New to backpacking? Looking for a great spring warm-up? These backpacking trips were hand-picked by our staff and backpacking 101 instructors for being not only beautiful places to visit but also on the easier side of the scale for overnight backpacking trips. Not a beginner? These are all awesome hikes for any backpacker regardless of skill level! Better start blocking out your summer weekends because once you start working on this list, you’ll be hooked! Have any recommendations? Feel free to comment with your favorite beginner backpacking hikes! 

West Central

Louie Lake, Payette National Forest- 5.1 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/louie-lake-trail?sh=udtvzn

Jennie Lake- Boise National Forest- 9 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/jennie-lake-trail?sh=udtvzn

Snowslide Lake- Payette National Forest-  3.5 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/snowslide-lake-trail–2

Hum Lake- Payette National Forest- 8.5 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/hum-lake-via-twentymile-and-north-fork-lick-trails

Grass Mountain Lakes, Payette National Forest- 7.4 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/coffee-cup-lake-and-grass-mountain-lakes-trail

Selway River Trail, Nez-Clear National Forest- 7 miles
https://clearwatertrekker.com/adventures-on-and-beyond-the-selway-river-trail/

Duck Lake- Payette National Forest- 2.8 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/duck-lake-via-twentymile-trail-

Rainbow Lake Trail- Payette National Forest- 3.3 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/rainbow-lake-trail

East Central

Langer Lake- Salmon-Challis National Forest- 4.1 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/hike-to-langer-lake

Washington Lake- White Clouds Wilderness- 6.6 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/washington-lake-via-white-clouds-trail

Born Lakes- White Clouds Wilderness- 7.9 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/fourth-of-july-creek-to-born-lakes

Hell Roaring Lake, Sawtooth Wilderness- 11.1 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/hellroaring-creek-trail-to-hell-roaring-lake

Bear Creek Lake- Salmon Challis National Forest- 5.4 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/bear-creek-lake

North Idaho

Two Mouth Lakes- Idaho Panhandle National Forest- 9.1 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/two-mouth-lakes

Beehive Lakes- Idaho Panhandle National Forest- Kaniksu National Forest- 7.2 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/beehive-lakes

Harrison Lake- Kaniksu National Forest – 4.6 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/harrison-lake-trail

Moose Lake Loop- Idaho Panhandle National Forest- 6.9 miles
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/moose-lake-loop