The Best Long-Distance Hikes in U.S. National Parks
Within the protected lands of our national parks lie countless trails that lead to breathtaking vistas, alpine lakes, ancient forests, and deserts awash in rare blooms. The hikes chosen here, all located within U.S. national parks, offer a few nights in the woods and satisfy those who want the trail to just keep going.
Here are my picks for the best backpacking hikes in the national parks:
Yosemite National Park
Cathedral Lakes
Distance: 9.5 miles round-trip
Duration: Overnight, or 4-6 hours as a day hike
Explore one of Yosemite’s incredible environs when you hike to Cathedral Lakes in Tuolumne Meadows on a route that you can finish in a day, but is best experienced with an overnight or two on the shores of these twin lakes.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Longs Peak: Keyhole Route
Distance: 15 miles round-trip
Duration: 10-15 hours
Take your time on this strenuous hike by adding a night or two in the backcountry, giving you time to acclimate to the altitude, soak up some superb scenery, and put yourself in position for a safe summit push when you make for the top.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Big Creek Trail
Distance: 10.6 miles round-trip
Duration: 5-6 hours
Big Creek Trail gives you three options: day hikes to waterfalls and swimming holes, overnights that give you more of a taste of the Smoky Mountains, or the chance to take an even longer hike as you connect to the park’s vast network of trails, reach notable summits, and even access the Appalachian Trail.
Grand Teton National Park
Paintbrush Canyon-Cascade Canyon Loop
Distance: 19.2 miles round-trip
Duration: 13 hours
Book your campsite or backcountry reservations to get the most of this hike where alpine lakes, a high-altitude trail, and nightly stargazing make the miles more manageable.
Grand Canyon National Park
Rim-to-Rim
Distance: 24.6 miles one-way
Duration: 2-4 days
This marathon-length hike sends you into the depths of the Grand Canyon on a multi-night camping trip full of thigh-burning trail, see-it-to-believe-it scenery, and a sense of “I did that” accomplishment few trails can match.
Death Valley National Park
Telescope Peak
Distance: 14 miles round-trip
Duration: 7-9 hours
Hiking high above Death Valley, you’ll enjoy an incredible panoramic scene, but turn this hike into an overnighter for views of the Milky Way and a sunrise you won’t forget.
Isle Royale National Park
Greenstone Ridge Trail
Distance: 40 miles one-way
Duration: 2-4 days
Greenstone Ridge bisects this national park, but you can extend your multi-night backpacking trip by venturing down every spur trail you find, earning yourself a taste of the rocky shores, boggy fens, and dense patches of forest full of wildlife.
Canyonlands National Park
Chesler Park and The Joint
Distance: 10.2 miles round-trip
Duration: 5-6 hours
You can tackle this hike in one go, but make the most of it and camp under the stars for wow-worthy celestial views by night and a sunrise that brings ten thousand hues to this wild landscape in the morning.
Start planning your hiking adventure
Pick a park, find your trail, and embark on an unforgettable journey in America’s top national parks with outdoors expert Jason Frye.
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