Where are the best places in the US to go backpacking?|144596

My friends and I really like backpacking, and living in the outdoors. We were discussing taking a trip someone over the summer to go backpacking. The only problem is that we don_t know much about good backpacking trails. We would really like to know the best trails with the best scenery (like rivers and lakes and stuff like that) in the US, preferably the continental states. So, do you have any suggestions for me and my friends?

Couple of thoughts come to mind - I understand the Smokies have wonderful hiking trails. Say from Virginia south. In the Portland area there is the Cascade river gorge lots of great hikes and you can even check them out online before you go. If you want to add some canoeing - the Boundary Waters Canoe area in northern mn is isolated, primitive and beautiful. No motors allowed good mix of river, lake and forest.

Michigan_s Upper Peninsula . Beautiful up there
Lake Superior lake shore is AWESOME and there are over 300 waterfalls and hundreds of inland lakes there. I love going there .Trail follows the Black River north to Lake Superior. This is a one way trail and is moderate in difficulty and takes about an afternoon to complete. The Black River trail has spectacular views of waterfalls and the gorge. Try to go when the wind is from the north as the bugs are nearly nonexistent, otherwise take plenty of bugspray!
Directions to Hike
From Ironwood, Upper Penninsula, Michegan, go east on US highway 2, just before Bessemer 1 mile turn north onto County Road 513 (aka. Powderhorn Road), follow 10 miles to best parking at Great Conglomerate Falls. Camping available.

Contact Information
U.S. Forest Service: Ottawa National Forest

Western U.P. Visitor Bureau, Ironwood, MI.
(906)932-4850

Boundary Waters Canoe area. I_ve been there and it_s absolutely beautiful. The Florida Everglades also look nice.