Backpacking Trips
- Trip Report
Tuolumne Meadows to Devil’s Postpile via JMT and Minaret Lake
This 39-mile point-to-point route starts in Tuolumne Meadows and ends at Devils Postpile.
- Trip Report
Backpacking in Point Reyes: Coast Camp and Secret Amphitheater
This easy overnighter can be extended with an optional side trip to the not-so-secret Secret Amphitheater, a naturally-formed cave that collapsed and now opens up to the sky.
- Trip Report
Fall Backpacking in Desolation Wilderness: Lake Schmidell and Fontanillis Lake
Lake Schmidell and Fontanillis Lake are 2 popular out-and-back backpacking destinations in Desolation Wilderness. I strung them together into the same overnight trip by hiking the trails point-to-point.
- Trip Report
Spring Big Sur Backpacking: Vicente Flat Trail
Stunning scenery and easy logistics make this trip a quintessential introduction to backpacking.
- Guide
Guide to the Routeburn Track in New Zealand's South Island
A 33 km (21 mile) Great Walk that connects Fiordland National Park and Mount Aspiring National Park.
- Trip Report
Overnight Backpacking at Joffre Lakes
A short but stunning overnight trip to three glacial lakes in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, BC.
- Trip Report
Backpacking the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne in Yosemite
This 30-mile point-to-point hike follows the Tuolumne River. Highlights include waterfalls, swimming holes, and impressive granite canyons.
- Trip Report
A Winter Island Escape: 3 Days on the Trans-Catalina Trail
The Trans-Catalina Trail off the coast of Southern California was the perfect choice for a winter backpacking trip. We hiked it in 3 days over President's Day weekend.
- Guide
Guide to Backpacking the Trans-Catalina Trail
The Trans-Catalina Trail is a 38.5 mile trail that spans Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California. Highlights are ridge hiking, ocean views, and beachfront camping.
- Guide
Guide to Thru-Hiking the Wonderland Trail
A 93-mile circumnavigation of Mount Rainier in Washington that takes 7-12 days to complete.
- Guide
Guide to Backpacking the Lost Coast Trail
The Lost Coast Trail spans 25 miles of remote coastline in the King Range National Conservation Area.
- Trip Report
Yosemite Valley Backpacking to Cloud's Rest and Quarter Domes
This strenuous hike out of Happy Isles takes you to an off-trail camp spot with a view that rivals that of Cloud’s Rest.
- Trip Report
Snow in July: Backpacking Panorama Ridge and Garibaldi Lake
Panorama Ridge is an iconic 20 mi/32 km hike in Garibaldi Provincial Park that offers 360-degree views of Garibaldi Lake, Black Tusk, Helm Creek, and the surrounding mountains.
- Trip Report
Backpacking at Wedgemount Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC
The trail to Wedgemount Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park is steep: 1100 meters in just 7 kilometers, with lots of scrambling over tree roots and boulders, but the reward at the top is a glaciated paradise.
- Guide
Guide to Backpacking the Kalalau Trail: Permits, Packing, and Other Tips
The Kalalau Trail is a 22-mile out-and-back hike along the Napali Coast in Kauai.
- Trip Report
Backpacking the Kalalau Trail on Kauai's Nāpali Coast
Beachfront camping at Kalalau Beach and the stunning ridges of the Nāpali Coast are highlights of the 11 mile-long Kalalau Trail in Kauai.
- Trip Report
Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierra: Dusy Basin via Bishop Pass
Dusy Basin is a high alpine basin located in Kings Canyon National Park. This out-and-back trip starts at South Lake, passes several lakes on the way to Bishop Pass, then descends to Dusy Basin on the other side of the pass.
- Trip Report
Island Lake, Twin Lakes, and Little Pyramid Peak
Only 7 miles round-trip, Island and Twin Lakes is a high-reward and low-effort Desolation Wilderness classic. It's great for a first-time backpacker, but also offers multiple off-trail options for the more experienced.
- Trip Report
Solitude on Yosemite’s Pohono Trail
A 13-mile trail located on Yosemite Valley’s south rim that connects Tunnel View and Glacier Point.
- Trip Report
Winter Meets Spring at Lake Aloha
An early-season overnighter to Lake Aloha, the “thousand island lake” of Desolation Wilderness.
- Trip Report
Going Off-Trail in Tuolumne Meadows: Nelson Lake to Cathedral Lakes
This 3 day backpacking trip to Nelson, Matthes, Echo and Cathedral Lakes is an approachable cross-country trip in the remote Yosemite Tuolumne backcountry.
- Trip Report
A Strenuous Yosemite Trio: Four Mile Trail + Panorama Trail + Half Dome
This route combines the best of Yosemite: Glacier Point, Half Dome, Nevada Falls, and the Mist Trail, in 2 days of backpacking.
- Trip Report
Late Summer Backpacking at Fontanillis Lake in the Desolation Wilderness
Fontanillis Lake in the Desolation Wilderness paired with an optional scramble up the nearby Dicks Peak is an ideal destination for a quick and easy overnighter.
- Trip Report
Stuart Fork to Emerald and Sapphire Lakes
A long 13 mile hike up the Stuart Fork valley ends at 2 alpine gems, Emerald Lake and Sapphire Lake.
- Trip Report
Backpacking Half Dome in the Off-Season, Yosemite National Park
With stunning waterfalls, technical climbing, and panoramic views, backpacking to the top of Half Dome when the cables are down is the ultimate adventure.
- Trip Report
Four Lakes Loop via Stoney Ridge Trail, Trinity Alps
The Four Lakes Loop connects 4 alpine lakes in the heart of the Red Trinities, the east side of the Trinity Alps.
- Trip Report
Rae Lakes Loop
The 4-5 day loop is a High Sierra classic that takes you through the remote, eastern side of Kings Canyon National Park.