Backpacking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park comes with one major catch: overnight camping isn't permitted within the park. Still, with more than 125 miles of trails winding through forests, rolling hills, and river valleys, you can piece together a legitimate overnight or multi-day adventure. The key is planning each day to end at a campground just outside of the park or a privately owned accommodation within the park before returning to the trail the next morning. It requir

Rising high above the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the hike to Mount LeConte via the Alum Cave Trail is widely considered the best hike in the Smoky Mountains. The popular 13-mile round-trip trek combines moderate-to-strenuous elevation gain with nonstop scenery, including rushing mountain streams, old-growth forest, unique rock formations like Arch Rock and Alum Cave, and sweeping panoramic views from iconic overlooks such as Myrtle Point and Cliff Tops. Whe

The 50-mile Roan Highlands section of the Appalachian Trail is widely considered one of the most scenic backpacking routes in the Southeast. Named for the Roan Mountain massif, the stretch is famous for its rolling grassy balds— the longest continuous series in the Appalachian Mountains—offering panoramic views that rival some of the best hikes on the East Coast. Straddling the Tennessee–North Carolina border, the trail climbs across open ridgelines, winds through lush mounta

Backpacking the West Rim Trail in Zion National Park is a journey through some of the park’s most stunning and varied terrain, beginning in the high-altitude pine forests near Lava Point and descending into the dramatic sandstone canyons that define Zion. Over the course of 14.5 miles, the trail offers sweeping views of deep canyons, slickrock expanses, and distant plateaus, with each turn revealing a new and awe-inspiring perspective. Campsites along the rim provide quiet so

Backpacking the Trout Run Valley Loop, also known as the Perry Valley Loop, offers a rewarding escape for backpackers seeking solitude and natural beauty. Straddling the border between West Virginia and Virginia, the approximately 30-mile circuit traverses the George Washington National Forest and the Wardensville Wildlife Management Area, revealing a diverse mix of landscapes—from dense forests to rugged ridgelines. Along the way, hikers are treated to sweeping views and pri

The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is a land of raw, untamed beauty—a labyrinth of towering sandstone spires, deep canyons, and windswept mesas that hold the echoes of an ancient past. Here, beneath the desert sun, time itself seems to erode like the red rock, revealing stories carved into stone and whispers of civilizations long vanished. For those who dare to venture deep into this rugged wilderness, the rewards are breathtaking. In the shadowy alcoves of Dev

Widely regarded as one of North America's premier backpacking trails, the Cirque of the Towers loop in Wyoming's Wind River Range treats hikers to non-stop views of towering granite peaks and spires, high alpine lakes, and vast boulder-strewn meadows. The trail's highlight is its namesake, Cirque of the Towers, a stunning semi-circle of fifteen 12,000-foot craggy peaks resting along the Continental Divide. With breathtaking views around every bend, Cirque of the Towers deserv

Nestled in the heart of the rugged Teton Range, the Teton Crest Trail offers one of the most breathtaking hiking experiences in the American West. Spanning nearly 40 miles of diverse terrain, the trail weaves through alpine meadows, craggy ridges, and glacial lakes, providing hikers with unparalleled views of jagged peaks and pristine wilderness. From its high-altitude vistas to its lush forested valleys, the Teton Crest Trail is a testament to the natural grandeur of Grand T

A much less traveled loop in Shenandoah National Park's South District, the 9.5 mile Rocky Mount & Gap Run Loop offers sweeping panoramas and a steady dose of solitude. Highlighted by a cliffside campsite ideal for sunset, the loop is an excellent option for those seeking a quiet evening surrounded by stunning views. Backcountry camping permit required. Trail Info Length 10 miles Elevation gain 2,650 feet Route Loop Permit required yes (for backcountry camping) Dogs allowed o

An incredible overnight backpacking loop in Red River Gorge offering near 360-degree panoramas from Hanson's Point, arguably the area's most scenic cliffside overlook, and an opportunity to explore the gorge's largest naturally formed arch. Trail Info Length 7.3 miles Elevation gain 1,200 feet Route Loop Permit required no Dogs allowed on leash Trailhead elevation 1,289' Water King Branch Don't miss sunrise and/or sunset at Hanson's Point Backpack to Hanson's Point & Gray's A

An excellent overnight or multi-day loop through one of the most scenic areas in Virginia. The route leads hikers to the summit of Mount Rogers, the highest peak in the state, beside large rock outcroppings offering expansive ridgeline views, and through lush mountain meadows where wild ponies roam freely. The loop also features exceptional backcountry camping options, providing mountain panoramas sure to leave lasting memories for those who call Mount Rogers and the Grayson

A good beginner backpacking loop in the heart of West Virginia's Cranberry Wilderness, one of the largest designated wilderness areas east of the Mississippi. The loop offers an incredible amount of solitude, landscapes similar to the Pacific Northwest, numerous waterfalls, and exceptional backcountry camping. Due to a few areas where the trail is challenging to locate, a downloaded trail map is recommended. In the spring, water shoes and hiking poles can prove useful when fo

In the heart of the West Virginia's Yew Mountains rests the largest Forest Service wilderness area in the eastern United States, Cranberry Wilderness. The more than 47,000 acre wilderness and designated black bear sanctuary features a beautiful and rugged landscape. Its mountains and valleys are filled with dense Appalachian hardwoods, thick rhododendron groves, and towering stands of red spruce. Its high plateaus are blanketed in sphagnum moss, drawing striking similarities

Enjoy beautiful streams, waterfalls, swimming holes, high mountain meadows, spruce-filled alpine forest, and the wreckage of a 1967 Piper PA-23 plane crash on this 16.5-mile lollipop loop. Great for beginners and seasoned backpackers alike, the Spruce Knob/Seneca Creek Loop is an excellent route for all, and serves up some of the more exceptional backcountry campsites in the region. Trail Info Length 16.5 miles Elevation gain 2,133 feet Route Loop Permit required no Dogs allo

Located in southeast Ohio's sprawling Wayne National Forest, Archers Fork Loop Trail winds and weaves through the state's hill country, in and out of dense hardwood hollows, beside lazy streams, and along large sandstone formations. Considered one of the premier backpacking loops in Ohio, the 14-mile trail offers some of the best backcountry camping options in the region and delivers big on solitude. Great for those looking to cut their teeth in the world of backpacking and s

For hikers with a passion for exploring ancient Native American ruins and rock art, embarking on a backpacking journey through Utah's Salt Creek Canyon may very well be an opportunity of a lifetime. Located in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, a far less frequented area of the park, Salt Creek Canyon is adorned with towering arches and sandstone cliffs, vestiges of the early pioneer era, a vast number of prehistoric ruins, and some of the most distinct pictog

An overnight multi-trail loop backpack leading to two separate plane crash sites just south of Shenandoah National Park. Escape the crowds, enjoy sweeping views of Rockfish Valley, and take in one of the area's most iconic natural landmarks. Trail Info Length 10 miles Elevation gain 2,300 feet Route Loop Permit required yes, for backcountry camping Dogs allowed on leash Trailhead elevation 2,357' Water None Don't miss backcountry camping at Glass Hollow Overlook Hiking Dobie

Try this one on for size. Close your eyes and imagine backpacking twenty plus miles through a canyon less than two feet wide at its narrowest and fifteen feet at its widest, filled with pools of water cold enough to cause you to gasp and deep enough at times to require a swim, where if it rains within forty miles the ensuing flash flood and its roaring wall of debris will swallow you whole. Next, you have the minor inconveniences to contend with such as quicksand, titanic b