The Best LONG TRAILS to Hike in USA
The Best LONG TRAILS to Hike in USA
Discover 11 of the popular long-distance hiking and backpacking trails in the United States. From the popular Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest Trail to smaller gems, we break down each trail’s location, length, scenery, and what makes it special. Whether you’re planning a thru-hike or just want inspiration for your next adventure, hope you enjoy.
00:00 INTRO
00:30 APPALACHIAN TRAIL
02:15 FLORIDA TRAIL
03:55 SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL
05:31 ICE AGE TRAIL
07:08 CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL
09:09 HAYDUKE TRAIL
10:52 ARIZONA TRAIL
12:12 TAHOE RIM TRAIL
13:15 PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
15:44 WONDERLAND TRAIL
16:38 PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIL
Mentioned Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufhnDIhrEYA
SHOP GREENBELLY MEALS: https://bit.ly/4hu3xSS
A BIG THANKS TO:
Arlette Laan (Apple Pie)
https://www.instagram.com/arlette_laan/
https://www.youtube.com/@arlettelaan4567
Alexander Berger (Jenga Down)
https://www.instagram.com/jengadown/
Maxine Presto (Short Stix)
https://www.instagram.com/maxinemachine/
Sara Leibold (Tide Walker)
https://www.youtube.com/@SaraTideWalker
https://www.instagram.com/saratidewalker/
Chris LeBlanc (Chicken Fat)
https://www.instagram.com/chickenfat_mas_miles/
MEDIA CREDITS:
https://www.youtube.com/@andrewlivelife9018
https://www.youtube.com/@Adventure_Together
https://www.youtube.com/@jeffandmaila
https://www.youtube.com/@Deadmen
https://www.youtube.com/@ScallywagVagabond
https://www.youtube.com/@peaks4pounds
https://www.youtube.com/@BearTrekAdventures
https://www.youtube.com/@TravelDash
https://www.youtube.com/@SecondChanceHiker
https://www.youtube.com/@bootyhikes7146
https://www.youtube.com/@MidwestBackpacker
https://www.youtube.com/@BackpackingwithBuckley
https://www.youtube.com/@she_walksthru
https://www.youtube.com/@backpackinglife
https://www.youtube.com/@give.me.wilderness
https://www.youtube.com/@Ratatrail
https://youtu.be/AMez5TCrImA?si=3h2snCuLSzQGqAhN CC-BY-3.0
https://youtu.be/bJfV-9o-9TI?si=7d2Alj2PBK5oKwWJ CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w2EPmP5SSU CC-BY-3.0
https://youtu.be/wJCv1aYx7RE?si=Kw_nLHU5dUoh0GRW CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2eV5y-UJqc CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN71lpUpPK4 CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC8mv3HNjf0&t=1566s CC-BY-3.0
Photo by Nicholas_T, used under CC BY 2.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV40LoMAzsY CC-BY-3.0
Trail Days 2022 in Damascus Virginia: A Most Unique Hiker Parade and a Most Unique Festival by Real Appalachia
https://youtu.be/QtOaJl4AsGg?si=M26PGIOsvvy0nS22 CC-BY-3.0
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCYtu9_DmQI] by [https://www.youtube.com/@thelousyfloridatravelers6390]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHd6tYAM-T8 CC-BY-3.0
https://youtu.be/bJfV-9o-9TI?si=7d2Alj2PBK5oKwWJ CC-BY-3.0
Joshua Mayer CC-BY-SA-2.0
Amy Bayer CC-BY-SA-2.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emq6X7SPq-E CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO_IsQU-_II CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef9KDHFFPBM CC-BY-3.0
c_neuhaus, CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0
Lynn Friedman CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0
Ron Bieber CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/deel/ CC-BY-2.0
https://youtu.be/jIC8Q8U-LOo?si=rE4j0ic98qPObRAI CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKmlpnrbY10 CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuXVajXhWy0 CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/@ZionNPS CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkYliawLghk CC-BY-3.0
Cohen CanadA CC-BY-SA-2.0
https://www.youtube.com/@DylanIvens
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CDT_sign,_Berthoud_Pass.jpg CC-BY-SA-3.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7973320@N07/49740295177/ by hounddiggity CC-BY-NC-2.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dtmarch/2972197134/] by dtmarch CC-BY-NC-2.0
Xnatedawgx CC-BY-SA-4.0
Chris English CC-BY-SA-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3SPRRq2ypU CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqQjSH998n4&t=747s CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GLLI-gTBLM CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQi7fJwsBGE CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QauKzZGFmo4 CC-BY-3.0
https://youtu.be/AMez5TCrImA?si=3h2snCuLSzQGqAhN CC-BY-3.0
https://youtu.be/KqQjSH998n4?si=S8JpVaHjT1MHeNaM CC-BY-3.0
billandkent CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0
Eegorr CC-BY-3.0
Jesuiseduardo, CC-BY-SA-4.0
Sonoradocent CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaibabnationalforest/ CC-BY-2.0
https://youtu.be/KqQjSH998n4?si=S8JpVaHjT1MHeNaM CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqf6ZxOcRng CC-BY-3.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tspauld/1286799338 by Tom Spaulding CC-BY-NC-2.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/roadsidepictures/ CC-BY-3.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/roadsidepictures/ CC-BY-2.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mytravelphotos/ CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsaint/ CC-BY-3.0
https://youtu.be/kMGwe3Lxt8E?si=wXzLEetYEAXB9qOz CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVuMFHBxkvg CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CX__AZX64s CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kok12vwgJyU CC-BY-3.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBWkucgQSE8 CC-BY-3.0
Planing on challenging the Appalachian trail in April. Can’t wait
How do you join the thru hiking culture? And find friends to go with ya?
I bet none of these people could have found their way through my room when I was a teenager.
Bummed you left out the Katy trail. Big miss.
Went to boarding school right next to the AT and we would frequently see thru hikers cross the main road frequently
I don’t know about “long distance” but:
Pinhoti Trail (Alabama), Sheltowee Trace (Kentucky/Tennessee), Red River Gorge (Kentucky), Sipsey Wilderness (Alabama), non-swamp portions of the Florida Trail…
Most of these are pretty nice
You left out the OTHER Ozark Trail, the one in Missouri. While the plan calls for a 400 mile trail from the Arkansas border to St Louis, there is already a 232 thru trail from the Eleven Point River to Onodonga Cave maintained by the Ozark Trail Association. I’m making a NOBO hike this fall.
Surprised to not see the BMT mentioned on the East. About 300 mi from GA to the North end of the Smokies.
Enjoy the trails before Trump sells all that public land
Arlette did a lot of those trails by herself. But trust she did them!
The Horse Shoe Trail in Southeast Pennsylvania is great for trail running and hiking. It’s about 140 mi and connects Valley Forge to the AT.
Such high quality.
from VT, love the long/AT, but lived in AK…check out the Pinnel mountain trail north of Fairbanks!
Nevada like ADD not Nevada like ODD. It’s not a big deal but gets me going every time as a native of one of the strangest states in the union. Which is odd and doesn’t add up.
How does one take time off from work to hike for 2 months!? If I can figure that out, I would be more than happy to try some of these.
Greenbelly!! I found you today and I am so happy!! Thank you for all of the informative and diverse videos! I will be back 🙂
The Wonderland Trail looks great. Beautiful but not too big of a commitment.
I’m currently doing sections of the FLT in NY and enjoying it!
Caption says every U.S National Park Ranked. Your first words.." this is not a ranking." Wow, guy. Ewww.
This video undermines how difficult is is for the Arizona Trail. There are almost NO water sources available along the trail and the towns are few and far between for water and food. Temps can reach 115 in the summer but itll be dumb if someone attempted to hike it during those months.
The AT is not the oldest long trail in the United States… The Vermont Long Trail is. It was the inspiration for what the AT actually became including the famous white blazes.
I know you mentioned that you are only mentioning 100 mile trails or longer, but don’t sleep on the High Sierra Trail. Over seventy miles and goes over both crests of the Sierra and crosses the upper portion of the Kern. Ends in the same place as JMT at Whitney portal.
Thanks for the info. Great to know we have some really cool trails to hike other than the big name ones.
Why do you not talk about those Ozark Trail question mark that one it’s a lot longer than what you did and spend most of this time in Missouri
Your map shows the Pinhoti Trail but don’t mention it?
Completely glossed over the north country trail.
The long trail in Vermont was actually the first long distance trail and the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail.
Please, no more click sounds
Just get lost in the boundary waters and let the woods heal you.
The Long Trail is a really good intro to thru-hiking, especially in the east: It’s only 2-3 weeks so short enough to be manageable if you’re new to it, but is long enough that you get into a zone of "wake up, walk, sleep, eat when you’re hungry, drink when you’re thirsty". There are some good resupply points not far off the trail, some technical challenges up north, nice views from fire towers, and some alpine zone on Vermont’s tallest peaks. Plus it’s the original that invented the whole concept of longer-distance recreational hiking trails, which ought to count for something.
You missed the River to River trail in Southern IL. Check it out
No mention of the New England trail?
I for sure would love to hike the CDT and PCT one day. The AT has grown on me a bit lately watching some people hike it.
Being a native Texan, I’m looking forward to the completion of the xTx.
I got a car
Couple favs of mine you missed palmetto trail, Grand enchantment trail , ozark trail, and the lone star trail , and the Alaska long trail mostly unfinished tho
Currently working on the North Country trail
Cascade to Palouse trail 300mi
Olympic discovery trail 130 mi
Washington state
I don’t see the old Spanish trail???
The best is your own. But i lived just off the Divide in Mineral County Colorado for two years. You can hike in September & often see no one all day on the trail & you can see for miles in any direction. The AT is always too crowded for me. In the peak of the summer tourist season, you might see 5 people a day on a busy day on the CDT.
Apperantly we’re all just now coming here
The best trail is one that takes you OUT of the country 😂
The ‘Hayduke Trail’ must be named for the character in Edward Abbey’s novel ‘The Monkey Wrench Gang’.
8:24 the way i had my headphones while walking near the woods just now made the mtn lion growl sound like it was up and to the right behind me, and i had a literal primal fear response to the sound
As someone who has driven through much of the US, the PCT has the most draw for me.
The drive from Albuquerque, NM to Leavenworth, WA through LA and Seattle was beautiful. There’s just something about going from desert to alpine.
Full disclosure, I’m biased towards Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Park
I got one question for you professional walkers.
How the hell do you guys afford to take 3-6 months off of work and walk through the wilderness?
Depends! Do you want to get killed by people, animals or the environment?
I’d like to do the JMT
46 MOTHS to complete…2100 miles? It’s just a 45 miles per MONTH! Laziest hike ever)))
The real continental divide trail is alaska to pantigonia
Great Western Trail – Arizona Utah Idaho Montana