Backpacking America: The Pirate’s Picks 

If you’re from a different neck of the world—or even if you’re not—here’s a quick guide to the best hiking you’ll find in the United States. 

A constant challenge of travel is knowing where to go, things to do, what to see.  If you’re embarking on a hiking trip, chances are a quick search of the internet revealed more scenic hiking trails in the continental 48 states than you could count, much less sort your way through.  Here we list some of the best locales for backpacking in the United States, and we’ll let you know which one the Pirate prefers.  Without further ado, the best hiking in America can be found on… 

John Muir Trail, California 

The beautiful John Muir Trail takes adventurers on a 211-mile hike through the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountain range.  Beginning at 4,000 feet in Yosemite National Park, the John Muir Trail takes you on a tour of the mountain range the trail’s namesake described as the “Range of Light.”  The trail ends at the summit of Mt. Whitney, which climbs to 14,494 feet.  Passing through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park, hikers will enjoy the mild climate year-round as well as the plethora of lakes, canyons, and granite cliffs on display. 

Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska 

This is not a place for beginner, even intermediate backpackers.  Possibly the most rugged and uninterrupted wilderness preserve of its size anywhere in North America, the Yukon-Charley is the size of New Jersey, with only about 30 permanent residents in the entire preserve.  The terrain will test your abilities as a backpacker.  Some of the wildlife highlights include the 30,000 member Fortymile caribou herd.  There are few trails in the Yukon-Charley—only a few game trails and a miners’ paths are maintained, with sparse facilities available, so self-sufficiency is the name of the game for any experienced hiker. 

Appalachian Trail