Readers' Choice all hikes

Albuquerque, NM: Vacas Trail

Water is abundant here, compared to the arid high desert below. This 15.2-miler links fish-filled creeks with the forested hills of San Pedro Parks Wilderness.

Appalachian Trail: Mount Greylock Hike

Hit this 15-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail via train and bus for sprawling views and Massachusetts' high point.

Appalachian Trail: Mount Katahdin

Big climb. Big crowds. Bigger reward. This classic 9.8-mile route climbs the tallest peak in Maine, a hiking high point in every sense.

Appalachian Trail: Mount Katahdin

Big climb. Big crowds. Bigger reward. This classic 9.8-mile route climbs the tallest peak in Maine, a hiking high point in every sense.

Atlanta, GA: Cohutta Mountain Loop

Dotted with place names like Crooked Dog Gap and Rough Creek, this 15.5-mile route mixes rugged ridgeline climbs and quiet riverside campsites.

Atlanta: Panther Creek Trail

Count five waterfalls--including one of Georgia's most scenic--on this 10.8-miler in Chattahoochee National Forest. Go midweek for more solitude.

Boston, MA: Ponkapoag Pond Loop

This scenic 4.1-mile hike in the Blue Hills Reservation loops under pines and passes by a rare Atlantic white cedar bog, home to 17 endangered species.

Chicago: Red Gate Woods - West Loop

Escape the Windy City on this easy 5.9-mile hike through a beautiful hardwood forest into ravines carved by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago.

Colorado 14ers: Longs Peak via Keyhole Route

This stiff but non-technical ascent leads to the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park with unrivaled postcard views.

Columbus, OH: Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail

Roam wild hollows and hills to cozy campsites strewn with pine needles on this little-known 15.2-mile loop in Wayne National Forest.

Columbus, OH: Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail

Roam wild hollows and hills to cozy campsites strewn with pine needles on this little-known 15.2-mile loop in Wayne National Forest.

Columbus: Zaleski Backpack Trail (South Loop)

This 11.7-mile loop is loaded with backcountry treats: an old mining town, Indian ceremonial grounds, abandoned roads, stellar ridgeline views, and several designated campsites.

Crest of the Wind River Range

A stunning new 80-mile hike in the Rockies' top spot for big backpacking adventures.

Dallas: Cross Timbers Trail

Hike 8.9 miles of undulating hills and blackjack oak forest along the mysterious, murky backwater bayous of Lake Texoma.

Denver, CO: Dakota Ridge via Red Rocks Trail

Hike rolling grassland punctuated by towering redrock formations to a ridge overlooking the Front Range on this 6-mile loop just minutes from the city.

Denver: North Halfmoon Lakes

Trek across vibrant wildflower meadows to two alpine lakes tucked into a rocky chasm below Mt. Massive on this 5.8 miler outside Leadville.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: West Canyon

Scramble, swim, and play in a swirling sandstone maze on this high-octane 6.4-miler for canyoneering fanatics. Bring rope and rappel gear.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Charlies Bunion Loop

Get away for a night or three on this 12.8-mile lasso loop that delivers you to the high reaches of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Charlies Bunion Loop

Get away for a night or three on this 12.8-mile lasso loop that delivers you to the high reaches of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Charlies Bunion Loop

Get away for a night or three on this 12.8-mile lasso loop that delivers you to the high reaches of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Hemphill Bald Loop

This 13.1-mile loop is classic Smokies: free-flowing creeks, wide valley views, and hardwood forests peppered with long-abandoned homesites.

Indianapolis, IN: Low Gap

Find rugged wilderness in central Indiana as you hike this 10.3-mile loop. Don't miss old Draper Cabin.

Ketchum: Iron Creek to Sawtooth Lake

With its forested route and views of a stunning lake ringed by peaks, this 8.6-miler is a first-rate snapshot of the gorgeous Sawtooth Wilderness.

Las Vegas: The Strip

This 8.3-mile loop wins big for its endless slots, splashy waterfalls, huge buttes, incredible stars--even lions, and yeah, a few unmentionables, too.

Little Rock: Buffalo River Trail

This moderate 13.7-mile one-way hike hugs America's first designated National River as it winds past limestone bluffs and grassy Ozark hollows.

Mount Rainier National Park: Crystal Peak

This rugged 7.8-mile dayhike in the park's wild, remote northeast corner climbs more than 3,000 feet to five-star views unfolding in all directions.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument: Loowit Trail Loop

This 3-day, 29-mile loop around Mount St. Helens links old-growth forests to alpine lakes and meadows and offers a front-row look at the leftovers of this volcano's famous eruption on May 18, 1980.

Never Summer Wilderness: Baker Gulch to Bowen Gulch

Moose, knee-high flowers, two alpine lakes, and infinite views are just a few reasons to hike this loop in the Never Summer Wilderness.

This 25-mile plus hike climbs six significant peaks in the northern Catskills, accumulating about 18,000 feet of elevation gain and loss in steep, rocky terrain. This country looks and feel wild, and the views from its many lookouts easily rival those from the more-crowded high peaks.

New York City: Hurd Corners to Wiley Shelter via the AT

Hop off the train and onto a quiet, well-marked trail. Hike as far as 12.2 miles; see deer and turkey, and, if you choose, camp in a classic AT shelter.

Pacific Crest Trail: Best Month - High Sierra, CA

Every hiker's life list should include the 270 miles between Mt. Whitney and Sonora Pass. It may take a month, but it's a trivial sacrifice to make for the most unrelenting wilderness eye-candy you'll ever feast on.

Pacific Crest Trail: Mexico to Canada

This interactive map is the next best thing to hiking the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Check out the trail on seamless topo maps, aerial photos, or fly over the terrain by clicking on the Google Earth link.

Pacific Crest Trail: OR Section 11

TIMBERLINE LODGE to CASCADE LOCKS: Swift creeks, several waterfalls, and long photogenic views near Mt. Hood highlight this 41-mile segment.

Philadelphia: Falls Trail Loop

Pass 21 waterfalls on this 6.2-mile, five-star loop through a wrinkled ravine and tranquil forest in Ricketts Glen State Park.

Philadelphia: Falls Trail Loop

Pass 21 waterfalls on this 6.2-mile, five-star loop through a wrinkled ravine and tranquil forest in Ricketts Glen State Park.

Portland: Hawk Mountain

For a mere 4.6-mile investment, you get a protected summit in Mt. Hood National Forest, and a rustic cabin serves as a relaxing base camp.

Salt Lake City: Mineral Fork Trail

Get high in a hurry on this 9.8-mile out-and-back that gains 3,500 feet and takes in eagle-eye vistas of Salt Lake and the Wasatch Range.

San Diego: Santa Margarita River Trail

This 5.7-mile loop visits SoCal's last wild river in Santa Margarita Canyon, a refuge hosting numerous species of endangered birds and plants.

San Francisco: Tolman Peak Loop

Climb to the site of a legendary plane crash on this 5.5-mile loop through the rolling hills of Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park.

San Gorgonio Wilderness: San Bernardino Peak

Crave big views? Get your fix on this challenging 15-mile dayhike in the San Gorgonio Wilderness and bag SoCal's third-highest summit.

Seattle: PCT North from Snoqualmie Pass

Climb 1,300 feet to a sparkling alpine basin dotted with summer wildflowers on this 6.25-mile out-and-back along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Sequoia National Park: High Sierra Trail

Spend a week (or more) trekking 72 miles from the Giant Forest to Mount Whitney on the High Sierra Trail.

Shenandoah National Park: Matthews Arm Loop

This rugged, 16.7-mile, 2-day backpacking trip reveals classic Appalachian wonders: idyllic waterfall-laden hollows, reborn woodlands, and scenic backcountry campsites.

Shenandoah National Park: Matthews Arm Loop

This rugged, 16.7-mile, 2-day backpacking trip reveals classic Appalachian wonders: idyllic waterfall-laden hollows, reborn woodlands, and scenic backcountry campsites.

Springfield, MO: Big Piney Trail

On this 16.5-mile overnight in the Paddy Creek Wilderness, you'll see tranquil emerald-green creeks and timeless vistas of the rock-strewn Ozark Highlands.

Springfield, MO: Big Piney Trail

On this 16.5-mile overnight in the Paddy Creek Wilderness, you'll see tranquil emerald-green creeks and timeless vistas of the rock-strewn Ozark Highlands.

St. Louis: Wilderness Trail

This 9-mile lollipop loop is an adventurer's delight: scenic bluffs, spring-fed streams, quiet campsites, and--for those who dare--an elusive limestone cavern.

Tahoe: Susie Lake via Pacific Crest Trail

On this 16.2-mile weekend, you'll cross through a giant, glacier-carved basin with shimmering lakes and camp at first-class High Sierra campsites.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park: Southern Traverse

Thirteen days of tough travel takes you through the heart of the world's largest protected wilderness.

Share your tales of travel & adventure with our step-by-step guide. Upload trail descriptions, photos, video, and more.

Photos + Videos

Editors' Choice 2010: Climbing the Monch BACKPACKER editors cap their Swiss gear-testing trip with a climb of the 13,474-foot Monch.	Editors' Choice 2010 Videos: Zamberlan 760 Steep GT This uncommonly comfortable boot tackles the biggest terrain in our video review.

NAME
ADDRESS
ADDRESS 2
CITY
STATE
ZIP CODE
EMAIL (req)

Readers' Choice all hikes

Photos + Videos

YES! Please send me my 2 FREE trial issues of BACKPACKER and my FREE digital Survival Skills 101

YES! Please send me my 2 FREE trial issues of BACKPACKER
and my FREE digital Survival Skills 101