Backpacking in the Sierra Nevada is a special form of human discovery. The steep Granite mountains, Rolling meadows and sparkling clear water lakes have feed the souls of backpacking explorer for hundreds of years. These stories, Pack descriptions and destination routes are a great resource for those trying to learn about new places to explore for the first time.
There’s something special about watching the Sierra Nevada change after sunset. The crowds disappear, temperatures cool, and familiar trails take on an entirely different personality. Granite glows under moonlight, nighttime sounds replace daytime chatter, and it’s not uncommon to spot wildlife that remains hidden during daylight hours. Night hiking can be an incredible experience, but … Read more
Overview: A High Sierra Route Guide for Sequoia National Park That Rewards Those Who Go a Little Farther There are routes in the Sierra that check all the boxes—alpine lakes, high passes, wildflowers, and solitude—and then there are routes that quietly exceed expectations. The Silliman Pass route out of Lodgepole is one of those. At … Read more
What Sierra Backpackers Need to Know About Permits in the West After more than a decade of backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, I’ve developed a rhythm to planning trips. I know how to read snowpack. I know how to map routes. And over the years, I’ve figured out how to work within the permit systems … Read more
Early in the year, I gave myself a goal that felt both ambitious and deeply personal: hike more than one hundred miles of Sierra Nevada backcountry as part of the Outdoor Vitals 100-Mile Challenge. On paper, it sounded straightforward enough. I’ve come close to that kind of mileage in past seasons, but I never really … Read more
CARSON CITY, Nev. — August 27, 2025 — The steps of Nevada’s State Capitol turned into a stage of celebration yesterday morning as family, friends, and outdoor enthusiasts gathered to welcome Julianne Mahoney home. After 59 days and 1,600 miles, Mahoney became the first hiker to complete the Capital to Canada Quest, averaging 27 miles … Read more
A Delicious and Hearty Trail Dinner from Backpackers Pantry After years of taste-testing freeze-dried meals in the backcountry, I think I may have found the gold standard: Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai with Chicken. Simply put—it was the bomb. This meal hit all the right notes after a long day of backpacking in the Emigrant Wilderness. … Read more
First Impressions When I set out this summer with the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L, my goal was simple: cut weight without sacrificing comfort. After logging over 70 miles of High Sierra trails, including a multi-day Yosemite trip to McCabe Lake and another 35+ hot miles in the Emigrant Wilderness (half of them off-trail), I’ve had … Read more
Coffee in the backcountry is more than a comfort—it’s a ritual. For years, I’ve carried a French press into the wilderness, chasing that perfect cup despite the hassle of cleanup and extra gear. But on my recent backpacking trip into the Emigrant Wilderness, I found something that just might replace it: Coulee Coffee’s EcoPour pod … Read more
Mother Nature tests our resolve on a hot August trip into the Emigrant. Some outings are more calculated than free-flowing.This trip into the Emigrant Wilderness began as one of those deliberate adventures — part work assignment, part personal challenge. My goal was straightforward on paper but ambitious in reality: explore the southern section of the … Read more
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine A Four-Day Three-night trip into McCabe, Roosevelt and Young Lakes The planning for this trip started in January, but the dream of it began years earlier. On this July morning, as I packed the final gear into the truck and headed out to pick up Tom, I felt … Read more
Another summer without the loop. What does it mean for the future of Yosemite’s most iconic backcountry experience? Yosemite National Park and Aramark have announced that the High Sierra Camps will not reopen in 2025. This marks the fifth consecutive summer the full system of camps has been closed — a once-cherished experience now caught … Read more
Featuring Seth Diemel from Aspen Meadow Pack Station on the Sierra Rec Now Podcast Looking for a summer adventure into the less-crowded corners of the Sierra Nevada? Whether you’re a family introducing your kids to backpacking or a solo hiker wanting to go light and go deep, this week’s episode of Sierra Rec Now is … Read more
If you’re one who enjoys epic peaks and alpine lakes, Kearsarge Pass is the hike for you. Clocking in at approximately 14 miles round trip within 3 days, the Kearsarge Pass to Kearsarge Lakes Trail most definitely filled my desire for an impressive High Sierra adventure. The trailhead is located at the end of Onion … Read more
“Welcome back to Sierra Rec Now, your podcast for life, travel, and exploration in the Sierra Nevada. I’m your host, Charlie Pankey, publisher of Sierra Rec Magazine. Today, we’re diving into the world of backpacking with a very special guest, Paul Wagner. Paul is a California author, wilderness volunteer, and the founder of backpackingthesierra.com. He’s … Read more
A Backpacker’s Treasure Hunt in the Mokelumne The golden light of late afternoon was painting the Carson Pass Summit in warm hues as I shouldered my pack and hit the trail. The backpack felt familiar, a comforting weight on my seasoned shoulders. Tonight, I would be following the usual well-trodden path of many past day … Read more
A Ladies’ Weekend in the Wild The Mammoth sun beat down on our little band of adventurers – four women fueled by a deep-seated wanderlust and a thirst for something beyond the usual tourist trail. Our destination: Bloody Canyon, a whisper of a path promising solitude and Sierra splendor. Forget the crowded vistas of Yosemite … Read more
Looking for an unforgettable adventure this summer? Are you seeking to challenge yourself, connect with nature, and forge lasting bonds with like-minded women? Look no further than Lasting Adventures’ empowering lineup of Women’s Backpacking Trips and Young Women’s Summer Camp Programs. For Women of All Ages: Adventure Awaits in Yosemite and Olympic National Parks In … Read more
Backpacking Itineraries Yosemite National Park Wilderness One of the most diverse and exciting Backpacking routes in Yosemite is the route from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley via the Vogelsang High Camp and Rafferty Creek. Backpackers looking to experience a little bit of everything Yosemite is known for will find this 27-mile-plus route filled with options, … Read more
As we welcome the dawn of a new year, there’s no better way to embrace fresh beginnings and resolutions than by exploring the great outdoors. For outdoor enthusiasts seeking a remarkable experience, the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail near Susanville, California, beckons with its 25.4 miles of scenic beauty, historical charm, and diverse recreational opportunities. … Read more
Calling all backpacking enthusiasts! The moment we’ve been eagerly waiting for is finally here. Well possibly! As the virtual doors swing wide open on permit quota season today, the breathtaking landscapes of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park extend an enthusiastic invitation to all adventurers. Picture yourself traversing untamed trails, scaling peaks, and discovering hidden … Read more
The spring of 2017 was a high water year in the Sierra Nevada. This meant that many of the rivers and streams were running at higher than normal levels and backcountry hiking had an added element of danger. Fording (crossing) highwater rivers are more complex and dangerous. In the Sierra in 2023, the current average … Read more
OSPREY BACKPACKS STRIPPING ANOTHER POUND OFF LIGHTWEIGHT PACKS Sierra REc Magazine – Gear – 2023- That is always the goal, correct? How little weight can I carry into the wilderness and still stay comfortable sleeping in the wilderness and traveling safely? Well, as you prep for the 2023 backpacking season, Osprey has made it easier … Read more
MINERAL, Calif. – Backcountry campers visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park will be able to plan trips and obtain backcountry permits online via Recreation.gov beginning January 17, 2023. The new online permit system replaces the paper-based system that required in-person registration and is currently in place at many national parks throughout the country. The new system will improve the … Read more
How Community Collaboration is Impacting Youth Around the Tahoe Rim. Stateline, NV – The Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA), known for its expertise in building and maintaining 200 miles of Tahoe trail bliss, doubles as a leader in facilitating outdoor experiences to youth through the Youth Backcountry Camp (YBCC) Program. This program, featuring multi-day youth backpacking trips … Read more
SUSANVILLE, Calif. – August 3, 2022 – The Bureau of Land Management on Monday, Aug. 1, will implement seasonal fire restrictions to prevent wildfire risk on public lands managed by the Eagle Lake and Applegate field offices in Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra, Shasta and Siskiyou counties in California, and in Washoe County, Nevada. These seasonal … Read more
Dispersed Fires Are Prohibited For the Remainder of Fire Season BISHOP, Calif. – The Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office will be implementing fire restrictions effective on all Federal lands under their jurisdiction starting Monday, June 6. Seasonal fire restrictions for the Eastern Sierra Region are being implemented in close … Read more
Backpacking Hyatt Lake in Emigrant Wilderness Like much of the Sierra Nevada, the Emigrant Wilderness is a land of endless granite landscapes carved out by glaciers and water over millions of years. It is a place where the pines, cedars, and firs of the Stanislaus National Forest gradually thin as granite cliffs, mountain tops, and … Read more
Is this your year to hike the rim? TRT begins accepting applications Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 10 AM PST. Lake Tahoe, March 9, 2022 – The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 165 mile loop around the mountain rim of Lake Tahoe. It travels through lush forest, wild wilderness landscapes and provides hikers incredible views … Read more
Backpacking Adventure to Yosemite National’s Park North East Borders to Visit Young and Roosevelt Lakes. Tuolumne Meadows – Yosemite National Park – 2021- Four years ago I took my first backpacking trip into Yosemite National Park to Young lakes. This first visit was magical and drove me to dive into backpacking and I have since … Read more
BRAND CONTINUES TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE ADVENTURE WITH TECHNICAL PACKS MADE WITH RECYCLED FABRIC, A TRASH CAN ACCESSORY AND ANTI-TRAIL LITTER CAMPAIGN. STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 2, 2021) – Big Agnes, the Steamboat Springs-based outdoor equipment brand, is pleased to introduce a line of technical backpacks for Spring 2022, a first for the 20-year-old brand. The collection of … Read more
Backpacking takes your average hiking trip to another level. Thinking of trying it yourself? Here are some great reasons to go on a backpacking trip.
Exploring Desolation Wilderness: Backpacking Near Tahoe at the Enchanting Desolation Lake As the winter snow melts away, my heart fills with excitement as I plan my annual backpacking adventure in the picturesque landscapes of Desolation Wilderness. Among my list of must-visit places, one gem stands out, capturing the essence of backpacking and nature’s untouched beauty … Read more
SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. December 1, 2020 — Beginning in 2021, overnight visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks wilderness areas will be able to make their quota season wilderness permit reservations using the website Recreation.gov. This will replace the old system, by which reservations were submitted by email and processed manually. Recreation.gov provides trip planning and reservation services for public lands nationwide, and using it for wilderness permit issuance will … Read more
Mineral Ca – Lassen Volcanic National Park – July 13, 2020 – An area in Lassen Volcanic National Park is closed to backcountry camping due to black bear(s) obtaining food from campers. The closure extends one mile in all directions from the following lakes frequently accessed from Summit Lake Trailhead: Echo, Upper Twin, Lower Twin, … Read more
Southern area of Whitney Portal remains closed, Most Trails to Re-open Whitney Portal, (above Lone Pine), CA, June 30, 2020 – The Whitney Portal emergency evacuation will be lifted on July 2, 2020.by 5:00 pm. The area was evacuated in response to the June 24 5.8 earthquake near Lone Pine, CA and subsequent rockslide at Whitney Portal. … Read more
2020 HOOVER WILDERNESS PERMITS AVAILABLE TO RESERVE ONLINE AT RECREATION.GOV ON MARCH 18 Bridgeport, CA., Feb. 21, 2020 – Beginning on Wednesday, March 18, visitors to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will be able to reserve Hoover Wilderness Permits online through Recreation.gov. “Previously, Hoover Wilderness Permits were issued by the Forest through a mail-in reservation request process,” said … Read more
[OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif.] Feb. 10, 2020 – Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows (Squaw Alpine) and Granite Chief Wilderness Protection League (the League) last week announced that they have reached a comprehensive agreement to dismiss the League’s lawsuit against the approval of the Squaw Alpine Base-to-Base Gondola. The agreement details protection measures for Sierra Nevada Yellow Legged Frog … Read more
Wanderlust Yoga Studio introduces new outdoor classes: Mindful Hiking and Sierra Flow• Freedom Fest includes skiing, music and fireworks July 4-6• Alpenglow Expeditions’ Tahoe Via Ferrata marks its first full season [Olympic Valley, Calif.] June 5, 2019 – While skiers and snowboarders can still get their turns in every Friday through Sunday through June 30, and July … Read more
Expect lots of snow, but access over two of the Sierra Popular Scenic Routes opened today for recreational travel. TUOLUMNE COUNTY — The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has removed the winter snow, cleared the debris, made necessary repairs and opened State Route 108 (SR-108)/Sonora Pass at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2019. Sonora … Read more
Go Off Trail And Explore This Stunning Chain of Lakes Near Lake Tahoe Desolation Wilderness, Ca – Desolation Wilderness whispers with hidden wonders, and Pyramid Creek stands as its vibrant artery. While Horsetail Falls’ fiery cascade steals the show from Highway 50, a chain of pristine lakes awaits those willing to delve deeper. This revised … Read more
