U.S. National Parks Offer a Variety of Backpacking Adventures
American backpacking enthusiasts, have you experienced the plethora of amazing and often exotic destinations in your own country? There's no reason to feel obligated to jet off to Machu Picchu or hop aboard a train in Europe to have a backpacking adventure that's sure to make all of your travel buddies jealous. United States National Parks offer a variety of destinations for backpacker travel that often go under the radar. No matter what type of experience you seek, there's bound to be a park that will entice you to hoist your pack and set off.
If you're looking for a tropical adventure, check out Dry Tortugas National Park. Accessible via a ferry from Key West, Florida, this remote group of small reef islands features a nineteenth century fort, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, and seriously primitive camping that will challenge even the most experienced backpacker. Channel Islands National Park boasts mountainous hiking and Pacific tidal pools and is a great extension to an exploration of Los Angeles, California. Two campgrounds in Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii make an otherwise pricey destination feasible with backpacking travel.
Several U.S. National Parks provide a European backpacker travel experience without the cost of a transatlantic flight. Glacier National Park in Montana is home to a handful of Swiss-inspired lodges surrounded by icy mountains that pose serious competition to the Alps. The Great Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee also brings to mind central Europe, particularly during the fall when the neighboring town of Gatlinburg's German-themed architecture blends with beautiful autumn foliage to create spectacular views. Both parks offer a mix of reasonable lodging rates with cheap campgrounds to create a destination that allows backpackers to travel and stay within the parks no matter their budgets.
From desert oases to thick mangroves, Alaskan tundra to expansive prairie, America's National Parks are often an un-tapped resource for backpackers who are running out of destinations and a missed opportunity for inexperienced backpackers who aren't yet ready for international tours. Don't forget to purchase a U.S. National Park Passport to serve as a memento of your domestic backpacking adventures.
Which parks have you found to be perfect backpacker travel destinations?
From desert oases to thick mangroves, Alaskan tundra to expansive prairie, America's National Parks are often an un-tapped resource for backpackers who are running out of destinations and a missed opportunity for inexperienced backpackers who aren't yet ready for international tours.
If you're looking for a tropical adventure, check out Dry Tortugas National Park. Accessible via a ferry from Key West, Florida, this remote group of small reef islands features a nineteenth century fort, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, and seriously primitive camping that will challenge even the most experienced backpacker. Channel Islands National Park boasts mountainous hiking and Pacific tidal pools and is a great extension to an exploration of Los Angeles, California. Two campgrounds in Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii make an otherwise pricey destination feasible with backpacking travel.
Several U.S. National Parks provide a European backpacker travel experience without the cost of a transatlantic flight. Glacier National Park in Montana is home to a handful of Swiss-inspired lodges surrounded by icy mountains that pose serious competition to the Alps. The Great Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee also brings to mind central Europe, particularly during the fall when the neighboring town of Gatlinburg's German-themed architecture blends with beautiful autumn foliage to create spectacular views. Both parks offer a mix of reasonable lodging rates with cheap campgrounds to create a destination that allows backpackers to travel and stay within the parks no matter their budgets.
From desert oases to thick mangroves, Alaskan tundra to expansive prairie, America's National Parks are often an un-tapped resource for backpackers who are running out of destinations and a missed opportunity for inexperienced backpackers who aren't yet ready for international tours. Don't forget to purchase a U.S. National Park Passport to serve as a memento of your domestic backpacking adventures.
Which parks have you found to be perfect backpacker travel destinations?
From desert oases to thick mangroves, Alaskan tundra to expansive prairie, America's National Parks are often an un-tapped resource for backpackers who are running out of destinations and a missed opportunity for inexperienced backpackers who aren't yet ready for international tours.
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