail Lets Hikers Explore Ancient Ruins, Sapphire Waters, and Rugged Peaks

Alexandra Gillespie

This Hiking Trip Didn’t Just Show Me the National Parks. It Taught Me How to Take Care of Them.

Lauren Matison

Why Are Eastern Trails So Steep, When the West Loves Switchbacks?

Joe Gibson

Hike to the Edge of Land on Newfoundland’s Wild East Coast Trail

Karthika Gupta

Your Best Hiking Year Yet: Level Up in 2026 With These 12 Seasonal Objectives

Erica Zazo

Maggie Slepian

The Best Places Backpacker’s Editors Hiked in 2025

Backpacker

The Top 10 Hiking Travel Stories Backpacker Told in 2025

Emma Veidt

Start Your Year Outside: Where to Find a First Day Hike in All 50 States

Adam Roy

Western Washington’s Mountains-to-Sea Wonderland

Snohomish County

6 Warm-Weather Winter Hikes That Probably Aren’t on Your Bucket List (Yet)

Erica Zazo

Everyone’s Going to Tokyo These Days. Take a Break From the City With These 4 Hikes in Nearby Hakone.

Ryleigh Norgrove

You Can Still Hike The Pacific Crest Trail In The Off-Season. Start With These 5 Sections.

Shawnté Salabert

Backcountry Tree Lightings, Cave Caroling, and 5 More Hiker-Friendly Activities for This Holiday Season

Emily Pennington

The Perfect Winter Weekend in Chattanooga

Visit Chattanooga

Escape the Winter Chill in These 9 Beachside National Parks

Emily Pennington

10 Must-Do Winter Activities in Québec

Bonjour Québec

Destination Spotlight: Peru

Prom Peru

Black and Polar Bears Coexist In This Inuit-Led National Park

Karthika Gupta

Hiking On Your Next Vacation? Here’s How to Pack For a Successful Trip.

Emma Veidt

Backpacking With My Toddler Granddaughter Wasn’t Easy. But It Was Worth It.

Barney Scout Mann

Hike to a Jaw-Dropping Turquoise Lake in the ‘American Alps’—Without the Crowds or Entrance Fees.

Barney Scout Mann

The Government Shutdown Has Hit National Parks Hard. Hike These State Parks Instead.

Emma Veidt

These 5 Backcountry Huts Have The Best Leaf Peeping You Can Get

Alisha McDarris

Paddling the ‘Dangerous River’ Is a Deep Backcountry Adventure You’ll Remember Forever

Adam Roy

Forget the Alps: Europe’s Most Jaw-Dropping Hikes Are on This Remote Island.

Maggie Slepian

Washington’s Goat Lake Trail Is a Gorgeous Hike With a Forgotten History

Barney Scout Mann

Quiz: What’s the Best Trail Town for You?

Emma Veidt

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