Here are some of the backpacking trips we’ve taken over the years, sorted chronologically. To see all posts tagged ‘backpacking’, click here.
Havasu Falls, Arizona — Hiking to Supai Village in Arizona, to the beautiful blue waterfalls (Havasu Falls, Big and Little Navajo Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beaver Falls), and all the way to the confluence with the Colorado River, November 2014. (We didn’t actually camp here — we stayed in the lodge — but we still carried all our own food, water, and supplies up and down into the canyon).
Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness — Spending 2 days/1 night hiking & camping in Aravaipa Canyon in Arizona, October 2015.
Haleakala Crater — Backpacking across Haleakala National Park and spending a night camping inside the crater, January of 2018.
Waimea Canyon — Hiking down into Waimea Canyon on the island of Kauai, and camping at the bottom of the canyon, August 2018.
Mauna Loa — Spending 4 days hiking 48 miles up & down Mauna Loa on the Big Island in Hawaii, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and staying in cabins.
South Dakota Centennial Trail — Spending 8 days backpacking around 120 miles on the South Dakota Centennial Trail from Wind Cave National Park to Bear Butte State Park, April-May 2021.
Uwharrie Trail — Curtis’ experience solo hiking the Uwharrie Trail through Uwharrie National Forest, North Carolina, in December 2022.
Camino de Portuguese — Hiking the Camino 240 kilometers from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain in May-June 2026. Our first experience backpacking in Europe and staying in public Albergues along the way.
Long Distance Trails – Complete
Here are some of the long distance trails we’ve completed that I don’t count as backpacking because either we weren’t carrying backpacks, camping, or were section hiking over long periods of time rather than at one time. Sorted chronologically by when we finished the trail.
Wabash Trace Trail — Historic Rail Trail from Council Bluffs, IA to IA/MO state line. We section hiked this trail while we were living in Omaha, Nebraska, starting in March 2021 and finishing in July 2022.
Hennepin Canal Trail — from Colona to Bureau Junction, Illinois. We began section hiking in February 2024, knocking out short sections while in the area, then in April 2026 we spent 10 days finishing all the parts we hadn’t hiked yet and camped at the trailheads where camping is legal.
Elroy-Sparta State Trail — We sectioned this trail over 4 days, from Tunnel 3 to Elroy, Wisconsin, in June 2026 and camped in Norwalk, WI.
Long Distance Trails – In Progress
These are long distance trails that we have hiked bits and pieces of, and maybe someday we’ll be able to either backpack them or finish hiking them in sections.
Appalachian Trail
Arizona Trail
Buckskin Gulch
Cedar Valley Nature Trail
Colorado Trail
Continental Divide Trail
Duck Creek Trail
I&M Canal Trail
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
John Muir Trail
MoPac Trail
Mountains to Sea Trail
New England Trail
North Country Trail
Ozark Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
Palmetto Trail
Papio Trail
Superior Hiking Trail