Hiking & The Outdoors
10 Early-Season Backpacking Trips (Including Beginner Options)
10 Early-Season Backpacking Trips (Including Beginner Options)
Updated December 26, 2023
Itching to get out with your overnight pack, but frustrated to find so many options on your backpacking list still under snow? Or maybe you’re new to backpacking and looking for some easier options to start out with? Then you’re in the right place! We’ve pulled together a list of 10 early-season backpacking trips to help you kick off your season on an awesome note (and most of them are perfect for beginners too!). We’ve listed them in order from easiest to most difficult to help you decide where to start.
Thanks to their lower elevation, you’ll find these hikes to be snow-free and ready to be explored much earlier in the year. Most are great for spring and early summer, and some can even be done in the winter if you’re really serious about spending some time outdoors (we totally did Baker Lake and Cape Alava Loop in January!). Lower elevation also means that these hikes are less strenuous, which makes them perfect for beginners. Weather and trail conditions can vary greatly from year-to-year, so always do your research, check the weather, and read recent trip reports before heading out.
We hope this list will provide helpful inspiration for your outing, and we’d love to hear in the comments (or let us know on Instagram) if you try any of these backpacking trips!
Tips for Saying Warm on Early-Season Backpacking Trips
Shoulder season camping and backpacking certainly isn’t for everyone. Make sure you know your comfort level and assess your gear before you decide to take on the challenge. If you do decide to head out in the offseason, here are a few tips to help make you as comfortable as possible:
- If you’re with a significant other (or really close friend!), zip your sleeping bags together. I repeat: ZIP YOUR SLEEPING BAGS TOGETHER. Even if you don’t have the same brand, chances are that you can do this. And I’m telling you, it makes all the difference in the world sharing your body heat with another human. We are fans of Mountain Hardwear sleeping bags, and down is going to keep you the most cozy warm.
- Bring hand warmers into your sleeping bag. You can throw them down by your feet, hold them in your hands, or tuck them between your thighs. I personally prefer to use a rechargeable hand warmer such as this one so it’s less wasteful, more powerful, and also serves as a power bank for your phone or other devices.
- Bring a comfy hat to sleep in. It never fails that my ears are the coldest part once I’m snug in my sleeping bag, but a hat makes a big difference for retaining body heat.
- Purchase a sleeping bag liner. I have this one from REI that packs up small but adds an extra cozy layer to my bag. I honestly use this all year long. If it’s really hot in the summer, you can just sleep in this and ditch your bag all together. Added bonus: it is much easier to wash than your sleeping bag!
- Stick to looser fitting layers vs tight nighttime clothing. Tight clothing can restrict the body’s blood circulation and affect your ability to stay warm. I’ve noticed a huge difference in my comfort with baggier clothing – I feel warmer and overall less damp and clammy. I also like to keep my puffy jacket handy as a last ditch effort if I wake up really cold.
- And finally, a trick that can make a HUGE different when all else fails: boil water and put it in a rubber hot water bottle or just use your Nalgene bottle! Of course, make sure the lid is on very tight and that you are using the right kind of bottle, like this. You can read more on this trick here.
Rialto Beach to Hole-in-the-Wall
Stats: 4 miles roundtrip, no elevation gain
Area: Olympic Peninsula — Pacific Coast
Distance from Seattle: 4 hours
Permit/Pass: Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit (Region: North Coast) and National Parks Pass
Dogs Allowed? Dogs are allowed on leash during the day only. They are not allowed past Ellen’s Creek or overnight.
Coastal hike with sea stacks, tidepools, and incredible sunsets. We wrote up an entire post on this hike, including other recommendations to extend your trip. Read it here.
Ancient Lakes
Stats: 4.6 miles roundtrip, 288’ elevation gain (with option to go much further if desired)
Area: Central Washington — Potholes Region
Distance from Seattle: 2.5 hours
Permit/Pass: Discover Pass
Dogs Allowed? Dogs allowed on leash
Located in central Washington, east of the Cascades, you’ll feel like you’re in a totally different world here! A dry, typically sunny and warm environment makes for a great early-season escape from Seattle. Just make sure you pack your sunscreen and stake your tent down (it can get really windy here). There are many different paths to take and lots of options for camping. We have always started at the Lower Ancient Lakes Trailhead and camped on the south side of Ancient Lake. Be sure to make the hike over to see the waterfall!
More info from WTA
More info from AllTrails
Barclay Lake
Stats: 4.4 miles roundtrip, 500’ elevation gain
Area: Central Cascades — Stevens Pass – West
Distance from Seattle: 1.5 hours
Permit/Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
Dogs Allowed? Dogs allowed on leash
A rolling trail that takes you to several campsites along Barclay Lake, nestled between Merchant Peak and Baring Mountain.
Baker Lake to Maple Grove
Stats: 8 miles roundtrip, 500’ elevation gain
Area: North Cascades — Mount Baker Area
Distance from Seattle: 2 hours
Permit/Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
Dogs Allowed? Dogs allowed on leash
A gentle trail through the woods along the east bank of Baker Lake. The forest is lush and green, and you’ll enjoy crossing a suspension bridge over the rushing Baker River. The full trail is 14 miles long, with two access points and multiple camp sites. We chose to stay at the Maple Grove campground, which is about 4 miles from the southern trailhead. Walk down to the water’s edge and enjoy stunning views of Mount Baker, including a crystal clear reflection if you’re lucky!
Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle)
Stats: 9.4 miles roundtrip, 100’ elevation gain
Area: Olympic Peninsula — Pacific Coast
Distance from Seattle: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Permit/Pass: Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit (Region: North Coast) and National Parks Pass
Dogs Allowed? No
Head to this coastal destination any time of year and you’ll enjoy both a walk through the forest and along the beach. Campsites are available at Sand Point and Cape Alava. Check out our post about backpacking this trail in January!
Hoh River Trail
Stats: 10.6 miles roundtrip, 300’ elevation gain to Five Mile Island
Area: Olympic Peninsula — Pacific Coast
Distance from Seattle: 4 hours
Permit/Pass: Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit (Region: Hoh) and National Parks Pass
Dogs Allowed? No
Huge trees and vibrant, dripping moss make this area of Olympic National Park a must visit! Depending on your time frame and ability level, you have several options for how far to go on this trail. Some of the shorter options include camping at Tom Creek (2.9 miles from trailhead), Happy Four (5.5 miles from trailhead), or Lewis Meadows (6.4 miles from trailhead), in addition to Five Mile Island mentioned above.
East Bank Ross Lake
Stats: 6.5 miles roundtrip, 700’ elevation gain to Hidden Hand Camp (with option to go much further if desired)
Area: North Cascades — North Cascades Highway – Hwy 20
Distance from Seattle: 2.5 hours
Permit/Pass: Backcountry permit required
Dogs Allowed? Dogs are allowed on leash
A mellow hike through the woods that leads to a beautiful overlook of Ross Lake. There are numerous designated camps along this trail, including stock camps and boat-in sites. We chose to stay at Hidden Hand Stock Camp, where we were able to drop our overnight packs and do some additional hiking from there to the overlook and Roland Point.
Tip: If you’re staying at Hidden Hand Camp — when you get to the signs that say Ruby Pasture to the right, and “water” .25 straight ahead … continue straight toward the water. We found the signage to be a bit confusing and had to backtrack some trying to find the camp! We also tracked it at more like .45 to the camp vs. the posted .25.
Thunder Creek
Stats: 12 miles roundtrip, 1,300’ elevation gain to McAllister Camp
Area: North Cascades — North Cascades Highway – Hwy 20
Distance from Seattle: 2.5 hours
Permit/Pass: Backcountry permit required
Dogs Allowed? Dogs are allowed on leash
The trail travels amidst some exceptionally large old cedar and fir trees, with periodic views of the cloudy-blue, glacier-fed creek. Make this a short and easy trip by staying at Thunder or Neve Camps (about 2 miles from trailhead), or push on for a bigger adventure and stay at McAllister Camp.
Lena Lake
Stats: 7.2 miles roundtrip, 1,300’ elevation gain
Area: Olympic Peninsula — Hood Canal
Distance from Seattle: 2 hours
Permit/Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
Dogs Allowed? Dogs are allowed on leash
This hike is great for forest and lake views, not necessarily sweeping mountain vistas, which makes it an ideal option for a cloudy day. You’ll find campsites all around the lake.
Lily and Lizard Lakes
Stats: 7.15 miles roundtrip, 1,400’ elevation gain to McAllister Camp
Area: Puget Sound and Islands — Bellingham Area
Distance from Seattle: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Permit/Pass: Discover Pass
Dogs Allowed? Dogs are allowed on leash
A nice forest walk with lots of ferns, moss, and house-sized boulders that leads to two lakes. Beautiful sunset view from North Butte Overlook, or you could continue on to Oyster Dome or Salish Overlook.