Hiking Long Distance in the US

The Triple Crown of hiking in the US consists of three trails—the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. Hikers who complete all three of these trails hold the title of Triple Crowner.

The Appalachian Trail will take you on a hike from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is known as the longest hiking-only trail in the world. Hikers can expect rocky sections all through Pennsylvania, muddy parts all through Vermont, and technical rock scrambles in the White Mountains. You’ll enjoy hiking through lovely forests, through fields of wildflowers, and along mountain ridges.

The largest animal you can encounter is the black bear. Other large mammals include deer and elk that have been reintroduced in the Smoky Mountains as well as moose. Small mammal species that inhabit the trail are beaver, squirrel, river otter, chipmunk, porcupine, bobcat, and others.

Bird species include wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and three species of owl, among others.

The Continental Divide Trail stretches from Crazy Cook Monument in New Mexico to Glacier National Park in Montana. It is the longest of the Triple Crown Trails. The trail will take you through the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. Hikers experience diverse landscapes, including mountains, forests, and deserts. Along the way you might encounter any one of the 24 species of amphibians, 345 species of birds, 173 species of mammals, and 82 species of reptiles.

Most notable wildlife to look out for are grizzly bears, bison, desert bighorn sheep, and golden eagles.

The Pacific Crest Trail is the second longest of the Triple Crown Trails. It extends from Campo, California, to Monument at the US-Canada border in Washington. Along the way, hikers can experience vast deserts, alpine meadows, snowy passes, forests, crystal-clear lakes, volcano peaks, and treeless ridges. This is also an equestrian trail. The Pacific Crest includes such challenges as long dry stretches of desert, elevations above 10,000 feet in the Sierras, travel through snow, and river crossings.

Along the trail you can encounter such animals as deer, bears, mountain lions, and different bird species.

The John Muir Trail will take hikers from Yosemite Valley in California to Mount Whitney in California. It passes through some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in the US. Along the way are lakes, canyons, and granite cliffs.

The route climbs nearly 46,000 feet of elevation and crosses six high-elevation mountain passes, with most hikers taking around three weeks to complete.

The Arizona Trail takes hikers from the Coronado National Memorial in Arizona to the Stateline Campground on the Arizona/Utah border. Along the way hikers can enjoy deserts, mountains, forests, and canyons across the state. It includes the Sonoran Desert, across the Gila River, and even across the Grand Canyon.

Hikers can explore the Colorado Rockies taking the Colorado Trail From Denver to Durango, the trail stretches through six national forests and six wilderness areas. Hikers enjoy climbing mountain peaks and admiring mountain lakes. In the spring, there are wildflowers galore, and the hills are covered by golden aspen in the autumn. The Colorado Trail is one of the few major long trails that allow mountain biking.  Elk, deer, black bears, and mountain lions are frequently spotted.

The Lone Star Trail in Texas is the longest continuously marked and maintained footpath in Texas. It stretches through the Sam Houston National Forest with miles of trails winding through pine forests. There are places to camp.

The Tahoe Rim Trail loops around Lake Tahoe in California. Hikers can enjoy following the ridge line around the basin; there are lovely high alpine lakes, meadows with colorful flowers, and granite peaks. Mountain bikes are permitted on about half the trail, and the entire trail is open to horseback riders.

The trail stretches through the Desolation Wilderness area, the Mount Rose Wilderness area, and the Granite Chief Wilderness area.

Wildlife seen in the Desolation Wilderness includes smaller mammals such as coyotes, porcupines, badgers, and bobcats.