The Great American Backpacking Bucket List: 33 Must-Do Treks

This article has been updated. It was originally published in March 2018.

Prior to the covid-19 pandemic, many were turning their attention to international destinations when considering a grand outdoor adventure. Jet-setting to far-flung destinations had almost become too easy. But the challenges and closed borders of the  last year had all of us looking at our home turf for that next adventure. Fortunately, as Americans, we don't have to look far. Enter the Great American Backpacker’s Bucket List, with enough homegrown adventures to keep even the most ambitious backpacker busy for years to come.

Ranging from a simple overnight to a week in the mountains to life changing thru-hikes, this list has something for everyone. See what trips might be closer to you than you think, or take this as inspiration to book that trip out West that you’ve always been wanting to do.

Northeast and Midwest

• Lakeshore-North Country Trail: Miners Beach To Beaver Creek: Explore the rugged shores of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
• Mount Marcy, Mount Skylight + Gray Peak Loop: Take the lesser traveled and more strenuous path to New York's highest summit.
• The Pemigewasset Loop: Hike an amazing loop in New Hampshire's southern White Mountains.
• Presidential Traverse: Widely considered New England's toughest hike.
• White Rock-Shores Lake Loop: Tackle this 12-mile loop in the Ozarks over ridgelines, through old-growth hallows, with views over the Arkansas Valley.
• Snickers Gap to Keys Gap: Travel on foot beyond the 1,000 mile mark on the AT (northbound hikers) on this 13.4-mile trip to Raven Rocks and enjoy the scenic views over the Shenandoah Valley.

Southeast

• Mount Sterling Via Big Creek Loop: Camp next to one of the Southeast's most scenic lookout towers in Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
• Art Loeb Trail: See why National Geographic called this one of the top 30 Backpacking trips in the United States
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• Standing Indian Loop: A perfect three-day loop for when one night in the woods just isn't enough.
• Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness Loop: Avoid the crowds in one of North Carolina's more remote wilderness areas.
• Gregory Bald + Shuckstack Fire Tower Via Twentymile Loop: Considered by many to be Great Smoky Mountain National Park's most scenic summit.

Rocky Mountains

• Pawnee And Buchanan Pass Loop: The premier backpacking trip in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.
• Devils Thumb + Kings Lake Loop: The best single night backpacking trip in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.
• Fancy Pass, Missouri Lakes Loop: Hike this popular loop in the Holy Cross Wilderness.
• Four Pass Loop: Colorado's most coveted backpacking trip.
• Cirque Of The Towers: See the best of Wyoming's Wind River Range.
• Teton Crest Trail: The iconic backpacking trip in Grand Teton National Park.
• Gunsight Pass Trail: Cut through the center of Glacier National Park.
• Dawson + Pitamakan Pass: Explore the lesser traveled but no less grand Two Medicine area in Glacier National Park.

Southwest and California

• West Rim Trail, Lava Point To Zion Canyon: Hike high above the dramatic western portion of Zion National Park.
• Havasu Falls Hike Via Havasupai Trail: Camp near a beautiful scenic Arizona oasis at Havasu Falls.
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• South Kaibab + Bright Angel Trails: Hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back.
• Glacier Pass, Sawtooth Pass + Big Five Lakes Hiking Loop: See some of what the best of Sequioa National Park has to offer.
• John Muir Trail (JMT): Located in California's Sierra Nevada traversing Yosemite to Mount Whitney and regarded by many as the premier hiking trail in the United States. 
• Gila Middle Fork: Hike into the Gila Wilderness and camp near the Jordan Hot Springs.
• Outer Mountain Loop: Take the long way around in Big Bend National Park on the 21-mile outer loop through canyons and over 6,000-foot grassy summits.

Pacific Northwest

• Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT): Done with your Triple Crown? Take on the next big thru-hike in the Pacific Northwest
• Enchantment Lakes Thru-Hike: While getting the permit for this may be the toughest part, you'll be glad you got it on this incredible trip through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
• Timberline Trail: Circle the towering Mount Hood in northern Oregon.
• Three Sisters Loop: See every angle of the greatest concentration of 10,000-foot peaks in the Cascades.
• Hoh to Sol Duc Via High Divide Trail: From rainforest to alpine tundra, see it all on this loop in Olympic National Park.
• Grand Pass Loop: Trek high alpine passes and wind-swept ridges on this loop in Olympic National Park.
• Purple Pass Hiking Loop: Difficult to get to, and a lot less difficult to forget, hike this scenic loop in North Cascades National Park.

Looking for your next bucket list backpacking adventure? Easily discover trails, download offline maps and navigate your adventures using the onX Backcountry GPS Trail app.