35 Bucket List U.S. Backpacking Adventures

Embarking on a backpacking adventure can be a life-changing experience that allows you to disconnect from the modern world and connect with nature. But why settle for just any backpacking trip when you can check off your ultimate bucket list adventures?

Whether it’s hiking through the rugged wilderness of Patagonia, trekking to the California coastline, or trekking the mountains of the Continental Divide, there’s something undeniably exhilarating about setting out on a once-in-a-lifetime journey that pushes you beyond your comfort zone and leaves you with memories that last a lifetime.

So, if you’re ready to step out of your comfort zone and explore the world in a way that you’ll never forget, then it’s time to start planning your bucket list backpacking adventure.

1. Appalachian Trail – 2,200-mile-long trail from Georgia to Maine
2. Pacific Crest Trail – 2,650-mile-long trail from Mexico to Canada
3. John Muir Trail – 211-mile-long trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains
4. Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim – 24-mile trek across the Grand Canyon
5. Wonderland Trail – 93-mile-long trail around Mount Rainier
6. The Long Trail – 273-mile-long trail in Vermont
7. Continental Divide Trail – 3,100-mile-long trail from Mexico to Canada
8. Ozark Highlands Trail – 165-mile-long trail in Arkansas
9. Colorado Trail – 486-mile-long trail through the Colorado Rockies
10. Superior Hiking Trail – 310-mile-long trail along Lake Superior in Minnesota
11. Wind River High Route – 100-mile-long high-altitude route in Wyoming
12. High Sierra Trail – 60-mile-long trail through the Sierra Nevada mountains
13. Colorado Fourteeners – Hiking all of the 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado
14. Zion Narrows – 16-mile-long slot canyon hike in Utah
15. Havasu Falls – Hike to stunning turquoise waterfalls in Arizona
16. Glacier National Park – Hike through the stunning landscapes of Montana
17. Yosemite National Park – Explore the iconic Half Dome and Yosemite Valley
18. Olympic National Park – Hike through old-growth forests and along rugged coastlines
19. Big Sur – Hike the rugged coastline and redwood forests in California
20. Isle Royale National Park – Explore the wilderness and wildlife of Michigan’s Isle Royale
21. Adirondack High Peaks – Hike the 46 peaks over 4,000 feet in New York’s Adirondack Mountains
22. The Enchantments – Hike through stunning alpine lakes in Washington’s Cascade Mountains
23. Sawtooth Mountains – Hike through the jagged peaks of Idaho’s amazing Mountains
24. White Mountains – Hike the 48 peaks over 4,000 feet in New Hampshire’s treasure.
25. Grand Teton National Park – Hike through the stunning landscapes
26. Acadia National Park – Hike along the rocky coastlines and peaks of Maine’s Acadia National Park
27. Canyonlands National Park – Hike through the stunning desert landscapes in Utah
28. Arches National Park – Hike to unique rock formations and arches in Utah as well
29. Joshua Tree National Park – Hike through California’s stunning desert landscapes and unique rock formations
30. Great Smoky Mountains – Hike through the lush forests and rugged terrain of Tennessee’s legendary Mountains
31. Gila Wilderness – Hike through the rugged terrain and hot springs of New Mexico’s stunning wilderness
32. North Cascades National Park – Hike through the rugged peaks and glaciers
33. Big Bend National Park – Hike through the rugged landscapes and canyons of  the great state of Texas
34. Devils Tower – Hike to the top of the iconic rock formation in Wyoming’s National Monument
35. Denali National Park – Hike through the wilderness and rugged terrain of Alaska’s  National Park