Top Backpacking Destinations For Nature Lovers – I’ve hiked all over the world, and mile after mile the United States is the best hiking I’ve ever done.
From desert lands to ancient forests, sweeping landscapes to deep canyons, there is no shortage of breathtaking hiking destinations across America. I’ve trekked in many of the best hiking destinations around the world, but overall the United States has the most diversity, scenery, and rewards of any place I’ve been.
Top Backpacking Destinations For Nature Lovers
I’ve found the best hikes in places in America from coast to coast, for all levels and abilities. Whether you’re looking for a day hike, weekend adventure, or a six-month long-distance trip, there is something here for you.
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The Appalachian Trail runs 2,190 miles along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains, from Georgia to the middle of Maine. It passes through 14 states, and is the most popular of the three “Triple Crown” trails in the US. The AT spends most of its time in deciduous forest, where the difficulty of the terrain varies from region to region. Options for section and day hikes are abundant throughout its length, and thousands of hikers each year attempt to thru-hike – covering the entire trail on foot in a single push. I hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine in spring/summer 2015, taking just five months to complete. The mental challenges of the hike outweighed the physical challenges, but it was an accomplishment I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Views of the Delaware Water Gap in the state of New Jersey along the Appalachian Trail through a hike. Photo by Maggie Slepian
For those who don’t want to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, there are endless options for section hikes, day hikes, and weekend hikes – with access to other trails away from the famous white blazes. The Appalachian Trail is accessible from hundreds of road crossings and trailheads, with the most popular sections including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Shenandoah National Park, and the White Mountain National Forest.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but experiencing the East Coast by walking from Georgia to Maine was something I’ll never forget.
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The Grand Canyon is a destination for travelers from all over the world, but many of them never leave its shores. While simply standing at the edge of a cliff may be enough for some people, descending and climbing the Grand Canyon is something every avid (and fit) hiker should do in their lifetime. The Bright Angel Trail is the most popular way to descend from the South Rim to the Colorado River, and hikers can choose to return the way they came, or take the South Kaibab Trail back to the South Rim. This hike is no joke – the slope takes hikers over 4,000′ from a bank to the river, and that’s all the distance you’ll need to climb back up.
Hikers on the Bright Angel Trail – which gives hikers the option to return the way they came or take the South Kaibab Trail back to the South Rim.
Before setting out on a rim-to-river hike, make sure your fitness and preparation are good. Every year, hikers run out of water, underestimate the difficulty of the trail, and find themselves in dangerous or even fatal situations. I did the Rim-to-Rim hike during shoulder season, and was very surprised to see how challenging the climb was. I thought I was in good shape when I set out, but felt the effects of climbing thousands of feet for a week after the hike. That said, the Grand Canyon truly is a once-in-a-lifetime hiking destination, and traveling from rim to river or shore to shore is something you’ll never forget. In its entirety, Grand Canyon National Park consists of five ecosystems. Hikers going from the river’s South Rim to the North Rim will hike everywhere from river banks to desert scrub to boreal forest.
The trick most people forget when visiting the Grand Canyon is that the best views aren’t from the top. The Grand Canyon is so large that you have to walk through it to truly understand the scope of its size and beauty.
Best Hiking Trails In The World
Read pro hiker Liz Thomas’s review of 5 Grand Canyon hiking trails that will take your breath away
Grand Canyon Hiking Trails Map: National Park Service maps are a great overview of the Grand Canyon’s hiking trails
Guidebook: Hiking Grand Canyon National Park: A Guide to the Best Hiking Adventures on the North and South Rims by Ben Adkisson
Getting There: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is the nearest international airport. The South Rim is a 3-hour drive from there.
Wyoming Hiking Guide: 10 Best Day Hikes & Backpacking Trails
From paved walks to multi-day high-country expeditions, hiking in Yosemite National Park does not disappoint. As you enter the canyon, 3,000′ granite walls dominate the horizon. John Muir was so impressed by Yosemite Valley that he lobbied Congress for the act that ultimately created Yosemite National Park in 1890. The proliferation of climbing and backcountry exploration in the 1970s attracted crowds and increased the popularity of travel to Yosemite Valley, and today the park receives an average of four million visitors each year. The hiking area ranges from open grasslands, granite peaks, deciduous and coniferous forests, and everything in between.
400 foot cable climbing base. Bring your camera because the views from the top are absolutely breathtaking.
Plan your trip and routes before visiting Yosemite. My father and I had started planning our six-day backpacking trip the entire year before departure. Backcountry permits are required for hiking in Yosemite, overnight stays, and even advance booking to stay in tent cabins or other accommodations in the valley. We knew we wanted to climb Half Dome, which also required a separate permit, and planning and permitting camp sites was logistically challenging. Even with all our planning, we were only able to work out one of the three itineraries, so be sure to have a backup plan (or two) when you plan a Yosemite backcountry trip.
Some of the most famous and worthwhile hikes include cable climbing Half Dome (not for the faint of heart), or hiking the steep trail to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. Hikers looking for an overnight stay or a longer backcountry trek should begin exploring the Tuolumne Meadows area as a classic launch point. Note that bear canisters are required for all backcountry trips.
The Best Destinations For Nature Lovers • The Blonde Abroad
If visiting Yosemite isn’t on your hiking list, it should be. As a professional hiker, I’ve adventured all over the world and Yosemite is one of my favorite hiking destinations anywhere.
Read pro hiker and California local Liz Thomas’s complete guide to the best places to hike in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park Hiking Trail Maps: Yosemite Hikes has a large collection of trail maps to choose from
Getting to Yosemite Valley: Fresno-Yosemite International Airport and Merced Airport are both about 90 minutes from the valley
Best East Coast Hiking Destinations
If you plan in advance, motivated visitors can combine multiple day trips into one day of hiking in Big Sur. Make the most of the area by choosing a few hikes of varying lengths and types – some trails like the McWay Waterfall Trail will take less than a mile to reach the falls, while other trails like the Limekiln Trails will have you scrambling on flat paths. Through vast redwood forests. The Stone Ridge Trail in the Ventana Wilderness is an excellent loop trail that gives you a taste of Big Sur’s many ecosystems with multiple campsite options.
Currently closed, the Cone Peak Trail will take you up the nearby US’s tallest coastal mountain (you’ll have to check for updates on this). Make a loop with two of the most popular and scenic trails in Big Sur by hiking the Buckeye Trail to Alder Creek Camp in the Silver Peak Wilderness area. And Salmon Creek Falls provides a great place to cool off on a hot day.
With a few exceptions, the trails around Big Sur are perfect for families and hikers who don’t need to venture deep into the backcountry to enjoy them. The rewards for a relatively short hike are high, and exploring redwood forests is something every nature lover should experience. Although the hiking here is great year-round, the coastal weather changes during the winter months are as wild as you’ll find hiking in New Zealand’s North Island. Bringing an extra layer is never a bad idea, as fog and drizzle can cause temperatures to drop quickly.
Big Sur is one of California’s natural treasures: a dramatic coastline where redwood trees grow within view of ocean bays.
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Big Sur Hiking Trail Maps: View all trails for over 50 Big Sur hiking trail maps
Travel Note: Car rentals, hotels and the city are all within easy reach. Walking around this area is a dream.
The Superior Hiking Trail is an excellent choice for hikers looking for easy access, moderate terrain, favorable hiking weather, and an option to complete a “short” hike. The entire path can be completed in