The Best Overnight Hiking Trails in National Parks, For Every Skill Level
The U.S. is home to some of the most breathtaking and diverse landscapes on the planet, from sky-high granite domes to crimson sandstone cliffs, but with national park visitation reaching record highs last year, a trend showing no sign of letting up, finding the solitude and respite the parks are supposed to offer is becoming more challenging.
For travelers who don’t mind stepping outside their comfort zone and getting a little dirt on their shoes, setting off on an overnight backpacking trip is a great way to solve those pervasive park-crowd blues—while also embarking on an entirely new type of outdoor adventure. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite single-night treks in some of the most beloved national parks, perfect for beginner or intermediate backpackers not looking to rack up a ton of miles. They are as varied as they are stunning, featuring rocky boreal forests, sparkling alpine lakes, and jaw-dropping cliff’s edge vistas.
A few quick notes before your feet hit the trails: It’s imperative that overnight hikers follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles to minimize your impact on the land; pack out all trash (yes, even toilet paper) and only camp on durable surfaces. The mileage noted for all trails on this list is round-trip, and trekkers should plan for each mile to take roughly 30 minutes to complete. All of these hikes require a valid backcountry permit; most can be purchased on Recreation.gov.
Read on for the best overnight backpacking trails in Yosemite, Canyonlands, and more.
GettyBear Lake Trail to Odessa Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
Length: 9.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Backpacking to Odessa Lake is a fantastic gateway to the diverse landscapes found in Rocky Mountain. Adventurers here begin at the scenic edge of Bear Lake (at a lofty elevation of 9,449 feet) before meandering through a forest of fragrant spruce and fir. Soon, the trail opens up into the glacially carved granite of Odessa Gorge before continuing on to the lake itself, which boasts two side-by-side campsites (reserve in advance), an outhouse, and stellar views of a veritable cathedral of granite.
GettyCathedral Lakes, Yosemite National Park
Length: 7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
To fully experience Yosemite, you’ve got to get out of the valley and up into the high country, and a trek out to Cathedral Lakes is an epic place to start—without breaking too much of a sweat. Starting from the park’s wildflower-strewn Tuolumne Meadows region, this popular trail wastes no time in climbing just over 1,000 feet through a shady forest of old growth lodgepole pines and mountain hemlock. Before long, the park’s infamous granite peaks come into view, and hikers have the option of veering right and camping at the lower lake or pressing onward and pitching a tent at Upper Cathedral, in full view of the toothy summit that shares its name. No campfires are allowed in this alpine basin, so cozy up with a lightweight camp meal and a backcountry buddy and watch as the Milky Way freckles the night sky with luminous stars.
GettyAppalachian Trail to Charlies Bunion, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Length: 8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
The Appalachian Trail often gets dubbed “the green tunnel” by in-the-know backpackers. That’s because its highly vegetated, low-elevation profile keeps hikers primarily in the trees and away from the sweeping views they likely came for. Not so on this eight-mile journey out to Charlies Bunion, a rocky outcropping with panoramic vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains. Set off from the ample parking area at Newfound Gap, perched on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, and wind through a canopy of deciduous forest that opens up into tantalizing views of the Smokies as it climbs 1,400 feet to the Icewater Spring Shelter. Drop your extra gear and sleeping bag here and embark on an additional one-mile (each way) day hike to the lichen-blotched cliffs and windswept lookouts of Charlies Bunion.
James McLaughlin/AlamyLeigh Lake, Grand Teton National Park
Length: 5.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
If you’ve been daydreaming about lakefront real estate and don’t mind schlepping your gear a few miles along a flat dirt trail to get it, this breezy, five-mile trip along the eastern shoreline of String and Leigh Lakes will hit the spot. Beginning at the Leigh Lake Trailhead, hikers will saunter in and out of towering stands of pines that border the glittering clear water, with commanding views of the Tetons. Book your permit for site 12B (with a private beach, plenty of shade, and bear boxes for food storage), set up camp, then, if you’re up for it, continue north for two miles (each way) on a day hike to Trapper Lake, where you can take in the verdant forests, pristine solitude, and mind-blowing peaks the park is known for. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a bald eagle.
Avik Chakraborty/GettyMurphy Point, Canyonlands National Park
Length: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Perhaps the best “low effort, high reward trail” in the National Park System, a trip out to Murphy Point in Canyonland’s iconic Island in the Sky District is sure to command the attention of sunset seekers and red rock addicts alike. Set atop a mostly flat mesa of rust-tinted Navajo Sandstone, it’s an excellent starter trail for beginner backpackers who want the “wow” factor of the Grand Canyon, without hauling a huge pack up and down 4,500 vertical feet. Sure, travelers here have to haul in their water for the duration of the trip (at least 1 gallon per day, per person), but watching the sun sink beyond the juniper-speckled cliffs crumbling down to the Green River below is a soul-stirring experience that’ll convert any city kid into a mountain evangelist.
GettyWonderland Trail to Camp Summerland, Mt. Rainier National Park
Length: 8.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
If you don’t have the time or the energy for the full 93-mile loop, lace up your boots and get ready to climb on this 8.4-mile hike along the storied Wonderland Trail. It’s a journey straight out of Middle Earth; along the way, trekkers pass through a lush woodland and cross a gently burbling cascade before hitting a series of well-maintained switchbacks and being walloped with views of Mount Rainier’s glowing, glaciated summit. Set up a tent at Summerland Camp and rise early for an awe-inducing sunrise or hike on for an extra mile to dip your toes into a stunning unnamed tarn.
Layne Kennedy/GettyRock Harbor to Three Mile, Isle Royale National Park
Length: 7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Isle Royale’s Greenstone Ridge Trail routinely makes it onto lists of the best thru-hikes in America, but what these round-ups fail to mention are the lack of views for the entire first half of the hike. Skip the forest canopy (and the mosquitoes) while seeing the best of the park’s rocky lakeshore and boreal ecosystem by embarking on a weekend jaunt on just the last bit of the trail, from Rock Harbor to Three Mile Campground. Sleep in a bug-free wooden shelter near the edge of chilly Lake Superior and enjoy some of the darkest night skies in the country.
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