Long Trails

Climb 1,300 feet to a sparkling alpine basin dotted with summer wildflowers on this 6.25-mile out-and-back along the Pacific Crest Trail.

In less than 7.5 miles, you’ll visit quiet woods and a secret Underground Railroad spot, and cross the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail.

Hop off the train and onto a quiet, well-marked trail. Hike as far as 12.2 miles; see deer and turkey, and, if you choose, camp in a classic AT shelter.

Big climb. Big crowds. Bigger reward. This classic 9.8-mile route climbs the tallest peak in Maine, a hiking high point in every sense.

Go 5 or 10 miles on this dayhike, which features skyline views of migrating hawks, the Shenandoah River Valley, and nearby towns.

Hit this 15-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail via train and bus for sprawling views and Massachusetts' high point.

This 10-mile out-and-back climbs a summit with far-reaching views and ends at a rustic Appalachian Trail shelter.

Hop a train for a weekend on Blue Ridge trails near the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

To enjoy the stretched-out ridgeline views on this 10-mile out-and-back, you'll first have to navigate an interesting hand-over-foot scramble.

Go 6.9 miles on the Blue Ridge, mostly tracing the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, to one of the largest balds in the Southern Appalachians.

This succinct 3.8-mile dayhike winds across Brushy Mountain’s ridgetop, traverses a small saddle, then crests Locust Mountain before a final descent.

This 11.8-miler traces the Appalachian Trail along an idyllic ridgeline to New Jersey's highpoint, 60 miles from Manhattan.

Gaze down the barrel of a waterfall and visit a secluded pond on this 10.2-mile section hike of the Appalachian Trail.

Save this 13.6-miler for a weekday in the spring when crowds are thin and haze-free views stretch for miles (patches of flowers and wildlife, too).

Connect the tops of two Berkshire peaks and catch views into three states on this 4.4-mile out-and-back in Mount Everett State Reservation.

This weekend trip strings together cool ravines, desert canyons, and sunset views over the Pacific Ocean.

Perfect for a weeklong jaunt, this 38-mile section climbs mountains, winds through deep gaps and passes a short side hike to Standing Indian Mountain, where Indian lore says a bolt of lighting struck a lone Cherokee sentinel and turned him to stone.

Trace the high brow of the Appalachians on this 12.3-mile segment past several campsites and overlooks--including Annapolis Rocks, a popular crag for climbers.

This 14.6-mile leg promises long views on Blue Mountain and ends at Unicoi Gap where hikers can find an original 1934 metal AT trail marker.

Start by walking through Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi--the only indoor section of the AT that runs through a stone building built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934--and then climb up into Raven Cliffs Wilderness.

The hotspot on this 9.8-mile section is Blood Mountain, a 4,450-foot peak where historic battles between the Creek and Cherokee Indians stained the ground red.

Civil War battlefields, the original Washington Monument, and a rolling ridgeline await dayhikers and overnighters on this lovely historical section of the AT.

Three shelters, rolling hills and beautiful vistas reward hikers as they connect Springer Mountain to Woody Gap where a recently renovated shelter sits under a leafy canopy.

This 10.4-miler passes Jefferson Rock, climbs Weverton Cliff for jaw-dropping views, then continues on temperate terrain to Gathland State Park.

It's not the officially the AT but this 8.8-mile hike climbs past Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail.

A moderate ascent of Calebs Peak and a steep descent off St. Johns Ledges ends with a gentle cruise along the Housatonic River banks on this 10.7-mile hike.

Exposed ledges, a glacial cleft, summit climbs, and a talus-strewn ravine highlight this 12.5-miler in the Berkshires and Taconic Mountains.

This scenic 11.2-miler crisscrosses the New York-Connecticut border three times and rewards hikers with numerous views of the Housatonic Valley.

Build your quads on this remote section of the Appalachian Trail, which features seven balds over 5,000 feet, and amazing views of the Smokies from Jump off Point.

Watch for black bears along this 7.1-mile leg that features woodlands and a worthy side trip to the glacial leftovers of Cheshire Cobbles.

Go from wooded ravines to marshy bogs to a blueberry-speckled trail on this mellow 10.5-mile segment.

Over the course of this 9.6-miler, you’ll crest three Berkshire peaks, cruise the banks of Finerty Pond, and visit the largest state forest in Massachusetts.

This 6.2-miler offers a quick overnight getaway. Connect scenic outcrops with views to nearby mountains and camp at Silver Bald Shelter.

Tour hemlock- and pine-covered landscapes in the Berkshires to a glacial lake nestled between wooded hills on this 8.4-miler.

This 11-miler follows a network of bog bridges, passes a glacial pond, and showcases postcard views from The Ledges.

This 30.3-miler in the Great Smokies leads to picturesque panoramas including Charles Bunion, a popular 5,736-foot bald.

Earmark a long weekend for this 20.9-miler that connects Massachusetts to Vermont. Highlights include: sweet lookout views and a walk on The Long Trail--the country's first long--distance trail.

Multiple peaks, steep climbs, and open meadows highlight this 40.6-mile trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Meander through lush hardwood forests with moderate elevation change and check out Cable Gap Shelter--a cozy, three-sided log shelter.

Connect farm fields, hardwood forests and the rocky crown of Mount Greylock--Massachusetts' highest summit--on this 10.9-mile dayhike.

Start at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and hit the trail for a beautiful, yet rugged 12.7-mile walk under hardwoods and through Nantahala Gorge. Not up for a long day hike? Stop at Sassafras Gap Shelter and swap stories with thru-hikers.

Rocky and rugged, this 15.9-mile trek travels through two states, crests the tallest peak in Connecticut, and links four summits in Massachusetts.

Some of the best views of Connecticut can be seen from Rand's View—a quiet meadow dotting this 9-mile leg that showcases unrivaled views of wooded Berkshire Hills.

Ready your camera. This 7.3-miler serves up five-star views of countless peaks: Bear Mountain, Mount Everett, Kaaterskill High Peak and the Catskills, to name a few.

Don't let the mileage fool you. This 4.9-miler packs in two summits, crosses a rushing brook, and provides idyllic views of the Housatonic Valley.

Tackle a rigorous 1,000-foot climb, traverse fields, and cross an impressive gorge on this 15.8-mile section.

This 18.7-mile weekend trip starts with a 2,700-foot climb up Snowbird Mountain then descends and climbs again to Max Patch, an old homestead and logging camp.

Cruise 8.1 miles into wooded creek valleys and up Rich Mountain where an old fire tower is accessible by a short spur trail.

Switchback 1,000 feet to poster-worthy views of Lovers Leap Rock, an aptly-named perch made famous by a suicidal Cherokee maiden.

Enjoy panoramic Smokies views on blueberry- and rhododendron-lined trails on the way to French Broad River, where relaxing hot springs await.

This weeklong hike tours photogenic balds, rhododendron-choked valleys, and grassy hillsides with wild ponies in Grayson Highlands State Park.

Top-of-the-world vistas, fields of wildflowers and sun-dappled hardwood forests are nothing compared to David Greer, an insane murderer who once lived on Bald Mountain from 1802 to 1834.

Cruise past 230-year-old homestead foundations and old roads used by troops during the Revolutionary War on this 8.5-mile dayhike.

Drop to the lowest elevation point on the AT, cross the Hudson on what was once the world's longest suspension bridge, then claim views of a glacier-scoured valley on this 9.2-mile section hike.

The payoff on this 6.4-mile hike is the big views on Bear Mountain, stretching from the Hudson Highlands to New York City's skyline.

Postcard-worthy views are plentiful during this 11.2-mile stretch. Bring your camera and snap panoramas overlooking Canopus Lake, the Hudson River Valley, and the Fishkill Plains.

Navigate the infamous lemon squeezer, a pinched corridor tucked between mammoth-sized boulders, on this 11-mile route peppered young hardwoods and old iron mines in Harriman State Park.

This 11-miler traverses four mountains and passes the faded remains of settlements and iron mines. Along the way, you'll skirt the base of Fitzgerald Falls.

Connect New Jersey and New York on this rugged 8.6-mile route that traverses the glacier-cut spine of Bellvale Mountain.

This sweet 5.3-miler charges up Wawayanda Mountain, crosses a 19th century iron bridge, and cruises past Luther’s Rock, a boulder left by retreating glaciers.

Ten miles is all it takes to tour this medley of landscapes ranging from giant swamps in Vernon Valley to the glacier-scraped summit of Pochuck Mountain.

Cross farmlands and woods then climb 1,500 feet to Lick Rock. Bonus: Look closely for an old barbed wire fence that once separated North Carolina and Tennessee.

Soon after its start in Highpoint State Park, this 9.5-miler travels the New Jersey-New York border then crosses tens of small bridges through the Vernie Swamp. Add-on: Follow spur trail to New Jersey's highpoint.

Walk along Kittatinny Ridge to the crest of Sunrise Mountain to photograph panoramas of the New Jersey Highlands and the Poconos before dropping down to High Point State Park.

This 13.7-miler unfurls across the backbone of Kittatinny Ridge showcasing lake-dotted landscapes and views above Culvers Lake. Must see!: Take the sidetrip to Buttermilk Falls, New Jersey’s highest waterfall.

Start where the Delaware River pours through Kittatinny Ridge to explore this 13.3-mile trek of a wooded ridgeline that runs past a glacial pond and a 60-foot fire tower.

Highlights along this 6.7-mile section hike include: long-stretched views from Glade Mountain, colorful wildflowers, and Settlers Museum (fresh water, seasonal fruits and veggies available to hikers).

Go the whole 18.6 miles or shorten your hike by staying at one of the three shelters planted along this leg. Highlights: Civil War markers and panoramic views on Firescald Knob.

This 13.1-miler twists around several 3,400-foot peaks then dips into wooded valleys and traces an old narrow-gauge railroad route.

This 13.3-miler is loaded with interesting points: the massive Dover Oak, a trailside railroad station, and the Great Swamp--one of the largest wetlands in New York.

The marshlands and wooded swamps on this 6.9-mile leg are home to more than 77 species of birds.

Connect Roan Mountain, Little Rock Knob, and Iron Mountain on this rolling 13.2-mile leg through Pisgah National Forest.

Fields painted in wildflowers, steep climbs to sweet vistas, and rhododendron tunnels await ambitious day-hikers and weekend warriors on this 10.2-mile hike.

This segment packs a lot in 7.2 miles: rocky ledges, sweeping river views, and an old 1930s shelter.

Link dense maple forests to scenic ridgelines then finish with a steep descent to the Nolichucky River on this 9-mile leg. Bonus: Check out Uncle Johnny Hostel, a popular hangout for thru-hikers.

This 5.1-mile section hosts one of the oddest named shelters (Devils Racecourse), crosses the Mason-Dixon Line, and climbs to the highest point on the AT in Maryland.

This relatively flat 20.2-mile section runs through rhododendron tunnels, quiet woodlands, and past three AT shelters.

Grab a photogenic lunch spot at Laura Creek Falls, or sleep over at a nearby shelter on this 8.2-mile segment.

This 4.8-mile dayhike jams in 1,400 feet of climbing, and a mile-long spur trail to Chimney Rocks—a stunning overlook with easterly views of Green Ridge and Waynesboro Reservoir.

This 7.2-mile leg traces Indian trading routes to Mount Dunlap then continues through second-growth forests rich in song birds and whitetail deer.