Nothing beats backpacking in a National Park, but it requires a lot of planning and permits. Here's a short list of our favorite backpacking itineraries, with tips and permitting info for each.
Even so, the number of visitors to Upper and Lower Cathedral Lakes pale in comparison to trails in the valley and the crowds dwindle even farther after dark, when the only thing that stands between you and total solitude are a handful of intrepid backpackers.
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As of press time, some trails, campsites, and businesses are closed due to COVID-19 precautions. To check for safety protocols and potential closures, check individual websites before you go.
It’s no exaggeration to say that some of the most formative outdoor experiences of my adult life happened at Yosemite National Park in California. It’s where I went backpacking for the very first time (and where I learned that you do not, in fact, need to haul along a full-size pillow and roughly ten pounds of Swedish Fish in order to survive). It’s also where I completed my first multi-pitch climb, saw my first bear, and dug my first cathole (necessary after viewing my first bear). I even completed my first long-distance hike, a two-month stint on the Pacific Crest Trail, which meandered through the park’s Tuolumne Meadows, where Alex Honnold offered me a wave from one of his famous paws