Heading into the backcountry can be one of the best aspects of a national park vacation. You can walk off into the woods in just about any direction, but here are some hiker favorites:

• Lizard Creek Campground: Near Grand Teton's northern border, this out-of-the-way campground is often overlooked, so you can be sure it's not overrun with noisy campers. The forest setting on the shores of Jackson Lake is picturesque, and there's no light pollution to obscure your views of the night sky.
• Shoshone, Lewis, or Yellowstone lakes: You have to work, either by hiking or paddling, to reach the backcountry campsites that dot the shores of Yellowstone National Park's three major lakes. But you won't be disappointed. You'll see shooting stars crease the sky on clear nights, and wildlife abound in this natural setting.
• High Sierra Camps: Strung like jewels through the backcountry of Yosemite National Parks, these camps make venturing into the backcountry less daunting than it may seem to first-timers. There's no need to carry a tent, because the camps offer tent-cabins for shelter, and no need to carry food, because the on-site chef feeds hikers as if they were kings.
• Kolob Canyon: Located in the northwestern corner of Zion National Park, this canyon leads to Kolob Arch, which, with a 310-foot span, just may be the world's longest freestanding arch. Along the way, the trail passes a number of backcountry campsites and La Verkin Creek.