Trip Reports from the Trail

Real stories, conditions, and tips from fellow backpackers. Plan your next trip with firsthand knowledge.

45 reports found

Four Pass Loop in early July: snow on all four passes before the wildflower rush

Field notes on running Colorado's marquee loop in the first week of July, when West Maroon, Frigid Air, Trail Rider, and Buckskin all still hold snow and the permit calendar finally loosens up.

Highline Trail in early July: snowfields linger on the Garden Wall traverse

Season notes for the earliest Highline window, when Going-to-the-Sun Road has just opened, snow lingers on the high traverse, and the Garden Wall crowds have not fully arrived.

Cirque of the Towers in early July: snow on Jackass Pass, hardly anyone around

Early-season intelligence on the Wind River Range's famous granite amphitheater, when the free self-issue permit meets lingering snow, big water, and the year's first mosquito hatch.

Obsidian trailhead in early July: day-use permit for the Sisters' quiet side

How the Obsidian limited-entry day-use permit works and what the west side of the Three Sisters country typically offers in the first week of July.

Jul 3-4, 2026

PermitSnag Team

Lyell Canyon JMT start in early July: 30 Donohue permits and a soggy meadow

4.0

Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible)

Lyell Canyon JMT start in early July: 30 Donohue permits and a soggy meadow

Why the Lyell Canyon Donohue-eligible permit is the smart JMT entry, and what the first week of July typically looks like between Tuolumne Meadows and the pass.

Wonderland Trail in early July: swollen rivers and a snowbound Panhandle Gap

Season notes for the earliest realistic Wonderland window: what the 93-mile loop looks like in the first week of July and how permits actually shake out after the spring lottery.

Teton Crest Trail in early July: Paintbrush and Hurricane still wear their snow

An honest early-July condition report for the Teton Crest Trail, where the two big passes typically hold steep snow into late July and itinerary flexibility matters more than fitness.

JMT from Yosemite in late June: big water, snow, and the Donohue question

Season report on starting the John Muir Trail from Yosemite in the last week of June, covering permit mechanics for the 45 daily southbound spots and what the Yosemite miles typically look like before the July crowds.

High Sierra Trail in late June: high water in the Kern and an early Whitney

Season report for the Lodgepole High Sierra Trail entry in the last week of June, covering the reservation permit, trans-Sierra conditions at the start of the season, and where early hikers get in trouble.

Jun 22-25, 2026

PermitSnag Team

4.0

Conundrum Hot Springs

Conundrum Hot Springs in June: an 11,200-foot soak earned through snowmelt

What the 17-mile round trip to Colorado's highest famous hot springs looks like in June, with the creek crossings, lingering snow, and reservation mechanics that define the early window.

Sawbill Lake entry (EP38) in June: long days, open water, and peak bug season

Season intelligence for one of the Boundary Waters' most requested entry points, covering quota permit mechanics and what June canoe travel typically delivers north of Sawbill.

Enchantments Core Zone in June: Aasgard under snow and lakes still half frozen

An honest look at what a June Core Zone permit actually buys: winter conditions above 7,000 feet, a snow-covered Aasgard Pass, and solitude that August holders never get.

Jun 12-14, 2026

PermitSnag Team