c/backpacking-routes

The trail to Lake Serene in Washington is basically a highway now

I first hiked it eight years ago and it was a quiet, rocky path with maybe ten people total. Went back this past weekend and there were over a hundred cars at the trailhead by 9 AM. The forest service paved the first mile and put in a huge parking lot, which I guess just funneled everyone there. It feels more like a city park than a backcountry route. Anyone else have a favorite quiet spot that got totally overrun after they 'improved' it?

PSA: That $300 satellite messenger was a total game changer for me

I was doing the Wonderland Trail a few years back and got turned around in a fog bank near Indian Bar. Pulled out my old map, totally soaked, and realized I was an hour off course. Used the SOS button on the messenger I'd just bought, and a ranger talked me through a safe route down. Felt like a huge waste of money until that exact moment. Anyone have a favorite piece of gear that seemed silly but saved your butt?

Took a chance on a washed-out trail in the Smokies and it paid off big time

Honestly, I was planning a 4-day loop near Clingmans Dome last week and the main trailhead was closed for repairs. I saw a dotted line on my map for an old connector trail marked 'unmaintained' and decided to risk it. Tbh, it was overgrown and I had to cross a creek three times, but it led to this perfect little campsite by a waterfall nobody else was at. I learned that sometimes those sketchy-looking routes on the map can lead to the best spots if you're careful. Has anyone else found a hidden gem by taking a chance on a trail that looked rough?

My old way of planning a route was just picking a trail on a map

I used to look at a park map, pick a line that looked good, and go. That changed after a tough trip in the White Mountains. I got caught in bad weather on a ridge with no good way down because I didn't check the elevation profile. Now, I always use an app like Gaia GPS to really study the grade. I look at where the big climbs are and plan my campsites near water sources I confirm are reliable. I also check recent trip reports from the park's website to see trail conditions. This extra hour of planning makes the actual hike so much smoother and safer. What's one specific thing you always check on a map before heading out?

Warning: The trail to Lake Serene is getting crowded, fast

Last week I did the Lake Serene route near Index, Washington. I started at 6 AM on a Wednesday and still passed over 20 people on the way up. Three years ago, you could hike that whole thing and maybe see five other groups. The parking lot was half empty by 9 AM back then. Now, the main lot is full by 7:30, and people are parking a mile down the road. It's a great trail, but the sheer number of people is starting to wear on the path itself. I saw new erosion spots near the big waterfall that weren't there last fall. Has anyone found a good, less-packed alternative route in the Central Cascades with similar payoff?

The John Muir Trail gets all the hype, but my best week was a solo loop in the Wind River Range where I saw maybe five people total.

I got turned around near Lizard Head Peak and spent a tense three hours navigating off-trail with a paper map before finding my way back, which made the eventual view of Cirque of the Towers feel like a secret I'd earned, not just a photo spot. Anyone have a favorite route that's actually challenging, not just crowded?

Finally bought a proper water filter for the John Muir Trail last month. $90 and it saved me from a really bad time.

Warning: a ranger in Yosemite told me I was planning my trip all wrong

I was at the visitor center last Friday, all excited to show him my 4-day loop near Cathedral Lakes. He looked at my map and just said, 'You're going to hate that third day. It's a 14-mile slog with zero water and you'll be facing the sun the whole time.' I'd only looked at the miles, not the actual trail details. He sketched out a different route on the back of a pamphlet that added a lake stop right in the middle. Has anyone else had a ranger totally save their trip from being miserable?

PSA: My GPS died halfway up the West Coast Trail and I had to use a paper map for the first time

I was on day three near the Logan Creek ladders when my phone battery gave out completely, leaving me with just the old topographic map from the trailhead kiosk. I ended up adding two extra miles by missing a turnoff marked only on the digital overlay, but honestly, finding my way back felt way more rewarding. Do you guys still carry a physical map as a backup, or is that just being overly cautious now?

Shoutout to a hiker I met on the Colorado Trail who said the Collegiate West loop is better than the East.

We were at the Twin Lakes resupply. He'd done both sides. Said the East is crowded, views are good but not great. West has way fewer people, more alpine stuff, better campsites. Showed me pics on his phone. The San Juan peaks looked insane. I was set on the East for weeks. Now I'm rethinking my whole August plan. Anyone done the West side recently? How's the water situation past 11,000 feet?

Serious question, has anyone else done the full 32 mile loop in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness lately?

I did it over four days last September, starting from the Maroon Lake trailhead. The route itself is stunning, but the thing that really got me was how crowded the first 6 miles were. I counted over 80 day hikers before I got past Crater Lake. Once I got past that point, I saw maybe three other backpacking groups the whole rest of the trip. It felt like two totally different worlds on the same trail. The permit system seems to push everyone into the same starting zones. I'm curious if other long loops have this same 'front door traffic jam' issue, or if it's just a Maroon Bells thing. What's a good alternative for a 3-4 day loop in Colorado that gets you into the quiet stuff faster?

Took the old trail vs the new reroute in the Smokies last weekend

The original path was a straight 4 mile slog up a washed out creek bed, but the new one added a mile with switchbacks and actual views. My knees felt ten years younger at the summit, and I wasn't even tired. Why do they even keep the old route on the map anymore?

Just dropped $300 on a satellite communicator for a trip in the Wind River Range... it felt like a lot but it was a total lifesaver when a storm rolled in.

I keep seeing people try the full Teton Crest Trail in four days

That's a fastpacking pace, not a backpacking one, and you miss the whole point of being up there. I did it in six last August and still felt rushed past Marion Lake. How do you convince a friend to add a buffer day without sounding like you're doubting them?

Tried to shortcut the PCT section near Crater Lake with a 'local's trail' and ended up bushwhacking for 3 hours before finding the actual path again.

I learned that a hand drawn map on a napkin from a guy at a gas station is not a reliable navigation tool, so what's the best way to verify those off book alternate routes before committing to them?

I know everyone loves the John Muir Trail, but my trip there in 2022 made me stop planning big thru-hikes.

I was on day 8 of a 14-day section hike near Evolution Valley, and I just felt totally boxed in. The trail was so crowded, I felt like I was in a line at the store. I had to camp in a designated spot with three other groups within sight, which killed the whole 'wilderness' vibe for me. Now I actively look for smaller, less known loops, like the 45-mile Big Pine Creek loop in the same area. It's just a better experience when you aren't sharing every view with a dozen people. Has anyone else switched from famous trails to quieter ones and found it way better?

Met a guy on the Rae Lakes Loop who only carried a tarp and a bag of rice for a week.

Question about the north fork of the Big Pine Creek trail in the Sierras

Last week, we tried to cross the creek near the second lake and the water was way too high and fast. We had to turn back and lost a full day. Has anyone else tried that route lately?

Got caught in a surprise whiteout above treeline on the CDT in Colorado last fall, and my debate is whether to hunker down in a sketchy rock overhang or push through to a known campsite another mile down.

I chose to push through, using my compass because the trail was gone, and made it, but I'm curious if anyone else has faced a similar call between immediate, rough shelter or pushing for a planned spot in bad conditions.

Tried a new route in the Sawtooths and it made my old favorite feel boring

For years, my go-to weekend trip was the Alice Lake loop in Idaho. It's a solid 18 miles, but I knew every turn. Last fall, a friend talked me into the Toxaway-Fishhook Creek loop instead, which is about 23 miles. The difference was huge. The Alice loop is pretty, but it's mostly forest walking until the lakes. The new route had way more variety right from the start, with open ridges, a crazy waterfall, and these big views of the whole range. I saw way fewer people too, maybe three groups the whole second day. It made me realize I was just hiking the same trail out of habit. Has anyone else switched up a familiar route and been totally surprised by how much better a different one was?

PSA: The trail to Lake Serene in Washington got a total makeover

Honestly, I hiked it last May and it was a muddy, root-filled mess for the first two miles. Went back this past weekend and they've put in proper gravel, built stone steps on the steep parts, and added three new wooden bridges over the worst washouts. Tbh, it cut my time to the lake by almost 45 minutes. Has anyone else seen a trail get that much better in just a year?

Tried a shortcut on the Timberline Trail and ended up bushwhacking for two hours

I was hiking the Timberline Trail around Mt. Hood last month and saw a path on my map that cut off a big river bend. It looked like it would save maybe three miles. The path vanished after 20 minutes and I was in thick brush and downed trees. My buddy and I had to use our GPS to slowly pick our way back to the main trail, which totally wrecked our schedule for the day. What's the dumbest trail shortcut you've ever taken that backfired?

Found a washed-out bridge on the Northville-Placid Trail near Lake Durant

I was hiking the southern section last month and came to a creek crossing that was supposed to have a footbridge. The whole thing was gone, just some broken planks downstream. I had to bushwhack about a quarter mile upstream to find a shallow spot to ford. It added over an hour to my day. Has anyone else hit this spot recently and know if it's been fixed yet?

Got completely turned around on the Lost Coast Trail last fall

I was hiking the northern section near Mattole Beach, and the fog rolled in so thick you couldn't see 20 feet. The trail markers just vanished into the grey, and I ended up following a game trail for over an hour before I realized my compass was off by a few degrees. Had to backtrack almost two miles to get my bearings again. Anyone have a reliable GPS unit they trust for coastal conditions like that?

Finally got up the nerve to try that 'shortcut' on the Lost Coast Trail...

The tide table said we had a two-hour window, but the scramble over the rocks took way longer than we thought. We ended up getting our boots soaked and had to camp a mile short of our planned spot. Anyone else have a coastal route shortcut that totally backfired?