25,000 Miles of Long Distance Hikes in the US
September 12, 2007
Long distance hikes are what I consider trails that are 1,000 miles or longer. Here are a list of the known and organized hikes in the US, with a link to their wikipedia address and organization or association website.
Continental Divide Trail: 3,100 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Divide_Trail
CDT Alliance
Appalachian Trail: 2,000 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_trail
Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association
Pacific Crest Trail: 2,600 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Crest_Trail
Pacific Crest Trail Association
Buckeye Trail: 1,450 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckeye_Trail
Buckeye Trail Association
Great Western Trail: 4,445 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Western_Trail
Great Western Trail
American Discovery Trail: 6,800 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Discovery_Trail
American Discovery Trail Society
Pacific Northwest Trail: 1,200 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest_Trail
Pacific Northwest Trail Association
Florida Trail: 1,400 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Trail
Florida Trail Association
North Country National Scenic Trail: 4,600 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Country_Trail
North Country Trail Association
Ice Age Trail: 1,200 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Age_Trail
Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation
East Coast Greenway: 3,000 Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_Greenway
East Coast Greenway Alliance
Yo-Yo’ing the Continental Divide Trail: Francis Tapon
September 12, 2007
Francis Tapon is working on a yo yo (hiking the trail from start to finish, and then turn around and end at the start) of the Continental Divide Trail. Although a large percentage of the trail is undeveloped, it is approximately 3,100 miles in one direction, for Francis Tapon, it’s 6,200 miles. Running from Mexico to Canada through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
He is hiking with under 7 lbs (Tapon: CDT Gear List), not including water and food weight. His pack is a Gossamer Gear G5 (7.9 oz), inside gear ranges from GoLite clothing, Mountain Laurel Design Tarps, and some other creative gear solutions.
He is the author of:
Hike Your Own Hike: 7 Life Lessons from Backpacking Across America
References:
Check out his Podcast on BackpackingLight.com
http://www.francistapon.com/
Social Hiking and Backpacking
September 4, 2007
One of the coolest things about hiking is the people you meet. Most are wonderful people, motivated and driven to finish. Finding these people off of the trail and meeting them for a day hike is a solid way to build great friendships. Meetup.com has hiking groups for almost all major cities in the US.
Minneapolis’ has 675 members (18 of which participated in the last hike).
Seattle has over 1000 in their hiking group.
Go to Meetup.com and search for your local group. It’s free and fun to meet new people.
Best Hiking and Backpacking Trails in the US
September 3, 2007
1. Breakneck Ridge Trail : Beacon, NY
In Hudson Highlands State Park, this trail makes a rugged ascent from river-level to roll along a knobby ridge, gathering vistas and reaching a lookout. Special Attractions: Hudson river, Shawangunk,…
Trail Distance: 9.6 miles
From the guidebook Hiking New York
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
2. Harriman State Park Bear Mountain , NY
Old iron mines in one of the metropolitan region’s largest, oldest, and most popular parks. Only thirty-five miles from New York City, Harriman State Park is one of the most popular recreation areas i…
Trail Distance: 3.8 miles
From the guidebook Nature Walks in and around New York City
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
3. Cohutta Wilderness Area Trails Ellijay, GA
The wilderness area lies on the Georgia-Tennessee state line. More than seventy-five miles of backcountry trails lead to grand forests, scenic beauty, fishing, hunting, and exploring. Special attract…
Trail Distance: 75 miles
From the guidebook Hiking Georgia
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
4. The Pinnacle Hamburg, PA
Walk the Appalachian Trail for spectacular views of Hawk Mountain, the Lehigh Valley, and Blue Rocks. Many Appalachian Trail thru-hikers claim the views at the Pinnacle are the best views on the Penns…
Trail Distance: 8.7 miles
From the guidebook Hike America: Pennsylvania
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
5. Appalachian National Scenic Trail - Pennsylvania Section Rouzerville, PA
This 2,155-mile national scenic trail from Maine to Georgia cuts across southeastern Pennsylvania between New Jersey and the Mason-Dixon Line at Maryland. The Appalachian Trail (AT) traverses ridges a…
Trail Distance: 232 miles
From the guidebook Hiking Pennsylvania
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
6. Appalachian Trail: Springer Mountain to Hightower Gap Suches, GA
The summit of Springer Mountain, a broad dome with thin oak woods and a rock outcrop, has excellent northwest views of the Cohutta Mountains. Two bronze plaques mark this as the terminus of the AT. …
Trail Distance: 9 miles
From the guidebook Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
7. Amicalola Falls State Park Trails Dahlonega, GA
Located about 20 miles east of Ellijay and fourteen miles west of Dahlonega. About 3.5 miles of easy to moderate hikes in three trails and the approach to the famous, 2,160 mile Appalachian Trail. Sp…
From the guidebook Hiking Georgia
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
8. Appalachian Trail: Hightower Gap to Woody Gap Suches, GA
If you’re looking for a good introduction to north-Georgia hiking, with several steep climbs and descents, this section of the AT provides it. The trail is good though rocky in spots, and primarily t…
Trail Distance: 11.9 miles
From the guidebook Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
9. Silver Dollar Lake Georgetown, CO
This short, fairly easy trail to a pristine mountain lake surrounded by soaring cliffs is one of the best trails on Guanella Pass, within easy driving distance of Denver. The only disadvantage is the …
Trail Distance: 4 miles
From the guidebook Snowshoe Routes: Colorado’s Front Range
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
10. Camelback Mountain Summit Trail Phoenix, AZ
Camelback Mountain, towering above Phoenix and Scottsdale, is a well-known and prominent landmark. The 2,704-foot peak, the highest point in the Phoenix Mountains, is a two-summited mountain that look…
Trail Distance: 2.32 miles
From the guidebook Best Easy Day Hikes: Phoenix
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
11. Anthony’s Nose Bear Mountain Bridge, NY
Glorious views up and down the Hudson River from the east bank. Anthony’s Nose is a steep, 900-foot mountain on the eastern bank of the Hudson River in the dramatically beautiful portion known as the …
Trail Distance: 2.5 miles
From the guidebook Nature Walks in and around New York City
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
12. Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness Staunton, VA
Welcome to a wilderness smorgasbord. Ten Appalachian knobs surround the rugged valley through which Ramsey’s Draft courses—the highest of which, Hardscrabble Knob, reaches 4,282 feet. Ramsey’s Draft T…
Trail Distance: 14.8 miles
From the guidebook Hiking Virginia (Burnham)
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
13. Slide Mountain Loop Woodstock, NY
Traveling hemlock-deciduous and fir-birch forests, this popular trail tags the highest point in the Catskills and passes Burroughs Plaque and Curtis Monument. Special Attractions: vistas, rare high-e…
Trail Distance: 7 miles
From the guidebook Hiking New York
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
14. Furnace Mountain / Trayfoot Mountain Overnight Loop Waynesboro, VA
If you like mountaintop views and camping along streams, this loop is for you. Head north on the Appalachian Trail (AT) and turn west toward Austin Mountain, with many views of your destination. Camp …
Trail Distance: 20.6 miles
From the guidebook Day & Overnight Hikes in Shenandoah National Park
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
15. Appalachian Trail: Dicks Creek Gap to Deep Gap (NC) Hiawassee, GA
In May and June, rhododendron, flame azalea, and mountain laurel bloom on the ridgetops of this trail section, while in fall and winter, hikers can enjoy the good views. At any time of year, this hik…
Trail Distance: 15.6 miles
From the guidebook Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
16. Appalachian Trail: Woody Gap to Neels Gap Suches, GA
Take a hike to Blood Mountain, the highest peak on the Georgia AT, now usually a quite peaceful place except when invaded by swarms of weekend hikers. Sometime before 1600, however, the aptly name Bl…
Trail Distance: 10.7 miles
From the guidebook Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
17. Glacier Gorge Estes Park, CO
In my opinion this is the most beautiful spot in Rocky Mountain National Park. Spectacular scenery, beautiful wildflowers, cascading waterfalls, and beautiful alpine lakes are what you will find on yo…
Trail Distance: 9.6 miles
From the guidebook Hiking Colorado’s Front Range
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
18. Mount Marcy - New York Highpoint Lake Placid, NY
Highpoint rank by height: 21st. We will use the trail that starts near Heart Lake and the Adirondak Loj. No, this is not a spelling error – it was named by Henry Van Hoevenberg, who opened the Loj – e…
Trail Distance: 14.8 miles
From the guidebook Highpoint Adventures: The Complete Guide to the 50 State Highpoints
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
19. Kauai: Kalalau Valley & The Na Pali Cliffs Hanalei, HI
The Kalalau Trail is very different from its Waimea Valley cousin, yet it still hosts some of the most spectacular views in the Hawaiian Islands. The Kalalau Valley stretches more than 4,000 feet up f…
Trail Distance: 22 miles
From the guidebook Hawaii: A Walker’s Guide
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
20. Appalachian National Scenic Trail: CT & MA North Adams, MA
This 2,155-mile national scenic trail, journeying from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine, traverses the northwest corner of Connecticut and western Massachusetts, touring forest, fie…
Trail Distance: 138 miles
From the guidebook Hiking Southern New England
Access thousands of hiking trails and unlimited topo maps. Try it free!
Hike around the world in 14 years - The Goliath Expedition
August 17, 2007
Karl Bushby’s is making an amazing attempt to backpack around the world. Imagine spending 14 Years on the trail. The BBC did a story about the most dangerous stretch of his journey, crossing the Bering Strait that was incredible. Watch the video online: The Goliath Expedition Coverage on BBC.
Every hiker needs to read this story, it’s incredibly motivating. Subscribe to Goliath Expedition Blog for updated journals. Here are a few excerpts from their blog:
- A Brief Update Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:43:33
Good People,
Just a brief update on the expeditions standing.
I am currently in Fairbanks Alaska taking stock of the situation, getting reconnected with every one and events over the last month or so on this side of the expedition. After regrettable delays with the Russian visa yet again this winter, some had questioned whether it […] - Karl back in Russia Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:21:17
Karl returned to Russia on 16th April 2008 and by the end of April, using various means, he had made his way to the Dvoynoye mining camp and the start of the new walking phase. Delays in obtaining a visa meant a late start this year and although the snow and conditions were good at […] - A letter from Karl Tue, 20 May 2008 13:29:50
What would it take to forge an unbroken footpath from the bottom of South America back to London? This, remember, was the question that gave birth to this expedition. Nearly ten years later and we are still learning what this question entails. Over the last few years we have learned very interesting lessons while traveling […]
- Check out their website for some other interesting coverage:
- The Goliath Expedition Coverage on BBC
- Book: Karly Bushby’s Giant Step
- See the Route
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