The Best Multi-Day Hikes in America's National Parks
Day hiking shows you the park. Backpacking changes your relationship with it entirely. Carrying everything you need, sleeping under stars, waking up to silence and sunrise — that's the national park experience most visitors never get. These parks offer the best multi-day wilderness trips in the system.
Yellowstone — 2.2 Million Acres of Backcountry
Yellowstone's backcountry is the real park — the geyser basins and wildlife meadows that 99% of visitors see from the road represent a fraction of what's out there. With over 1,000 miles of trails and campsites along rivers, in meadows, and near thermal features, Yellowstone backcountry is unmatched for diversity.
Best routes:
- Shoshone Geyser Basin (3 days, 26 miles): Reach geothermal features that no road-accessible visitor ever sees. The Shoshone Geyser Basin has over 100 thermal features and zero boardwalks.
- Bechler Region (4-5 days, 40+ miles): The "Cascade Corner" of Yellowstone has more waterfalls than any other section of the park, including the spectacular Dunanda Falls (hot springs at the base of a waterfall).
- Heart Lake/Mt. Sheridan (2 days, 16 miles): A thermal area, a clear lake, and a fire lookout summit with 100-mile views.
Olympic — Three Ecosystems in One Park
Olympic is the only national park where you can backpack through temperate rainforest, alpine meadows, and Pacific coastline in a single trip. The park's 645,000 acres contain some of the most diverse backcountry in the US.
Best routes:
- Hoh River to Glacier Meadows (3-4 days, 36 miles round trip): Through the Hoh Rainforest to the base of Mount Olympus glaciers. Receive 140+ inches of annual rain — pack serious rain gear.
- Ozette Triangle (3 days, 9 miles): Coastal backpacking along sea stacks and tide pools. Two overland segments connected by beach walking. Check tide tables.
- Enchantment Lakes (3-4 days, 20+ miles): Alpine lakes in granite basins at 7,000+ feet. Permits are extremely competitive (lottery in February).
Glacier — The Crown of the Continent Backcountry
Glacier's backcountry is where you see grizzly bears and mountain goats on the same trail, cross creeks that run turquoise with glacial flour, and sleep in meadows of wildflowers with 10,000-foot peaks as your backdrop.
Best routes:
- Glacier Highline Loop (2-3 days, 20+ miles): Extend the famous Highline Trail into a multi-day trip through the high country with Granite Park Chalet as a camp option.
- Dawson-Pitamakan Loop (3-4 days, 36 miles): A lesser-known loop crossing two passes above treeline with lake country and wildlife.
- Many Glacier to Two Medicine (4-5 days): A traverse of the park's eastern front through prime grizzly habitat.
Grand Canyon — Below the Rim Multi-Day
Only 1% of Grand Canyon visitors go below the rim. Multi-day canyon trips offer solitude, Colorado River access, and a perspective change that's hard to overstate.
Best routes:
- Bright Angel to Phantom Ranch (2 days, 18 miles): Stay at Phantom Ranch (reservations open 15 months in advance and fill in hours). The classic canyon experience with a bed and a meal at the bottom.
- Rim-to-Rim (3-4 days): South Kaibab down, Bright Angel up (or vice versa). The most common multi-day trip. Requires a backcountry permit.
- Tonto Trail (5-7 days): Follows the Tonto Platform halfway between rim and river, connecting several canyon routes. True solitude — you may see more bighorn sheep than people.
Great Smoky Mountains — 800 Miles of Trail
The Smokies have the most extensive trail network of any national park, including 71 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Multiple shelters along the AT make logistics simple.
Best routes:
- Atkins to Davenport Gap via Max Patch (3-4 days): AT section through the park with 360-degree balds and shelter camping.
- Cammerer Loop (2-3 days, 26 miles): A scenic loop to the historic Cammerer fire lookout with panoramic views.
Essential Backpacking Gear
- Backpack 65L — big enough for 3-5 days
- Tent or shelter system — 2-pound shelters are the standard now
- Water filter — Sawyer Squeeze is the gold standard
- Bear canister or Ursack — required in Yellowstone, Olympic, and many others
- Navigation tools — paper map and compass, not just GPS
Plan your backcountry adventure with our complete national park rankings.
Permit Guide by Park
Getting backcountry permits is often the hardest part of a national park backpacking trip. Here's the system for each major park:
| Park | Permit System | Cost | Advance Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone | Reservation or walk-up | $25 | 6 months |
| Yosemite | Summer lottery, winter FCFS | $5 + $5/person | Feb-March |
| Grand Canyon | Reservation or walk-up | $10 + $8/person | 4 months |
| Glacier | Reservation or walk-up | $7 + $5/person | March |
| Olympic | Reservation or walk-up | $6 + $8/person | March |
| Great Smokies | FCFS at shelter | Free | N/A |
| Zion | Reservation or walk-up | $15 | 3 months |
- Apply the day booking opens (set calendar alerts)
- Have backup dates ready
- Check for cancellations starting 48 hours before your trip — people change plans all the time
- Walk-in permits are available at most parks the day before — show up at the ranger station when they open