Category Archives: Trail Summary

Backpacking Grand Teton National Park

The big out-west mountain trips are the ones that we’re all really preparing for while we’re scouring maps of the plains for some decent topography to hike near our hometowns. The following trip that I took to Grand Teton National Park in 2016 is one of a few “exotic” destinations that I may write about on occasion, between posts about local hikes, food, and gear.

Although short, coming in at only three nights, this was one of my favorite hikes ever, and I plan to do it again at some point. Enjoy the story and the photographs (click on any photo to see enlarged versions), and get your trail map here.

Sunset Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Jedediah Smith Wilderness, Wyoming, Backpacking Grand Teton, Backpacking WyomingFiltering Water at Sunset Lake, Day 3

Continue reading Backpacking Grand Teton National Park

Backpacking Yellow River State Forest

Writing about Yellow River State Forest pains me due to the fact that anything I can say about it will only result in attracting more attention to this little-known Midwestern backpacking gem. Less than 4.5 hours from downtown Chicago, 3.5 hours from Des Moines, 2.5 hours from the Quad Cities, and only 2 hours from Madison, WI, the 25-mile backpack loop and connected trail system at Yellow River State Forest provide more than enough hiking for a long weekend.

Trail combinations can be made to create great trips for experienced hikers or for kids and beginners. The backpack trail* includes several steep segments, so it may not be appropriate for small children or people who are not ready for a challenge. Remote camping is in designated areas only, but the sites are large, dispersed areas so parties will not feel as though they are on top of each other.

Remote camping and parking are free, and most remote site are within a half mile of trailhead parking areas, making the almost complete absence of other backpackers on the trail mind-boggling. In addition to backpacking, fishing, car-camping, hunting, birding, cycling, and horseback riding are other activities I’ve seen going on in and around the state forest. A pdf trail map can be found here, and here’s where we parked to catch the beginning of the backpack trail. Click on photos for higher resolution.Midwest Backpacking, Backpacking Yellow River State Forest, Backpacking Iowa, Camping Iowa, Paint Creek Unit, Firetower Road

My cousin Matt, and I arrived at the Backpack Trailhead on a rainy Saturday afternoon in early October. We were shocked at how empty the parking lot was Continue reading Backpacking Yellow River State Forest

Backpacking Newport State Park

Newport State Park is a great place to camp in Door County without spending the night on top of your neighbors as you might at Peninsula  State Park, and without spending a fortune on ferry rides as you would when visiting Rock Island State Park. (Which I still highly recommend, by the way, despite the high cost of getting there. Read more here.) The frequently intersecting trail system can make a hike as long (or short) as you want it to be through a series of loops, and the terrain is flat enough for any hiker, including children. Rocky shorelines provide rugged hiking and scrambling for more adventurous hikers.

Backpacking Newport State Park, Backpacking Door County, Camping Door County, Hiking Door County, Lake Michigan, Paddling Door County, Backpacking Wisconsin, Midwest Backpacking Continue reading Backpacking Newport State Park

Backpacking Savage Gulf State Natural Area

Savage Gulf State Natural Area is one of nine properties that make up South Cumberland State Park in Southeastern Tennessee. Roughly an hour and a half from both Nashville and Chattanooga, TN, and 5-6 hours from Midwestern cities such as St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati, the beautiful views and extensive trail system are enough to justify a multi-day trip for beginners or advanced hikers alike. A trail map is available here or at the trailhead, and here’s a helpful distance-finding map for planning your hike. See the notes below for more camping tips, costs, & hiking information.

View from Great Stone Door, Backpacking Savage Gulf, South Cumberland State Park, TN

“You won’t make it to Hobbs Cabin before dark,” snapped the ranger at the Stone Door Ranger station as we checked in around 3:00 on a Friday afternoon. “That’s eight miles from here.” Continue reading Backpacking Savage Gulf State Natural Area

Backpacking Forest Glen Preserve – River Ridge Backpack Trail

Three hours from St. Louis, two and a half from Chicago, one and a half from Indianapolis, and less than an hour from U of I in Urbana-Champaign, Forest Glen Preserve is close enough to be a great day hike and/or picnic destination, but challenging and remote enough to be an excellent one or two-night backpacking destination. Mix and match trails to make your hike as easy or difficult as you’d like, but following the River Ridge Backpack Trail as mapped may be physically challenging for unconditioned folks to accomplish on a one night trip. A .pdf of the trail map is available here or can be found at the trailhead.

Climbing a hill, Forest Glen Preserve, River Ridge Backpack Trail, Backpacking Illinois

Choosing a backpacking destination between Chicago and Indianapolis is pretty easy – there are two. And one of the two doesn’t permit camping between October 31st and April 1st*, so choosing a backpacking destination between Chicago and Indianapolis in December is even easier. Continue reading Backpacking Forest Glen Preserve – River Ridge Backpack Trail