Long Trail

Everything changes—even the Pacific Crest Trail. One of the trail's early thru-hikers shares snapshots from his trip up the path in 1985

It sounds silly, but you can lighten your pack a lot by trading out heavy gear for garbage. Here are some low-cost accessories thru-hikers swear by.

He averaged about 10 miles every day, but still had the energy to play freeze tag at night.

Hike some of the East Coast's wildest wilderness on the AT.

Rescued hikers say they saw "two ships" and a "weird orb" while searching for UFOs on Boston's Buck Hill.

Part of the popular New Hampshire state park's trail system will be off-limits through the end of July.

Going on a long hike is complicated under the best of circumstances—but kids and a partner open up a whole new world of challenges.

Public indecency charges await a man spotted hiking nude in a Connecticut state park.

This college student knows his way around the fells and forests of Massachusetts.

A city crowdsourcing photography project inspired local dad to take his kids to every last one of Boston's 300-plus parks.

Estabrook Woods preserve might soon require dog walkers to keep a tight rein on their pets.

Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.

Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.

Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.

Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.

Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.

When one of the winningest ultrarunners in the sport set out to break the AT's supported record, the path's elder statesmen gave him one piece of advice: respect the trail. Eight years later, a new documentary shows why.

Get ready for the PCT—or just daydream—with our map of the highlights of one of America's iconic long trails.

California's monster blizzards were good news for skiers—but thru-hikers will need to be on their toes.

Reality check: Not everyone can quit their jobs to hike the PCT. But if you have a week or two of vacation, you can complete one of these.

Find solitude on thru-hikes with A-list scenery and B-list crowds.

Long-trail hikers agree: These are the best places to spend a zero day.

In a cabin in the Maine woods, two men cook up "the best trail magic" of the entire Appalachian Trail.

The hardest part of hiking from Mexico to Canada? Coming home.

It takes most thru-hikers around five months to finish the Appalachian Trail. It's taken Casey Lyons sixteen years—and counting.

Six months on the AT means a whole lot of time for singalongs under the stars. But as Case Conover discovered, taking along an instrument on America's most famous walk isn't easy.

Experience thru-hiking fever (and New England hardwoods) on this section of the historic Long Trail across Glastonbury Mountain. BY RYAN WICHELNS

Wend beneath sugar pines, Pacific yews, mountain hemlocks, and Shasta firs on this remote section of the Bigfoot Trail in Northern California. BY LAURA LANCASTER

Sample the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail on this overnight past Oberg Mountain and Lake Agnes. Fall bonus: Northern Lights. BY KATHLEEN FERRARO

After 148 days on the trail, our correspondent finishes the walk of her life.

With the finish line just a few days away, our PCT correspondent mulls over what that means.

Dreaming of tackling the AT after graduation? Liz "Snorkel" Thomas has some advice.

With the finish line of the Pacific Crest Trail fast approaching, our correspondent deals with an uncooperative body.

People said that Washington would be rainy. People were right.

With 300 miles to go until she reaches the border, our correspondent finds the trail isn't getting any easier.

Now in Washington, our hiker tries to make miles while the sun shines.

Our PCT correspondent crosses into her last state, and the home stretch begins.

Waterfalls, grey days, and big peaks are the name of the game for our hiker's last few miles in Oregon.

Our PCT correspondent faces a new set of challenges in Oregon.

Our trail correspondent dreams of seeing the sun again.

Our correspondent breaks off from the official Pacific Crest Trail route.

With resupply options few and far between, our correspondent has plan ahead.

Sure, you'd like to take half a year off to hike a long trail. But how do you pay for it? Our resident thru-hiker answers.

Our PCT correspondent finally crosses the border.

Keeping weight on is a tough game when you're walking 30 miles a day—and when you don't bring a stove, it only gets worse.

Now on the second half of her hike, our PCT correspondent braves blazing temperatures in NorCal.

With 1,300 miles behind her, our PCT correspondent is halfway done with the biggest hike of her life.

Our PCT thru-hiker restocks her wares and meets up with an old friend.

Twenty-plus miles of mud and sweat every day can leave a hiker smelling worse than a locker room's lost-and-found

Sometimes, you just need a break from the adventure. Our expert sounds off on how to get a bed and a hot shower mid-trail.

Finishing the PCT before the snows start falling is part of the challenge.

Hikers on the Pacific Crest are starting to feel the squeeze—and our correspondent is no exception.

Our PCT correspondent bags a second long trail on her way to Canada.

One loose rock can be all it takes to undo weeks of walking.

Amanda Jameson breaks out the microspikes for her climb up an unexpectedly snowy pass on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Stacey Kozel tackles the east's premiere long trail with an electric assist.

The climb was bad. The PUDs were worse.

Learn the three ways long-distance trekkers get their grub.

We’re throwing a 2,180-mile party from Georgia to Maine! Join us on August 20th for our record-setting attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail in 24 hours.

Our PCT correspondent watches the sunrise from the roof of America.

Our PCT correspondent goes up Forester Pass—and takes the easy way down.

Don't underestimate the physical and mental ships you'll go through on the trail.

Fitting a hike's worth of supplies in a bruin-proof container is an art.

PCT correspondent Amanda Jameson busts out some major miles to get back to her trail family.

After 650 miles of desert, our correspondent is ready for the hills.

The Los Angeles Aquaduct gifts hikers one of the PCT's first flat stretches—but some of its worst wind, too.

Keep a look out for these ailments on the trail.

Can trial by error work on a 211-mile thru-hike? Two novice backpackers find out.

For weary PCT hikers, a trail angel couple's house in Green Valley is the perfect place to recharge.

Ticking these three prestigious trails off your list is worth the time—but it'll take a lot of it.

Our Pacific Crest Trail correspondent visits two of the route's most legendary trail angels.

When the going gets tough, the tough start singing—and taking lots of snack breaks.

It's easy to meet people on the PCT—but not all of them stick around.

Mt. San Jacinto is a gorgeous hike. Just watch the weather.

What are thru-hikers to do when fire scars block their path?

On the PCT, sometimes the laziest days are the most valuable.

Get the closest to the Alps without leaving the States—by traversing the Presidentials, including Mt. Washington, in winter. BY RYAN WICHELNS

A little creak in the joints didn’t stop them. Emotional maturity, discipline, and life experience helped these eight badass older hikers thru-hike as well as—if not better than—any younger trekker.

Dreaming of a truly long hike someday? Don't limit yourself to the famous options like the Appalachian Trail. Take this quick quiz to find out which trek is really right for you.

You’ve heard of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails. Now add one of these ambitious hikes to your bucket list.