Which trail would you suggest?

[JammerUK]

Hi all,

Next year I'm looking to head over to the US again (I'm from England) for around a month and I'd like your opinions on which trails might be a good choice. Last year I hiked the AT from Springer to Hot Springs, and I'd consider myself a fairly experienced hiker. I'm open to any trail, however there are some important factors I'd like to consider -

- The trail has to be reasonably easily accessible for trail towns. A big part of my visits to the US are taking a couple of days off the trail visiting the small towns that I'd never usually see.

- The trail has to be easy to plan logistically. Planning a trip from abroad can be difficult so the trail needs to have books, websites etc readily available for me to buy/research.

- Transport and shuttles need to be available for the trail. As I'm from abroad I won't be driving so it'll be public transport, shuttles and the occasional hitch hike.

- I guess this is related to both trail towns and logistics, but I like to resupply in towns on the way. I prefer supporting local businesses, and arranging a bounce box from the UK is a total hassle.

- The trail has to be long enough to provide at least three weeks of hiking (the rest of the time I'll be in trail towns), though I'm also open to the idea of hiking two or three trails over the month as long as they're reasonably close to each other/easy to get to.


I'm tempted to go back to the AT, possibly the Long Trail. The previous AT trip was one of the greatest experiences of my life, especially because of the people I met. However I also appreciate the US has many different environments that I'd like to see. I'm happy with any climate, and can tent, hammock, sleep in shelters.. I'm also flexible with the time of year I can visit. Any part of the country it's fine with me too.

Thanks in advance for your help! If I've missed anything out just let me know..



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[MuddyWaters]

You didnt see the best of the AT.

Time of yr would be important in picking.

Logistically, well known trails will be easiest. But theres many options.

Colorado trail would be great, putting you in towns, and take 4-5 wks for 485 miles.

Long trail puts you in small towns too

AT in maine fits bill also

Sierra is awesome, but its for wilderness, not towns

[Spirit Walker]

Doing a section of the Colorado Trail or the CDT in Colorado would be good, if you can be there late July to September. The towns are used to hikers, so hitching isn't all that difficult. The country is spectacular. You could fly in to Durango and hike north as far as you can then fly out of Denver.

[DuneElliot]

I'd also +1 on the Colorado Trail. It is something I am doing next year after my 5 week trip to England from late July to end of August. I plan on enjoying it and taking my time. It is a very different trail for scenery than the AT, but logistics seem pretty simple. There is a direct flight on BA from Heathrow to Denver, and plenty of shuttles, buses or rentals to get back to Denver from wherever you leave the trail. Denver itself has a pretty good public transport system to get you close to the trail head.

[Lyle]

I would take a look at the Tahoe Rim Trail as well. Only 165 miles, so might be a bit short for 3 weeks, but there is plenty of other hiking in the area and small towns to explore. The western part of the trail is conjoined with the Pacific Crest Trail and is quite a beautiful hike, the eastern portion is a bit more civilized, but also a nice hike. Plenty of maps/guides/shuttles available. Can fly into Reno, NV, than there is a very inexpensive shuttle to the casinos in the South Lake Tahoe area, within a few miles of the trail itself.

https://www.tahoerimtrail.org/

[colorado_rob]

I'd also +1 on the Colorado Trail. It is something I am doing next year after my 5 week trip to England from late July to end of August. I plan on enjoying it and taking my time. It is a very different trail for scenery than the AT, but logistics seem pretty simple. There is a direct flight on BA from Heathrow to Denver, and plenty of shuttles, buses or rentals to get back to Denver from wherever you leave the trail. Denver itself has a pretty good public transport system to get you close to the trail head.

All of this. You've had a good taste of hiking in the eastern US, now "go west young man" for an entirely different flavor of USA hiking; much more scenic and open and sunny and all of those sorts of things. The trail is actually a bit easier than most of the AT in terms of there being more gradual ups/downs.

The only problem with the CO trail is that it would probably take you 5 weeks (including your travel), which might stretch your schedule a bit. You're also coming here right in the heart of the "monsoon season", meaning probable thunderstorms virtually every day. this can be worked around though just by getting your hiking done early in the day (t-storms are mostly an afternoon thing).

Fairly easy logistics, and if I'm around I'd be glad to take you to the Denver trailhead (I live 10 minutes away).

(BTW: my wife and I spent 3 excellent weeks in the UK this May, mostly in Scotland, but 5-6 days in southern England.... fantastic time!)

[rafe]

You didnt see the best of the AT.

Time of yr would be important in picking.

Logistically, well known trails will be easiest. But theres many options.

Colorado trail would be great, putting you in towns, and take 4-5 wks for 485 miles.

Long trail puts you in small towns too

AT in maine fits bill also

Sierra is awesome, but its for wilderness, not towns

Agree with most of this, though AT in Maine might be logistically challenging.

Maybe just pick up where you left off on the AT -- some of the classic views are coming up, eg. Roan highlands.

Or check out northern Virginia -- Three Ridges and Shenandoah National Park. That would make for relatively short hops to and from Washington DC.

[BrianLe]

So many possibilities, but the emphasis on interesting small towns skews things a bit. I would ordinarily suggest something like "PCT through Oregon", but small town visits aren't a big highlight there. In hiking the PNT, I really liked the experience of starting on the coast and hiking the coast for a bit and then hiking through the Olympic National Park, and we passed through a couple of fun towns along the way.

But if your emphasis is lots of interesting small towns, you get some of that on any long trail, but never so concentrated, never so many so close together as along the AT.

If your emphsis is on views, better trail quality, more wide open country --- then indeed go west.

[swisscross]

What about the Wonderland trail.
Then take a climbing class and go to the top of Rainier.

[Shutterbug]

What about the Wonderland trail.
Then take a climbing class and go to the top of Rainier.

I was going to suggest hiking the Wonderland Trail, then taking the Pacific Crest Trail south from Chinook Pass. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the U.S.

Climbing to the top of Rainier requires entirely different equipment, but the equipment can be rented.

The Wonderland Trail requires a permit, but the Pacific Crest Trail doesn't.

[colorado_rob]

It takes a lot more than equipment to climb Mount Rainier.... One needs to be schooled in the art of safe glacier travel, and know a bunch of other safety skills. Late July is generally not the best time to climb Rainier either; late June/early July is best (I've climbed this silly mountain 5 times).

Anyway, permits are tough for the Wonderland trail, plus it's only a week+ of hiking.

One other suggestion is to simply do a big section of the PCT, starting south of Kennedy Meadows, get a 500+ mile PCT permit and head north, basically doing the 230 mile JMT along the way, quite simply one of the most gorgeous trails in the entire USA. If you don't make the entire 500 miles, the minimum required for a permit of that type, no ones going to give you any hassle whatsoever, and in fact, this is easy terrain and doing 500 miles in 4 weeks is entirely doable. Good, easy logistics for the PCT in those parts as well.

Google up pics of the John Muir trail (JMT) sometime.

[JammerUK]

Thanks for all the advice guys, this forum is always a great source.

It looks like the Colorado Trail is taking the lead at the moment. I'll likely be heading over to the US at the end of next summer so that would suit the CT. The amount of literature out there, Guthook Apps, availability of guides etc. all make it much easier for me. It's a beautiful trail too. The trail town situation is good, though strange as it may seem the towns don't actually have to be interesting in the common sense of the word ha! For me even the most normal of small towns are fascinating to me, coming from abroad. Sitting in a small bar or diner with locals is much better than bumping into loads of other tourists.. And god forbid I meet another Brit

I will head out to the AT again one day I'm sure! And likely at some point the other trails suggested haha... Actually the JMT was the original trail I was going to hit before the AT, and I will definitely conquer it sometime. I have researched it though somewhat.


DuneElliot - if you're looking for a London guide at all, or fancy a pint with a likeminded hiker whilst you're in England do let me know. I'd be happy to oblige!

I'll no doubt have many more question in the future, but thanks again all!

[DuneElliot]

The trail town situation is good, though strange as it may seem the towns don't actually have to be interesting in the common sense of the word ha! For me even the most normal of small towns are fascinating to me, coming from abroad. Sitting in a small bar or diner with locals is much better than bumping into loads of other tourists.. And god forbid I meet another Brit


DuneElliot - if you're looking for a London guide at all, or fancy a pint with a like-minded hiker whilst you're in England do let me know. I'd be happy to oblige!

I'll no doubt have many more question in the future, but thanks again all!

Thanks for the offer, I am actually a born and raised Brit with dual citizenship and grew up in Surrey...BUUUUT, since I will in the UK through June and beginning of July I would be interested in doing some hiking while there also...especially if it ends at a pub, and there are pubs on the way...lol . Already got part of the North Downs planned with my dad's best mate, and would like to hike the South Downs Way, although probably not all of it this trip (sadly) since I don't think my mom could handle that many miles, especially with a pack and camping out.

Seems like we might be hitting the CT at the similar times too...in which case, I might be able to help with logistics and such.

[fiddlehead]

Colorado Trail or Wonderland trail fit your priorities the best.
See the west.
It is the best.

But, you didn't say when.
That could be important.

There are many options.
Give us some dates.

[DuneElliot]

Also, since I used to live in or near several of the small towns used for resupply along the CT I am looking forward to enjoying their local brew-pubs again. I love some of those smaller ski-towns in the summer.