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Places to Stay

Where to sleep on the world's great hikes

Half the battle on a bucket-list trail is figuring out where you'll spend the night. For each destination we lay out the real options — front-country campgrounds, in-park lodges, mountain huts and backcountry permits — with the official places to book and honest notes on how far ahead you need to plan. No invented prices, no fake reviews.

3 ways to stay
Sierra Nevada · California, USA Half Dome & Yosemite Valley Roughly late May to mid-October, whenever the cables are up (check NPS for this year’s dates) Where to stay
3 ways to stay
European Alps · France, Italy & Switzerland Tour du Mont Blanc — Chamonix Mid-June to mid-September, once the high cols are clear of snow Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Khumbu Himalaya · Nepal Everest Base Camp — Namche & Tengboche Late September to November and March to May Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Fiordland · South Island, New Zealand Milford Track — Fiordland 1 November to 30 April (Great Walk season; 2026/27 dates on the DOC page); outside it, off-season conditions apply Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Patagonia · Chile Torres del Paine — W Trek November to March (Patagonian summer) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Andes · Cusco, Peru Inca Trail to Machu Picchu May to September (dry season); the trail traditionally closes in February for maintenance Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Highlands · Iceland Laugavegur Trail — Iceland Roughly late June to early September (check the Icelandic Touring Association for hut opening dates) Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Colorado Plateau · Utah, USA Zion — Angels Landing & The Narrows April to May and September to October Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Colorado Plateau · Arizona, USA Grand Canyon — Bright Angel Trail March–May and September–November — summer inner-canyon heat is dangerous Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Sierra Nevada · California, USA Mount Whitney Trail July to September for a snow-free trail Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Sierra Nevada · California, USA John Muir Trail July to September, after most snow has melted Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Grand Canyon region · Arizona, USA Havasu Falls — Havasupai Spring and fall; summer is very hot with flash-flood risk Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Front Range · Colorado, USA Rocky Mountain NP — Sky Pond & Emerald Lake June to September for the high routes once the snow clears (autumn can also be good, but conditions change quickly) Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Blue Ridge · Virginia, USA Appalachian Trail — McAfee Knob April–June and September–November Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Mount Desert Island · Maine, USA Acadia National Park Late May to October; fall foliage is a highlight Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Colorado Plateau · Utah, USA Bryce Canyon — Navajo & Queen’s Garden May to October; the rim sits near 8,000–9,000 ft with cold nights Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Teton Range · Wyoming, USA Grand Teton — Cascade Canyon June to September Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Southern Appalachians · Tennessee, USA Great Smokies — Alum Cave to Mount LeConte April to October; spring wildflowers and fall color Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Cascades · Washington, USA Wonderland Trail — Mount Rainier Late July to September, once the snow clears Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Alpine Lakes Wilderness · Washington, USA The Enchantments Late July to October, after the snow melts Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Northern Rockies · Montana, USA Glacier — Highline Trail July to September, when Logan Pass is open Where to stay
2 ways to stay
White Mountains · New Hampshire, USA Presidential Traverse July to September; alpine weather is severe year-round Where to stay
3 ways to stay
White Mountains · New Hampshire, USA Franconia Ridge — White Mountains June to October; the ridge is exposed to fast weather Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Chihuahuan Desert · Texas, USA Big Bend — South Rim & Chisos October to April; summer is dangerously hot Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Nā Pali Coast · Kauai, Hawaii, USA Kalalau Trail — Nā Pali Coast Drier summer months; flash floods are a year-round risk Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Kenai Peninsula · Alaska, USA Harding Icefield Trail Late June to September, once the upper trail is snow-free Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Canadian Rockies · Alberta, Canada Banff — Plain of Six Glaciers & Lake Louise June to September; snow lingers on higher trails into early summer Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Coast Mountains · British Columbia, Canada Garibaldi Lake & Panorama Ridge Typically July to October, once the snow melts (snow can linger into summer) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Atlantic Canada · Newfoundland, Canada Gros Morne Late June to September; Gros Morne Mountain is closed to hikers from May 1 until June 28 Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Vancouver Island · British Columbia, Canada West Coast Trail May to September; the trail is closed off-season Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Bernese Oberland · Switzerland Eiger Trail — Grindelwald June to October Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Alps · France & Switzerland Walker's Haute Route — Chamonix to Zermatt Mid-July to mid-September Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Valais · Zermatt, Switzerland Matterhorn — Five Lakes Walk June to October Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Mediterranean · Corsica, France GR20 — Corsica June to September, once the snow clears the high stages Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Dolomites · Italy Alta Via 1 — Dolomites Late June to September, when the rifugi are open Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Alps · Italy (TMB) Tour du Mont Blanc — Val Veny & Courmayeur Mid-June to mid-September Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Scottish Highlands · Scotland West Highland Way April to October Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Eryri (Snowdonia) · Wales Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa April to October; winter needs mountaineering skills Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Jotunheimen · Norway Besseggen Ridge — Jotunheimen Late June to September, once the ridge is snow-free Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Ryfylke · Norway Preikestolen — Pulpit Rock April to October; winter needs care Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Hardanger · Norway Trolltunga Mid-June to September; outside mid-summer conditions are harder and guiding is often advised Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Lysefjord · Norway Kjeragbolten June to September, when the mountain road is open Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Swedish Lapland · Sweden Kungsleden — Abisko to Kebnekaise Late June to mid-September; winter is a ski route Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Kalsoy · Faroe Islands Kallur Lighthouse — Kalsoy May to September for the best daylight and ferry service Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Ligurian Coast · Italy Cinque Terre — Sentiero Azzurro April to October; summer is hot and crowded Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Amalfi Coast · Italy Path of the Gods — Amalfi Coast April–June and September–October; summer is hot Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Andalusia · Spain Caminito del Rey — El Chorro Spring and fall; summer is very hot Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Cumbria · England Lake District — Striding Edge & Scafell Pike April to October; winter is a mountaineering outing Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Inner Hebrides · Scotland Isle of Skye — Quiraing & Old Man of Storr April to October Where to stay
2 ways to stay
County Antrim · Northern Ireland Causeway Coast Way — Giant’s Causeway April to October Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Annapurna Himalaya · Nepal Annapurna Base Camp — the Sanctuary October–November and March–April Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Annapurna Himalaya · Nepal Annapurna Circuit — Thorong La October–November and March–April Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Khumbu Himalaya · Nepal Everest Base Camp — Gorak Shep & Kala Patthar Late September–November and March–May Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Eastern Himalaya · Bhutan Bhutan — Snowman Trek & Tiger’s Nest Autumn (Sept–Oct) for the Snowman; Tiger’s Nest year-round Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Karakoram · Pakistan K2 Base Camp — Concordia June to September Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Garhwal Himalaya · Uttarakhand, India Valley of Flowers July to September, during the monsoon bloom Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Borneo · Sabah, Malaysia Mount Kinabalu Drier months (roughly March–September) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Lombok · Indonesia Mount Rinjani Dry season (roughly April–December) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Chūbu · Japan Mount Fuji — Yoshida Trail Official season runs from early July to September 10 (the 2026 season ended on September 10) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
High Atlas · Morocco Mount Toubkal — High Atlas Spring to fall; winter is a mountaineering climb Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Kilimanjaro · Tanzania Kilimanjaro — Machame Route January–March and June–October Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Kilimanjaro · Tanzania Kilimanjaro — Barafu & the Summit January–March and June–October Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Andes · Cusco, Peru Salkantay Trek May to September (dry season) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Andes · Peru Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit May to September (dry season) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Patagonia · Argentina Fitz Roy — Laguna de los Tres November to March (Patagonian summer) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta · Colombia Ciudad Perdida — the Lost City Drier spells (Dec–March, Jul–Aug); it is jungle year-round Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Talamanca · Costa Rica Cerro Chirripó Dry season, December to April Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Ethiopian Highlands · Ethiopia Simien Mountains October to March (dry season) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Drakensberg · South Africa Drakensberg Amphitheatre & Tugela Falls Autumn and spring (Mar–May, Sep–Nov); summer brings storms Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Cape Town · South Africa Table Mountain & Lion’s Head Spring to autumn; summer brings strong wind Where to stay
2 ways to stay
ǁKaras · Namibia Fish River Canyon Trail Cooler months only — the trail is open only in the cooler season (check Namibia Wildlife Resorts for dates) and closes when the river is high Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Yunnan · China Tiger Leaping Gorge Spring and fall; summer brings rain and rockfall risk Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Anhui · China Huangshan — Yellow Mountain Spring to fall; winter for snow scenes Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Hunan · China Zhangjiajie — the Avatar Pillars Spring and fall for milder weather and fewer crowds Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Nelson · South Island, New Zealand Abel Tasman Coast Track October to April, though it walks year-round Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Southern Alps · South Island, New Zealand Routeburn Track November to April (Great Walk season; check DOC for exact dates) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Central Plateau · North Island, New Zealand Tongariro Alpine Crossing November to April; winter needs alpine skills and gear Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Otago · South Island, New Zealand Roys Peak Spring to autumn; the track closes for lambing (about Oct–Nov) Where to stay
3 ways to stay
Cradle Mountain · Tasmania, Australia Overland Track The booked season runs roughly October to May Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Red Centre · Northern Territory, Australia Larapinta Trail Cooler months, May to September (summer is dangerously hot) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Snowy Mountains · NSW, Australia Mount Kosciuszko — Main Range Summer (December–March); winter is a snow trip Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Blue Mountains · NSW, Australia Blue Mountains — Grand Canyon Track Year-round; spring and autumn are loveliest Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Northern Alps · Nagano, Japan Kamikochi — Japanese Alps Mid-April to mid-November, when the valley is open Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Kii Peninsula · Wakayama, Japan Kumano Kodo — Nakahechi Spring and autumn are ideal Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Kiso Valley · Nagano/Gifu, Japan Nakasendo — Magome to Tsumago Spring to autumn; snowy in winter Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Green Spain · Galicia, Spain Camino Francés — Galicia to Santiago April–June and September–October; summer is hot and busy Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Pyrenees · France & Spain Camino Francés — the Pyrenees Start Late spring to early fall; the high route can close in winter or bad weather Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Dolomites · South Tyrol, Italy Seceda & Alpe di Siusi — Val Gardena June to October Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Pyrenees · Aragón, Spain Ordesa Canyon & Monte Perdido June to October Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Picos de Europa · Northern Spain Cares Gorge — Picos de Europa Spring to fall; it can be hot and busy in summer Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Lika · Croatia Plitvice Lakes Spring to fall; book tickets ahead in summer Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Julian Alps · Slovenia Mount Triglav & Lake Bled July to September Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Albanian Alps · Albania Peaks of the Balkans — Valbona to Theth June to September Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Turquoise Coast · Turkey The Lycian Way Spring and fall; summer is very hot Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Canary Islands · Tenerife, Spain Mount Teide Year-round; the summit is cold, with winter snow Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Madeira · Portugal Madeira — Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo Spring to fall; the ridge is often cold and cloudy Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Southern Desert · Jordan Wadi Rum & the Jordan Trail to Petra Spring and fall; summer is very hot, winter nights cold Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Cascades · Washington, USA PCT — Goat Rocks & the Knife’s Edge Late July to September, once the snow clears Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Sierra Nevada · California, USA PCT — High Sierra & Forester Pass July to September (later in heavy snow years) Where to stay
2 ways to stay
Rockies · Wyoming, USA CDT — Wind River Range July to September Where to stay

How we cover lodging

Campgrounds

Front-country and designated sites, usually booked through national systems like Recreation.gov or a park's own portal.

Lodges & hotels

In-park lodges and gateway-town rooms for hikers who want a bed, a shower and a short drive to the trailhead.

Huts & refuges

Hut-to-hut and teahouse routes where you sleep indoors each night — book early, because beds are the bottleneck.

Backcountry

Wilderness permits and remote camps for multi-day trips — where the right pack and food storage matter most.

Sorting out where to sleep? Pair it with our trip-planning tools, a matching gearset, and the packing checklist so nothing gets left in the car.

We're adding destinations in waves — more national parks, long trails and international treks are on the way. Have a place you'd like covered? Tell us and we'll prioritize it.