10 Hidden Hiking Gems: Outdoor Writers Share Their Fave Little-Known Backpacking Routes
By Dustin WalkerThey’re quiet.They’re remote.And most importantly, they’re free of the nattering crowds found at more popular stomps.
They’re quiet.They’re remote.And most importantly, they’re free of the nattering crowds found at more popular stomps.
DISTANCE (round-trip)14 mi (22 km) DIFFICULTY TIME2 days SOLITUDE Ancient Trail Takes You Along Stunning, Untouched BeachesThis coast-straddling route was used for centuries by local aboriginal people to access the west side of Flores Island. Today, it gives backpackers a unique look at some of the most beautiful scenery in the Clayoquot Sound. But just getting to the […]
DISTANCE (round-trip)40 mi (65km) DIFFICULTY TIME2-3 days SOLITUDE Historic Path Along Labrador’s Rocky ShorelineBefore the construction of the Labrador Straits Highway in the 1950s and the invention of automobiles and telephones, these traditional walking routes that hugged the shores of the Labrador Straits were the only means of contact for residents of this remote coastal area […]
DISTANCE (round-trip)80 mi (130 km) DIFFICULTY TIME7 days SOLITUDE Wandering Through Saskatchewan’s Vast and Peaceful Boreal ForestThe longest and newest trail in Saskatchewan stretches for more than 130 km through forested lakelands in Meadow Lake Provincial Park. And very few people know about it.This walk shows off the beauty of the the Boreal forest, a unique […]
DISTANCE (round-trip)18 mi (21km) DIFFICULTY TIME2-3 days ALTERNATIVE TOTrails in Big Bend National Park SOLITUDE Amazingly diverse hiking in a park that’s nearly forgottenHidden in Western Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is one of the least-visited parks in the system. Bordered by Carlsbad Caverns to the North, this park is part of a large desert ecosystem. […]
DISTANCE (round-trip)396mi (637.3km) DIFFICULTY TIME20-30 days ALTERNATIVE TOThe Continental Divide Trail SOLITUDE Through the Land of EnchantmentEnding or beginning in Albuquerque, the New Mexico section of the Grand Enchantment Trail stays in the remote reaches of America’s southwest, climbing high altitude mountains. The majority of New Mexico hiking takes place through Gila National Forest. The highlight […]
DISTANCE (round-trip)30 mi (48km) DIFFICULTY TIME3-4 days ALTERNATIVE TOThe Great Range Trail SOLITUDE Escape the crowds, not the beautyThe youngest mountain range in the Rockies, only 6-9 million years old, the Grand Tetons are some of the most photogenic and iconic mountains on the planet. Their awe striking beauty makes the park one of the […]
DISTANCE (round-trip)41mi (66km) DIFFICULTY TIME3-4 days ALTERNATIVE TOPacific Crest Trail SOLITUDE High Altitude SplendorEagle Cap Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in Oregon and it encompasses some of the most scenic terrain in the West. Also the state’s largest high alpine area, the flora and fauna are unique to the region and offer a glimpse […]
DISTANCE (round-trip)111 mi (180km) DIFFICULTY TIME10-12 days ALTERNATIVE TOThe West Coast Trail SOLITUDE Hut to Hut Hiking Through Tranquil Old Growth ForestsThe Sunshine Coast Trail is the perfect alternative option to the often crowded West Coast Trail. Although it is close to Vancouver, it’s considered a hidden gem as not as many people have heard of it. […]
DISTANCE (round-trip)32 Mi (51km) DIFFICULTY TIME3-4 days ALTERNATIVE TOSawtooth Mountains SOLITUDE Magical, Unforgettable Idaho The White Cloud Mountains are one of the most recent wilderness areas in the country, designated in 2015. Most people associate Idaho politics with conservatism and not environmentalism but the society in this great state has a soft spot for wilderness. Smaller than the […]