Updated 08/10/2025

All of these backpacking trips highlight panoramic views in the Pacific Northwest – including in the Olympics, North Cascades, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and the Wallowas.

These are the type of trips that most backpackers look forward to the most – mid to high elevation locations with epic views. The snow-free season is short, usually from July to September, and the scenery is some of the best that there is. All of these trips are good for three to four nights, but if you have more time, most of these areas offer longer trail options that cover more miles.

Difficulty Ratings

The difficulty ratings listed here are based on hiking in to a campsite and does not include additional hike destinations on the trip.

• Easy: Hike in up to 6 miles, and up to 1,000 ft. gain to camp area
• Moderate: Hike in up to 8 miles with 1,000-2,000 ft. gain to camp area
• Strenuous: Hike in up to 10 miles with 2,000-3,000 ft. gain to camp area
• Very Strenuous: Hike in up to 12 miles with 3,000-4,000 ft. gain to camp area

Alpine Lakes Wilderness: Pete Lake & Spectacle Lake

Spectacle Lake is indeed a spectacle – surrounded by peaks in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. This scenic lake is popular side trip for thru-hikers and section hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 10 miles, 2,260 ft. gain (for a shorter option, camp at Pete Lake before continuing to Spectacle Lake)
• difficulty: strenuous
• day hike options: explore the Spectacle Lake area
• best months: July to September
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Spectacle Lake backpacking trip

Alpine Lakes Wilderness: Rachel & Rampart Lakes

A challenging hike up a steep and rocky trail, Rampart Lakes is a collection of small lakes in a superbly scenic subalpine area in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Hike up Alta Mountain for panoramic views of peaks in every direction.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 5.7 miles, 2,300 ft. gain (for a shorter option, camp at Rachel Lake before continuing to Rampart Lakes)
• difficulty: strenuous
• day hike options: Lila Lakes, Alta Mountain
• best months: August – September (avoid July due to mosquitoes)
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Rampart Lakes backpacking trips

Eagle Cap Wilderness: Wallowas Lakes Basin

Deep in the heart of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, this trip to the Lakes Basin is scenery packed – with granite boulders and slabs, alpine lakes and meadows scattered throughout and surrounded by peaks. The Two Pan trailhead provides the most direct access into the Eagle Cap Wilderness with shorter mileage and less elevation gain than other options.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 7-8 miles with ~2,000 ft. gain (for a shorter option, camp at Lostine Meadows before continuing to the Lakes Basin)
• difficulty: strenuous
• day hike options: Lakes Basin loop, Eagle Cap summit, Glacier Lake
• best months: mid-July to September
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Wallowas Lakes Basin

Goat Rocks: Snowgrass Flat & Goat Lake

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 5.25 miles, 1,500 ft. gain
• difficulty: moderate
• day hike options: Goat Lake, Old Snowy, Cispus Basin
• best months: mid-July to September
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Goat Rocks – Snowgrass Flat + Goat Lake

The most popular area in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Snowgrass Flat features meadows full of wildflowers, an alpine lake that can still be covered in ice in August, and big views of the Goat Rocks peaks.

Goat Rocks: Pacific Crest Trail & Cispus Basin

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 5.25 miles, 1,700 ft. gain
• difficulty: moderate
• day hike options: PCT North towards Old Snowy, Cispus Basin
• best months: mid-July to September
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Goat Rocks – Pacific Crest Trail & Cispus Basin

One of the most scenic sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington travels through Goat Rocks. Hike in via the Snowgrass Trail and camp near the PCT, then hike to Old Snowy Mountain and Cispus Basin. It’s common to see quite a few thru-hikers here on their journey to Canada.

North Cascades National Park: Copper Ridge

Copper Ridge is one of the few high ridgelines in the North Cascades with access to trails and designated campsites. The scenery is incredible, with endless views of peaks in Washington and Canada.

• distance & elevation gain to Silesia campsite: 8.2 miles, 3,300 ft. gain (for a shorter option, stay at Boundary Camp before continuing to Silesia Camp)
• difficulty: strenuous
• day hike options: Copper Ridge Lookout, Copper Lake
• best months: July to September
• permits: required in advance from North Cascades National Park
• more info: Copper Ridge backpacking trip

North Cascades National Park: Cascade Pass

Cascade Pass is a popular area for hiking and backpacking due to stunning scenery of glaciated mountains in the North Cascades. Advance permits are required and well worth the effort to obtain.

• distance & elevation gain to Pelton Basin campsite: 3.7 miles, 1,700 ft. gain, 600 ft. loss
• difficulty: moderate
• day hike options: Sahale Arm
• best months: July to September
• permits: required in advance from North Cascades National Park
• more info: Cascade Pass backpacking trip

Olympic National Park: High Divide & Seven Lakes Basin

The highly scenic High Divide loop in the Olympic Mountains is extremely popular for a good reason – it showcases everything from a lush rainforest to subalpine lakes, and panoramic views of the highest peaks in the Olympics. Advance permits are required for all backcountry campsites.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite in Seven Lakes Basin: 9.2 miles, 3,070 ft. gain (for a shorter hike in, there are many campsites on this loop)
• difficulty: strenuous
• day hike options: Seven Lakes Basin, Hoh Lake, Bogachiel Peak
• best months: August to September
• permits: required in advance from Olympic National Park
• more info: High Divide backpacking trip

Olympic National Park: Royal Lake & Royal Basin

Royal Lake provides access to some of the best subalpine and alpine scenery in the Olympic Mountains. From Royal Lake, it’s a short hike to explore the stunning alpine scenery of Upper Royal Basin.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 6.5 miles, 2,800 ft. gain (for a shorter option, camp at Royal Creek before continuing to Royal Lake)
• difficulty: strenuous
• day hike options: Upper Royal Basin
• best months: mid-July to September
• permits: required in advance fr0m Olympic National Park
• more info: Royal Basin backpacking trip

Olympic Peninsula: Marmot Pass via Big Quilcene River Trail

On this four day backpacking trip, we hiked in to Camp Mystery to setup a basecamp and hiked each day to Marmot Pass and explored the area. The views from the pass are incredible, with most of the peaks in the Olympics filling the horizon.

• distance & elevation gain to campsite: 4.6 miles, 2,900 ft. gain
• difficulty: strenuous
• day hike options: Marmot Pass, Boulder Ridge, Buckhorn Mountain
• best months: July – September
• permits: self-issued at wilderness checkpoint
• more info: Marmot Pass backpacking trip

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