A Few of the Longest Backpacking Trails in America

​The United States is home to nearly 60 million hikers. An additional 10.3 million individuals enjoy backpacking. While there is a considerable deal of overlap between hiking and backpacking, the latter can be viewed as not just exercise and outdoor exploration but as an efficient, affordable approach to travel. Backpackers fit everything they need to survive in a single pack and spend nights outside or in cheap hostels and Airbnbs. There are numerous trail systems throughout the US for backpackers to enjoy.

The two longest hiking trails in America both clock in at about 6,800 miles. The American Discovery Trail is a favorite among American backpackers, as it is the only trail that links the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. The trail moves through 15 states and Washington, DC, with trailheads in California and Delaware. Additional sites along with the way range from a combined 20 National Forests and Parks to more than 10,000 registered historical sites, not to mention countless wilderness areas.

The Great Western Loop also measures approximately 6,800 miles. As the name suggests, the trail does not traverse coast to coast but instead makes a large, circular pass of nine states, from New Mexico up to Montana, west to Washington, then south down California to Arizona. It is a grueling journey that includes both the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. In 2022, Nick Gagnon became the third hiker to chronicle a successful circumnavigation of the Great Western Loop. Gagnon did so in record time, working through 13 pairs of hiking boots over the course of 197 days and 11 hours. His journey included 25 stays at backpacker hostels.

The Eastern Continental Trail is roughly 1,400 miles shorter than the longest backpacking trails in America. Still, the 5,400-mile trail provides backpackers with diverse challenges and environments to navigate. Backpackers interested in completing the loop must bring their passports, as the trail spans from Key West, Florida, in the south to Canada’s Belle Isle of the Newfoundland and Labrador province in the north. The route is littered with hostels and campgrounds for travelers.

The North Country Trail measures 4,600 miles in length, heading from New York state to North Dakota. Backpackers need not fear access to important materials and services, with numerous trail towns found along the route, which passes through 12 national forests in seven states. The North Country Trail allows travelers to see some of the nation’s most impressive geological features, including the Great Lakes.

The Great Western Trail, meanwhile, is a comparable 4,455-mile track from Canada to Mexico which includes five American states along the way. The trail is truly evocative of old pioneering journeys of the nation’s early days, passing along the Mormon Honeymoon trail and Beale’s Wagon Road, among other historical sites.

Finally, the Continental Divide Trail is the shortest of the nation’s six trails exceeding 3,000 miles. At 3,100 miles, it also bridges Canada and Mexico with five states. Travelers can see a variety of natural environment along the trail, from deserts to tundras. Other extensive hiking trails in the US include the Pacific Crest Trail, at 2,638 miles, and the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail.

Joshua Pratchard

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