Backpacking trip guides
We provide in-depth backpacking guides to some of the most beautiful places on our planet. Each guide includes all the pre-trip details you’ll need to plan an awesome backcountry adventure.
For more popular CleverHiker resources, we recommend checking out the following:
United States & Canada
THRU-HIKES
Distance: 2,650 miles
Average # of Days Needed: 150 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 489,418 feet
# of States Traversed: 3
Best Time: Spring – Early Fall
Distance: 2,700-3,000 miles
Average # of Days Needed: 150 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 457,000 feet
# of States Traversed: 5
Best Time: Spring – Early Fall
Distance: 210.4 miles (official) / 221 miles (end-to-end)
Average # of Days Needed: 18-21 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 46,000 feet
Best Time: July – Early October
Distance: 272 miles
Average # of Days Needed: 19 to 28 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 63,500 feet
Best Time: June to mid-October
Distance: 486 miles (give or take a few depending on route)
Time Needed: 4-6 weeks
Aprox. Elevation Change: 89,000 ft.
Best Time: July – September
OREGON
Distance: 40 miles
Days Needed: 3-4 days
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Distance: 50 miles
Days Needed: 3-6 days
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
Distance: 36 miles
Days Needed: 4-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Distance: 40 miles (one way)
Days Needed: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: April-May & September-October
Distance: 30 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
Distance: Varies, depending on trip
Days Needed: 2-5 days, varies
Difficulty: Easy to Difficult
Best Time: July-Early October
Distance: About 20 (varies depending on side trails taken)
Days Needed: 2-3 days
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best Time: July – October
Distance: 27 miles (one way)
Days Needed: 2-4 days, varies
Difficulty: Easy
Best Time: Mid-April – Early November
Distance: 20.9-23.7
Days Needed: 2-3
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late July-September
Drive Time: 7 hrs. from Portland, 4 hrs. from Bend
Best Time: Late spring-fall
WASHINGTON
Distance: 19 miles
Days Needed: 1-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – October
Distance: Varies, depending on route
Days Needed: 2-6 days
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
Best Time: Late July – October
Distance: 93 Miles
Days Needed: 9-12 Days
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: 2-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Distance: 25-35 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate- Difficult
Best Time: Late July – October
Distance: 30 to 36, depending on trailhead
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best Time: July – October
Distance: About 37 miles
Days Needed: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: May – September
MONTANA
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
UTAH
Distance: 21-51 miles depending on trip
Days Needed: 2-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: April-June & September-November
Distance: 16 miles
Days Needed: 2 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: May-October
Distance: 48.3 miles
Days Needed: 3-6 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: April-May & September-October
Distance: 28.4 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: March-May & October-Early November
Distance: 16-18 miles out and back
Days Needed: 2 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late March-May & September-October
Distance: 31.8 miles for both trails
Days Needed: 3-5 days for both trails
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: April-Mid October
Distance: 20 miles
Days Needed: 2-3 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late June – Early October
Distance: 13 miles
Days Needed: 2-3 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late June – Early October
Distance: 18.2 miles
Days Needed: 2-3 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Late June – Early October
COLORADO
Distance: 160 miles
Days Needed: 10-16 days
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: Late June – Early October
Distance: 486 miles (give or take a few depending on route)
Time Needed: 4-6 weeks
Difficulty: Difficult
Best Time: July – September
WYOMING
Distance: 40 miles
Days Needed: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – Early September
Distance: 24 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – September
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – September
CALIFORNIA
Distance: 20-50 miles depending on trip
Days Needed: 2-5 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult, depending on trip
Best Time: July – September
Distance: 16.4 Miles roundtrip via Mist Trail
Days Needed: 1-3
Difficulty: Very strenuous
Best Time: June – October
Distance: 26.3 and 31.8, depending on route
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time: Winter (or late fall, early spring)
Distance: 210.4 (official) / 221 (end-to-end)
Days Needed: 18-21 days
Difficulty: Difficult – Strenuous
Best Time: July to early October
GEAR GUIDE: John Muir Trail Gear List: What to Pack
CANADA
Distance: Varies
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: July – Late September
Distance: 27 miles
Days Needed: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
Distance: 46 miles
Days Needed: 4-6 days
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: Late July – September
International Backpacking Trips
Distance: 50 kilometers / 31 miles
Days Needed: 3-4
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Best Time: May-September
Best Time to Visit December-February & September-November
GEAR GUIDE: What to Pack for Hiking in Patagonia
Best Time to Visit December-February & September-November
GEAR GUIDE: What to Pack for Hiking in Patagonia
For more popular CleverHiker resources, we recommend checking out the following resources:
Distance: 2,190 miles
Average # of Days Needed: 165 days
Approx. Elevation Change: 465,000 feet
# of States Traversed: 14
Best Time: Spring – Early Fall