What to pack for the High Sierra Trail: mandatory bear canister, water carry for two dry stretches, and warmth for near-freezing high camps.
Browsing: Wild Trails
Wild Trails
The Wild Trails category is your starting point for exploring some of the most remote, scenic, and rewarding hiking routes across the globe. These are trails defined not by convenience, but by immersion – long distances, changing conditions, and landscapes that reward preparation and respect.
Here you’ll find curated guides, trail overviews, and planning resources covering iconic routes such as New Zealand’s Great Walks, lesser-known backcountry tracks, and multi-day hikes that demand the right gear and realistic expectations. Whether you’re researching your first multi-day tramp or refining plans for a remote alpine route, this section is designed to help you choose the right trail and prepare properly for it.
Use the links below to dive deeper into specific trails, including destination-based collections and detailed trail guides. Each sub-section focuses on practical insights: route difficulty, seasonal considerations, navigation challenges, and the gear that actually matters on the ground.
Wild trails reward those who plan well.
What to pack for the Appalachian Trail’s best sections: bear storage, black flies, and cold-ridge layers for VA, TN/NC, and Maine.
The exact kit for Kalalau’s mud, fords, and water risk: what to bring, what to skip, and why a cold-trail packing list is the wrong one.
What to pack for the Turbine Canyon to Three Isle Lake loop: bear spray, creek-crossing shoes, sleep gear, and navigation for the unmarked stretch.
What to pack for the Brazeau Loop: bear spray, river-ford shoes, a cold-camp sleep system, and rain gear for Jasper’s backcountry traverse.
Planning the Turbine Canyon to Three Isle Lake loop in Kananaskis? Permits, the current bridge detour, day-by-day route, water, and gear.
Planning the Torres del Paine O Circuit? The exact wind, cold, and rain kit for Patagonia’s toughest trek, plus what the operators actually require.
What to pack for the Skyline Trail: bear spray, cold-camp sleep system, rain gear, and footwear for Jasper’s highest backcountry trek.
What to pack for the West Coast Trail: soft-soled boots, rain gear, dry bags, and a sleep system built for ladders, cable cars, and tide-locked days.
What to pack for the Long Range Traverse: navigation, a cold-ground sleep system, rain shell, and bear safety for Gros Morne’s off-trail crossing.
The exact kit for the Chilkoot Trail: gear that survives the wet lowland trail and the Golden Stairs boulder climb to the pass.
What to pack for the Lost Coast Trail: bear canister, tide safety gear, boots, and rain protection for California’s tidal coast hike.
What to pack for the Long Trail: bear-resistant food storage, mud-ready footwear, rain gear, and the full section-hike kit list.
Planning the Cirque of the Towers Loop? The exact alpine kit for the off-trail pass, cold nights, and bear country, and why each pick earns its place.
What to pack for the Timberline Trail: water filters for glacial silt, footwear for unbridged fords, and the exact 40-mile Mount Hood loop kit.
Packing list for the Tahoe Rim Trail: the basin-wide bear canister rule, dry-stretch water planning, sun gear, and footwear for this 174-mile loop.
The complete gear list for three Colorado Trail sections: altitude cold, daily storms, and the bear canister rule that surprises hikers.
Skip the 6-week thru-hike. Three of the best Colorado Trail sections to backpack, with routes, permits, water, and altitude tips.
The exact kit for Colorado’s Four Pass Loop: bear canister rules, warmth for 11,000-ft camps, and gear for four scree passes.
The Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim throws heat, water uncertainty, and nearly 10,000 feet of combined elevation change at every hiker. This is the kit built for that reality, picked from NPS guidance, REI’s trail-specific checklist, and independent hiker trip reports.
The complete gear list for the Pacific Crest Trail’s best multi-day sections: water, warmth, and footwear for desert to alpine terrain.
What to pack for the Tour du Mont Blanc: boots, refuge sleep gear, rain layers, and poles for eleven hut-to-hut days in the Alps.
What to pack for the Overland Track: cold, wet, windy weather hits any month of the year. This is the kit built for that reality, picked from official Parks guidance, operator notes and independent trip reports.
Plan the Chilkoot Trail in 2026: permits, the closed border, Golden Stairs itinerary, and gear for the historic Dyea to Chilkoot Pass hike.
Planning the Skyline Trail Jasper hike? Permits, day-by-day route, water, wildlife, and gear for Alberta’s highest backcountry trek.
Planning the Long Range Traverse? Permits, navigation prep, a day-by-day route, water, and gear for Gros Morne’s unmarked wilderness trek.
Planning the West Coast Trail? Permits, ferries, tide zones, a day-by-day itinerary, and gear for Vancouver Island’s toughest trek.
Planning the Lost Coast Trail? Tide zones, permits, a day-by-day itinerary, water, and gear for California’s wildest coastal hike.
Planning the Tahoe Rim Trail? Permits, a 9-day itinerary, water, driest sections, and gear for this 174-mile Lake Tahoe loop.
What to pack for the Rae Lakes Loop: the exact bear canister, water, sleep, and crossing kit for this Kings Canyon classic, plus what to skip.
Planning the Kalalau Trail? Permits, the route past Crawler’s Ledge, water safety, and gear for Kauai’s toughest coastal hike.
Planning the Timberline Trail? Distances, day-by-day route, water, permits, and gear for Oregon’s ~40-mile loop around Mount Hood.
Planning the Cirque of the Towers Loop? Route, permits, Texas Pass navigation, water safety, and gear for this Wind River classic.
What to pack for the Teton Crest Trail: bear safety, cold-night sleep system, rain gear, and footwear for Grand Teton’s classic traverse.
What to pack for the Wonderland Trail: rain kit, sleep system, water filters for silty rivers, and what to skip.
Planning the Rae Lakes Loop? Permits, day-by-day itinerary, the river crossing, water, and gear for this Kings Canyon classic.
Planning the Four Pass Loop? Permits, day-by-day itinerary, water, and gear for Colorado’s four 12,000-ft passes near Aspen.
Planning the High Sierra Trail? Permits, day-by-day itinerary, water sources, and the 2026 Whitney Portal closure explained.
Skip the thru-hike. Three of the best Appalachian Trail sections to hike in a long weekend or a week, with permits, routes, and water.
Skip the thru-hike. Three of the best Pacific Crest Trail sections for a 3 to 4 day multi-day trip, with permits, routes, and water.
Planning the Teton Crest Trail? Permits, day-by-day itinerary, water, and gear for Grand Teton’s classic 40-mile traverse.
Planning the Wonderland Trail? Permits, day-by-day itinerary, water, and gear for Mount Rainier’s toughest 93-mile loop.
Everything you need to plan the Tour du Mont Blanc: distance, refuge booking, day-by-day stages, gear, and getting there.
The complete above-treeline gear list for the Presidential Traverse: waterproof shell, insulating midlayer, boots, navigation, and the rest of the kit, built from official and trail-tested sources.
The exact wet-weather kit for the Milford Track, built from DOC gear guidance and operator packing lists, not the affiliate catalogue.
The exact John Muir Trail packing list: bear canister, sleep system, water treatment and more, built for 211 miles with plenty above 10,000 feet.
Everything you need to plan the John Muir Trail: permits, route, gear, water sources and honest difficulty, from Yosemite to Mt Whitney.
What to pack for the Larapinta Trail: the exact desert kit that handles water carries, cold nights, sun and rock, and why each item matters.
Your complete Larapinta Trail guide: sections, water, transport, gear and a sensible 14 to 16 day plan for Australia’s Red Centre desert walk.
The Overland Track is Tasmania’s classic multi-day alpine walk. This guide covers the 6-day itinerary, booking rules, huts, camping, water, gear, Lake St Clair ferry, side trips, and who the trail is really best for.
The Presidential Traverse is New Hampshire’s best above-treeline ridge hike. This guide covers the classic 4-day hut-to-hut route, early summer planning, and what to expect.
Planning the Laugavegur Trail? Hut bookings, river crossings, weather, day-by-day stages, and gear for Iceland’s classic highland trek.
Taking the leap from day hiking to your first multi-day trip is a major milestone. This guide breaks down the trail choice, gear, logistics, and preparation so you can plan with confidence.
Planning the Torres del Paine O Circuit? Get the real day-by-day route, booking rules, gear list, and safety notes before you go.
Everything you need to plan the Milford Track: 2026/27 bookings, day-by-day route, transport, water safety and an honest gear checklist.