![Hiking and backpacking in the Trinity Alp, best backpacking tents, Clever Hiker](jpg/image-asset-41.jpg)
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:
United States & Canada
![Hiking through river canyons, best backpacking tents, Clever Hiker](jpg/image-asset-42.jpg)
THRU-HIKES
![Pacific Crest Trail](jpg/153-2.jpg)
Distance: 2,650 miles
Average # of Days Needed: 150 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 489,418 feet
# of States Traversed: 3
Best Time: Spring – Early Fall
![Continental Divide Trail](jpg/a2bbackpacker2bhiking2bin2bthe2bwind2briver2brange2bin2bwyoming.jpg)
Distance: 2,700-3,000 miles
Average # of Days Needed: 150 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 457,000 feet
# of States Traversed: 5
Best Time: Spring – Early Fall
![John Muir Trail](jpg/dsc03863-2.jpg)
Distance: 210.4 miles (official) / 221 miles (end-to-end)
Average # of Days Needed: 18-21 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 46,000 feet
Best Time: July – Early October
![Vermont's Long Trail](jpg/pxl_20211006_195124407-02.jpg)
Distance: 272 miles
Average # of Days Needed: 19 to 28 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 63,500 feet
Best Time: June to mid-October
![Colorado Trail](jpg/pxl_20220727_171855115-02-01.jpg)
Distance: 486 miles (give or take a few depending on route)
Time Needed: 4-6 weeks
Aprox. Elevation Change: 89,000 ft.
Best Time: July – September
OREGON
![Timberline Trail - Mount Hood](jpg/static1.squarespace.jpg)
Distance: 40 miles
Days Needed: 3-4 days
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: July – September
![Three Sisters Loop - Central Oregon](jpg/static1.squarespace-1.jpg)
Distance: 50 miles
Days Needed: 3-6 days
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
![Wallowa River Loop - Eastern Oregon](jpg/static1.squarespace-2.jpg)
Distance: 36 miles
Days Needed: 4-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – September
![Rogue River Trail - Southern Oregon](jpg/static1.squarespace-3.jpg)
Distance: 40 miles (one way)
Days Needed: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: April-May & September-October
![Oregon Coast Trail - Bandon to Port Orford](jpg/static1.squarespace-4.jpg)
Distance: 30 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
![Steens Mountain - Southeastern Oregon](jpg/dsc01100.jpg)
Distance: Varies, depending on trip
Days Needed: 2-5 days, varies
Difficulty: Easy to Difficult
Best Time: July-Early October
![Strawberry Mountain Wilderness Loop - Eastern Oregon](jpg/image-asset-46.jpg)
Distance: About 20 (varies depending on side trails taken)
Days Needed: 2-3 days
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best Time: July – October
![McKenzie River Trail - Central Oregon](jpg/mckenzie-r.t.-073.jpg)
Distance: 27 miles (one way)
Days Needed: 2-4 days, varies
Difficulty: Easy
Best Time: Mid-April – Early November
![Three Fingered Jack Loop - Central Cascades](jpg/trip-three-fingered-jack-loop-2021-089.jpg)
Distance: 20.9-23.7
Days Needed: 2-3
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late July-September
![Alvord Desert Camping Tips](jpg/alvord-042.jpg)
Drive Time: 7 hrs. from Portland, 4 hrs. from Bend
Best Time: Late spring-fall
WASHINGTON
![Enchantment Lakes Basin - Northern Cascades](jpg/static1.squarespace-5.jpg)
Distance: 19 miles
Days Needed: 1-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – October
![Goat Rocks Wilderness - South Central Cascades](jpg/img_6832.jpg)
Distance: Varies, depending on route
Days Needed: 2-6 days
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – October
![Wonderland Trail - Mount Rainier](jpg/static1.squarespace-6.jpg)
Distance: 93 Miles
Days Needed: 9-12 Days
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Best Time: July – September
![Round the Mountain Trail - Mount Adams](jpg/dsc03649.jpg)
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: 2-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – September
![Mount Margaret Backcountry - Mount St. Helens](jpg/dsc01890.jpg)
Distance: 25-35 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate- Difficult
Best Time: Late July – October
![Loowit Trail Loop - Mount St. Helens](jpg/dsc01321.jpg)
Distance: 30 to 36, depending on trailhead
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best Time: July – October
![North Coast Route - Olympic National Park](jpg/img_20190617_095854-01-1500x1000-2.jpg)
Distance: About 37 miles
Days Needed: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: May – September
MONTANA
![Glacier National Park Backpacking Trips](jpg/img_8346.jpg)
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
![10 Best Day Hikes in Glacier National Park](jpg/dsc02313.jpg)
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
UTAH
![Buckskin Gulch & Paria Canyon - Southern Utah](jpg/dsc01985.jpg)
Distance: 21-51 miles depending on trip
Days Needed: 2-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: April-June & September-November
![The Narrows Top Down - Zion National Park](jpg/dsc01710-1.jpg)
Distance: 16 miles
Days Needed: 2 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: May-October
![Zion Traverse - Zion National Park](jpg/dsc01158.jpg)
Distance: 48.3 miles
Days Needed: 3-6 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: April-May & September-October
![Coyote Gulch - Grand Staircase-Escalante](jpg/dsc00715.jpg)
Distance: 28.4 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: March-May & October-Early November
![Reflection Canyon - Lake Powell Area](jpg/dsc00908.jpg)
Distance: 16-18 miles out and back
Days Needed: 2 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late March-May & September-October
![Under the Rim & Riggs Spring Loop - Bryce Canyon](jpg/dsc00115.jpg)
Distance: 31.8 miles for both trails
Days Needed: 3-5 days for both trails
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: April-Mid October
![Red Castle Lakes - High Uintas](jpg/dsc00367.jpg)
Distance: 20 miles
Days Needed: 2-3 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late June – Early October
![Amethyst Basin - High Uintas](jpg/img-7800-1.jpg)
Distance: 13 miles
Days Needed: 2-3 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late June – Early October
![Henry Forks Lake Loop, High Uintas](jpg/dsc00510.jpg)
Distance: 18.2 miles
Days Needed: 2-3 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late June – Early October
COLORADO
![Collegiate Peaks Loop - Colorado Trail & CDT](jpg/sign.png.jpg)
Distance: 160 miles
Days Needed: 10-16 days
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: Late June – Early October
![Colorado Trail](jpg/pxl_20220727_171855115-02-01-1.jpg)
Distance: 486 miles (give or take a few depending on route)
Time Needed: 4-6 weeks
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: July – September
WYOMING
![Teton Crest Trail - Grand Teton National Park](jpg/dsc03309-2.jpg)
Distance: 40 miles
Days Needed: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – Early September
![Cirque of the Towers - Wind River Range](jpg/sunsetview-backsideofthecirquefromshadowlake.jpg)
Distance: 24 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – September
![Titcomb Basin - Wind River Range](jpg/b514da6e-a98c-42bf-83b6-6261629cf98c-1.jpg)
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – September
CALIFORNIA
![Trinity Alps Wilderness - Northwest California](jpg/static1.squarespace-1-1.jpg)
Distance: 20-50 miles depending on trip
Days Needed: 2-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult, depending on trip
Best Time: July – September
![How to Hike Half Dome - Yosemite National Park](jpg/dsc03180.jpg)
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](jpg/static1.squarespace-7.jpg)
Distance: 26.3 and 31.8, depending on route
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Winter (or late fall, early spring)
![John Muir Trail: A Complete Guide](jpg/dsc03863.jpg)
Distance: 210.4 (official) / 221 (end-to-end)
Days Needed: 18-21 days
Difficulty: Difficult – Strenuous
Best Time: July to early October
GEAR GUIDE: John Muir Trail Gear List: What to Pack
CANADA
![Lake O'Hara Backcountry - Yoho National Park](jpg/dsc05675.jpg)
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – Late September
![Skyline Trail - Jasper National Park](jpg/dsc06906.jpg)
Distance: 27 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
![Sawback Trail - Banff National Park](jpg/dsc04888.jpg)
Distance: 46 miles
Days Needed: 4-6 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
International Backpacking Trips
![DSC06978.jpg](jpg/dsc06978.jpg)
![Santa Cruz Trek - Cordillera Blanca, Peru](jpg/img_0240-2.jpg)
Distance: 50 kilometers / 31 miles
Days Needed: 3-4
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: May-September
![Nepal Trekking - A Comprehensive Guide](jpg/dsc06442.jpg)
![Backpacking & Hiking in Patagonia](jpg/dsc07431.jpg)
Best Time to Visit December-February & September-November
GEAR GUIDE: What to Pack for Hiking in Patagonia
![Hiking in Torres del Paine, Patagonia](jpg/dsc08864-1.jpg)
Best Time to Visit December-February & September-November
GEAR GUIDE: What to Pack for Hiking in Patagonia
For more popular CleverHiker resources, we recommend checking out the following resources:
Distance: 2,190 miles
Average # of Days Needed: 165 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 465,000 feet
# of States Traversed: 14
Best Time: Spring – Early Fall