Backpacking through the United States of America is an experience of a lifetime. It is something that teaches you so much about nature, your surroundings, and even your own self. You get to explore new situations and can encounter active challenges.
The U.S. is filled with beautiful places. It has some of the most scenic trails, which are worth visiting at least once in your life. If you have an adventurous streak, you should definitely plan a backpacking trip to see them.
No matter whether you plan the trip alone or with your friends, you need to be well aware of the paths you would have to take and the activities you can perform there. Extensive planning will lead to a successful backpacking trip.
The first thing, however, is to choose the right destination. Here is a list of some of the most beautiful and scenic backpacking trails in the USA that you should consider for your next trip:
Devil’s Bridge Trail
The Devil’s Bridge Trail is one of the most sought-after trails amongst adventure lovers. It is located in the Coconino National Forest in Sedona, Arizona.
The trail length is around 3.6 miles, and during this distance, you can see the most beautiful mountains. Overall, hiking may require two to three hours, depending on your speed and experience.
If you are planning a trip to Devil’s Bridge Trail, it would be a great idea to plan it from March to the month of May. This is when it’s a little warmer, and you get to enjoy it the most. The spell-bounding sunset will let you take the most amazing pictures, while the sunrise will help you experience nature completely differently. Don’t forget to take the Instagrammable pictures on the bridge that the trail is named for!
Make sure to take along one of the best backpacking tents available to you. It will let you extend your trip if you want to spend more time trailing around the paths.
Nugget Falls Trail
For people who love to hike, visiting the Nugget Falls Trail is quite an enthralling experience. Especially if you are fond of heights, this is where you need to go next!
Located in Alaska, this trail isn’t for beginners of the faint-hearted. It surrounds the Mendenhall Glacier, and is covered by the Tongass National Forest, which gives you the best of both worlds. From bald eagles to bear cubs, you would be able to witness them all during your hiking experience. The forest is dense, and the meadows are gorgeous.
Apart from this, there are so many caves to experience that this would be a trip you would never be able to forget. The wooden boardwalk is something not all trails offer the campers.
You can view the waterfall along with the glacier. What’s even better? You can have your tent set up next to them and to have the best view over them during your camping trip.
Sliding Sands Trail
If you want to visit Hawaii, the best place to camp is the Haleakala National Park and advanced hikers can attempt hiking through the Sliding Sands Trail. This high alpine wilderness is beautiful, but not a hike for the faint hearted.
The total length of this hike is around 11.5 km, which means you need to be a fit adventure lover to enjoy it. The entire duration of the hiking may take up to six hours and at the high elevation, it can get cold and windy. Hence, you would have to pack well to ensure that you have with you everything that you might need during this time.
What makes it worth visiting is the crater of Haleakala, which is something you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Angel’s Landing Trail
Located in Utah, the Angel’s Landing Trail is a prominent part of the Zion national park. During the spring season, this is the trail that most camping lovers prefer visiting as it showcases the most beautiful and scenic sights over the natural ridges and canyon views! At 7.1km, it’s a challenging day hike that has some steep edges and tall drop-offs, but it’s worth it for the views.
If you are an expert camper and love to hike, the steepness of this trail will surely challenge you. However, once you defeat it, you will emerge stronger and braver!
Ready For Your Next Trip?
America is filled with gorgeous trails, and you just need to make the plan at the right time. Each of these trails has a peak season, which is the time when it can be enjoyed the most. Some require permits to access them.
This is why you need to be really careful of the timing, as it can make your backpacking experience a memory of a lifetime or may end up ruining it entirely!
Author bio
Laraib is a freelance writer and an adrenaline junkie who shares her passion for the outdoors with her husband, Umer. She is passionate about writing and loves to share her experiences as a traveler with others. She loves exploring, camping, hiking, and swimming. When she is not traveling, she spends most of her time cooking and writing. She is a lover of cookies, ice cream, and coffee.
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