View Full Version : Shorter 'Long' Trails...
stranger
05-02-2011, 23:18
Wanted to get more information about what other hiking options are out there for those of us who prefer shorter long distance hikes, I'm thinking in terms of trails 500 miles or less, but give or take a bit obviously.
So which ones do you know about that are good for thru-hiking? Let's get some obvious ones out of the way:
- Long Trail, 271 miles, Vermont
- John Muir Trail, 211 miles, California
- Superior Hiking Trail, 230 miles, Minnesota
- Finger Lakes Trail, 465 miles, New York
- Colorado Trail, 480 miles, Colorado
- Tahoe Loop Trail, 160 miles, California
- Wonderland Trail, 95 miles, Washington
- Northville Placid Trail, 121 miles, New York
- Benton MacKaye Trail, 288 miles, Georgia, NC
- Ozark Highlands Trail, 165 miles, Arkansas
Please note all the above trails are thru-hike 'able', meaning one doesn't need to become a expert route finder and or trail researcher to hike these trails...I would love to hear more about other trails we know about...
ive done parts of ozark highlands trail it was heavily overgrown thru out i did it may of last year basicly not the most comfy trail but it was cool tho.
trailangelbronco
05-03-2011, 00:07
The Selway river trail in Idaho is fun. 50 miles, mostly flat, but ina deep forested canyon, always next to the Selway river. Way out in the middle of nowhere. Bring a fly rod and catch Cut Throat all day long.
The Pinhoti Trail in Alabama and Georgia. The Alabama section is better IMO because the Georgia section has too much road walking. 171 miles in Alabama and 163 miles in Georgia
Feral Bill
05-03-2011, 00:44
The Wonderland Trail is a loop, start and finish at any of several places. Incredible scenery, inconvenient rules.
trailangelbronco
05-03-2011, 01:52
And some serious elevation gains, lol. You will see mountain goats on that trail.
The Foothills Trail is fun and pretty easy - experienced backpackers can easily do it in 5 days - it's7 miles along the NC / SC Border. Might not quite make the list as it is under 100 miles, but it's still worth doing - very nice.
www.foothillstrail.org/
meant to say 77 miles .... duh
Only 20 people have thru-hiked the Mountain to Sea Trail - the website says its 500 miles long but a lot of this mileage is still on roads, etc. - it's best to hike and cycle it - I've done parts of it - Linville Gorge, GSMNP, Pisgah - it seems to ping pong across NC but everywhere I've been on it was pretty. Here is the website:
www.ncmst.org
Once you get out of the limiting mindset that thru-hiking means having to stay on one set trail from end to end or only on the most noted trails, INFINITE hiking possibilities emerge! Just expand to that thought in the U.S. alone and explore the possibilities!
I love the topic of shorter(> 500 miles) trails!
stranger
05-03-2011, 05:09
Once you get out of the limiting mindset that thru-hiking means having to stay on one set trail from end to end or only on the most noted trails, INFINITE hiking possibilities emerge! Just expand to that thought in the U.S. alone and explore the possibilities!
I love the topic of shorter(> 500 miles) trails!
Agreed, in Pennsylvania alone there are heaps of opportunities to link from trails to other trail, I think the Susquehannock linked with the Black Forest Trail and Donut Hole Trail would have to be one of the more interesting hikes along the east coast!
Didn't know the Pinhoti Trail was that long, good work!
Keep em coming!
I like the cut of your Jib, Stranger...
I've heard of the COHOS Trail in New Hampshire
"162 miles from Crawford Notch to the Canadian border in Pittsburg, NH. You can then continue on the Sentier Frontalier's trail to Mount Megantic or Mount Gosford in Quebec, Canada. "
Sounds tough and worth it any been out there?
Don't forget New England!
Cohos Trail ~ 162 miles
New England Scenic Trail ~200 miles
Metacomet Monadnock Trail (basically the MA portion of the NEST) ~ 110 miles
Midstate Trail ~ 90 miles
Trailbender
05-03-2011, 08:17
One of my favorites is the North-South trail at Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky. Original name, I know, but it is a beautiful trail with some nice scenery. Easy to moderate hiking. Bring some good raingear as well.
Bartram Trail - 115ish miles.
garlic08
05-03-2011, 09:06
This is more "give" than "take", but don't forget the 800-mile Arizona Trail, one of the new National Scenic Trails. It's not quite finished (will be by 2012) but it's definitely hikeable now. You can make it a nice 500 mile hike from Tucson to Flagstaff with easy access, shuttles, and logistics.
Of the shorter trails, the Wonderland Trail is near the top of my list, too. You can't beat the logistics if you have a way out there. You end up back at your starting point and it's short enough there's no need for resupply. The NPS holds 25% of camping permits for walk-ins. Can't beat it.
Did anybody mention the Florida Trail? I don't know if it meets your criteria, though. I've never done it.
The Lost Coast Trail (Mendocino coast in California) is supposed to be nice, too. I also have never done that so I don't know if that meets your criteria either.
Sheltowee Trace is 260 miles long. It starts in Tn (Pickett State Park) and ends in Ky
Monkeywrench
05-03-2011, 09:47
Cohos Trail - http://www.cohostrail.org/
Snowleopard
05-03-2011, 10:56
Charlestown RI (on the beach) to N. Pack Monadnock Mt., NH
Mass. midstate trail + Wapack Trail on the north + the RI north south trail on the south.
191 miles = 95 miles+21 miles+75 miles
http://www.midstatetrail.org/Guide%20Form.htm
http://www.wapack.org/map.html
http://www.rigreenways.org/paths/nst-data.htm
A combination of about 5 miles of local trails and 10 miles of road walking takes you to Mt. Monadnock where you can join the New England Trail and go to Canada.
Guthook has a blog with a trip report of the New England Trail.
http://guthook.blogspot.com/
I haven't done it, but from what I've read the Cohos trail and connecting trails in Canada are a little known treasure.
The International Appalachian Trail/SENTIER INTERNATIONAL DES APPALACHES is very different from the AT. The Quebec/Gaspe part is supposed to be very beautiful but expensive. The completed parts in Newfoundland should be spectacular.
http://www.internationalat.org/Pages/index
Cookerhiker
05-03-2011, 11:05
The Allegheny Trail - mostly in WV in the Monongahela National Forest (http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQ oY6IeDdGCqCPOBqwDLG-AAjgb6fh75uan6BdnZaY6OiooA1tkqlQ!!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfMjAwMDAwMDBBODBPSEhWTjBNMD AwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110921&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003853&navid=091000000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=main&pname=Monongahela%2520National%2520Forest-%2520Home/) - is about 290 miles. Southern terminus is a junction with the AT atop Peters Mountain just south of Pine Swamp Shelter. Northern terminus is the WV/PA border about 30 miles east of Morgantown. The Trail never dips below 1,000' and often is 3-4,000'. Parts of the ALT resemble New England with mountain maples, birches, mossy bogs, spruce & fir trees etc. Maintained (such as it is) by the WVSTA (http://wvscenictrails.org/). For an excellent recent thruhiker's trail journal by Handlebar, click here (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=11551). There's also an existing WB thread on the ALT under "Other Trails" entitled "Thru-hiking the Allegheny Trail."
The Tuscarora Trail - is 260 miles and offers the option of a 440 mile loop with the AT. The southern terminus heads west from Mathews Arm Campground in Shenandoah NP, proceeds through the George Washington National Forest (http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQ oY6IeDdGCqCPOBqwDLG-AAjgb6fh75uan6BdnZaY6OiooA1tkqlQ!!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfMjAwMDAwMDBBODBPSEhWTjBNMD AwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110808&navtype=forestBean&navid=091000000000000&pnavid=null&cid=null&ttype=main&pname=George/) in VA & WV, crossed the Potomac into MD, and continues through PA meeting the AT again near Darlington Shelter, 11 miles south of Duncannon. Maintained by the PATC (http://www.patc.us/store/tus.htm). Several WB threads.
Agreed, in Pennsylvania alone there are heaps of opportunities to link from trails to other trail, I think the Susquehannock linked with the Black Forest Trail and Donut Hole Trail would have to be one of the more interesting hikes along the east coast!...
I was going to suggest this. North-central PA has several medium-length trails which you can string together. I've hiked the Susquehannock and Black Forest (separately) in each of the last 2 years. At 85 and 42 miles respectively, there are 2 connectors so you could fashion a hike of about 150 miles. There's also the Mid-State Trail.
Sheltowee Trace is 260 miles long. It starts in Tn (Pickett State Park) and ends in Ky
Practically all of the trail is in KY in the Daniel Boone National Forest (http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/). Per TABA's recently-published guidebook, the Trace is 280 miles. Maintained by the Sheltowee Trace Association (http://www.sheltoweetrace.org/). I've lived in KY less than 2 years but from my dayhikes in DBNF and state parks, the really cool unique thing is the various rock formations unlike most of the East. There are natural bridges & arches, and huge rock overhangs termed "rockhouses" or "rock shelters" because they're bone-dry underneath. DBNF is not mountainous but there are steep climbs in and out of deep gorges.
Please note all the above trails are thru-hike 'able', meaning one doesn't need to become a expert route finder and or trail researcher to hike these trails...I would love to hear more about other trails we know about...
PA's Mid State Trail, 517.4 km, http://www.hike-mst.org/guide.html
Surprised no one has mentioned the Oua****a Trail. 223 miles through eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas. Backpacker magazine once called it one of the best trails in the US for solitude.
http://www.friendsot.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouachita_National_Recreation_Trail
Beachcomber
05-03-2011, 12:36
Has anybody done the Buckeye Trail, in whole or part, recently? I've been away from Ohio for a long time, but back in the day the portions that ran through some of the ledges and gorges in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the state were among my favorite get-aways. It's a loop that goes pretty much all the way around the state.
Old Boots
05-03-2011, 13:14
There is the River to River Trail through the Shawnee National Forest. It runs from the Ohio to the Mississippi through Southern Illinois. It is @ 170 miles.
Two Tents
05-03-2011, 13:18
Penna. Has tons of trails like the OP asked about, many already have been mentioned. A little used trail is the Baker trail. It's around 140 miles. It starts NE of Pittsburgh Pa and goes north, joins with the NCT to the NY line. You need the trail guide though to get the most out of it.
88BlueGT
05-03-2011, 14:09
WOW, THIS IS A GREAT THREAD! All this info should be compiled and stickied.
Thanks OP. Great topic.
Tennessee Viking
05-03-2011, 14:33
Cumberland Trail
Art Loeb
Only 20 people have thru-hiked the Mountain to Sea Trail - the website says its 500 miles long but a lot of this mileage is still on roads, etc. - it's best to hike and cycle it - I've done parts of it - Linville Gorge, GSMNP, Pisgah - it seems to ping pong across NC but everywhere I've been on it was pretty. Here is the website:
www.ncmst.org
Currently it is 500 miles of completed trail using trails located in the Smokies, 3 national forests, BRP, NC state parks, and beach walk. And requires a quite a bit of assistance with lodging and shuttles.
The mountain route Clingmans Dome to Stone Mtn State Park is still a good long distance.
The mountain route Clingmans Dome to Stone Mtn State Park is still a good long distance.
There's still a fair amount of road walking involved in the above....
From what I can gather, there is a real "Command and Control" issue with the MST folks. I can't find anyone that can be definite about sections 2 and 3 for instance.
Don't forget New England!
Cohos Trail ~ 162 miles
New England Scenic Trail ~200 miles
Metacomet Monadnock Trail (basically the MA portion of the NEST) ~ 110 miles
Midstate Trail ~ 90 miles
...and that connects to the North South Trail in RI for 80 miles or so.
You could hike from the ocean to Canada! :)
http://www.rigreenways.org/paths/nst-data.htm
All the above is essentially this:
http://www.netrail.org/
NOTE: The New England trail is different from the New England Scenic trail.
The NEST has 'official' status, the New England is more a conglomerate of routes.
EDIT: And I see Snow Leopard beat me to it. :)
Beachcomber
05-03-2011, 15:25
Only 20 people have thru-hiked the Mountain to Sea Trail - the website says its 500 miles long but a lot of this mileage is still on roads, etc. - it's best to hike and cycle it - I've done parts of it - Linville Gorge, GSMNP, Pisgah - it seems to ping pong across NC but everywhere I've been on it was pretty. Here is the website:
www.ncmst.org (http://www.ncmst.org)
I just did a weekend on a coastal portion of Mountain-to-Sea, the Neusiok Trail in Croatan National Forest. As a coastal NC resident, I was pleasantly surprised by how diverse the terrain and ecosystems are in just a little over 20 miles. Much of the trail crosses wetlands, on extensive boardwalks built by a local wildlife club. There's a nice website, maintained by Gunner, who is one of the trail's chief advocates:
http://www.neusioktrail.org/
Highway Man
05-03-2011, 22:40
The Long Path from Fort Lee, NJ to Albany, NY. It starts right across Manhattan at the other end of G. Washington Bridge, then goes along the Hudson River through Harriman State Park, NY. It bypasses Schunnemunk Mountain(?), and cuts across Shawwangunk Mountain Range, and then dips into Wakill River valley before hitting the awesome Catskill high peaks. It ends somewhere near Albany, NY.
Good things are, easy resupply and lodging. The latter one may get a little more expensive when in the seasons.
The_Truth
05-04-2011, 10:53
Surprised no one has mentioned the Oua****a Trail. 223 miles through eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas. Backpacker magazine once called it one of the best trails in the US for solitude.
http://www.friendsot.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouachita_National_Recreation_Trail
I did some camping with a friend last year and we hiked a bit of the Ouachita Trail. We were near the eastern end around Lake Sylvia if I remember.
Meet some great camp hosts while around those parts. One said he had hiked it several times.
The Lone Star Trail in TX. 128 miles.
Spirit Walker
05-04-2011, 13:43
Arizona Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, Idaho Centennial Trail - these are all fairly hard core due to water issues and distances between resupply
In PA - Midstate Trail, Tuscarora Trail, Donut Hole, Susquehannock, Quehanna The first two are 2-3 week hikes, the last three you can do in a week or less. You could also link several trails in the Sproul area to make a multi-week hike.
Alleghany Trail and C&O -
I see a few comments on The Cohos Trail. I hiked it in 2009. The trail is rapidly improving and maintenance has stepped up.
It was a tough hike when I did it - mostly due to the amount of rain and moisture on the trail. It followed snowmobile trails with waist high grass which stayed wet on the days it didn't rain. I hear some of these trails are re-routed and the grasses are being kept from getting so high - so it should be much improved. I'm hoping to do it again soon (trying to get enough time this August).
Guthook combined the Cohos with other trails to complete a "New England Trail" the same year I hiked the Cohos:
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=9436
http://guthook.blogspot.com/p/new-england-trail-2009.html
Consider adding the Border Route and The Kekekabic (The KEK) Trail to the Superior Hiking Trail. Adds about 100 miles and takes you across the Boundary Waters. They all connect. Not as well maintained or marked as some of the others, you do need some navigation skills to be safe, but a very enjoyable hike. Similar in nature to Isle Royale. Good place to use a GPS for reassurance.
Also on my list of local trails to do, High Country Pathway. Approximately 80 mile loop in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan. Heard good things about it.