place to camp/hike in western U.S. (WY,MT, CO, etc)

In My Humble Opinion
1

a couple of times in the last 15 years or so, I’ve come on here looking for relatively unknown nice places to go camping/hiking/backpacking. I was intorduced to Little MO national Grassland, and Woodland Caribou Provincial Park this way…>>>THANKS GUYS!

Well here I am again.
I’m looking for places to hike/camp/backpack that are within about a days drive of southern WIsconsin. I’m mostly looking at mountainous states, but I think I’d like to avoid the really popular places like Yellowstone, Rocky Mts. National Park, The Tetons…though I may still consider them.

Can you recommend some places (national forests, state parks, etc) that I can do some mountain hiking (not climbing) that would be of interest. Here are my requirements:

  1. 15 hour drive or less from S. Wisconsin
  2. relatively remote/not popular
  3. large enough to hike alone for 5 days

Heck I’ve changed my mind…it doesn’t’ have to be mountainous; I’m sure Nebraska has some very cool places… but totally flat may be a bit of a drag.

SO, any suggestions?

2

I have hiked the Sawtooth Wilderness in Idaho several times. Beautiful alpine lakes and rugged peaks. I saw other people, but it was not crowded.

3

Teal and Tiago Lakes, CO. West of Ft. Collins, just east of Steamboat Springs. I say just east and that is true as the crow flies, but there is a huge freaking mountain in between. Very remote and quiet, but good flat ground for a campsite and the lakes are full of trout. Go five minutes in any direction and you’re in complete wilderness.

If you’re really ambitious, go west over the mountain and there are hot springs on the west side above Steamboat.

Bring a good map and a compass.

4

Oh, and watch out for moose. Lots of them around there.

5

Anything in n. Dakota or s Dakota, I’m missing?

6

I don’t know about backpacking, but the hike up to Harney Peak is well worth your time if you’re in the vicinity of The Black Hills.