With the gain in popularity of thru-hiking, I’m sure you’ve heard of long-distance trails such as the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. These long trails have been around for a while now and thanks to the infrastructure surrounding them, they’re great for beginners, which has made their popularity skyrocket.
The word “best” when it comes to a long trail is certainly going to be subjective, but as a thru-hiker who’s completed 23 thru-hikes and over 21,000 miles in the last 8 years I’ll give you my take on my top 3 here in the United States.
1) The Hayduke
Now I consider the Hayduke more of a route than a “trail” – you spend very little time on actual developed trail. This route is not for beginners – do not assume you are ready to tackle this simply because you’ve completed a trail such as the AT or PCT. You start your journey typically in Arches National Park in Utah and make your way through Canyon Lands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Escalante, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and finish your hike in Zion National Park. All in, it’s about 800 miles. As you can imagine, you are repeatedly assaulted by some of the best desert views the United States has to offer.
2) The Oregon Desert Trail
Again, I would say that this is considered more of a route than a trail, but there is the Oregon Desert Trail Association, which has and maintains resources available to make the hike more manageable. This trail winds through Oregon’s high deserts for about 750 miles. You get to experience some of Oregon’s tall peaks, canyons, and everything in-between. I recommend this trail as a great way to prepare yourself for the Hayduke.
3) The Oregon Coast trail
This trail is maintained and overseen by Oregon State Parks, and is a great trail for beginners! There are many resources to aid you, you’re never too far away from civilization, the terrain is accommodating for a variety of fitness levels, but most importantly, in my opinion, offers the most beauty with the least difficulty of any trail here in the US. If you include the road walks that connect the sections of trail it is about 425 miles long. Keep in mind that walking on the road offers little protection and often no shoulder.
4) The Great Basin Traverse
I know what you are thinking right now. “I thought this was supposed to be a top 3, this person can’t count.” Well, think of this one as a bonus. I have yet to hike it, but at the time of me writing this, it holds steady at the top of my list for trails I need to do. Since I have yet to see it with my own eyes, I don’t rightfully feel entitled to add it to the top three, but here’s what I know:
This trail is a relatively new, long-distance trail, and, from those who have completed it say it’s difficult level surpasses that of the Hayduke or Oregon Desert Trail. This trail is located in Nevada’s Great Basin and boasts being as beautiful as it is brutal. How brutal you might ask? In order for you to be given the resources available for this hike by the association behind it, it’s required that you have an informal “interview” of sorts to make sure you’re not getting in over your head and being sent out to your impending doom. If you’ve completed the three trails listed and are seeking your next big challenge, I would recommend looking here.
