The Top Backpacking Trails in Every State

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• Alabama 13 routes
• Alaska 21 routes
• Arizona 14 routes
• Arkansas 15 routes
• California 19 routes
• Colorado 20 routes
• Connecticut 8 routes
• Florida 16 routes
• Georgia 14 routes
• Hawaii 9 routes
• Idaho 20 routes
• Illinois 10 routes
• Indiana 8 routes
• Iowa 4 routes
• Kansas 4 routes
• Kentucky 14 routes
• Louisiana 4 routes
• Maine 19 routes
• Maryland 7 routes
• Massachusetts 9 routes
• Michigan 20 routes
• Minnesota 19 routes
• Mississippi 4 routes
• Missouri 18 routes
• Montana 20 routes
• Nebraska 3 routes
• Nevada 13 routes
• New Hampshire 20 routes
• New Jersey 5 routes
• New Mexico 16 routes
• New York 19 routes
• North Carolina 22 routes
• North Dakota 7 routes
• Ohio 10 routes
• Oklahoma 8 routes
• Oregon 20 routes
• Pennsylvania 20 routes
• Rhode Island 1 route
• South Carolina 9 routes
• South Dakota 9 routes
• Tennessee 21 routes
• Texas 20 routes
• Utah 21 routes
• Vermont 14 routes
• Virginia 23 routes
• Washington 21 routes
• West Virginia 11 routes
• Wisconsin 9 routes
• Wyoming 20 routes

420 of the 671 routes are rated hard. Use the filters on the trails page to narrow the list.

The Lowdown

Stop Paying Freeze-Dried Prices for Dinner on the Trail Freeze-dried dinners are easy, but you pay a lot for the convenience. These five grocery-store swaps cook the same way for a fraction of the price. More Lowdown » November 9, 2026 A Rolled-Up Jacket Works. Until About 2 a.m. Plenty of backpackers sleep on a stuff sack of clothes. Here's who can get away with it, and what testers reach for when they can't. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Bear Canister or Ursack? Where Each One Makes Sense One weighs less than half a pound. The other is the only kind some parks accept. Here's how to tell which one your next trip calls for. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Boots or Trail Runners? The Honest Answer Depends on Three Things Most long-distance hikers ditched their boots years ago. That doesn't mean you should. Here's how to tell which side of the debate you're on. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Does Your Phone Replace a Satellite Messenger Yet? Your phone can text from space now. Before you leave the satellite messenger at home, know exactly where phone SOS falls short. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Don't Let One Icy Switchback End Your Trip The trail looks clear at the trailhead. The shady switchbacks above are another story. What testers carry for ice, and when to turn around. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Five Backpacking Chairs Worth Their Weight Ultralighters love to tease the camp chair. Then they sit in one. Here's when a pound of chair earns its spot, and when 2 ounces does the job. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Five Backpacks Backpackers Love, and Who Should Skip the Frame There's a weight where a frameless pack stops making sense, and it's lower than most people think. Five tester favorites, and who each one suits. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 How Much Battery Does a Backpacking Trip Really Take? Your phone is your map, camera and maybe your lifeline now. Here's how much battery a trip really takes, and five power banks testers rate. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Quilt or Sleeping Bag? Who Should Make the Switch A quilt drops the zipper, the hood and the down you crush flat anyway. For some sleepers that's freedom. For others, it's a long, drafty night. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 The Cheapest Blister Fix Isn't in Your First-Aid Kit Most blisters start with what's on your feet, not what's missing from your kit. Here's what sock testers found, and who each pick suits. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 The Headlamp Spec That Matters Less Than You Think The biggest number on the box is rarely what makes a headlamp good on the trail. Here's what testers reward instead, and five worth a look. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Umbrella, Poncho or Budget Shell: Rain Gear for the Rest of Us An umbrella, a poncho or a cheap shell can keep you dry for a lot less. Each one has a catch, and which catch matters depends on where you hike. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Waterproof Hiking Shoes: When They Help and When They Backfire Dry feet is the promise. Whether you get them depends on one thing most people don't consider before they buy. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 Why Desert Backpackers Wear Long Sleeves in the Heat Long sleeves in the heat sounds backwards. Here's why testers reach for a sun hoodie anyway, and the five that earn a spot in the pack. More Lowdown » November 5, 2026 How to Hang a Bear Bag (and Why You Might Want a Canister Instead) Bears have learned to beat a lot of bear bag hangs. Here's how to hang yours right, and where you'll need a canister instead. More Lowdown » October 25, 2026 Water Filter or Purifier? What Backpackers Actually Need Your water filter might not stop everything in the water. Here's when a filter is enough, and when you need something more. More Lowdown » October 25, 2026 Ten Mistakes That Can Ruin Your First Backpacking Trip Plenty of first-trip trouble starts before you ever leave home. Here's how to avoid the easy mistakes, from picking too big a trip to skipping the gear test. More Lowdown » October 20, 2026 Are You Using Trekking Poles All Wrong? There's a right way to use that wrist strap, and it isn't the obvious one. Here's how to get more out of your poles, especially on the way down. More Lowdown » October 18, 2026 Photo: Peretz Partensky, CC BY-SA 2.0 Five Tips to Make Water Crossings Suck Less (The Fifth One Could Save Your Life) A cold, fast stream can stop a trip in its tracks. Five simple habits make crossings easier, and the last one could save your life. More Lowdown » October 18, 2026 Don't Waste Your Money on This Rainshell Before you invest in a high-tech rainshell, make sure you're not paying hundreds of dollars for features you don't need. More Lowdown » October 12, 2026 Side Sleeper Waking Up Sore in Your Tent? Try These Fixes Sore hips don't have to come with backpacking. A few small changes to your pad, pillow and campsite can make a big difference by morning. More Lowdown » October 12, 2026 Are You Good in the Sack? The Sleeping Bags Backpackers Swear By Weight, warmth and price all collide in a sleeping bag. Here's how five tester favorites balance them, from a first bag to an ultralight splurge. More Lowdown » September 24, 2026 Before You Buy a Backpacking Tent, Hear This Your tent is the biggest decision in your pack, and the right one depends on where you camp. Here's who each of five tester favorites really suits. More Lowdown » September 24, 2026 Five Camp Stoves Backpackers Love (One Weighs Less Than a Candy Bar) A great stove is about more than a fast boil. See how five tester favorites handle wind, fuel and weight before you buy. More Lowdown » September 24, 2026 Why Your Sleeping Pad Matters More Than Your Sleeping Bag The cold ground steals your heat all night. Here are five pads testers keep recommending to fight back, from ultralight air pads to simple foam. More Lowdown » September 24, 2026

Last updated November 9, 2026. Some gear links are affiliate links.