SHORTER THRU HIKES  IN THE US

5 EPIC

Craving a big dose of wilderness therapy but can't spare several months for a long trail like the PCT? These stunning shorter thru hiking trails will give you a taste of the thru hike experience in just a few weeks to a couple months.

JOHN MUIR TRAIL

Iconic alpine trail through the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite and Mt. Whitney.

Sierra Nevada Mountains 210 miles

COLORADO TRAIL

High-elevation hike through the big and old Rocky Mountains, with resupply stops in historic mining towns.

Denver to Durango 480 miles

ARIZONA TRAIL

A surprisingly varied long walk through desert, mountains, forest, and across the incredible Grand Canyon.

Mexico border to Utah border 800 miles

TAHOE RIM TRAIL

Walk all the way around massive and spectacular Lake Tahoe on this convenient loop trail, perfect for a short thru hike.

Sierra Nevada Mountains 165 miles

LONG TRAIL

A woodsy and rocky New England trek on America's oldest long-distance hiking trail.

Vermont 273 miles

Image: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Learn more about all these trails at exploringwild.com

This interactive trip planning guide is packed with checklists, key questions, and recommendations to take the worry out of planning your first or biggest backpacking trip.