Best Backpacking Trails in the USA for Every Skill Level

Picking a backpacking trail is easy. Picking the right one for your group, your fitness level, your timeline, and the season you're actually going — that's where most people get stuck.

This guide covers some of the best backpacking trails in the USA across every skill level, from first overnight trips to multi-week wilderness routes. For each trail, you'll find what makes it worth the effort, what to realistically expect, and what to think about before you go.

How to use this guide

Trails are grouped by experience level: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Within each level, there's a mix of terrain, region, and trip length so you can find something that fits your specific situation.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Permit requirements change frequently. Always check with the managing agency before locking in dates.
• Seasonal access matters more than most people expect. Some of these trails are snowbound until late June or close in October.
• Skill level here refers to navigation, physical conditioning, and backcountry self-sufficiency — not just fitness.

Distances, elevation figures, and permit rules below are starting points for your own research, not a substitute for the managing agency's current information. Conditions and requirements change season to season.

If you're newer to reading topo maps and want to build that skill before your trip, the guide on how to read a topographic map for backcountry travel is a practical place to start.

Beginner backpacking trails

These routes are well-marked, have manageable elevation gain, and stay close enough to trailheads that you can turn back if something goes wrong. They're solid choices for first-timers, families with older kids, or anyone returning to backpacking after a long break.

Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park, Washington

Distance: ~26 miles out and back · Elevation gain: ~2,000 feet · Permit: Yes (Olympic backcountry permit)

The trail follows the Quinault River through old-growth rainforest into a wide glacial valley ringed by waterfalls. The terrain is straightforward and the payoff comes early. You'll want waterproof gear — this is the Olympic Peninsula — but the trail is well-maintained and easy to follow throughout.

Campsites are established, and the valley chalet provides a useful landmark. For anyone who wants genuine wilderness without technical navigation, this is a strong first multi-night trip.

Havasu Falls, Havasupai Reservation, Arizona

Distance: ~10 miles each way · Elevation: ~2,600 feet descent into the canyon · Permit: Yes (Havasupai tribal permit, books out months ahead)

Havasu Falls is one of the most photographed spots in the American Southwest, and the hike in is genuinely manageable for beginners. The trail drops into the canyon and the campsites near the falls are established and well-used.

The real challenge here is logistics, not terrain. Permits sell out fast. Water is available at the campground. Pack out everything you bring in — the Havasupai community manages this land, and that responsibility belongs to every visitor.

Roan Highlands, North Carolina and Tennessee

Distance: Flexible, typically 15–30 miles depending on entry and exit · Elevation gain: Moderate, rolling ridgeline · Permit: No

The Roan Highlands section of the Appalachian Trail offers some of the best above-treeline walking in the eastern US. The balds are open and scenic, the trail is clearly marked, and established campsites are spread throughout. It's a good introduction to multi-day backpacking without committing to anything technically demanding.

Spring brings rhododendron blooms. Summer mornings on the ridgeline stay cool even when the valleys are hot.

Intermediate backpacking trails

These routes require more planning, sharper navigation, and a higher baseline of fitness. Some have permit systems that need advance booking. Most involve meaningful elevation gain, exposed terrain, or longer daily mileage.

John Muir Trail, California (sections)

Full distance: 211 miles, Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney · Elevation gain: ~47,000 feet over the full route · Permit: Yes (Yosemite wilderness permit for the northern terminus; Whitney Zone permit for the southern end)

The full JMT is an advanced undertaking, but sections of it are well-suited to intermediate backpackers. The stretch from Tuolumne Meadows south through the Ansel Adams Wilderness is particularly good — sustained alpine scenery, established campsites, and manageable daily mileage if you plan it right.

Bear canisters are required through most of this corridor. Resupply at Mammoth Lakes or Red's Meadow is common on longer trips. If you're planning a multi-day section, the guide on planning a multi-day backcountry trip with campsites and resupply covers the logistics in detail.

Wind River Range, Wyoming

Distance: Highly variable — popular loops run 50–80 miles · Elevation gain: Significant, with passes above 10,000 feet · Permit: No (some zones have group size limits)

The Winds are one of the most rewarding wilderness areas in the country. No crowds by Sierra standards, exceptional fishing, and granite scenery that holds up across multiple trips. The Cirque of the Towers loop is the most popular entry point, but there are dozens of ways to route a trip through here.

Navigation requires map and compass or GPS competence — trails are not always well-marked above treeline, and weather can shift fast. This is a natural step up from well-signed national park routes.

Wonderland Trail, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Distance: 93 miles circumnavigating Mount Rainier · Elevation gain: ~22,000 feet cumulative · Permit: Yes (competitive lottery, opens in March)

The Wonderland Trail circles the entire mountain, moving through old-growth forest, subalpine meadows, and glacial moraines. It's a complete loop with established campsites spaced roughly a day's walk apart.

The permit lottery is competitive, so plan your application early. Snow lingers on high sections into July most years. This trail rewards people who've already done a few multi-day trips and are ready for something more sustained.

Advanced backpacking trails

These routes involve remote terrain, limited infrastructure, technical navigation, significant elevation, or extended time away from trailheads. They're not for beginners, but they're not reserved for elite athletes either. They require preparation, the right gear, and honest self-assessment.

Hayduke Trail, Utah and Arizona

Distance: ~800 miles · Elevation gain: 100,000+ feet cumulative · Permit: Varies by section, including Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, and other permit zones

The Hayduke is not a maintained trail. It's a route through some of the most remote canyon country in North America, connecting Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. Sections require route-finding across slickrock, canyon navigation, and water carries of 20+ miles.

Most people complete it in sections over multiple seasons. It's included here because it represents what advanced backpacking in the American Southwest looks like at its most serious.

Ptarmigan Traverse, North Cascades, Washington

Distance: ~35 miles · Elevation gain: ~12,000 feet · Permit: No, though a wilderness permit is required for some campsites

The Ptarmigan Traverse is a glacier-to-glacier route through the heart of the North Cascades. It requires glacier travel skills, crampons, an ice axe, and the ability to navigate in whiteout conditions. The route is unmarked — you need to read terrain and move confidently on snow and ice.

For the right party, it's one of the finest alpine routes in the lower 48. It's typically done in four to six days in July or August when conditions are most stable.

Colorado Trail, Colorado (full route)

Distance: 486 miles, Denver to Durango · Elevation gain: ~89,000 feet · Permit: No, though wilderness permits are required for some designated wilderness sections

The Colorado Trail is well-documented and has a strong community around it, which makes it more accessible than many routes of comparable length. But the sustained altitude is a real factor — much of the trail sits above 10,000 feet, with many days above 12,000. Acclimatization matters here.

Thru-hikers typically take four to six weeks. Section hiking is popular and well-supported, with trailhead access points throughout. The trail passes through eight mountain ranges and six wilderness areas.

Trails worth knowing about for specific situations

If you're bringing a dog

Not every trail on this list allows dogs, and even where they're permitted, conditions vary. The guide on dog-friendly hiking trails in North America covers trails where dogs are genuinely welcome and what to prepare for.

If you're comparing planning tools

Once you've identified a trail, building a full trip around it — driving to the trailhead, where to stay the night before, resupply points, what to book — still takes real time. If you're evaluating tools that can help with that coordination, the Xploreum vs Layla vs AllTrails comparison breaks down what each does well and where the gaps are.

Turning a trail into a full trip

Identifying a trail is the first step. The full trip includes getting there, where you sleep the night before a pre-dawn start, what you eat, where you resupply on a longer route, and how you adjust when weather pushes your timeline.

Xavier, Xploreum's AI agent companion for outdoor adventure travel, is built for this kind of coordination. Describe your starting point, the trail or region you're targeting, your dates, your group, your skill level, and your vehicle, and Xavier builds a day-by-day Xpedition that connects driving legs, trailhead logistics, campsites, accommodations, and activities into one organized plan with an interactive map.

It does not replace the trail knowledge you need on the ground, the managing agency's current conditions, or a specialist offline navigation app. What it removes is the hours of cross-referencing maps, accommodation sites, and scattered notes that most backpacking trips require before you even leave home.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best beginner backpacking trail in the USA?

There's no single answer, but a few trails consistently work well for first-timers. The Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park offers manageable terrain and dramatic scenery. The Roan Highlands on the Appalachian Trail provide a good introduction to ridge walking. Shorter sections of the Colorado Trail are well-marked and well-supported. The best choice depends on your region, your dates, and your group's fitness level.

Do I need a permit for most backpacking trails in the USA?

Many popular backcountry areas require permits, and some use competitive lottery systems that fill months in advance. Requirements vary by trail, zone, and season. Always check with the managing agency — the National Park Service, US Forest Service, or Bureau of Land Management — before finalizing your trip.

How do I choose a backpacking trail that matches my skill level?

Consider four things: total mileage and daily average, cumulative elevation gain, how well-marked the trail is, and how far you'll be from help if something goes wrong. Beginner trails are typically well-signed, under 30 miles, and close to trailheads. Advanced routes often involve route-finding, technical terrain, or extended time in remote areas.

What's the difference between a hiking trail and a backpacking trail?

The distinction is mostly about overnight travel. Backpacking trails are long enough or remote enough that you carry a pack with camping gear and spend at least one night in the backcountry. Many trails can be done as either a day hike or a multi-day backpacking trip depending on how far you go.

What should I do after choosing a backpacking trail?

The practical work begins: securing permits, planning driving legs to the trailhead, arranging accommodation for the night before or after, identifying resupply points for longer routes, and organizing what needs to be booked. Building that full trip structure is where most of the planning time actually goes.

How far in advance should I book permits for popular backpacking trails?

For competitive permit systems like the John Muir Trail northern terminus, the Wonderland Trail, and Havasu Falls, plan at least three to six months ahead. Some systems open on fixed dates and fill within hours. Less-trafficked areas like the Wind River Range have no permit requirement at all, which gives you considerably more flexibility.

Can I bring a dog on backpacking trails in the USA?

It depends entirely on the trail and the managing agency. Dogs are not permitted in most national park backcountry areas. They're generally allowed on US Forest Service and BLM land, often with a leash requirement. Always verify before you go, and factor in terrain, water sources, and wildlife when planning a trip with a dog.

Final verdict

The trails on this list represent a real cross-section of what backpacking in the USA looks like — from a first overnight in the Appalachians to a weeks-long route through canyon country.

Start with what fits your current skill level and build from there. Confirm permits, seasonal access, and conditions with the managing agency before you commit to dates. The goal is to get out, not to impress anyone.