USA Hiking Vacations & Tours

Backpacking or Trekking?

Backpacking is a truly spectacular way to make the most of a vacation. It allows people to unplug completely from all the devices that surround them in normal life, and to immerse themselves in pristine, natural landscapes. It allows a deep journey into the wilderness of some of America's most stunning natural areas like those listed above. However, a backpacking trip is not the only way to enjoy a hiking vacation, and in fact for some people it's not the right hiking tour to choose. There are also trips that can be portered or the supplies carried by stock (horses, donkeys, mules or llamas), camping-based trips that are vehicle-accessible, and hotel-based or lodge-based trips. The latter options allow fantastic day hiking opportunities which can offer an incredible level of diversity to the hiking experiences that a backpacking trip may not allow.

Why a Guided Hiking Vacation with Wildland Trekking?

Joining a guided hiking trip will offer many benefits to the U.S.A. traveler:

• You can travel light and free, without having to burden yourself with gear and supplies.
• All the logistics are handled for you, which include permits, reservations, planning, packing, food purchasing, shuttles...etc.
• Learn from local experts - Wildland Trekking guides are very knowledgeable about the areas where we work. They can make an area come to life through stories, info tidbits, pointing out intimate details, orienting guests to the big picture of where we are hiking...etc. in ways that hiking on your own is very difficult to do.
• Hand-picked, world-class hiking itineraries - simply put, going with a company like Wildland Trekking will ensure you are investing your time and money on a trip worth doing. We only offer world-class itineraries.
• Emergency and evacuation systems are in place in case they are needed.

National Parks, State Parks, United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management

Generally speaking, your vaction will most likely be to one or more national parks, state parks, United States Forest Service (USFS) lands, or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Most visitors will head to national parks, but the other areas should not be overlooked. Some of the most amazing hiking vacations in the USA are on USFS and BLM lands. A basic breakdown of each, and their differences, is provided here:

• National Parks: these are the big name destinations like Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Great Smoky Mountains...etc. They are highly regulated, amazingly well maintained wild refuges throughout the United States. Any overnight camping and backpacking will require permits; dogs are not allowed; and advanced planning is highly recommended.
• State Parks: these lands are often much smaller than the national parks (like less than 1% the size on average), but there are some wonderful state parks that offer fantastic trekking experiences. For example, the Northern California coast is mostly comprised of state parks that offer stunning views and excellent coastal hiking.
• USFS Lands: the Western USA is made up of millions of square miles of USFS lands, and they are some of the most breathtaking and expansive wilderness left in the USA and the world. These areas often do not require permits and are more lightly regulated than the national parks. Dogs are allowed on most USFS lands.
• BLM: these lands are sometimes amazing, sometimes not, sometimes pristine, sometimes riddled with roads, mines and/or other extractive industry activity like drilling. These lands are the least regulated and least visited, which means they can be home to some surprisingly amazing secret gem areas. Dogs are allowed.

Walking in the Desert

Many trekking vacations in the USA will be in the Southwestern part of the country, where desert ecosystems prevail. This region is home to the Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Great Basin deserts. Characterized by low levels of precipitation, hot summer temperatures and mild winter temperatures, deserts can make for wonderful winter hiking vacations. They can also be great in the spring and fall. It's recommended to avoid deserts in the summer months unless you're well prepared for the high temperatures and dry conditions. Also, any time you're walking in the desert (but especially if it's in the summer), it's imperative to be aware of common medical conditions such as heat stroke and hyponatremia, and how to avoid them.

Walking in the Mountains

The USA is home to a staggering number of different mountain ranges, from the Rocky Mountains to the Sierras, Appalachians, Cascades, Allegheny's, Smokies, Blue Ridge, White Mountains...etc. And within one major range, like the Rocky Mountains, there are subranges like the San Juans, Sangre de Christos, Missions, Crazies, Flat Tops, Wind Rivers...etc. And many of America's most famous national parks are in the mountains, like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Mount Rainier, Rocky Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains and many others.

Generally speaking, walking in the mountains is best in the late spring, summer and fall months. Often the early spring is still quite snowy in the mountains, and snow begins to fall again usually in mid to late fall. The summer months are prime time for most mountain visits. Be aware of afternoon thunderstorms and not getting caught out in the open (such as above treeline) if thunderstorms roll in. And be prepared for sudden and extreme weather shifts - a day in the mountains can begin warm and clear and within a couple hours be dark, cold, windy and rainy.

Walking on the Coasts

Of course the coasts, both west and east, offer incredible trekking opportunities. With national parks like Olympic National Park and Acadia National Park in the east, hugging the coasts, there are fantastic on-foot adventures to be had. When hiking on the coasts, be aware of tides and slippery, treacherous sections of walking. Being caught in a tidal zone when the tide roles back in can be a mistake you'll never have a chance of repeating, so plan ahead, talk to experts, or join guided hikes with expert trip leaders.

Trekking Vacations with Kids

Many people wanting to enjoy an outdoor experience have kids, so it's worth exploring the nature of family hiking trips. When trekking with kids, be careful to plan your trip and not bite off more than your kids are going to enjoy chewing. Getting kids to fall in love with the outdoors is pretty simple - they need to be exposed to it in a way that they don't hate it, and over time they will fall in love with it. If they associate suffering with the outdoors, then they'll have to be forced to continue getting out, and no one has a positive association with being forced to do anything. Start small and work your way up to bigger trips. Great places to start are in your local state parks or public lands, and once your kids seem ready, maybe it will be time to tackle a bigger trip to national parks or maybe a backpacking trip.