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Top 10 Backpacking Trips

Trail-scale hikes from long weekends to multi-month thru-hikes.

All lists

This list mixes bucket-list thru-hikes with strong week-long options. Permits, seasons, and resupply logistics vary widely; treat these as starting points for real planning, not itineraries.

Topic summary

Trail-scale hikes from long weekends to multi-month thru-hikes.

Key takeaways

  • #1 John Muir Trail — California, USA
  • #2 Pacific Crest Trail (section or thru) — USA
  • #3 Appalachian Trail (thru or long section) — Eastern USA
  • #4 Kungsleden ('King's Trail') — Swedish Lapland
  • #5 Tour du Mont Blanc — France / Italy / Switzerland
  • #6 Torres del Paine 'O' Circuit — Chile

Intended uses

Places

Verification notes

Editorial ranked list, 10 entries. Evidence mix — 10 research only. Buy links open the maker or a retailer search.

  1. 1

    John Muir Trail

    — California, USA

    340 km through the High Sierra. Permit-heavy, unmatched alpine scenery.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
  2. 2
    Pacific Crest Trail (section or thru) by USA

    Pacific Crest Trail (section or thru)

    — USA

    4,265 km from Mexico to Canada. Section hikes in Washington and the Sierra are the best introductions.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
  3. 3
    Appalachian Trail (thru or long section) by Eastern USA

    Appalachian Trail (thru or long section)

    — Eastern USA

    3,500 km of green tunnel and hut culture. The birthplace of American thru-hiking.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
  4. 4
    Kungsleden ('King's Trail') by Swedish Lapland

    Kungsleden ('King's Trail')

    — Swedish Lapland

    440 km through Arctic Sweden, with STF huts. Extremely accessible wilderness for its remoteness.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
  5. 5
    Tour du Mont Blanc by France / Italy / Switzerland

    Tour du Mont Blanc

    — France / Italy / Switzerland

    170 km hut-to-hut around the Mont Blanc massif. Alpine backpacking without a tent needed.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
  6. 6
    Torres del Paine 'O' Circuit by Chile

    Torres del Paine 'O' Circuit

    — Chile

    9–10 days around the Paine massif. Big weather, big scenery, real logistics.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
  7. 7
    Wonderland Trail by Washington, USA

    Wonderland Trail

    — Washington, USA

    150 km around Mount Rainier. Permit lottery, but a perfect week-plus trip.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
  8. 8
    Long Range Traverse by Newfoundland, Canada

    Long Range Traverse

    — Newfoundland, Canada

    35 km unmarked route in Gros Morne. Real navigation on tundra plateaus above the fjords.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
  9. 9
    Great Himalaya Trail (sections) by Nepal

    Great Himalaya Trail (sections)

    — Nepal

    The full route is expedition-scale; sections like Manaslu or Kanchenjunga are trip-of-a-lifetime treks.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
  10. 10
    Chilkoot Trail by Alaska / BC

    Chilkoot Trail

    — Alaska / BC

    53 km following the Klondike gold-rush route from Skagway to Bennett Lake. History and coastal rainforest.

    Research onlyRead the full profile
    Amazon link coming soon
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