just curious about what everyone's favorite loop trail is. Trying to decide on a sub-7 day summer hike.

Trail around Three Sisters in central Oregon

about 45 miles and maybe 6000 feet elevation gain

no difficult stream crossings or anything

excellent scenery

if you go there this September you might see me

One of my favorites loops (more like a lollipop in shape) is in Olympic NP. From the town of Brinnon (on Hood Canal/east side of the park):

Follow the West Fork of the Dosewallips River up to Honeymoon Meadows, over La Crosse Pass, follow the Duckabush River up to Marmot and Hart Lake, over O'Neill Pass, over Anderson Pass and back.

This was a 5 night trip (4 nights backcountry, one at a campground b/c we got there in the late afternoon). On a map of the park, this loop looks laughably small but really shows how BIG the place is.

This is a nice loop for those in Seattle or Portland b/c of the east-side start/finish. Getting around to the Hoh Forest side takes a long time.

Edited by saparisor on 01/30/2011 15:32:52 MST.

Tahoe Rim Trail - 168 miles. Easy logistics, resupply options, nice scenery. I could probably come up with a better one in the Sierras but you didn't say how many miles you're able/willing to do.

Four Pass Loop in Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.

Probably a loop around/thru the entire Sawtooths starting and ending at Redfish Lake

Highline-Stoney Indian-Ptarmigan-Swiftcurrent in GNP.

Rae Lakes loop in Kings Canyon NP is quite nice.

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/rae-lakes-loop.htm

Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier? Hard to beat for spectacular and varied scenery. Not terribly "remote" in the sense of getting away from other hikers/campers, though.

Cheers,

Rick

There are a ton of great loops in the Pasayten Wilderness of Washington. The area is vast and many trails link up. Choose your own adventure!

I'm totally not answering this.

Hellroaring Trailhead in Yellowstone NP, up Coyote Creek Trail to the stock bridge in Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, back along Hellroaring Creek.

I'm with Jack, no way I can answer this. It's like trying to name my favorite craft beer; I just start going around in circles in my head and end very confused and none the wiser.

It's raining here, so I'm going to spend the afternoon drinking micros and looking through old journals and photos. Maybe I'll have an answer later; I think however I'll probably just be intoxicated. ;)

I think Jack's going another direction!

Wonderland Trail, hand's down. The incredible scenery overwhelmes the minor disadvantages, e.g. too many people on certain sections, esp. on weekends.