The idea of a thru hike has captured many an outdoor adventurer’s imagination. Simply point your feet toward a faraway land and walk an unbroken line through the wilderness until you reach it. The challenges to overcome, the peace to enjoy, the back-to-basics simplicity… It’s all part of the thru hiking experience we crave.
But though our hearts and minds are totally up for it, our calendars may not be! We can’t all make four to six months of space in our lives for an epic trail like the PCT, AT, or CDT. Luckily the US is home to a number of amazing “short” thru hikes ranging from a few weeks to a couple months and offering the perfect mid-size dose of trail nirvana.
Though nothing beats the physical and mental experience of traversing the US border to border on foot, short thru hikes have many advantages too. They tend to focus on a single highly scenic area and may have a lower percentage of “junk miles” than the longest trails. Shorter hikes are obviously much easier to fit into a busy schedule, and easier to recover and readjust from both mentally and physically. A short thru hike can feel like a very full and satisfying adventure, yet still leave time in your season or year for other priorities.
So read on for a diverse set of totally bucketlist-worthy shorter thru hikes in the US. I’ve had the pleasure of walking four of these trails, and just narrowly missed the fifth (one of these years I’ll be back to get it done!). Each one is a premium thru hiking experience in its own right, and I heartily recommend them all!
Colorado Trail
Length: 480 miles
Time to complete: 4 to 6 weeks
State: Colorado
Hiking season: summer (July to September depending on year)
Trail website: Colorado Trail Foundation
Reasons to hike: high alpine scenery, convenient mid-length distance
Challenges: high elevation (max of over 13,000 feet), summer thunderstorms, lots of climbing
If you love the high alpine, it’s hard to do better than this scenic hike along the spine of the Rockies through gorgeous Colorado from Denver to Durango. The passes are tall, the meadows green, the views big, and the resupply towns friendly and fun. Though there are many lovely sections, I found the San Juans of the south especially captivating; one of my all-time hiking highlights! These mountains are much older and feel distinctly different from the Sierra Nevada of the JMT and TRT (see below).
At just under 500 miles, the Colorado Trail is a very appealing short thru hike. It fits nicely into the summer season, yet is long enough that it won’t be over as soon as you get your trail legs. Though the CT is very popular in its own right, much of it overlaps the famous Continental Divide Trail for a glimpse into the longer thru hiking world. It’s a fairly popular trail and you certainly won’t be alone, but there’s plenty of space for solitude too.
Afternoon thunderstorms can be a challenge on the Colorado Trail, especially during monsoon season (usually July to early August). Be sure to stay off exposed peaks, passes, and ridges during electrical storms; lightning strikes and hazardous weather can be real threats. Bears have become an issue on a few parts of the trail so good food storage practices are essential. But these challenges can be managed, and in return you’ll enjoy some of the finest mountain wildflowers and high-alpine views I’ve ever seen.
Arizona Trail
Length: 800 miles
Time to complete: 6 to 8 weeks
State: Arizona
Hiking season: spring (NOBO) or fall (SOBO)
Trail website: Arizona Trail Association
Reasons to hike: less crowded trail than many, unique and varied desert scenery
Challenges: variable weather, a few long dry stretches, longest trail in this list
The incredible Arizona Trail is unique in this list for many reasons. It’s the longest “short” thru hike, clocking in at about 800 miles and two months for most people, so you’ll feel like you really got a taste of the thru hiking life. It’s less popular than the others and offers more of a solitary feeling in many places, though other thru hikers are never too far ahead or behind. And unlike all the mountain hikes listed here, the AZT’s hiking season is either spring or fall, but not summer (too hot).
The most unique aspect of the Arizona Trail is its scenery. Calling the AZT a desert hike doesn’t do it justice, as the variety of life and terrain along this trail is staggering. But the AZT definitely does deliver on classic desert scenery, including incredible giant saguaro cacti. It also includes a surprisingly long stretch of pine and fir forests on the higher elevation plateaus of the north. As if all that weren’t enough, the Arizona Trail takes thru hikers straight across the stunning Grand Canyon, a geologic masterpiece you really have to experience from within to believe.
Don’t expect easy hiking on the Arizona Trail, especially the southern half. Though it’s not technically a mountain hike, the highest point is over 9000 feet and there is plenty of elevation to be gained. The trail can be rocky and water can be scarce, making for occasional long and heavy carries. The combination of shoulder season timing and desert climate brings wide swings in temperature; you’ll need to be prepared for cold nights and occasional snow. But after finishing the AZT there’s no doubt you’ll feel like a thru hiker; it’s still the hike I’m personally most proud of.
John Muir Trail
Length: 211 miles
Time to complete: 2.5 to 3.5 weeks
State: California
Hiking season: summer (June to September depending on year)
Trail website: Pacific Crest Trail Association
Reasons to hike: classic and popular route, very high scenic beauty per mile ratio
Challenges: getting a permit, resupply logistics, high elevation (over 14,000 feet at Mt. Whitney!), lots of climbing
The iconic John Muir Trail has to be, mile for mile, among the most scenic long trails in the world! Stretching along the spine of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains between Yosemite National Park and Mt. Whitney (the tallest peak in the lower 48 states), this trail is a non-stop feast of blue alpine lakes, vast granite views, and airy, rocky passes.
The JMT’s popularity as a first thru hike (it was mine) belies its considerable challenges: high elevation, lots of climbing, and limited resupply, in particular. Yet the granite basins and lush meadows are so staggeringly scenic that hikers flock to this trail every summer, with permits awarded in a competitive lottery system.
Most of the JMT overlaps with the famous Pacific Crest Trail, which might inspire you to dream of a longer thru hike. Yet the JMT is perfectly timed for a 3 to 4 week hike, something many people can manage within an almost-standard amount of time off work here in the US. Just show your trail pictures to your boss when you get back to the office; they’ll understand!
If you do manage to get a permit, prepare for some leg- and lung-busting climbs plus views that make it all worthwhile. Plan your itinerary carefully and get ready to pack and ship your resupply packages; this isn’t a trail where you can just shop as you go. Bear canisters are required and good food storage practices, as well as leave no trace practices, are essential on this increasingly high-use trail through pristine natural landscape.
Tahoe Rim Trail
Length: 170
Time to complete: 10 to 15 days
State: California and Nevada
Hiking season: summer (June to September depending on year)
Trail website: Tahoe Rim Trail Association
Reasons to hike: simple loop logistics, regular resupply, less remote than some others, shortest and easiest hike on this list
Challenges: fair amount of climbing, some sections are busy with day users
Lake Tahoe, straddling the border between California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada mountains, is the largest alpine lake in North America. The Tahoe Rim Trail circles it completely in an epic 170 mile loop that delivers all the Tahoe views you would expect, and lots more too.
The Tahoe Rim Trail is an excellent beginner thru hike, or a satisfying bite-size snack for more experienced thru hikers. It’s the shortest thru hike on this list and can be tackled in about two weeks, perfect for a summer vacation. It’s also perhaps the easiest in terms of terrain, though none are easy. The unique loop shape makes for super-simple logistics, resupply is regular and plentiful, and most of the route is never too far from civilization should it be needed.
Some areas of the trail are popular with day hikers and mountain bikers, so the TRT lacks some of that “way out there” feeling, but there are also plenty of quieter sections. While hiking the TRT you’ll overlap a section of the famous Pacific Crest Trail, which might whet your appetite for a longer thru hike someday… You’ll also pass through the scenic Desolation Wilderness. Take note that bear canisters are required here, and strongly recommended for the entire TRT.
The Long Trail
Length: 272 miles
Time to complete: 20 to 30 days
State: Vermont
Hiking season: June to mid-October
Trail website: Green Mountain Club
Reasons to hike: easy resupply, oldest long-distance trail in the US, lots of greenery and fall colors, less remote than some others
Challenges: very rocky and semi-technical terrain
Vermont’s Long Trail stands out as the only eastern short thru hike in this list, and it also happens to be the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States. Like the Arizona Trail, the LT runs lengthwise through the entire state from border to border. Like many of these other short thru hikes, part of the Long Trail overlaps with a classic long thru hike: the Appalachian Trail in this case.
Compared to the other trails in this list, the Long Trail is distinctly eastern. Hikers enjoy frequent resupply options in quaint New England towns and have the option of camping at regularly spaced wooden platforms and shelters along the trail. The scenery is very different from the western hikes above, with green tunnels and occasional bald hills dominating the experience. Hike in early fall to enjoy the changing foliage colors, and avoid June’s “mud season” and “black fly season” for obvious reasons.
The average and max elevation of the Long Trail are much lower than many other short thru hikes, but don’t let that fool you: this is not an easy hike! The LT is notorious for its rocky and technical sections, especially in the north. Some scrambling is needed — both hands required — on the rockiest sections, and hikers need to constantly consider foot placement among the rocks and roots. It’s hard to walk on auto-pilot on the Long Trail, but for many hikers that’s part of the appeal.
The Long Trail is the only short thru hike in this list that I haven’t personally walked, though I came close. After doing all the research I had to cancel my plans at the last minute, but I can’t wait to try again one of these days. I’m still excited about experiencing the unique vibe of east coast mountains and testing my fitness on this rocky and rugged trail.
More Backpacking Resources
If you enjoyed this sampler of shorter thru hikes, you might also like these posts:
- Lightweight Solo Tents Ranked by Weight and Price
- Best Water Filters for Backpacking
- How to Make Dry Backpacking Meals More Delicious and Nutritious
Or visit the backpacking section for lots more.
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Alissa, founder of Exploring Wild. I’ve had the pleasure of hiking the Arizona Trail, Colorado Trail, John Muir Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, and countless shorter amazing trails throughout the US and abroad. I love solitude, big views, and a good lightweight gear setup. Learn more here.
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Love this post! I finished the AZT last fall (my dad was one of the builders on in the 90s) and love the idea of a 6 to 8 week thru hike. Thank you for this post! Vermont, here I come!
Congrats on your AZT hike and thanks to your dad for the trail building work. That’s a fantastic legacy!
You left out the Ouachita Trail.
I left out a lot of trails. 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation though.
Don’t forget the Foothills Trail.