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ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS
NEW YORK
The Adirondack Park is a publicly protected area covering much of northeastern Upstate New York state. The park covers over 6 million acres, an area bigger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks combined. Created in 1892, the land is a mix of public and private ownership, with 60% of the park privately owned.
We have enjoyed backpacking in the northern part of the Adirondack Mountains near Tupper Lake. Mt Arab is a fun place to visit with a fire tower located at it’s summit which offers an excellent view of the surrounding mountains and nearby lakes.
For more information: Adirondack Mountain Club
Interactive Hiking Map:
Hiking in the Adirondacks
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ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK
ONTARIO CANADA
This vast park in Ontario Canada contains nearly 2 million acres of rugged wilderness. There are three backpacking areas with loop trails. There are hundreds of lakes and dense forests. Wildlife include bears, moose, and timberwolves. We have visited this area in February while doing winter backpacking with snowshoes.
For more information: Algonquin Provincial Park
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BATOPILAS CANYON, MEXICO
This was a great adventure into a canyon 6,000 feet deep.
The greatest part about the trip involved meeting a Tarahumara
indian who shared our campsite one evening. It is a land of rugged
country and people who live in simplicity. We attended the great fiesta of Holy Saturday in Batopilas, and first visited the "Lost Mission of Satevo" on the late evening of Easter Sunday.
This area wasn't connected by road with the modern world until 1984. The photo above shows the swinging bridge above the Batopilas River near the village of Satevo. One of our campsites was on the left bank of the river beneath the bridge under a sprawling fig tree.
For more information:
GORP Copper Canyon
WikiTravel Copper Canyon
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BIGHORN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL FOREST
CLOUD PEAK WILDERNESS AREA
WYOMING
This is a beautiful wilderness area visited by few people if you avoid the Tensleep Canyon area. Early in the season you can hike days without encountering another
person. We start from the Shell Canyon area in the north. High alpine lakes, moose, and rugged peaks await those who journey into this vast wilderness. Most of country is around 9,000 ft elevation with the highest point being Cloud Peak at 13,175 feet. For more information visit the web sites below.
Cloud Peak Wilderness Web site or the
Bighorn National Forest Web site.
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GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA
Glacier National Park is one of the nation's most beautiful parks. Due to it's location you can avoid some of the crowds of
people that are found in other locations. The "Going to the Sun" road is a definate must. Mountain goats are frequently seen. Remember this is Grizzly country so you must be especially vigilant about a clean campsite. For more information visit the sites below.
Glacier National Park web site for more information.
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GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
MONTANA
We have backpacked this wonderful park from the Jenny Lake as a base. The park can be crowded at times which takes a little away
from the wilderness experience, but the scenery is worth it.
You can find more information on the
Grand Tetons National Park web site.
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GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
TENNESSEE - NORTH CAROLINA
A busy place in the summer, you need to get your permits in early. We have mostly backpacked along the Appalachian Trail which
runs through the park. Our starting points have been at Cades Cove and Clingman's Dome. You can stay in shelters along the trail
on the AT. Bears can be a problem. Expect rain. There are many attractions in the area which can add to the enjoyment of the
trip. We usually visit Gatlinburg in Tennessee and Cherokee in North Carolina.
You can learn more by visiting the
Great Smokey Mountains
National Park web site.
There are other excellent web sites on the Smokey Mountainsworth visiting, Appalachian Trail Home Page, and don't forget this one.
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GREEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL FOREST
LONG TRAIL, VERMONT
This trail runs the length of Vermont from the Canadian Border to Massachusetts. It was the first long distance hiking trail in America. The southern portion is conjoined with the Appalachian Trail. There are 70 shelters spread out along the 270 miles of trail. The area we have backpacked has been near Rutland, Vermont and Mount Killington. The main trail also has a network of side trails leading from it. It connects the major peaks of Vermont.
Visit the Long Trail for more information.
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LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES
KENTUCKY
This area is best hiked in the fall or spring, unless you're really fond of heat and humidity. We have backpacked the North/South Boy Scout Trail which follows the lakeshore on the west side of the park along the banks of Tennessee Lake. You can enjoy a cool swim in the many bays at the end of a long day of hiking.
Visit the Land Between the Lakes web site for more information.
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PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH
NEW MEXICO
Scouting paradise in the Sangre de Christo mountains of northeastern New Mexico makes for an adventure of a lifetime. Troop 33 has been to Philmont 11 times, backpacking on 7 trips, and riding horseback on cavalcades for 4 trips. We have been to nearly every point on the ranch except for the relatively
new Valle Vidal area. The program and staff at Philmont are exceptional. There are a number of excellent resources about Philmont on the web created by other troops.
For more information, visit this website - Philmont Scout Ranch
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PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS
MICHIGAN
This wilderness park is located along the southern shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Thousands of acres of virgin woodland feature elevations up to 1900 feet. An extensive trail system features remote campsites and well as a number of rustic cabins available for rent. We have visited this area several times in winter backpacking using snowshoes. We've also backpacked in summer.
For more information click here.
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
COLORADO
One of our favorite backpacking locations. We have been to Rocky Mountain National Park numerous times. We have backpacked on both sides of the continental divide. Our favorite is hiking the divide itself. Usually you can expect snow in the high passes before mid July. We have had to posthole through some large snowfields
on the divide in late June. It's fun at first, but the novelty wears off quickly. There are several excellent source of information on the Web.
Visit the Official Rocky Mountain Web Site, Gorp's Rocky Mountain NP Web site.
Mike's Hikes at RMNP
Rocky Mountain National Park by Rick Edwards
Unofficial Rocky Mountain National Park Home Page
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TARAHUMARA MOUNTAINS
SIERRA MADRE, MEXICO
This is in the Copper Canyon region of Chihuahua state in northwestern Mexico. It comprises the mountains above the canyons. Maps are very poor. Trails are usually not recreational, they often lead to goat pastures, then end. We followed land forms often hiking cross country and using trails when available. Water can be a major problem
during the dry season (Nov-April). Be sure to carry adequate water and be alert to heat related illness. The nights will be cool. Laguna Arareco is a beautiful place to camp. Don't miss Cusarare Falls or the Recohuate Hot Springs. Also there are many cliff dwellings still inhabited by native people. Remember respect the privacy of those
living in them, especially in the remote areas they are not used to outsiders.
For more information visit the Copper Canyon web site.
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WHITE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL FOREST
GREAT GULF WILDERNESS AREA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
This is a rocky and rugged area with the highest peaks in the Eastern United States. The Appalachain Trail runs through this area.
We start from Pinkham Notch. Mount Washington is the greatest attraction
for thousands of people, it is known as the windiest point on earth. More information is available by visiting the following sites.
Great Gulf Wilderness
Mount Washington
Pinkham Notch
White Mountains Home Page web site
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WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST, COLORADO
SNOWMASS - MAROON BELLS WILDERNESS AREA
This was the site of our greatest wilderness adventure. We entered the area early in June about a week after a major storm had dumped record snowfalls in the area. We were required by the district ranger to have snowshoes and ice axes before venturing into the high country.
We encountered snow at about 9,500 feet. A major storm system caught us on day 4 at 12,000 feet forcing us to turn back. Avalanches were both visible and audible on the nearby peaks. Freezing rain pelted us while lightning was striking all around us. We returned to
lower elevation by nightfall. The next morning we hiked out to our base near Marble, Colorado (a few miles from the Outward Bound School). We arrived at our vehicle just before another violent storm hit.
We drove 20 mph through near zero visibility to Glenwood Springs where we returned our rented snowshoes and ice axes to a very relieved outfitter (he didn't think we'd make it). This area is remote, rugged and extremely scenic. We were the first group registered to go into
the area since the previous October. For high mountain passes plan on mid July. If you plan to enter the high country earlier in the summer always consult with the local district ranger in Carbondale. For more information on this area visit the following websites.
Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness
White River National Forest
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SO MANY MORE BACKPACKING
LOCATIONS TO BE EXPERIENCED.
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