Brainstorming ideas for long backpacking trips without a rental car

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Fungi

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May 9, 2022
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I'm brainstorming ideas for long backpacking trips (up to 2 weeks) where a rental car isn't needed. This could be anywhere in the western US. I'm looking for places where I can fly in, spend a night or two, and then walk or get a short ride to a trailhead. I did a similar trip once, when I took a train to West Glacier and then backpacked in Glacier NP for 12 days.

My best idea so far is Jackson, WY. It would be pretty easy to get into the Tetons from the airport there.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.
 
Fungi, Yes lots of trips available out of Jackson. Jackson has several grocery stores where you could supply yourself. Not only in the Tetons, but other areas closeby also. You could walk out the backside of Jackson, up Cache Creek right into the Gros Ventre Wilderness and spend several weeks up in there easily. Or could get a taxi ride to the Turpin Meadows or Pacific Creek Trailheads and go back into the Teton Wilderness, The Absarokas, and the Thorofare. From Jackson the Grand Teton Lodge runs a bus up to it's main Grand Teton Lodge, and further up to Colter Bay in the summer. There you could also access all that Teton and Absaroka Wilderness.

Now Bozeman could be another place and go into the Gallatins nearby. Or get over towards Livingston and the Absaroka-Beartooths. You been to Glacier NP, but getting into Kalispell, the Bob Marshall Country is close by also. Many possibilities all over the west.
 
West Yellowstone gets flights. Opens the whole GYE area to hitching..... depending when I could give you a ride.

Cody has an airport as well.
 
If you fly to Moab; from the airport, you could hike straight into Arches, and do part of the Hayduke Trail ... or you could take the jetboat from Moab, along the Colorado River, and visit The Maze or Needles districts of Canyonlands

From SLC/Moab, there is a daily bus that goes to Blanding, from where you could hitch a ride out to the Cedar Mesa area

From Phoenix or Flagstaff, there is a regular shuttle that will get you to Grand Canyon

From Las Vegas or St George, there are shuttles and public buses that go all the way to Zion

Also, from Las Vegas, the regular tourist excursion buses will likely drop you at Bryce Canyon
 
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Yosemite has public tranportation from Fresno and Merced. Fresno has an airport and Merced has rail connections via Amtrak.

Lake Tahoe has public transit or shuttles to trailheads accessible via buses from Reno.

SEKI has public transport in the summer from both Fresno and Visalia --connections via Amtrak and airports.
 
A person can fly to Denver and take the Bustang to many different towns that are right on the CDT and/or Colorado trail. Then grab the bus to take you back to Denver for the flight home. No need to figure out a loop and there are plenty of established resupply options along the famous trails. Just gotta be aware of altitude acclimatization.
 
re: E Sierra public transit

www.estransit.com

Connections for Sierra Hikers

The Sierra Nevada Mountains provide some of the most majestic views in the world. Two major trails within the Sierra Nevada range are the Pacific…
www.estransit.com www.estransit.com

It's pretty easy for backpackers to hitch a ride down to Hwy 395 from the trailheads.
 
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