Good weekend backpacking in late May near major airports?

[daved brosche]

Im looking for a 2 or 3 day backpacking trip in late May, but must be no further than 2 hours from a major airport.

Any suggestions?

[Ken Thompson]

California. Pick an airport. Not being smarmy.

[Lester Moore]

How about Utah? I believe that Zion NP is within a few hours of Vegas. May will be warm during the day, but at least it’s snow free in the Utah and Arizona canyon country, as opposed to most mountain destinations in the West in May.

[Steven Paris]

You might be able to put together something from Portland in the Columbia Gorge. It really depends on the snowmelt and the elevation you want to go (and May is usually too soon). I don’t have details but I know there are shuttles from Portland (maybe PDX itself) to the Gorge trailheads.

[jscott]

Moab is more like three hours from Salt Lake city, but there’s lots of canyon hiking there.

[daved brosche]

Good call @saparisor !  The Eagle Creek Trail looks perfect.  A little busy, but probably one of the better hikes I can manage this time of year.

[Kathryn L]

I just backpacked in Joshua Tree, which is about 2 hours from LA.  Not sure if it’s unbearably hot by late May, but we loved it.

 

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