Multi-day treks in SW USA, October 2014 : which Parks?

Hi Nick,
some years ago I've been to the SW and found the Bishop pass area in the Sierra Nevada, California a beautiful and wild area to hike. Many lakes to camp, good trout-fishing and many opportunities to do multi-day-treks through John Muir Wilderness and/or Kings Canyon NP.
Our trailhead was at South Lake at the end of the road from Bishop. Dont know about public transport since we had a rental car.

The best one would be Grand Canyon, possibly, if you can get the Backcountry permit.
Otherwise there are many canyon treks in Southern Utah, like Paria Canyon Buckskin Gulch, Coyote Gulch Canyon, Grand Gulch. I've trekked all of these and they were fantastic (and different too).

The first question I would have is what experience do you have in backpacking? I have hiked and backpacked in most of the parks in the southwest and would never encourage someone without relevant experience to backpack solo anywhere. I am a knowledgeable desert backpacker and would backpack solo but I know the risks I would be taking and accept them. People die every year backpacking solo.

With relevant experience it is a calculated risk to backpack solo. Without relevant experience it is the height of foolishness. The classic example is that of Aron Ralston. They made a movie about his experience. http://www.backpacker.com/aron_ralston_movie/blogs/1430

When you use the word 'trek', it indicates to me you are not a N. American. if you do not have desert experience, I would probably be encouraging you to stick to well known and busier trails rather than doing any map and compass backpacking off-trail for example.

Willemspie, people die in the Grand Canyon every year, suggesting a backcountry permit there for solo backpacking, without knowing someone's capabilities, is in my opinion irresponsible. I'd like to hear a bit of a resume of backpacking experience from nicolas before suggesting anything at all.

The options I proposed are not difficult. American families trek there with small children. For the Grand Canyon, you can be an absolute beginner if you just get a permit for the main trails, and the camping at the bottom.

Willemspie, you specifically suggested a back country permit. Now you are talking only about the 'main trails' You've changed your tune but failed to acknowledge that you have. Backpedal much?

Nor is even the Bright Angel trail for 'an absolute beginner'. That absolute beginners do walk some of the trails is indeed the case but they don't do multi-day 5 to 10 day 'treks'.

I have backpacked on and OFF trail in the Grand Canyon more than once and I would never suggest anyone without experience and the proper equipment (which no 'absolute beginner' ever has) plan on doing a multi-day trip in the Canyon. A day hike of a couple of hours, fine but not a multi-day trip.

You need a backcountry permit to camp at the bottom, even if you take the Kaibab / Bright Angel trails.

some years ago I've been to the SW and found the Bishop pass area in the Sierra Nevada, California a beautiful and wild area to hike.

Thanks Pakoban, I will look into it!

The best one would be Grand Canyon, possibly, if you can get the Backcountry permit.
Otherwise there are many canyon treks in Southern Utah, like Paria Canyon Buckskin Gulch, Coyote Gulch Canyon, Grand Gulch. I've trekked all of these and they were fantastic (and different too).

Bonjour Pierre ;)
I will have a look at those too, but I'm not sure it's canyons that appeal to me the most, at the moment.

The first question I would have is what experience do you have in backpacking?

I've trekked independently round the Annapurnas and in the Bulgarian mountains, and in full autonomy in the Hornstrandir Peninsula in Iceland, for 9 days (as well as in countless different areas around Africa, but with guides). The conditions in my Iceland trek weren't what I would call difficult (summer weather was great), but most days I didn't see a soul, and I had to carry everything with me except water. Lack of water on trail would probably be what would stop me from going certain routes, but in any case I'm not the person who goes looking for extreme thrills, unlike Ralston (if I remember the trailer right, he jumped down a canyon and got stuck).

In any case, folowing the advice I got here and on the duplicate thread I posted in the USA forum (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/americas-united-states-of-america/United%20States/multi-day-treks-in-sw-usa-october-2014-which-parks-or-wa?page=1), I've made my choices and booked my plane tickets, which was what I wanted sorted out asap, as well as a car to get me to the trailheads - I got a good deal and figured it wasn't going to be that much cheaper by public transport anyway. I'll pick it up in SF on the 29th of September and drop it in LV on the 16th of October - should be plenty of time ;)