Best Long Distance Hiking in the United States

The Appalachian Trail (AT) stretches across the Eastern United States from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine. It passes through 14 states, and generally takes 4-6 months to complete the entire trail. It is one of the most famous long distance trails in the United States.

The Pacific Crest Trail follows the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. It reaches across the United States from the Canadian border to the Mexican border, and passes through 7 national parks along the way. It is very famous, and has been portrayed in many popular movies.

The John Muir Trail is a popular trail through the national parks of Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia. Most of the route lies in the High Sierra backcountry through high mountain scenery. As such, it sees very remote wilderness, and very high elevations.

The Hayduke Trail is an extremely strenuous trail through Utah and Arizona. It reaches many famous national parks, including Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion. It goes well below sea-level in the canyons, but also reaches enormous heights in the mountains.

The Wonderland Trail routes around the famous Mount Rainier in the state of Washington. The trail lies entirely within the Mount Rainier National Park, which is a popular local attraction. The hiking season is quite narrow due to lingering snow, and reservations are required for both developed campsites and obtaining a wilderness backcountry permit.

The Pacific Northwest Trail runs near the northern American-Canadian border, and passes through numerous national parks, national forests, and mountain ranges in the region. It was named a National Scenic Trail by President Obama in 2009.

The Sierra High Route is a trekking route through the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada, and is often seen as a more adventurous alternative to the nearby John Muir Trail. The route is mostly unmarked, so hikers will need to be fairly experienced in navigation and mountaineering.

The Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) loops around the Lake Tahoe Basin, as it routes through the Sierra Nevada and Carson mountain ranges of the region. It happens to share the path of the Pacific Crest Trail for a 50 mile stretch on the western shore of Lake Tahoe.

The Arizona Trail traverses the entire latitudinal length of the US state of Arizona. It starts from the Mexican border and reaches north to the border with Utah. The trail reaches its highest elevation in the volcanic mountain range of the San Francisco Peaks.

The Colorado Trail stretches through numerous mountain ranges and wilderness areas of eastern Colorado. Much of trail passes through historic areas, untouched in hundreds of years. The trail has very challenging elevation, and reaches its highest point in the San Juan Mountains.

The Florida Trail is a National Scenic Trail running through most of the state of Florida. As the trail is still under development, certain sections have gaps that need to be crossed through local roads or temporary diversions. Florida's rich bio-diversity makes the trail very unique in terms of environment.

The Ice Age Trail winds through the state of Wisconsin, as it follows the advance of glaciers that formed during the last Ice Age which ended about 12,000 years ago. It traverses through numerous state parks and forests, and across Wisconsin's most famous scenic landscapes. At some sections are still in development, hikers will need to use local roads to connect the trail at those junctions.

The Long Trail runs through the length of the US state of Vermont. It is designated as one of the oldest long distance trails in the United States, having been completed in 1930, and served as inspiration for the Appalachian Trail. It follows the primary ridge of the Green Mountains, and reaches all of its major summits.

The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) follows the main ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota. It has very scenic views of the lake, and of the Sawtooth Mountains. The SHTA promotes and maintains the trail - it runs a shuttle for transportation and maintains numerous free backcountry campsites available for hikers.

The Buckeye Trail is a very long route looping around the state of Ohio. It passes through various scenic areas of the state, while also going through many historic small towns. It is not a very popular trail, and receives very few thru-hike attempts. The BT is less remote than most long distance trails, and typically has mild terrain and conditions.

The Idaho Centennial Trail winds through the varied ecosystems of Idaho, ranging from desert canyonlands in the south, to lush mountain forests in the north. It contains many challenging ascents and descents through the landscape.