The longest hiking trails in the US range from Vermont's 272-mile Long Trail to the American Discovery Trail, which crosses the whole country from Delaware to California on a route of roughly 6,800 miles when both of its mid-country branches are counted. In between sit the three giants of American long-distance walking, the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails, each of which takes a strong hiker five to six months.
For the full overview, read our guide to the most famous landmarks in the USA.
Length is only part of the story. These ten trails give ten very different experiences: swamp wading in Florida, rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon, snowfields above 12,000 feet in Colorado, Great Lakes shoreline in Michigan, and the steep, muddy ridgelines of New England. This guide explains what each one feels like underfoot, when to go, how long it takes and who it suits, so you can choose a thru-hike or a section that fits your time and experience. If you are planning a wider trip, our guide to adventure vacations in the USA covers rafting, climbing and other outdoor trips.
How we picked these ten trails: We started with the longest established footpaths in the United States, including the 11 National Scenic Trails, and chose ten that each offer a distinct landscape and style of walking. Lengths are approximate, because trail organisations update mileage as sections are rerouted. Seasons, permit systems and hike times reflect the official trail associations' guidance as checked in October 2026; always confirm closures and permits before you start.
- Miles on the longest route: 6,800
- Triple Crown trails: 3
- Months for a big thru-hike: 5 to 6
- Miles on the shortest trail here: 272
How long is each of the 10 longest US hiking trails?
The American Discovery Trail is the longest at about 6,800 miles, followed by the North Country Trail (about 4,800 miles), the Continental Divide Trail (about 3,100), the Pacific Crest Trail (about 2,650) and the Appalachian Trail (about 2,200). The shortest here, Vermont's Long Trail, is 272 miles. The table lists the ten trails by approximate length, with the season and time a typical thru-hiker needs. Click a trail name in the guide below for the full card.
| # | Trail | Length | States | Best season | Thru-hike time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Discovery Trail | ~6,800 mi | 15 + D.C. | Varies by region | About a year |
| 2 | North Country Trail | ~4,800 mi | 8 | Summer to early autumn | 8 to 10 months |
| 3 | Continental Divide Trail | ~3,100 mi | 5 | April to October | 5 to 6 months |
| 4 | Pacific Crest Trail | ~2,650 mi | 3 | April to September | 4.5 to 6 months |
| 5 | Appalachian Trail | ~2,200 mi | 14 | March to October | 5 to 7 months |
| 6 | Florida Trail | ~1,300 to 1,500 mi | 1 | January to April | 2 to 3 months |
| 7 | Pacific Northwest Trail | ~1,200 mi | 3 | July to September | 2 to 3 months |
| 8 | Arizona Trail | ~800 mi | 1 | Spring or autumn | 5 to 8 weeks |
| 9 | Colorado Trail | ~485 mi | 1 | July to September | 4 to 6 weeks |
| 10 | Long Trail | 272 mi | 1 | June to October | 2 to 4 weeks |
Lengths are approximate because sections are rerouted around fires, private land and washouts, and official figures change from year to year. The Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails together form the so-called Triple Crown of US hiking. Permits differ by trail: hikers covering 500 or more continuous miles of the PCT apply for a long-distance permit through the Pacific Crest Trail Association, while most other trails only need the local permits of the land they cross, such as backcountry permits in national parks.
10 longest hiking trails in the US: full guide
The ten longest hiking trails in the US take from two weeks (the Long Trail) to about a year (the American Discovery Trail) to walk end to end. Each card below covers start and end points, terrain, season, the time you need and an honest note on what makes the trail hard.
American Discovery Trail
The longest trail in the US, the American Discovery Trail is also the only non-motorised trail that crosses the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It starts at Cape Henlopen State Park on the Delaware coast and ends at Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore, California. Between Ohio and Colorado it splits into a northern and a southern route, and counting both gives a total of about 6,800 miles across 15 states and Washington, D.C.
This is a walk through the country as much as through wilderness. You follow the C&O Canal towpath along the Potomac, rail trails through farm country, quiet roads across the Great Plains, the high Rockies of Colorado, the deserts of Utah and Nevada and the Sierra Nevada before the coast. Long stretches pass through small towns, which makes resupply easy but means more pavement than on any other trail here.
Very few people have walked the entire route in one go. Planning is complex because the seasons differ so much from coast to coast: you want to cross the Plains before summer heat and the Rockies and Sierra before autumn snow. Most hikers walk it in sections over several years, or cycle parts of it, which the trail allows.
- Start and end: Cape Henlopen, Delaware to Point Reyes, California
- Length: About 6,800 miles with both branches
- Time needed: About a year end to end
- Terrain: Towpaths, roads, rail trails, mountains, desert
Best for: hikers who want to see small-town America. Tip: the C&O Canal section is a flat, easy introduction.
North Country Trail
The North Country Trail is the longest of the National Scenic Trails at about 4,800 miles. It runs from Lake Sakakawea State Park in North Dakota to the Appalachian Trail in Vermont, crossing Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York on the way.
The landscape is the American north woods and the Great Lakes. Highlights include the sandstone cliffs and beaches of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior, the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the forests of northern Minnesota and the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Between them lie long stretches of farmland and quiet country roads where volunteers are still building the footpath.
Traffic is light. On many sections you will meet more deer than hikers, which suits people who want solitude, but it also means fewer trail angels and less established infrastructure than on the Appalachian Trail. Insects in early summer and snow from November in the northern states shape the season, so a full thru-hike usually needs careful timing or a flip-flop plan.
- Start and end: Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota to Vermont
- Length: About 4,800 miles
- Best time: Late June to early October in the north
- Terrain: Forest, lakeshore, farmland, some road walks
Best for: solitude and lake scenery. Tip: walk Pictured Rocks in September, after the worst of the biting insects.
Continental Divide Trail
Hardest of the Triple Crown trails, the remote, high-altitude Continental Divide Trail follows the spine of the Rocky Mountains for about 3,100 miles, from the Mexican border at Crazy Cook in New Mexico to the Canadian border at Waterton Lakes, north of Glacier National Park in Montana. It passes through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
The scenery is the most varied of any American trail: the Gila Wilderness with its hot springs and canyons, the San Juan Mountains of Colorado where the route stays above 12,000 feet for days, the open sagebrush of Wyoming's Great Divide Basin, the geysers of Yellowstone and the glaciated peaks of the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Glacier National Park.
It is also the least finished of the big three trails. In places the tread disappears, and hikers navigate by map, GPS and a choice of alternate routes. Long dry stretches, river fords, lightning on exposed ridges and grizzly bears in the north all add to the challenge. Snow in the San Juans in early summer and storms in Montana from late September squeeze the season into a tight window.
- Start and end: Crazy Cook, New Mexico to Waterton Lakes, Canadian border
- Length: About 3,100 miles
- Best time: Northbound: April to September
- Terrain: Desert, high alpine, open basin, forest
Best for: experienced long-distance hikers. Tip: practise map and GPS navigation before you start; you will need it daily.
Pacific Crest Trail
The West Coast's best-known long trail, the Pacific Crest Trail needs a permit and runs about 2,650 miles from Campo on the Mexican border to the Canadian border in the North Cascades, with most hikers finishing at Manning Park in British Columbia. It crosses California, Oregon and Washington and stays close to the crest of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges.
Each section is a different trip. The first 700 miles cross the deserts and mountains of Southern California, where water sources dictate the day. Then the High Sierra brings granite basins, passes above 11,000 feet and the option to climb Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States. Northern California and Oregon are forested and fast, with volcanoes such as Lassen, Shasta and Mount Hood along the way. Washington finishes with glaciers, wildflowers and steep climbs.
Long-distance hikers need a PCT long-distance permit, issued through a quota system with a limited number of daily start slots. Wildfire closures have rerouted hikers in many recent summers, so flexibility is part of the plan. A Canadian entry permit is needed to finish in Manning Park.
- Start and end: Campo, California to Manning Park, British Columbia
- Length: About 2,650 miles
- Best time: Northbound start: April to early May
- Permits: PCT long-distance permit; Canada entry permit to cross the border
Best for: classic thru-hike scenery. Tip: apply for the start permit the day applications open; slots go fast.
Appalachian Trail
The most popular long trail in the country, the Appalachian Trail runs about 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, through 14 states. It is the most walked long-distance trail in the United States and the model for many others.
The logistics are the easiest of any long trail. White blazes mark the route, three-sided shelters stand roughly every 8 to 15 miles, and the trail passes close to towns every few days for food and laundry. Thousands of people start a thru-hike each year, so you rarely walk alone in spring.
The walking itself is tough. Total elevation gain is huge, the climbs are steep and often straight up, and the rocks of Pennsylvania and the granite slabs of New Hampshire's White Mountains test the knees. Most northbound hikers start in Georgia in March or April and reach Katahdin between August and October. Baxter State Park, where Katahdin stands, has its own rules and closing dates for the summit, so plan the finish.
- Start and end: Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine
- Length: About 2,200 miles
- Best time: Northbound: March or April start
- Shelters: About every 8 to 15 miles
Best for: first-time thru-hikers. Tip: start in mid-week and outside the peak weeks of March to spread out from the crowds.
Florida National Scenic Trail
The Florida Trail runs about 1,300 to 1,500 miles, depending on whether road walks are counted, from the Big Cypress National Preserve, north of the Everglades, to Fort Pickens on the Gulf Coast near Pensacola. It is the only National Scenic Trail at its best in winter.
The start stays with you, for the wrong reasons and the right ones. You wade through cypress swamp, sometimes knee or waist deep, with alligators sunning themselves on the banks. Further north the trail follows the shore of Lake Okeechobee, then threads through pine flatwoods, longleaf pine forest and the springs and bluffs of the Suwannee River, before finishing on the white sand of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
It is almost flat, so the challenge is water, heat, insects and wet feet. Walk it between January and April. From May onward, humidity, thunderstorms, mosquitoes and the hurricane season make it a poor choice. Some sections cross military land or private ranches with access rules, so check the trail association's guidance.
- Start and end: Big Cypress National Preserve to Fort Pickens
- Length: About 1,300 to 1,500 miles with road walks
- Best time: January to April
- Terrain: Swamp, pine forest, river bluffs, beach
Best for: a winter long walk. Tip: carry camp shoes that dry quickly; your boots will be wet for days in Big Cypress.
Pacific Northwest Trail
Wild and remote, crossing three national parks and finishing at the ocean, the Pacific Northwest Trail runs about 1,200 miles west from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, Montana, to Cape Alava on the Pacific coast of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. It crosses Montana, Idaho and Washington and passes through Glacier, North Cascades and Olympic national parks.
It is wilder and less polished than the Pacific Crest Trail. Expect overgrown sections, blowdowns, steep climbs and bushwhacking through the Selkirk and Purcell mountains, where grizzly bears live. The trail drops to sea level on Puget Sound, crosses on a ferry to Whidbey Island and climbs into the Olympics before a final stretch on the wild Pacific beach, where you need to read tide tables to pass headlands.
The season is short. Snow lingers in the high country into July, and autumn rain arrives in late September. Several national parks on the route require backcountry permits for specific campsites, which need to be booked in advance.
- Start and end: Glacier National Park to Cape Alava, Washington
- Length: About 1,200 miles
- Best time: July to September
- Permits: Backcountry permits in national parks
Best for: experienced hikers who want solitude. Tip: carry bear spray and know how to use it before you reach the Selkirks.
Arizona National Scenic Trail
The Arizona Trail crosses the state for about 800 miles from the Mexican border at Coronado National Memorial to the Utah border near the Kaibab Plateau. It is divided into 43 passages, which makes it easy to plan section hikes.
The landscape changes with every climb. You start among the sky islands of southern Arizona, mountain ranges that rise out of the desert with pine forest on top, including the Santa Rita and Santa Catalina mountains above Tucson. Saguaro cactus forest gives way to the Mogollon Rim and the ponderosa pine around Flagstaff, the largest ponderosa forest in North America. The highlight comes near the end: a full crossing of the Grand Canyon from the South Rim to the North Rim.
Water is the main issue, with long dry stretches between sources. Hikers walk in spring, heading north, or in autumn, heading south, to avoid summer heat in the desert and snow on the high ground. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon closes in winter, and a backcountry permit is needed to camp inside the canyon.
- Start and end: Mexican border to Utah border
- Length: About 800 miles in 43 passages
- Best time: March to May or September to November
- Terrain: Desert, sky islands, pine forest, canyon
Best for: desert lovers. Tip: check the trail's water reports before every dry stretch.
Colorado Trail
High in the Rockies, with a short season and mountain bikes allowed on most of it, the Colorado Trail runs about 485 miles from the Waterton Canyon trailhead south-west of Denver to Durango in the south-west of the state. Its average elevation is above 10,000 feet, and it crosses eight mountain ranges and six wilderness areas.
It shares more than 200 miles with the Continental Divide Trail and offers a choice between the Collegiate East and Collegiate West routes around the Collegiate Peaks. The western route is higher and more exposed. Expect alpine lakes, wildflower meadows in July, old mining ruins and long days above treeline in the San Juan Mountains near the end.
The season runs from about July to September. Afternoon thunderstorms are a daily pattern in July and August, so start walking early and get off exposed ridges by early afternoon. Acclimatise for a few days in Denver before you start, because altitude sickness is common in the first week.
- Start and end: Waterton Canyon near Denver to Durango
- Length: About 485 miles
- Best time: July to September
- Time needed: 4 to 6 weeks
Best for: a month-long challenge. Tip: aim to cross the highest passes before noon to avoid lightning.
Long Trail
America's oldest long-distance trail, Vermont's Long Trail runs 272 miles along the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border. The Green Mountain Club built it between 1910 and 1930, making it the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States, and it inspired the creation of the Appalachian Trail, which shares its southern 100 miles.
Short as it is, the Long Trail is hard. The path climbs straight up and down steep, rooty and often muddy slopes, with ladders and rock scrambles in places. The rewards are the summits of Camel's Hump and Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, with alpine vegetation and views to the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. Shelters and lodges are spaced along the route.
Walk it between June and October. Late September to mid-October brings famous autumn colour. During spring mud season, the Green Mountain Club asks hikers to stay off high-elevation trails to protect them from erosion.
- Start and end: Massachusetts border to Canadian border
- Length: 272 miles
- Best time: June to October
- Time needed: 2 to 4 weeks
Best for: a first long trail with real challenge. Tip: go in late September for colour without summer crowds.
How to choose a long-distance trail in the US
Pick a trail by the months you have free, your experience and the landscape you want. Beginners do best on the Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail or the Colorado Trail; experienced hikers look to the Continental Divide or the Pacific Northwest Trail.
If you have winter free, the Florida Trail is the obvious choice, and the Arizona Trail works in spring and autumn. Summer suits the northern and high trails: the Colorado Trail, the Long Trail, the Pacific Northwest Trail and the North Country Trail. The Triple Crown trails need a whole season, from spring to autumn. If you have only two to six weeks, choose the Long Trail, the Colorado Trail or a section of a longer route.
Experience matters most on trails with little infrastructure. Navigation skills, river crossings and bear safety are daily concerns on the Continental Divide and Pacific Northwest trails, whereas the Appalachian Trail has shelters, blazes and towns close by.
Permits, fees and resupply for each long US trail
No single permit covers any of these trails. Each one crosses a patchwork of national forests, national parks, state parks and private land, and the permits you need depend on where you camp. The table sums up what thru-hikers deal with on each trail as of October 2026; confirm the details with the trail association and the land managers before you start, because quotas and fees change from season to season.
| Trail | Main permits and fees | Resupply pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Crest Trail | Free PCT long-distance permit for continuous trips of 500 miles or more; northbound starts capped at 50 a day in spring, released in two rounds; separate Canadian entry permit to finish in Manning Park | Town stops every few days in the desert, longer gaps and mailed boxes in the High Sierra |
| Appalachian Trail | No trail-wide permit. Great Smoky Mountains thru-hiker permit costs $44.50 and is bought up to 30 days ahead; Shenandoah needs a free backcountry permit; Baxter State Park issues a free A.T. hiker permit for Katahdin, collected in person | Frequent road crossings and trail towns; most hikers buy as they go |
| Continental Divide Trail | Backcountry permits in Glacier and Yellowstone for set campsites, booked in advance; other sections largely free | Long carries between towns; hitchhiking or shuttles to resupply |
| Pacific Northwest Trail | Backcountry permits in Glacier, North Cascades and Olympic national parks | Sparse towns; mailed boxes are common |
| Arizona National Scenic Trail | Grand Canyon backcountry permit to camp inside the canyon, booked well ahead; North Rim facilities close in winter | Water caches and town stops; water is the main planning issue |
| Florida National Scenic Trail | Some sections cross private land or military areas with seasonal closures or access rules | Easy road access to towns |
| North Country Trail and American Discovery Trail | Mostly no permits; park and campground fees where you stay | Frequent towns, more road walking |
| Colorado Trail and Long Trail | No thru-hike permit; Colorado Trail hikers need a free self-issued wilderness permit at trailheads, and Long Trail shelters and campsites operate first come, first served | Short distances to towns make resupply straightforward |
Budgeting for permits and resupply. Permits are a small part of a thru-hike's cost; food, town stays and gear replacement dominate. The fees that matter most are the ones tied to timing: the PCT quota and the national park backcountry reservations open months ahead and fill quickly for popular dates. International hikers should note that an ESTA allows stays of up to 90 days only, so a full thru-hike of four to six months needs a B-2 visitor visa; budget too for the Canadian entry permit if finishing the PCT or a northern route at the border.
Practical tips for thru-hiking in the USA
A successful US thru-hike starts with a light pack, a resupply plan and permits sorted early. Many thru-hikers aim for a base weight below 20 pounds before food and water, buy food in trail towns or mail boxes ahead, and apply for the Pacific Crest Trail quota months in advance.
- Cut your base weight. A lighter pack makes the biggest difference to comfort and injury risk. Many thru-hikers aim for a base weight below 20 pounds before food and water.
- Plan resupply. Buy food in trail towns or mail boxes to post offices along the route. Remote trails like the CDT need more mailed boxes.
- Sort permits early. The PCT quota opens months ahead, and national parks on several trails need backcountry permits for set campsites.
- Learn bear safety. Use bear canisters where required, hang or store food properly and carry bear spray in grizzly country.
- Read water reports. On desert trails, community water reports tell you which sources are flowing. Check them before each dry stretch.
- Check your visa. Visitors from abroad need the right visa for a long stay; a thru-hike can last five months or more.
Hikers from outside the United States should check entry requirements well in advance, since a standard visa waiver stay is often too short for a full thru-hike. Our visa services can help with the paperwork, and you can compare flights to trailhead cities such as Atlanta, San Diego, El Paso and Denver. For a softer introduction to American hiking, browse our tours or read about the best places to go camping in the USA.
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