Backpacking trails in United States

The United States is one of the world’s great backpacking destinations. From the glaciated peaks of the Northern Rockies to the slickrock canyons of the Southwest, its national parks, forests and wilderness areas hold thousands of miles of multi-day trail, and some of the most rewarding backcountry anywhere.

The American West is the heartland of it all. The Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades deliver high alpine passes, remote lakes and true wilderness solitude, while the desert Southwest offers a completely different experience of canyon country, best walked in the cooler months.

Many of the finest routes now run on permit and reservation systems, so a great trip starts with planning ahead. Below are our featured backcountry routes, beginning in the wild heart of Glacier National Park.

What’s New in 2026

• Every overnight backcountry trip in Glacier National Park, where all four featured routes run, needs a wilderness permit. Roughly 70 percent of sites are reservable in advance and 30 percent held for walk-ups within a day.
• One 2026 wrinkle: vehicle access to the Two Medicine trailheads, the start of the Pitamakan-Dawson Loop, is closed from September 8 to 30 for construction, so plan that loop for earlier in the season.
• Permits and lotteries are now the norm for America’s classic backcountry trails, from Glacier and the High Sierra to the desert Southwest. Whichever route you choose, check its permit system months ahead, as the best trips book out fast.
• The Northern Rockies backpacking season is short, roughly July to mid-September once the high passes melt out. Glacier is core grizzly country, so carry bear spray, store food in the provided lockers, and make noise on the trail.

Find Backpacking Tours and other tours in the US

Looking to join a group on an adventure tour? No need to plan everything yourself, just check out these guided tours in the US, or else these backpacking tours all over the world.

Best Backpacking Routes in the USA

• North Circle Route: Glacier’s premier long loop, a strenuous 4 to 6 day, 89 km circuit through the park’s finest backcountry. One of the best backpacking trips in the country, and popular enough to run on a permit lottery.
• Pitamakan-Dawson Loop: A classic 1 to 3 day loop on the quieter east side, starting from Two Medicine and crossing two high passes through a series of dramatically different landscapes.
• Boulder Pass Route: A remote, wild 2 to 3 day trip in the park’s far north between Goat Haunt and Boulder Pass, with limited access that keeps the crowds away. A bucket-list route for experienced backpackers.
• The Highline Route: An extended backpacking version of Glacier’s legendary Highline, running the Continental Divide from Logan Pass to Fifty Mountain over 4 to 5 days of epic above-treeline hiking.

Plan Your USA Backpacking Trip

For day trips from the same trailheads, see our hiking across the USA collection, and for backpacking further afield, browse backpacking worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Backpacking in the USA

Do you need a permit to backpack in the USA?

Very often, yes. Most national parks and many wilderness areas require a wilderness or backcountry permit for overnight trips, and the most popular routes, including all of Glacier National Park, run on lotteries or advance reservations. Always check the specific area’s permit system months in advance.

When is the best time to backpack in the USA?

It depends on the region. The Northern Rockies and Cascades are best from July to mid-September once the passes melt out, the High Sierra from July into October, and the desert Southwest in spring and autumn to avoid extreme heat.

Do you need to worry about bears?

In much of the American West, yes. Glacier and the Northern Rockies are grizzly country, so carry bear spray, store food in bear-proof containers or provided lockers, and make noise on the trail. Black bears are common across most backpacking regions.