Itching to sneak in a backpacking trip this summer? Whether it's an easy overnighter or a multi-day adventure, here are some places worth the weight on your shoulders.
Juicy Fruit: Embark on an overnight backpacking trip to Sequoia National Park's Pear Lake—a glacial-green sparkler that, you guessed it, is pear-shaped, with multiple cascading waterfalls and campsites a stone's throw from the oasis. The trip there is half the fun: The Watchtower Trail cuts high above a valley floor with views of 1,000-foot Tokapah Falls, the largest in the park.
Big Sur-prise: Take a three-day backpacking sojourn in Big Sur's remote Ventana Wilderness. Trek through lush river canyons, climb to ridges with panoramic vistas, and top it off with a 50-foot waterfall plunging deep into a turquoise swimming hole.
Puss 'n Boots: Hike to a coastal camping paradise along the bluffs, next to a deserted beach. Wildcat Camp in Point Reyes is more than just a sweet spot for pitching your tent: The Coastal Trail leading to it is a wilderness feast for the eyes that weaves along the cusp of the continent.
Butano Backcountry: Sleeping among the redwoods usually requires advance reservations, but—with a little help from a hike—you might snag a trail campsite in Butano State Park. The 5.5-mile hike-in makes you work for it, but this tree-roofed retreat comes with a few extra rewards.
Hawk Eye's View: For an introduction to backpacking, try the short hike to Hawk Camp in the Marin Headlands. Just 2.5 miles from the Tennessee Valley parking lot, with just enough uphill to earn bragging rights, it only has a few sites—all with distant ocean views.