Trips by National Park

Solitude rules on this 6.2-mile out-and-back past the headwaters of a lively mountain stream where deer and black bears roam by the skeleton of a weatherbeaten homestead.

Hit two alluring lakes while exploring a landscape carved by fire and chiseled by ice on this picturesque 9.2-mile out-and-back lined with plentiful wildflowers.

Explore one of the Lower 48's last remaining wild corners on this 11.6-mile loop from the High Chisos Mountains to the South Rim escarpment.

Pass through some of the wildest land in the Lower 48 on this stout 11.3-mile route that offers a wildlife showcase of grizzlies, mountain lions, moose, and wolverines.

This 12.4-mile out-and-back sweeps under a giant evergreen forest to a blossoming burn zone, then ends at an alpine lake perfect for stargazing.

Watch thriving bison herds while surveying million-year-old glacial architecture on this 4.2-mile lasso loop through the largest untouched mixed-grass prairie in North America.

Discover ancient archaeology and island isolation (playful sea lions excepted) on this 5.2-mile loop through Santa Rosa's steep canyons and sandy beaches.

Camp on sandy beaches, explore untouched forests, and listen to gray wolves howl on this 16.2-mile hike on an isolated island in Lake Superior.

Take in craggy seaside views from the summit of 1,532-foot Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic coast, on this 4.4-mile loop.

Find solitude in a geological playground of narrow canyons and pristine red sandstone arches on this rarely visited 4.5-mile loop.

Pass through a sanctuary of towering old-growth forest and lush open meadows on this 5.5-mile loop around The Ramparts with majestic views of snowcapped Rainier.

This diverse 5.6-mile out-and-back, a park signature hike, passes colorful geysers and an eerie burn zone en route to a 100-foot cascade. Caution: Grizzly restoration area.

Ascend North America's tallest dunes for a day surrounded by alpine peaks, a desert valley, and shifting mountains of sand on this 6.6-mile loop in America's newest national park.

On a tight travel schedule? Sample Denali on a rugged 3.8-mile loop to a rocky playground of Dall sheep and panoramas of North America's tallest peak.

Pass through sunburnt red canyons and cliffs marked with ancient petroglyphs en route to a secret swim- ming hole on this isolated 6-mile out-and-back.

Rising 2,500-plus feet over 4.6 miles, this strenuous trail zigzags through hemlock and rhododendron to a pair of exposed ridges with long Appalachian views.

Hike 5.5 miles into Ansel Adams country to the top of Sentinel Dome and around to Taft Point for fisheye panoramas of Yosemite Valley.

Ditch the roadside crowds on this family-friendly, 4.1-mile out-and-back to an indigo lake framed by the mighty Tetons. Bring binocs: Songbirds abound.

This 11.8-mile ski or snowshoe loop explores a frozen waterfall and bison wintering grounds.

This rugged, 16.8-mile, 2-day backpacking trip reveals classic Appalachian wonders: idyllic waterfall-laden hollows, reborn woodlands, and scenic backcountry campsites.

Escape Yosemite Valley crowds on this 21.2-mile, multiday trek to glacial cirques and turquoise lakes deep in the wilds of the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

This strenuous 54.8-mile, 6-day loop follows a historic abandoned trail across the true crown of the continent.

This 5.6-mile lasso loop departs the popular Big Devils Stairs hike, scramble upstream to waterfalls and connecting with a forgotten trail free of crowds.

This 9.6-mile hike into a narrow wooded valley passes through old settler farmlands, impressive waterfalls, and mountain overlooks to a quiet creekside lunch spot.

Ramble 8 miles out-and-back along a chain of shimmering lakes and enjoy a refreshing midsummer swim beneath the park's centerpiece, Lassen Peak.

Lakeside campsites, abundant wildlife, waterfalls, and magnificent mountain views are among the many highlights on this 25.1-mile, 3-day trek in the east section of Glacier.

This 12.3-mile, out-and-back trek to Swiftcurrent Mountain is loaded with heavenly views of the Continental Divide, plus the McDonald and Many Glacier valleys.

A wicked flood raged through this valley 20 years ago, carving wide furrows down the Roaring River from Lawn Lake. This hike is 11.6 miles round trip.

On this 8.4-miler, you'll climb well-marked trails to the tentacle-like flanks of Ypsilon Mountain and its namesake lake, then return off-trail by following a mountain stream past unnamed waterfalls.

This moderately challenging 7.2-mile hike to a photogenic summit proves that sometimes it's not how high you climb--it's where you climb.

Hike up two mountain peaks with eye-popping vistas on this challenging 7.4-mile off-trail route on the park's lesser-traveled east side.

Explore old growth rain forest, ascend 5,474-foot Bogachiel Peak, and reap stunning views of Mt. Olympus from High Divide's ridgeline on this 17.5-mile loop around a breathtaking subalpine lake basin.

Enjoy fabulous views of the highest peaks in the Alaska Range (Mounts McKinley, Deborah, Hess, and Hayes) on this 6-mile round-trip.

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

Escape the hot-air desert floor by bagging two breezy peaks with outstanding views on this 5.8-mile out-and-back hike.

Welcome to the map portion of Steve Howe's solo thru-hike of the Sierra High Route. Steve is BACKPACKER's Rocky Mountain editor, and he started this 37-day, 280-mile route on Saturday, August 26, 2006. He's podcasting once a day from his evening camp, and we'll be updating this map daily with a new waypoint showing where he's pitching his tent.

This 6.2-mile loop leads into a land of rainbows and big waterfalls among the granite faces of Yosemite Valley.

Take advantage of the park's quieter winter season on this 9.4-mile snowshoe trek through wooded hills to an expansive plateau with endless snowy views.

Wander through lush forests and high-alpine meadows to a pair of secluded mountain lakes nestled at the foot of the Mummy Range.

The standard approach for GT climbers, this 6-mile, 5,000-foot trek to the Lower Saddle yields divine views.

Hike over three mountain passes into glacier-carved basins with crystalline lakes and bird's-eye views on this 17.6-mile loop. Don't forget your camera.

Miles from anywhere, this 5.3-mile dayhike slides over sandstone mounds, into a shallow canyon, and under orange spires in the Needles District.

Sample the perils of North America's tallest peak in this Q&A with mountain guide Mike Haugen. Plus, downloadable GPS coordinates and photos.

Moose, knee-high flowers, two alpine lakes, and infinite views are just a few reasons to hike this 19-mile loop in the Never Summer Wilderness.

Navigate boulder fields, rocky ridgelines, and seasonal snowfields during this long, challenging ascent of the third-highest peak in the Tetons.

The must-see list for this 5.7-mile dayhike to Glacier Gorge is long: raging waterfalls, alpine lakes, and a skyline of humbling mountain views.

This 8-mile out-and-back follows old cattle trails to mesa views and isolated campsites just outside Capitol Reef.

This 7.1-miler in redrock country showcases art you'll never see in a big-city gallery--some of the world's best-preserved pictographs and petroglyphs.

Scramble through a beautiful (and overlooked) 5.4-mile slot canyon filled with pools and waterfalls. Expect wet feet and maybe some swimming.

This 7.3-mile out-and-back has all the highlights you expect from a Smokies outing: trailside streams, old-growth timber stands, and a raging waterfall.

Take a day or a three-day weekend for a challenging 20.2-mile climb to the roof of the Lower 48, and see why Muir called it a paradise of rock and light.

Ride Amtrak to Glacier's back door, then hike this 19.7-miler past glacial lakes and cascades and over two gorgeous passes.

Climb 4,800 feet on this classic 15.7-mile route to the top of the park’s most-iconic peak towering above the Valley floor.

This 16.1-mile dayhike links a string of alpine lakes, then hits a summit high above glacier-sculpted landscapes in the Many Glacier region.

This 10.3-mile dayhike traverses the rugged topography of Mt. Desert Island, leading to a broad summit high above an island-speckled sea.

Hike 6.5 miles on a lesser-traveled trail on the forested side of Paul Peak to the Wonderland Trail, then down to the banks of the Mowich River.

Waterfall aficionados: This challenging 5.2-mile route traces a tumbling creek, then passes under an old-growth forest to one of the park's highest cascades.

Cruise desert slickrock and sand on this 10.4-mile dayhike to an impressive canyon-top lookout high above the Colorado and Green Rivers.

Take a crash course in vulcanology as you hike into a giant dormant volcano on this exotic 5.3-mile out-and-back on the island of Maui.

This 12.4-mile dayhike or overnighter hits the park's lesser-traveled northeast tip, linking cactus lands to unnamed peaks. Good navigation skills required.

This 7-mile loop is a trailside study of the past: old cabins, ancient forests, and the legacy of a pioneering conservationist.

This 9.2-mile dayhike drops into the muzzle of the world's largest dormant volcano.

Pinched slot canyons, neck-craning cliffs and cottonwood groves highlight this strenuous 9.9-mile shuttle hike in Utah's redrock country.

Mature oaks, overgrown homesites, a mountain hut, and a scenic viewpoint highlight this 3.6-mile dayhike on the Appalachian Trail.

Outrageous spires and hidden springs highlight this 3-day loop through the Maze District.

Plunge from Island in the Sky to the Colorado River on this 3-day slickrock adventure.

See towering forests, ocean waves, and fern-covered canyons at Redwood National and State parks

Splash through canyon waterfalls to an 1870's ghost town in Death Valley National Park.

Go from grasslands to mountains along a little-known creek in Big Bend National Park.

This challenging 6.3-mile lasso loop takes an off-trail tour of The Stegosaur, a massive sandstone fin in Capitol Reef National Park.

This 7.2-mile snowshoe to Dewey Point tops out at one of Yosemite Valley's most spectacular views--a panorama stretching from El Capitan to Half Dome.

Connect subalpine waterfalls, gurgling creeks, and overlooks above Wild Basin on this 5.3-miler in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Hike the quiet route to the iconic redwoods of Tall Trees Grove on this 16-mile out-and-back.

Check out geologic sculptures and Rio Grande views in a secluded corner of Big Bend National Park.

Link wooded ridges and a glacier-scraped valley on this 11-miler in Glacier National Park that visits a quiet lake rimmed by rugged peaks.

Climb 5.8 miles through lodgepole pines to a fire lookout perched above the Apgar Mountains with views that extend across Glacier National Park.

Explore canyons and sageland in Yellowstone's backcountry on this 18.5-mile hike near the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Follow your ears to thundering, stunning Union Falls on this 15.8-mile hike in Yellowstone National Park.

Go where the buffalo roam on this 21-mile Yellowstone traverse.

Follow the footsteps of John Wesley Powell to iconic views above the Grand Canyon on this backcountry trek.