10 Spectacular Walking Routes Across America: Hiker's Dream Trails
Discover 10 must-do hiking trails in the USA, ranked from shortest to longest. A curated guide for walkers seeking authentic American wilderness adventures on foot.
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1. John Muir Trail
A ranking of 10 trails, from shortest to longest hiking trail in the USA. Perfect for hikers who love trekking adventures across America.
John Muir, born in Scotland but who emigrated to America, was born in 1838. An engineer and naturalist who was also a writer, he is remembered today primarily as a pioneer in the conservation and preservation of Yosemite. This trail bears his name as a mark of recognition and gratitude.
The John Muir Trail is an extraordinarily beautiful hiking route. It starts at Yosemite National Park, and crossing the Ansel Adams Wilderness, the Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park, it ends at the summit of Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the USA (4,421m).
Starting from the magnificent Yosemite Valley, you'll experience one of the world's most spectacular parks. John Muir once said that "no temple made by human hands can rival Yosemite".
The second stage will take you to the summit of Half Dome, an iconic climbing symbol.
From here to the end, you'll rarely descend below 2,000m elevation.
This trail is one of the most spectacular and challenging hiking journeys in America.
Achievable in three weeks at an average of 16km per day, it's a very demanding trek. It's not just about the elevation gain—though that's substantial—but also the challenge of long stretches without resupply opportunities, mountain huts, lodges, or campgrounds.
Hiking the John Muir Trail
The John Muir Trail is for experienced hikers, or Thru-Hikers—those who complete the entire journey from start to finish.
A heavy backpack, trekking tent, and generous food supplies, plus all necessary camping gear, aren't enough to safely complete the entire trek.
As soon as you arrive at the trailhead, the Rangers who grant you access to the park will show you—if you don't have one—a bear-proof container where you must store your food.
Yes, you heard right! This hermetic container prevents grizzlies you encounter along the way from smelling your food and attacking, perhaps at night. But don't be alarmed—grizzlies, despite their size, will try to avoid you unless they catch an appealing whiff of food.
Now prepare your gear and set off, but not before getting in good physical shape.
2. The Ozark Highlands Trail
Another spectacular hiking adventure in America is the Ozark Highlands Trail. Less crowded than famous trails, it offers extraordinary natural beauty.
The Ozark Trail begins at Fort Smith State Park lake and follows a network of paths through the Ozark Forest.
The route, mostly on well-marked and well-maintained trails, crosses numerous streams, creeks, rivers, waterfalls, and wildflower meadows. Many hikers choose to explore just short sections, even for a single day's outing on a weekend.
The abundant availability of campgrounds is a significant advantage if you decide to hike the Ozark Highlands Trail. This makes it easier to tackle the trail with greater safety and peace of mind.
This trail is accessible year-round. And that's the beauty of it! You can witness how nature transforms through the changing seasons.
In winter, you'll encounter beautiful ice formations, while in autumn, thanks to the extensive deciduous forests, you can enjoy the spectacular fall foliage.
In summer, the many rivers and natural pools offer refreshing and rejuvenating moments.
The pristine wilderness along the Lower Buffalo River and the sweeping forest vistas will reward you for your effort. Here you can finally experience a landscape untouched by civilization and human presence—just you and the wild nature surrounding you.
3. The Long Trail
The Long Trail is America's oldest long-distance hiking trail.
Stretching 438 km, it traverses the entire state of Vermont from the Massachusetts border to Canada.
Created in 1930 by the Green Mountain Club, it was the trail that later inspired the creation of the Appalachian Trail, with which it coincides for 160 km in the final section.
The route consists of approximately 25 stages.
Demanding except where it overlaps with the AT, the remaining sections are very muddy and rocky. A hike of extraordinary beauty across Vermont's Green Mountain ridgeline and its highest peaks.
The Long Trail offers numerous shelters and lodges along the route. These are small wooden structures where you can spend the night and avoid camping in a tent; they're typically spaced about a day's hike apart.
Unlike heavily-trafficked trails like the Appalachian Trail, finding a vacant shelter is easier here, and you'll have a better chance of securing shelter for the night. However, as you approach Canada, the number of hikers decreases significantly. For this reason, it's known as the "Vermont Desert."
You'll need full trekking equipment: a backpack, camping gear, and substantial food supplies.
4. The Superior Hiking Trail
The Superior Hiking Trail is a 477 km long-distance trek.
Starting from Duluth, Minnesota, it follows a ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior, one of the five Great Lakes.
The trail crosses numerous rivers, waterfalls, and small lakes, which you can traverse using specially constructed bridges.
One of this trail's main features is its steep terrain. We're not talking about elevation gain, but rather the constant ups and downs that will test your endurance.
The area is well-maintained and highly organized. Multiple trailheads allow you to plan your on-foot journey in the best way possible.
Like most trails in the United States, this one is designed so you can complete it through single or multi-day day hikes.
There are more than 90 campgrounds available. Additionally, many hotels offer discounted rates for hikers.
The recommended time to hike the Superior Hiking Trail is from late summer to early autumn. Completing the entire trail takes about thirty days.
5. The Grand Enchantment Trail
The Grand Enchantment Trail (G.E.T.) is an extraordinarily beautiful route spanning 1,200 km between Arizona and New Mexico, specifically from Phoenix to Albuquerque. In some sections, it actually follows the Continental Divide Trail.
Though recently designed—established only in 2003—it's now a well-tested route of great significance.
The trails, dirt roads, and existing drainage routes offer hikers a truly adventurous and exciting experience.
Hiking the Grand Enchantment Trail is made easier by the fact that you pass near various towns along the way.
Multiple resupply points, markets, and post offices allow you to organize your journey more easily and travel lighter.
The distance between Phoenix and Albuquerque is just 480 km as the crow flies, but the trail follows a completely different route. You'll experience diverse landscapes, from high mountains to cultivated fields, desert, and limestone mountains.
You'll encounter red dirt roads and giant cacti, wild horses, cattle, giant tortoises, and much more. But beware! You may encounter dangerous animals such as tarantulas, scorpions, and rattlesnakes. You must know how to behave and prevent them from endangering you. This requires substantial physical and mental preparation—an element not to be underestimated.
6. The Hayduke Trail
As soon as you visit the official Hayduke Trail website, you're greeted with this message in red text.
"WARNING!
Due to the extremely challenging nature
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