Embark On An Epic Adventure: Conquer All 11 National Scenic Trails Now

Hikers anticipate the slow journey along the Appalachian Trail — Photo courtesy of JeffGoulden / E+

Once the snow melts and the spring blooms start, it’s the perfect time to get out on the trails. The U.S. boasts a wealth of spectacular natural beauty and protected national parks and wilderness areas, including the National Scenic Trails. Part of the National Trails System, which comprises almost 25,000 miles, they link up to national parks, wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management areas, and vast tracts of wilderness.

Long-distance hiking is popular for anyone into “slow travel,” which embraces having more profound experiences and connections in one place, often under one’s own steam. Not only can you have an inspiring nature experience, but you also get to switch off your phone, be spontaneous, and become more of a minimalist, carrying everything you need for the day and night on your back, which, with the advent of ultralight hiking gear, has become much more manageable.

These 11 National Scenic Trails showcase the best of America’s diverse natural resources and wild places, and they share the common traits of having to be at least 100 miles in length and being primarily non-motorized. While the trails are long-distance footpaths, they have access points and trailheads to various sections, meaning you don’t have to commit to a lengthy journey. You can also explore sections or tackle them stage by stage.

Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail features desert blooms — Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

The granddaddies of the National Trails System are the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) and Appalachian Scenic National Trail (AT), both designated as National Scenic Trails in 1968. At 2,650 miles, the PCT is the longest contiguous footpath in the world, traversing the majestic mountains and deserts of California, Oregon, and Washington. In comparison, the AT is shy of 2,200 miles, passing through 14 states from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin in Maine.

You get some of the nation’s most iconic scenery on these trails, going through Yosemite National Park, the Cascade Range volcanoes on the PCT, and the deep forests of the 100 Mile Wilderness and the Blue Ridge Mountains out east on the AT.

Continental Divide Trail and North Country Trail

Through hikers hit the San Juan Mountains on the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail — Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

At around 3,100 miles, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) is longer than the PCT and AT but has sections of road walking and various routes. It takes in the splendors of Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, the Grand Tetons, and the breathtaking Wind River Range in Wyoming and the San Juan Mountains in Colorado.

The North Country National Scenic Trail stretches almost 4,600 miles across eight states from North Dakota to Vermont, passing through farmlands and lakes and showing off pristine northern scenery. It has road sections through a third of it, and while not complete, highlights include quiet lakes in Minnesota, the Finger Lakes of New York, and Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest. It also follows the famous Long Trail.

Florida Trail, Arizona Trail, Ice Age Trail, and Natchez Trace Trail

You'll see the breathtaking Grand Canyon via the Arizona National Scenic Trail — Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

These trails are incredibly diverse, ranging from swamps and semi-tropical ecosystems along the 1,500-mile Florida National Scenic Trail (best hiked from January to April) to high desert scenery and a prolific crossing of the Grand Canyon on the 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs 1,200 miles through the state, following the glacial moraine route from the last Ice Age and passing through the ancestral land of 15 different Native American tribes.

The 65-mile Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail parallels the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, with hiking and horseback riding in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

New England Trail and Potomac Heritage Trail

Fall foliage is brightest along the New England National Scenic Trail in Massachusetts — Photo courtesy of DenisTangneyJr / E+

These beautiful trails offer something for everyone. If you want to experience fall foliage, head to the 235-mile New England National Scenic Trail, which saunters through 41 communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

For a look at the historical and natural highlights of the Potomac River corridor, check out the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, which is more of a collection of side trails and routes spanning both sides of the river, running 710 miles and with options to canoe, hike, bike, or kayak.

Pacific Northwest Trail

Evergreen forests are a hallmark of the Pacific Northwest Trail — Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

For a walk in temperate rainforests, you can take in the wet Olympic Peninsula and the evergreen forests of Washington on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, which runs 1,200 miles through Idaho, Montana, and Washington as it makes its way from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean.

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