Hiking Recommendations: Where to go?

[Kyteland]

I'm looking to take 3 weeks off from work this summer to go hiking. In the past I've always gone in early August somewhere in Wyomoing, but my job kind of prohibits that now. I'm pretty sure I can get most of June off, but I need a place I can go where there won't be too much snow left and the weather will cooperate.

I've hiked in the Smokey Mountains in late May and that was all right (although a bit too many people), but the times I've been out in Wyoming/Colorado at that time of year the snowpack is still too deep and it gets pretty cold at night.

Any suggestions would be great. I don't neccessarily need to spend all 3 weeks in one place, athough I wouldn't mind that at all. Can anyone comment on Arizona/New Mexico at that time of year?

Edit: Anyone been to Zion or Canyonland National Park in Utah that time of year? How hard is it to find water in those areas?

 

[gistech1978]

i would recommend Utah.
there are some amazing places in utah to go hiking.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

I was going to say Glacier, but I think June is still too earlier for there.

How about the Estes park area?

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
I was going to say Glacier, but I think June is still too earlier for there.

How about the Estes park area?

Brrr! I'll go to Glacier in August sometime. If it's not on fire that is....

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Glacier is awesome though. Take a collaspable fly rod for the greylings and cutthroat.

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
Glacier is awesome though. Take a collaspable fly rod for the greylings and cutthroat.

Actually I would't mind doing the Tetons or the Absaroke range that time of year, but I want to try some place different.

 

[GoSharks]

John Muir Trail - although there will still be snow on the higher passes. I've done a [very] few miles of it but its enough for me to tell you that its just incredible.

 

[conjur]

YOSEMITE!!!

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: GOSHARKS
John Muir Trail - although there will still be snow on the higher passes. I've done a [very] few miles of it but its enough for me to tell you that its just incredible.

That sounds really cool actually. linky

The John Muir Trail is 211 miles long and runs (mostly in conjunction with the PCT) from Yosemite Valley to Mt Whitney, in California.

Most years one can plan a trip beginning the first week in July, and only hike on snow near the tops of the passes. The first snow usually doesn't hit until the end of October, but the days are getting short and cold by then.

Since I'd have to hike back to my car that would mean an average of more than 20 miles a day. :Q

Maybe if I start working out now I can manage that. Anyone know what the snow conditions are on top of Mt Whitney in early June? Is it passable then?

 

[Riprorin]

Southern Utah.

 

[Kyteland]

bump

 

[przero]

Moab Utah!

 

[przero]

The area around Moab is wonderful in June. mountains, canyons and high desert. Nation parks, national forest, and BLM.

 

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: Kyteland
Since I'd have to hike back to my car that would mean an average of more than 20 miles a day. :Q

you can hitch a ride back... or i think there might be a shuttle? not too sure on that. may i suggest searching the archives/asking people at www.backpacker.com and www.thebackpacker.com

 

[Kyteland]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure there is a shuttle. It'd be insane to try to hike that round trip in 3 weeks.