We've been lucky enough to backpack in Norway, Patagonia, and Peru — but some of the best trips we've ever done are within driving distance of the US West Coast. This list is every route we've done in the States, with honest assessments of difficulty, permits, and whether it's worth the effort.
These aren't curated from a database. Every trail on this list is one we've walked ourselves, with gear on our backs and first-hand opinions.
1. The Enchantments, Washington
Distance: 18 miles point-to-point | Difficulty: Strenuous | Permit: Lottery, very competitive
If there's one backpacking trip in the US worth entering a lottery for multiple years in a row, this is it. Alpine lakes, mountain goats, granite peaks, and the kind of scenery that makes you wonder if you've accidentally entered a screensaver. The Aasgard Pass ascent is genuinely brutal with a full pack — 2,200 feet in 1.5 miles — but the Core Zone on the other side makes it worthwhile immediately.
We entered the lottery three years before getting a permit. It was worth every rejected application. Nothing else in the lower 48 comes close.
2. The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah
Distance: 16 miles top-down | Difficulty: Moderate (physical) / Technical (water navigation) | Permit: Required, available
The top-down Narrows overnight is one of the most unique backpacking experiences in the country. You're wading the Virgin River through slot canyons that narrow to less than 20 feet wide in places, camping on sandy beaches tucked against canyon walls. The permit is challenging but not impossible to get — and the experience is unlike any standard trail.
3. Lakes Trail, Sequoia National Park, California
Distance: 13 miles | Difficulty: Moderate | Permit: Required, more available than most
Three alpine lakes — Heather, Aster, and Pear — surrounded by sequoias and granite domes. Excellent for a first real Sierra Nevada backpacking trip. The permit system is more accessible than the Enchantments, the trail is well-maintained, and the payoff is beautiful. Bear canisters are required.
4. Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington
Distance: 9 miles round trip | Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Permit: Two required (Makah Tribal + Olympic NP)
Sea stacks, tide pools, old-growth rainforest, and a remote beach camp that requires two separate permits most people don't know about. It's one of the most accessible dramatic overnight trips in the country — under 10 miles, relatively flat, massive payoff. The double-permit requirement deters enough people to keep it uncrowded.
Enchantments
18 mi · Strenuous · Lottery permit · Alpine lakes + mountain goats
Read guide →Lakes Trail
13 mi · Moderate · Permit required · Sierra alpine lakes
Read guide →Shi Shi Beach
9 mi · Easy-Moderate · Two permits · Coastal sea stacks
Read guide →Planning Notes for US Backpacking
A few things that apply across most US backcountry trips:
- Recreation.gov handles most federal permit lotteries and reservations. Create an account early and set up trip alerts for your target dates.
- Bear canisters are required in many western wilderness areas — check before you go. We use the BearVault BV500 for 3-4 night trips.
- Water quality: Filter everything from natural sources regardless of how clear it looks. Giardia is colorless and odorless.
- Fees: America the Beautiful Pass ($80/year) covers entrance fees at all national parks and federal recreation areas. It pays for itself in a single trip to multiple parks.
Ready to go international? Our W Trek guide and Lofoten guide are the natural next step after you've got a few US trips under your belt.