Thru-hikES THAT DON’T REQUIRE QUITTING YOUR DAY JOB
SHORT THRU-HIKES: planning guides & trip report, permits, transportation, gear, trailheads, camping, water, and more
Want to thru-hike but don’t want to quit your job? Looking for a thru-hike you can fit in a 2-3 week vacation?
Knowing where to go and how to get there is half the challenge of choosing a thru-hike.
We're dedicated to making an inclusive outdoor space where more people can get the life-changing, restorative fun of thru-hiking—and can make smart, safe, and responsible backpacking decisions.
Go on a thru-hike. Help the planet. Thru-hikes for everyone.
Looking for gifts for backpackers? Check out our Gifts for Hikers guide or Gifts for Campers.
short thru-hikes for working people
The 67-mile Santa Monica Mountains Backbone Trail in California is a winter-friendly hiking and backpacking destination. We demystify camping, logistics, water, trailheads and more.
80-mile trail from Fort William to Aviemore through Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. More solitude, route-finding than the West Highland Way. Amenities for inn-to-inn hiking
Starting in Talimena State Park, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail runs 223 miles through West Oklahoma and follows the Ouachita Mountains. The hiking trail avoids towns and roads, complicating resupply but resulting in true, necessary solitude.
Trip plan and guide to the South Dakota Centennial Trail, a 125-mile hiking and backpacking trail in the Black Hills from Wind Cave National Park to Bear Butte
Buckskin Gulch and Paria River Canyon in Utah/Arizona are one of the longest slot canyons in the world. This 43-mile backpacking trip from Wire Pass to Lees Ferry in Vermilion Cliffs Nat’l Monument is a bucket list hike.
The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) is a 310-mile backpacking trail in Minnesota along the North Shore of Lake Superior. We explain campsites, logistics, resupply and how to hike the SHT
The Corvallis to Sea Trail (C2C Trail) is a 62-mile backpacking trip through Oregon’s coastal range to Ona Beach on signed hiking trail from Corvallis to the Coast.
How to plan your backpacking trip of the West Coast Trail in British Columbia, a 47-mile coastal trek: permits, transportation, logistics, gear, planning, and sample itinerary.
The Snowdonia Way is a new 97-to-122-mile route connecting must-see sights of Snowdonia National Park. This long-distance backpacking trip will take you through North and Mid Wales mountains, valleys, beaches, rivers, mountain ridges, and summits.
Trip guide to Vermont’s Long Trail, 272-mile thru-hiking path in Green Mountain National Forest. We cover camping, shelters, resupply, gear lists, planning, transportation, logistics and more
The Foothills Trail is a 77-mile footpath along the Blue Ridge Escarpment of North and South Carolina. Layered in history, water features, and mountain views, this 4-season-friendly route provides new scenery each day.
Prescott Circle is a 60-mile loop around Prescott, Arizona. Open to all non-motorized use and popular with hikers, backpackers, and more, the trail skirts defining places of the greater valley with amazing views from a well-maintained trail.
Permits, logistics, camping, resupply, water and more for the Trans Catalina Trail (TCT) thru-hike, a 38-mile beginner friendly backpacking trip on Catalina Island, CA with beaches, swimming, and a mild climate.
Whether you’re planning a dream long-distance hike or section hiking parts of the JMT, this in-depth guide and JMT gear checklist has strategies for hiking and developing self-care routines to thrive on your journey.
The California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) is a 37-mile trail across Joshua Tree National Park ideal for winter and spring backpacking, wildflowers, and sunrises.
The ~155-mile San Diego Trans County Trail (aka Sea to Sea Trail) is a winter thru-hike. This guide has a route, water, and resupply plan, and a gear list.
Mount Rainier’s premier trail, the 93-mile Wonderland Trail, is a backpacker’s dream. On this 5- to 10-day backpacking trip, you will circumnavigate Washington’s Mt. Rainier, the most topographically prominent mountain in the lower 48.
The definitive guide from a 2-time thru-hiker to backpacking the High Sierra Trail. To call the HST an alternative to the John Muir Trail would be to minimize its standing as a world-class trail in its own right.
The Chilkoot Trail follows the first 33 miles of the Klondike Goldrush route. This recreational hiking and backpacking route is unique due to its dialed campground, campsite infrastructure, stunning views, and distinct loneliness of Chilkoot Pass.