All National Park Trips

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Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park.

Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites

The 10 Best National Park Adventures With Kids

The 25 Best National Park Dayhikes

10 Tips For Getting a Hard-to-Get National Park Backcountry Permit

How to Get a Last-Minute, National Park Backcountry Permit


Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.


A young boy hiking in the North Fork Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park.
My son, Nate, on a family backpacking trip in Grand Teton National Park. Click photo to see “8 Perfect National Park Backpacking Trips for Beginners.”

The 17 Best Uncrowded National Park Dayhikes

America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips

The 10 Best Backpacking Trips in the Southwest

The 5 Southwest Backpacking Trips You Should Do First

The 12 Best Hikes in Utah’s National Parks

A backpacker in The Narrows in Zion National Park.
David Gordon backpacking The Narrows in Zion National Park.

My 30 Most Scenic Days of Hiking Ever

10 Perfect National Park Backpacking Trips for Beginners

Extreme Hiking: America’s Best Hard Dayhikes

My 10 Rules of Adventure Travel

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Arches

A hiker relaxing in Partition Arch in Devils Garden, Arches National Park.
Jeff Wilhelm relaxing in Partition Arch in Devils Garden, Arches National Park.

The 12 Best Hikes in Utah’s National Parks

No Straight Lines: Backpacking and Hiking in Canyonlands and Arches National Parks

Crabtree Falls, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina.
Crabtree Falls, along North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Parkway.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The 12 Best Dayhikes Along North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Parkway

A hiker on the Peek-a-Boo Loop in Bryce Canyon National Park.
My then-81-year-old mom, Joanne Lanza, hiking the Peek-a-Boo Loop in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Bryce Canyon

The Best Hike in Bryce Canyon National Park

Playing the Memory Game in Southern Utah’s Escalante, Capitol Reef, and Bryce Canyon

The 12 Best Hikes in Utah’s National Parks

A backpacker at Maze Overlook in the Maze District, Canyonlands National Park.
Todd Arndt at Maze Overlook in the Maze District, Canyonlands National Park.

Canyonlands

Farther Than It Looks—Backpacking the Canyonlands Maze

Still Waters Run Deep: Tackling America’s Best Multi-Day Float Trip on the Green River

Hikers on the Chesler Park Trail, Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
Hikers on the Chesler Park Trail, Needles District, Canyonlands National Park.

No Straight Lines: Backpacking and Hiking in Canyonlands and Arches National Parks

Hiking to the Great Gallery Pictographs in Horseshoe Canyon in Canyonlands National Park

The 12 Best Hikes in Utah’s National Parks

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A family backpacking Chimney Rock Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park.
My family backpaking Chimney Rock Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park.

Capitol Reef

Plunging Into Solitude: Dayhiking, Slot Canyoneering, and Backpacking in Capitol Reef

The 12 Best Hikes in Utah’s National Parks

A hiker near the Frying Pan Trail, Capitol Reef National Park.
My wife, Penny, hiking near the Frying Pan Trail, Capitol Reef National Park.

Playing the Memory Game in Southern Utah’s Escalante, Capitol Reef, and Bryce Canyon

The Most Beautiful Hike You’ve Never Heard Of: Crossing Utah’s Capitol Reef

Death Valley

Surprise Canyon, Panamint Range, Death Valley National Park.
Surprise Canyon, Panamint Range, Death Valley National Park.

A Mind-Boggling Chunk of Lonely: Backpacking in Death Valley National Park

I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life. Find out more here.

Everglades

White ibises at Tiger Key, Ten Thousand Islands, Everglades National Park.
White ibises at Tiger Key, Ten Thousand Islands, Everglades National Park.

Like No Other Place: Paddling the Everglades

Glacier

A backpacker on the northern Highline Trail in Glacier National Park.
Jerry Hapgood backpacking the northern Highline Trail in Glacier National Park.

5 Reasons You Must Backpack in Glacier National Park

How to Get a Permit to Backpack in Glacier National Park

10 Backpacking Trips for Solitude in Glacier National Park

A backpacker hiking the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail in Glacier National Park.
Pam Solon backpacking the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail in Glacier National Park.

Déjà vu All Over Again: Backpacking in Glacier National Park

Descending the Food Chain: Backpacking Glacier National Park’s Northern Loop

Jagged Peaks, Mountain Lakes, and Wild Goats: A 3-Day Hike on Glacier’s Gunsight Pass Trail

A backpacker on the Dawson Pass Trail in Glacier National Park.
Jeff Wilhelm backpacking the Dawson Pass Trail in Glacier National Park.

Wildness All Around You: Backpacking the CDT Through Glacier

The 10 Best Dayhikes in Glacier National Park

The 8 Best Long Hikes in Glacier National Park

Plan your next great backpacking adventure in Glacier and other parks using my expert e-guides.

Glacier Bay

Sea kayakers in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park.
Sea kayakers in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park.

Back to the Ice Age: Sea Kayaking Alaska’s Glacier Bay

Grand Canyon

A backpacker on the Tonto Trail above the Colorado River, Grand Canyon.
Mark Fenton on the Tonto Trail in the Grand Canyon. Click photo to read about “The Best Backpacking Trip in the Grand Canyon.”

The Best Backpacking Trip in the Grand Canyon

8 Epic Grand Canyon Backpacking Trips You Must Do

Fit to be Tired: Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in a Day

How to Hike the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in a Day

A backpacker at a waterfall on the Deer Creek Trail in the Grand Canyon.
Jeff Wilhelm at a waterfall on the Deer Creek Trail in the Grand Canyon.

5 Reasons You Must Backpack in the Grand Canyon

A Grand Ambition, or April Fools? Dayhiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim

How to Get a Permit to Backpack in the Grand Canyon

Kris Wagner above Royal Arch Canyon in the Grand Canyon.
Kris Wagner backpacking the Royal Arch Loop in the Grand Canyon.

Backpacking the Grand Canyon’s Thunder River-Deer Creek Loop

Finding Solitude Backpacking the Grand Canyon’s Utah Flats and Clear Creek

Not Quite Impassable: Backpacking the Grand Canyon’s Royal Arch Loop

A young girl backpacking on Horseshoe Mesa in the Grand Canyon.
My daughter, Alex, backpacking on Horseshoe Mesa in the Grand Canyon.

One Extraordinary Day: A 25-Mile Dayhike in the Grand Canyon

Dropping Into the Grand Canyon: A Four-Day Hike From Grandview Point to the South Kaibab Trail

A Matter of Perspective: A Father-Daughter Hike in the Grand Canyon

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Grand Teton

A backpacker on the Teton Crest Trail on Death Canyon Shelf in Grand Teton National Park.
David Gordon backpacking the Teton Crest Trail on Death Canyon Shelf in Grand Teton National Park.

A Wonderful Obsession: Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail

5 Reasons You Must Backpack the Teton Crest Trail

The 5 Best Backpacking Trips in Grand Teton National Park

How to Get a Permit to Backpack the Teton Crest Trail

Dying to backpack in the Tetons? See my e-guides to the Teton Crest Trail and
the best short backpacking trip there.

 

A backpacker on the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park.
Jeff Wilhelm backpacking the Teton Crest Trail high above the North Fork of Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park. Click photo to get expert custom trip planning.

The Best Short Backpacking Trip in Grand Teton National Park

American Classic: Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail

10 Great Big Dayhikes in the Tetons

How to Backpack the Teton Crest Trail Without a Permit

I’ve helped many readers plan an unforgettable backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail.
Want my help with yours? Find out more here.

 

A backpacker on the Teton Crest Trail.
A backpacker on the Teton Crest Trail.

Walking Familiar Ground: Reliving Old Memories and Making New Ones on the Teton Crest Trail

Ask Me: Hiking Across Grand Teton National Park in a Day

Rediscovering a Sense of Wonder: Backcountry Skiing the Tetons

Great Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Exploring America’s Big Sandbox: Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes

Great Smoky Mountains

Noland Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, N.C.
Noland Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, N.C.

In the Garden of Eden: Backpacking the Great Smoky Mountains

Jasper (Canada)

Backpackers hiking the Skyline Trail north toward Tekarra camp, Jasper National Park, Canadian Rockies.
Backpackers hiking the Skyline Trail below Mount Tekarra in Jasper National Park, Canadian Rockies.

Backpacking the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park

Hiking and Backpacking in the Canadian Rockies—A Photo Gallery

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Joshua Tree

A rock climber hiking in the Wonderland of Rocks, Joshua Tree National Park.
David Ports hiking in the Wonderland of Rocks, Joshua Tree National Park.

Facing the Biggest Challenge Inside: Friendship and Climbing Rocks at Joshua Tree National Park

In the Land of Dr. Seuss: Exploring Joshua Tree

Kings Canyon

A backpacker passing Wanda Lake on the John Muir Trail in Kings Canyon National Park.
Todd Arndt passing Wanda Lake, along the John Muir Trail in the Evolution Basin, Kings Canyon National Park. Click photo to learn how I can help you plan your JMT hike.

Thru-Hiking the John Muir Trail in Seven Days: Amazing Experience, Or Certifiably Insane?

High Sierra Ramble: 130 Miles On—and Off—the John Muir Trail

Ask Me: Questions From a 55-Year-Old Woman First Time Hiking the John Muir Trail

Ask Me: Tips on Backpacking Glacier National Park and the John Muir Trail

Ask Me: How Early in the Season Can I Hike the John Muir Trail?

Rockwall Pass Trail, Kootenay National Park.
Backpacking the Rockwall Trail, Kootenay National Park, Canada.

Kootenay (Canada)

Best of the Canadian Rockies: Backpacking Kootenay National Park’s Rockwall Trail

Ask Me: Where Should We Dayhike or Backpack in the Canadian Rockies?

Mesa Verde

Ask Me: What Should We Do on a Trip to Colorado, Yellowstone, and the Southwest?

A backpacker above Granite Creek on the Wonderland Trail, Mount Rainier National Park.
Jeff Wilhelm above Granite Creek on the Wonderland Trail, Mount Rainier National Park.

Mount Rainier

American Gem: Backpacking Mount Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Wildflowers, Waterfalls, and Giant Slugs at Mount Rainier

Completely Alone on Mount Rainier’s Northern Loop

Favorite Dayhikes at Mount Rainier National Park

Ask Me: Advice About North Cascades, Olympic, and Mount Rainier National Parks and Mount St. Helens

North Cascades

Sahale Arm, North Cascades National Park.
Sahale Arm, North Cascades National Park.

Primal Wild: Backpacking 80 Miles Through the North Cascades

Exploring the “American Alps:” The North Cascades

Ask Me: Where Should We Backpack Around Sahale Glacier Camp in the North Cascades?

Ask Me: Where Should We Backpack With Kids in North Cascades National Park?

Todd Arndt near Park Creek Pass, North Cascades N.P.
Todd Arndt near Park Creek Pass, North Cascades N.P.

Ask Me: Advice About North Cascades, Olympic, and Mount Rainier National Parks and Mount St. Helens

Ask Me: What Are Your Top Picks For Long Backpacking Trips?

Where’s Best For Backpacking Photos, Glacier, Tetons, Rocky Mountain, or Cascades?

Ask Me: 7 Great, Uncrowded Places to Hike

Olympic

The view from Strawberry Point on the coast of Olympic National Park.
The view from Strawberry Point on the coast of Olympic National Park.

The Wildest Shore: Backpacking the Southern Olympic Coast

Rocky Mountain

Ouzel Lake in Wild Basin, Rocky Mountain National Park.
Ouzel Lake in Wild Basin, Rocky Mountain National Park.

The 5 Rules About Kids I Broke While Backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park

Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park and near Breckenridge

Ask Me: What Should We Do on a Trip to Colorado, Yellowstone, and the Southwest?

Ask Me: Where’s Best For Backpacking Photos, Glacier, Tetons, Rocky Mountain, or Cascades?

Ask Me: Should I Go Backpacking Solo (in Rocky Mountain National Park)?

Sequoia

Precipice Lake, Sequoia National Park.
Precipice Lake, Sequoia National Park.

Heavy Lifting: Backpacking Sequoia National Park

Thru-Hiking the John Muir Trail in Seven Days: Amazing Experience, Or Certifiably Insane?

Roof of the High Sierra: A Father-Son Climb of California’s Mount Whitney

Ask Me: Backpacking in Sequoia National Park

Ask Me: Questions From a 55-Year-Old Woman First Time Hiking the John Muir Trail

Ask Me: Is June Too Early For Hiking Mount Whitney and in Yosemite?

Ask Me: Tips on Backpacking Glacier National Park and the John Muir Trail

Ask Me: How Early in the Season Can I Hike the John Muir Trail?

Yellowstone

Grand Prismatic Geyser, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.
Grand Prismatic Geyser, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.

The Ultimate Family Tour of Yellowstone

Ask Me: The 10 Best Short Hikes in Yellowstone

Video: A Yellowstone Bison Jam

Ask Me: The Best Multi-Day Wilderness Trips in Yellowstone

Cross-Country Skiing Yellowstone

The Best-Laid Plans: A Week-Long Ski Traverse in Yellowstone… and a Monster Snowstorm

Ask Me: What Should We Do on a Trip to Colorado, Yellowstone, and the Southwest?

Yoho (Canada)

Great Hike: Iceline Trail, Yoho National Park

Ask Me: Where Should We Dayhike or Backpack in the Canadian Rockies?

Yosemite

Half Dome, Liberty Cap, and Nevada Fall, from the John Muir Trail, Yosemite National Park.
Half Dome, Liberty Cap, and Nevada Fall, from the John Muir Trail, Yosemite.

Best of Yosemite, Part 1: Backpacking South of Tuolumne Meadows

Best of Yosemite, Part 2: Backpacking Remote Northern Yosemite

The 10 Best Dayhikes in Yosemite

The Magic of Hiking to Yosemite’s Waterfalls

Yearning to backpack in Yosemite? See my e-guides to three amazing multi-day hikes there.

Standing on The Visor on the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite.
Standing on The Visor on the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite.

Thru-Hiking the John Muir Trail in Seven Days: Amazing Experience, Or Certifiably Insane?

Ask Me: Where to Backpack First Time in Yosemite

Ask Me: Hiking Yosemite’s Half Dome

Hiking Clouds Rest, Yosemite National Park, California.
Hiking over Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park.

Ask Me: Where Can I Hike in Yosemite in Late Fall?

Ask Me: Is June Too Early For Hiking Mount Whitney and in Yosemite?

Ask Me: Questions From a 55-Year-Old Woman First Time Hiking the John Muir Trail

Ask Me: Tips on Backpacking Glacier National Park and the John Muir Trail

Ask Me: What Are Your Top Picks For Long Backpacking Trips?

Ask Me: How Early in the Season Can I Hike the John Muir Trail?

Zion

Hiking The Subway, Zion National Park, Utah.
Hiking The Subway, Zion National Park, Utah.

The Best Hiking and Backpacking in Zion National Park

Luck of the Draw, Part 1: Hiking Zion’s Subway

Luck of the Draw, Part 2: Backpacking Zion’s Narrows

Day two backpacking Zion's Narrows.
Day two backpacking Zion’s Narrows.

Pilgrimage Across Zion: Traversing a Land of Otherworldly Scenery

Mid-Life Crisis: Hiking 50 Miles Across Zion in a Day

Ask Me: What’s Your Favorite Backpacking Trip in Zion National Park?

The Best Hikes in Utah’s National Parks

West Rim Trail, Zion National Park.
West Rim Trail, Zion National Park.

Best Dayhikes in the Southwest

Ask Me: What Backpacking Trips Do You Suggest in the Grand Canyon and Southern Utah?

Ask Me: Looking For a 3- or 4-Day Backpacking Trip in Zion or the Southwest

Ask Me: Where Should We Take a Family Hiking Trip in Early Spring?

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