Recommendations for multi-day hiking trails?

[Macintosh]

We dont name units, but any other sort of spot burning is ok? Huh.

Seriously, there’s a dozenish great recommendations in this thread already, all of which are mega-classic (ie mega popular) trips, that are absurdly crowded even compared to just a few years ago. If you want a cool trip find a few areas you like, call whatever management agency has a field office there, and talk (not email, TALK) to a person. Go with what they recommend for an off the beaten path trip. Or dont, and plan your own trip. And tell everyone its in a different state. If you want to do a mega popular trip consider doing it in the off season. Some of those areas are manageable crowding-wise, but you can almost count on having new friends to hike with and camp near, every night—definitely not a remote experience. If you want remote find something that has no info online. Or go to alaska.

 

[fngTony]

My friends and I are looking to get permits for some multi-day hiking trips out west. Anyone have recommendations for places in case that doesn't pan out? Our favorite so far has been the great Sawtooth wilderness loop. Minimum of 3 days max of 7 is the type of trip we are looking for. TIA.

You looking for a one destination to camp at for a few days or something more like a mini thru hike?

 

[elkliver]

decide on a state... easy enough to come up with a multi day hike

 

[judders87]

You looking for a one destination to camp at for a few days or something more like a mini thru hike?

Mini thru hike. 15-20 miles a day would be great. Loops are easiest logistically but just looking for different options.

 

[3forks]

We dont name units, but any other sort of spot burning is ok? Huh.

Seriously, there’s a dozenish great recommendations in this thread already, all of which are mega-classic (ie mega popular) trips, that are absurdly crowded even compared to just a few years ago. If you want a cool trip find a few areas you like, call whatever management agency has a field office there, and talk (not email, TALK) to a person. Go with what they recommend for an off the beaten path trip. Or dont, and plan your own trip. And tell everyone its in a different state. If you want to do a mega popular trip consider doing it in the off season. Some of those areas are manageable crowding-wise, but you can almost count on having new friends to hike with and camp near, every night—definitely not a remote experience. If you want remote find something that has no info online. Or go to alaska.

I agree with this.

People get too hung up on doing something that’s “recommended” or some kind of bucket list type BS, and the people who gravitate towards needing a manual or some kind of recipe to follow to experience these places puts too much pressure on the resource.

Everything in media is some kind of “top” list of places to go or things to see. That’s a large factor in why western hunting has so much pressure on the herds and tags are so hard to get, but it’s the same with river trips and certain backpacking trips… they’ve become so popular that permits have to be issued, then the experience these highly popular places provide is so marginalized by crowds - it seems crazy people even want to go there.

In one area of Colorado that is a “must do” trip for backpackers the following excerpt from a newspaper describes the situation:
“Some hikers and backpackers have an odd way of showing their appreciation for wilderness lands.

Garbage, human waste and illegal fire rings were among the problems that wilderness rangers for the XXX Ranger District encountered last summer, according to the 2021 Wilderness Program Report.

A seasonal crew of four packed out 154 pounds of trash, buried 159 piles of human waste and rehabbed 157 illegal fire rings last summer. They also reported six incidents of wilderness campers cutting live trees. Owners of dogs were cited or warned 91 times about Fido or Fluffy being off-leash. Forty-eight individuals or groups were contacted about improper food storage.”

To the OP, if you and your group are inspired enough to plan a trip - do yourself a favor and skip the hype. It’s ridiculously easy to find the kind of experience you’re looking for without having to endure crowds and slobs.

 

[7mm-08]

Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness was a favorite haunt for my son and me before he turned 16 and found a real job.

 

[mtg]

The White Clouds in the frank church of Idaho are way awesome in my opinion. We did a trip once in Rocky Mountain national Park and honestly all the regs and requirements kind of drove me nuts. But it was beautiful.

 

[Luke S]

Lots of good options. I'm pretty much done offering specific routes on the internet. But...

Look up maps online and Google Earth. Find places with rugged mountains. Find trails or routes through them. Look up a few pictures online to get a rough idea of the area. Then work out logistics and enjoy it.

There are cool hiking destinations all up and down the Rocky Mountains. The pretty areas that are easily accessible tend to be more crowded (Rocky Mountain National Park, etc). Famous areas (Winds) will be more crowded than you might think even if the drive is a bit farther. And then there are a lot of in between places. Not super famous. Not super close to an airport and maybe a bit "boring" i.e. not the biggest/best mountains. That is where I'd go.