One of the best outdoor activities you can do in the summer is backpacking. It combines two of my favorite activities: hiking and camping. You get to hike into some beautiful places and then stay for an indefinite amount of time (subject to the amount of food you bring). It not only takes a significant amount of physical exertion, but also a lot of smart planning. And the payout is always rewarded with beautiful scenery and peace. It’s something that can be accomplished alone or in a group, each having their own benefits and difficulties. This is a list of five of my favorite backpacking places, as well as five wish-list backpacking trips.

Note that many of these hikes require permits, and sometimes you have to wait almost a year to be approved, so plan in advance.

1. Rialto Beach.

This is absolutely my favorite place to backpack. I’ve gone nearly every summer since I was a child. It is gorgeous and relaxing, and one of the closest places to camp is right on the beach. Rialto beach is located right next to La Push out on the Washington Coast. You can even see the town at night at certain campsites. There are both backpackers and frequent day-hikers all along the beach. Dogs are permitted for day walks but not overnight. If you are an overnight camper, you must hike at least a mile in (past Ellen’s Creek) to find a campsite. All campsites are just off the beach in the tree line. And if you hike a mile more you will reach the hole-in-the-wall, a favorite destination of the beach. It is both an easy hike (day or overnight) and it is absolutely stunning. I highly recommend this to anyone, especially first-timers.

2. Lake Christine.

This overnight backpacking destination has also been a place I’ve frequented since my childhood. It is quite literally right next to Mt. Rainier, located near Packwood, Wash. It’s also an easy hike in/out, about a mile and a half into the lake itself from the parking lot. Once you find a niche to pitch your tent in, you can hike about another mile to the top of the mountain and be astounded by the view before you. Mt. Rainier is looming right next to you, Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens are visible on a clear day. Beautiful wild flowers are spread throughout the entire mountain, a truly picturesque sight. And Lake Christine itself is a shallow, alpine lake, making the fish extremely visible and fun to fish for.

3. Pete’s Lake/Spectacle Lake.

I’ve only hiked this gorgeous location for the first time this last summer, but I will be going back. Pete’s Lake is the first stop, and Spectacle Lake is a bit further in. It’s a little bit of a longer one, about four and a half miles to Pete’s lake, and four miles further to Spectacle. The views are amazing, though, and lots of wildlife flourishes in the mountains around there. It is located in the Salmon Le Sac region on the eastern side of the mountains. Part of the trail up to Spectacle Lake is on the Pacific Crest Trail, which is pretty cool and you can meet some cool and intense people along the way. Both lakes have breathtaking views -- Spectacle is definitely chiller, though, just due to its elevation increase. These are fairly popular overnight and day hiking destinations, so plan to share it with many others.

4. Ozette Lake.

This lake is actually located fairly close to Rialto Beach. It’s part of the Cape Alava Loop, which is nine and a half miles long (it includes both Rialto Beach and Ozette Lake, a very fun overnight backpacking experience). But hiking into Ozette Lake by itself is about an eight-mile round trip. This is one of the largest, unaltered lakes in Washington State. You can stay at Ozette Lake as your home base and visit the beach for a day hike during your stay. It gives you the best of beach and forest experience. In the summer when it's really hot (which is rare on the coast), you could risk taking a swim, but the temperature of the lake is never very warm, so proceed at your own expense.

5. Trail Creek.

Trail Creek is also a recently hiked backpacking trip for me, but it is one I will return to in the future. This one is about nine and a half miles round trip (so about five miles one way) and has a decent amount of elevation gain. Like Pete’s Lake, it is located in the Salmon Le Sac region on the eastern side of Washington. Trail creek is on a path that is connected to Waptus Lake, which is a very popular destination. We chose to make camp at Trail Creek just because it was less crowded and a little less hectic. There are day hikers that take pit stops on their way to Waptus Lake, but it’s great for meeting new people. Waptus Lake is big and very beautiful, but it’s quite a bit further than Trail creek, about another 10 miles or so further down the path.

Now for the wish list...

6. The Wonderland Trail.

This has always been a dream of mine to do. The Wonderland trail is 93 miles long and encircles Mt. Rainier. It is a very physically demanding hike, usually taking almost two weeks to complete. There are three “pit stops” where you can store food and supplies ahead of time (by mailing it in), so it will be there when you arrive and you won’t have to carry it all with you for the whole two-week period. This trail is meant only to be hiked by experienced hikers and campers that know what they are doing. It is definitely something to be worked up to and not something to do on a whim. And as you can imagine, the views are absolutely breathtaking. My mom and I put in to get a permit for the trail last summer but we were denied due to the massive amount of people that applied. You can day hike certain parts of the trail without applying for a permit, but for staying overnight you must apply. But one day I will hike this!

7. The Enchantments.

This hike looks like a dream to be able to walk through. It is 18 miles round trip, but it is not an easy climb due to its 4,500-foot elevation gain. The Enchantments are located near Leavenworth, Washington, and also require an overnight pass that you must apply for (also requires Northwest Forest Pass). This can also be day hiked without applying for the special overnight permit, but the Northwest Forest Pass is still required. This beautiful hike includes everything from stunning, snow capped peaks, gleaming glaciers, and deep blue alpine lakes. The crown jewel of this excruciating hike is Snow Lake. It is part of the Upper Enchantments and is an absolutely stunning site. If you are a very experienced and strong hiker then you could hike to this lake and back in one day, but most people will need the overnight permit to be able to reach this lake and enjoy it. Though the hike may be extremely difficult, the rewards are truly fulfilling.

8. Twisp Pass -- Dagger Lake.

This hike is located, well, near Twisp in the Methow region (which is in Eastern Washington). It is a nine mile round trip hike, attainable by day hikers and overnight campers. No special overnight permit is required except that you will need a Northwest Forest Pass. It has a 2,460-foot elevation gain, so it is a moderate hike for most. Twisp Pass itself is gorgeous with its peaks and forests, but Dagger Lake really puts the cherry on top. Dagger Lake is a hidden gem with much of its remote shores waiting to be explored. In the fall time, the trail is vibrant with the red of the vegetation and creates for a wonderful visual experience. It is one I truly look forward to backpacking into.

9. Gothic Basin.

Gothic Basin is located in the North Cascades near the Mountain Loop Highway. It’s about nine miles round trip and has an elevation gain of 2,840 feet. The trail can be a bit choppy at times because it was made by miners long ago. Day hikers can definitely complete this hike but they will be disappointed that they have decided not to stay at least one night. With absolutely stunning views, this hike will leave you wanting to stay forever. To the left of the trail you can even see the peaks of Monte Cristo where old mines still remain. It is a pretty popular place to camp so try to plan your trip on non-weekend days.

10. Upper Big Quilcene -- Marmot Pass.

This backpacking trip is located out on the Olympic Peninsula, near Hood Canal. It is 11.5 miles round trip and has an elevation gain of 3,489 feet. This trail is very well taken care of and very well loved by day and overnight campers a like. While it is a fairly demanding climb, it is rewarded (as usual) by the spectacular views. Once you have reached Marmot Pass, the ability to find other backpacking paths are pretty abundant (meaning you can extend your trip even further if you choose to do so). You will be greeted by peaks upon peaks throughout this hike. Overnight backpackers will have a more difficult time with the elevation gain and their heavy packs, but I believe the hike is always a bit more satisfying when you push yourself that much harder.

Now pack your bags and get going! Challenge yourself to the trials of backpacking, and reap the rewards. It’s something you will be proud of and will have stories to tell for many years to come.