Updated 06/29/2025

These backpacking trips are suitable for beginners, with short distances to campsites and minimal elevation gain. Locations range from low elevation forests, to the Olympic Coastline in Washington, to the Central Oregon Cascades.

Duckabush River Trail

The Duckabush River Trail is located on the Hood Canal side of the Olympic Peninsula and makes for a great early season backpacking trip with multiple camp areas in low elevation forest next to the scenic river.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 2-5 miles, 400-1,750 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy to moderate
• best months: April to June, depending on snow levels
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint up to 5 Mile Camp, beyond here required in advance from Olympic National Park
• more info: Duckabush River backpacking trip

Lower Lewis River Trail

The Lower Lewis River is a good early season option when there’s still snow at higher elevations. Highlights include old-growth forest, uncrowded trails, and of course, the Lewis River.

• distance & elevation gain to Bolt Camp: 2.4 miles, 175 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy
• day hike options: continue on the Lewis River Trail for an additional 6-7 miles (one-way)
• best months: April – June
• permits: none
• more info: Lower Lewis River Trail backpacking trip

Salmon River Canyon

Hike next to the Salmon River through a mossy forest and setup camp at one of the many campsites in the first several miles, or continue past several canyon viewpoints to Goat Creek Camp. Woodland wildflowers are a highlight in the spring.

• distance & elevation gain to Goat Creek camp: 5.5 miles, 1,200 ft. gain (there are many shorter/easier options for camping here)
• difficulty: easy to moderate
• day hike options: continue on the Salmon River Trail or hike up to Kinzel Lake or Devils Peak lookout
• best months: May-June, September-October
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Salmon River Canyon backpacking trip

Indian Heaven Wilderness: Bear Lake

Late autumn is the best time to visit Indian Heaven Wilderness. The mosquitoes the area is famous for are gone, and thousands of huckleberry-laden shrubs literally cover the entire area in stunning shades of red, yellow and orange. One of the easiest access points is via the East Crater Trail, providing access to Junction Lake (shown above), Bear Lake, and many other lakes in the area.

• distance & elevation gain to Bear Lake: 4.2 miles, 800 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy
• day hike options: Lakes Basin loop; Lemei Rock
• best months: September – October
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Bear Lake backpacking trip

Packwood Lake

Packwood Lake is at low elevation in Goat Rocks Wilderness, so it’s a good early season backpack when the snow levels are above 3,500 ft. Due to the easy access, the lakeside campsites can be heavily crowded, especially in the summer, so go early in the season if you can.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 4-6 miles, 400-700 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy
• day hike options: continue on the Packwood Lake Trail to the end of the lake
• best months: May – June (due to crowds in the summer months)
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Packwood Lake backpacking trip

North Fork Skokomish River Trail

Located in the Olympic National Park, the North Fork Skokomish River Trail is a great low elevation trip for the spring and early summer when water levels are running high in the cascading river and the lush forest is filled with many shades of green.

• I Heart PNW trip report: North Fork Skokomish River backpacking trip
• distance & elevation gain to Spike Camp: 4 miles, 790 ft. gain, 135 ft. loss
• difficulty: easy to moderate
• day hike options: continue on the North Fork Skokomish Trail; Flapjack Lakes
• best months: May – September
• permits: required in advance from Olympic National Park

Tenas Lakes

Located in the Mount Washington Wilderness in Central Oregon, Tenas Lakes are a group of subalpine lakes with rocky shorelines and blue-green water. Mosquitoes can be a problem until mid-August, so plan accordingly.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 2.5 miles, 600 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy
• day hike options: Scott Mountain
• best months: August – September (avoid July due to mosquitoes)
• permits: required in advance (Central Cascades)
• more info: Tenas Lakes backpacking trip

Upper Falls Creek

The Upper Falls Creek area has several campsites next to the creek above the super scenic (and extremely popular) Falls Creek Falls waterfall, and makes a great base for exploring less traveled trails in the area.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 3.6 miles, 1,100 ft. gain
• difficulty: moderate
• day hike options: Upper Falls Creek trail
• best months: May-June, September-October
• permits: none
• more info: Upper Falls Creek backpacking trip

Badger Creek

Located southeast of Mount Hood, Badger Creek Wilderness is in a transition zone on the east side of the Cascade crest with a forest of mixed conifers including Ponderosa pine, western red cedar, and western hemlock. This is a good early season backpacking destination due to the lower elevation and drier conditions.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 3.8 miles, 575 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy
• day hike options: continue on Badger Creek Trail as snow levels allow in the spring
• best months: May – June
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Badger Creek backpacking trip

Tillamook Head

The Oregon Coast offers very few opportunities for backpacking. The hiker’s camp on Tillamook Head, while intended for people thru-hiking the Oregon Coast Trail,  has a designated camp area with wood shelters as well as space for tents. The trail is often very muddy, especially during the rainy season, and there’s no water source near the camp.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 4 miles, 1,200 ft. gain
• difficulty: moderate
• day hike options: Clatsop Trail to Indian Beach
• best months: anytime, although trails are muddier in the winter and spring
• permits: none
• more info: Tillamook Head backpacking trip

Ozette Triangle

Washington’s Olympic Coast is truly wild, with access limited to hikers and backpackers for long stretches of coast line. This trip to South Sand Point includes a day hike to see ancient native petroglyphs at Wedding Rocks.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 4.5 miles, 175 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy
• day hike options: Wedding Rocks petroglyphs
• best months: spring (for better water access for filtering)
• permits: required in advance from Olympic National Park
• more info: South Sand Point backpacking trip

Trapper Creek

The low elevation forested canyons of Trapper Creek Wilderness provide an easy getaway for relaxing backpacking trips. This area was impacted by the 2020 Big Hollow Wildfire, so be sure to check conditions before heading out.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 3 miles, 900 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy
• day hike options: continue on the Trapper Creek Trail
• best months: May – June
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Trapper Creek backpacking trip

Hoh River Rainforest

The Hoh Rainforest is one of the wettest places in the United States. The rainforest here is lush with mosses and lichens and plenty of water – and the trail is fairly flat and next to the river with several designated camp areas along the way.

• distance & elevation gain to Five Mile Island Camp: 5.1 miles, 400 ft. gain
• difficulty: easy
• day hike options: continue on the Hoh River Trail to the Olympus Guard Station
• best months: May to June
• permits: required in advance from Olympic National Park
• more info: Hoh River Trail backpacking trip

McKenzie River Trail

The McKenzie River Trail is popular with mountain bikers, but it’s also a good location for a backpacking trip. The southern section of the trail parallels the river (and the highway) as it travels through old-growth forest.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 7.5 miles, 450 ft. gain
• difficulty: moderate
• day hike options: continue north on the McKenzie River Trail
• best months: April – June
• permits: none
• more info: McKenzie River Trail backpacking trip

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