Region: New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts)

Length: 215 miles (14 to 20 days)

Physical Difficulty: Moderate

Logistical Difficulty: Difficult

Season: Year-round
Highest Elevation: 1,617 feet
Lowest Elevation: 0 feet
Net Elevation Gain: 30,000 feet

Hiking the New England Trail

The New England Trail threads its way through heavily populated private land and preciously preserved public land from Long Island Sound in Connecticut north to Royalston Falls in Massachusetts and the terminus at the New Hampshire border. Most of the trail follows the rocky Metacomet Ridge, with expansive views of farmland and encroaching suburban housing developments below, and at times the trail skirts the edges of residential yards and follows paved roads. Despite that closeness to suburbia, there’s solitude in the woods, especially in winter, when I hiked most of the trail.

The woods tell the story of early New England: stone walls built by farmers, a graveyard for smallpox victims, and stone caves where men fighting with post-Revolutionary War insurrectionist Daniel Shays reportedly camped.

The 21^st century tells a different story: encroaching suburban neighborhoods and battles to secure the trail’s path where it passes through private land.

And that’s what makes thru-hiking the NET a challenge. The on-trail campsites are on public land or private land with landowners’ permission, and hikers are advised to leave the trail for overnight accommodations if not staying at a designated campsite.

The southern and northern trail sections have the most sites, with only three overnight sites in the wide gap in between. Observing the guidelines against stealth camping means paying attention to when you need to get off trail to sleep. Although the trail frequently crosses roads, many of them pass through suburban neighborhoods that don’t offer opportunities for resupply and lodging.

And be aware that if you choose to stealth camp, you may be pitching your tent in someone’s backyard.

Roadwalks are the bane of thru-hikers, and the NET has plenty of them. The Western Massachusetts Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, which together maintain the trail, are working to move those roadwalks into the woods and establish more campsites.

Lyme disease was first identified in Lyme, Connecticut, a town near the trail, and it’s now present in ticks all along the trail. It’s a good idea to check daily for ticks—even in winter—and treat your clothes with Permethrin to repel them.

Copperheads and timber rattlesnakes live along the trail in Connecticut and southern Massachusetts, although it’s rare to see one. They are considered endangered in both states.

How to Get to the New England Trail

The southern terminus on Long Island Sound in Guilford, Connecticut, is an easy reach using public transportation. The northern terminus in Royalston Falls has no public transportation and cell coverage is spotty. The New England Scenic Trail Hikers Facebook page has information on people willing to shuttle hikers in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Northern Terminus

The trailhead parking in Royalston Falls is .7 miles from the northern terminus at the New Hampshire border. The TTOR Lean-to is near the terminus, so it’s possible for northbound thru-hikers to stay there after reaching the terminus or stay at the shelter to begin a southbound hike.

Although Uber and Lyft say they have drivers who go to the northern terminus, actually getting someone to drive you may be a different story.

Public transportation to the northern terminus is possible, but involves planning and several steps. Greyhound and Amtrak both stop at the John W. Olver Transit Center in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and from there a Franklin Regional Transit Authority bus goes to Orange, Massachusetts. An Uber or Lyft could be possible from Orange to the terminus at Royalston Falls, about a 16-mile ride.

Another possibility is taking the MBTA Commuter Rail from Boston to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and setting up an Uber or Lyft to the northern terminus. It’s about 34 miles from Fitchburg to Royalston Falls.

Because of spotty cell reception at the northern terminus arranging an Uber or Lyft from there is dicey. If you’re heading north the Mt. Grace peak is a good spot to arrange a pickup at the northern terminus.

Southern Terminus

Getting to the southern terminus at Chittenden Park on Long Island Sound in Guilford is much easier.

Nearby New Haven, Connecticut, is a major rail and bus hub, and from New Haven the Shoreline East train runs to Guilford, where the NET passes through the station. Hikers taking the train to Guilford walk a short distance to the southern terminus, turn around, and begin their northbound hike, passing back through the train station.

The following public transportation options provide access to the southern terminus:

Amtrak Hartford Line: Commuter service from Springfield, Massachusetts, to New Haven. Amtrak trains from Burlington, Vermont, and Montreal, Canada, also stop along this line.

Amtrak: Nationwide rail service that has a stop in New Haven.

Metro-North: Rail service from Grand Central Terminal in New York City to New Haven.

Shoreline East: Train from New Haven to Old Saybrook, Connecticut, with a stop in Guilford.

Peter Pan: Bus service to New Haven from cities in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Greyhound: Bus service to New Haven from cities across the country.

When to Hike the New England Trail

Spring: Late March through mid-May are good times for starting at Long Island Sound. The snow should be gone by then, although late March and April snowstorms are always possible in northern sections. Late May into June can be irritatingly buggy.

Summer: Hot, humid, and still buggy. A dry summer can make water supplies low and the hike difficult.

Fall: Cooler temperatures, no bugs, and the leaves are starting to change color by late September. September rains can replenish water supplies.

Winter: Snow is rare near the coast, more likely from northern Connecticut to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. Still, in southern Massachusetts and all of Connecticut it’s rare lately that snow on the ground lasts more than a week after a winter storm.

The New England Trail Terrain

The trail starts at sea level on Long Island Sound in Guilford, and follows roads north through Guilford for about 3 miles before climbing atop the Metacomet Ridge, whose craggy, reddish cliffs are made up of traprock, a volcanic basalt rock. Hikers climb up and down the mostly dry ridge, high above suburban housing developments and nearby cities, as it winds through Connecticut and southern Massachusetts.

Those ridgetop climbs and sweeping views from open cliffs are repeated along the trail through Connecticut: Trimountain; Beseck Mountain, where the trail passes close to the steep ridge cliff; Mount Higby, with views south to Long Island Sound and north to Mount Tom in southern Massachusetts; Chauncey Peak, which drops steeply to Crescent Lake on one side and a working quarry on the other; Lamentation Mountain; the Hanging Hills; and Ragged Mountain, popular with rock climbers.

Along the way Castle Craig in the Hanging Hills and Heublein Tower farther north provide good views of the surrounding land in Connecticut, and can be packed with day trippers.

Soon after entering Massachusetts hikers encounter the Westfield River, which can be crossed if the water is low. If the water is high a shuttle is the best way to cross the river. Go to the New England Scenic Trail Hikers Facebook page and search for “Westfield River shuttle” to find people who drive hikers across the river.

The trail then passes the Harold Akey Tentsite, the last established tentsite until the Erving State Forest shelter some 50 miles north. A short distance north the trail climbs East Mountain on switchbacks and continues along the mountain’s ridge before descending to state Route 202.

The next major climb is Mount Tom, 1,202 feet high. The trail continues through the Mount Tom Range, passing over Whiting Peak, Goat Peak, and Mount Nonotuck, before descending to Route 5 on the west side of the Connecticut River.

The river is too deep and wide to cross, and a roadwalk to cross the nearest bridge is about 10 miles. The trail starts well away from the river on the east side and getting to it from the river requires bushwhacking through private land, so finding a boat ride across the river might not be the best idea.

Many thru-hikers shuttle to Northampton, Massachusetts, or Hadley, Massachusetts, to rest and clean up at a hotel, and resupply for the rest of the hike.

The trail east of the river starts in Skinner State Park on Mountain Road in Hadley, and climbs to the Summit House, with restrooms and water, on Mount Holyoke. From there the trail passes over Mount Holyoke, Mount Hitchcock, Bare Mountain, Mount Norwottuck, and Long Mountain through the Mount Holyoke Range. The trail through the range is packed with panoramic views and up and down rock scrambling, with a steep drop and climb between Bare and Norwottuck mountains. The Notch Visitor Center between the two peaks has flush toilets and water. Norwottuck, at 1,106 feet, is the highest peak in the range.

After coming down from the Holyoke Range, the trail meanders gradually up and down before reaching the moderately flat Quabbin Reservoir watershed, the most isolated section of the trail. Four towns were abandoned to fill the reservoir that supplies water for Greater Boston, and the lands around Quabbin are empty and protected.

Farther north the trail climbs Stratton Mountain and Mount Grace, at 1,617 feet the highest peak on the trail, before ending at Royalston Falls and the New Hampshire border.

It’s possible to do 15- to 20-mile days on the trail, making a thru-hike in 14 to 20 days within reach. Because the trail crosses so many roads multi-day hikes with stops at overnight campsites can be combined with daylong section hikes.

Logistics: Permits, Camping, Water

Permits: No permits are needed to hike the New England Trail.

Camping: Some of the designated camping sites, such as the Richardson-Zlogar Cabin in Massachusetts, require reservations. Fires are not allowed at campsites in Connecticut, and stealth camping along the trail is discouraged. Trail maintainers are working to add more overnight sites.

The sites from south to north are: Godman Group Campsite, Cattails Shelter, Lamentation Mountain Primitive Tentsite, Windsor Locks Scouts Primitive Tentsite, Harold Akey Tentsite, Mt. Holyoke Outing Club Cabin, Wendell State Forest Lean-to, Richardson-Zlogar Cabin, Mt. Grace Lean-to, and TTOR Lean-to at Royalston Falls. Campsite details can be found here.

Campsites are nicely spaced between the southern terminus and Lamentation Mountain Primitive Tentsite and between the Wendell State Forest Lean-to and the TTOR Lean-to at Royalston Falls near the northern terminus. But the long gap between Lamentation Mountain and the Windsor Locks Tentsite may require getting off trail for the night. The same goes for the gap between the Connecticut River and the Wendell State Forest Lean-to.

The Richardson-Zlogar Cabin, with its wide open vista east to Mount Grace and Mount Monadnock, and a beautiful sunrise view, is the gem of the trail’s shelters. The cabin is locked and needs to be reserved online to get the lock code. It’s also possible, but not necessary, to reserve the tentsites as they rarely fill up.

Although the NET website lists the Mt. Holyoke Outing Club Cabin as an overnight site, the guidelines on picking up and returning a key make the cabin an impractical option.

The Windsor Locks tentsite is near Bradley International Airport, and planes taking off frequently passed noisily overhead while I camped there; the lights from one plane lit up my tent.

Water: Few of the campsites have natural water sources, and water can be scarce along the trail from Long Island Sound to the northern end of the Holyoke Range. Some overnight sites have water caches, but it’s best not to rely on them. Water is easier to find north of the Holyoke Range.

Route-finding: The trail is marked with blue blazes in Connecticut, white blazes through Massachusetts. M&M signs (Metacomet and Monadnock, the trail name in Massachusetts before it became the New England National Scenic Trail) are nailed to trees alongside white blazes in northern Massachusetts. Numerous side paths cross the NET, so paying attention to blazes is important. If your mind wanders in thought on trail like my does it’s easy to miss a turn blaze and head down a side path instead of staying on the NET. And keep in mind that sometimes at trail junctions the most heavily used path that lies ahead might not be the NET.

Rivers: The Westfield River in Massachusetts can be waded if the water is low. The roadwalk around the river crossing is 3.7 miles on busy roads, so it’s best to arrange a ride if the river is high. The Connecticut River in Massachusetts can be crossed by roadwalking 10.2 miles along high-speed, high-traffic roads. Some hikers arrange a ride to lodging in Northampton or Hadley after the trail reaches the western bank of the Connecticut, resupply, and resume walking the trail the next day on the eastern bank.

Parking: The NET website has an interactive map that shows parking areas along the trail, describes how many cars each spot fits, whether they’re lots or road shoulders, and provides directions to them.

Trail Angels: Some people along the trail help with rides, lodging, and water caches, but there isn’t a well-established system of hostels and shuttle drivers. Search the New England Scenic Trail Facebook page for people willing to shuttle hikers or post on the page that you’re looking for a ride.

Know Before You Go

On to Canada: It is possible to hike from Long Island Sound in Connecticut to Canada following the NET; the New Hampshire Metacomet & Monadnock Trail and the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway in Southern New Hampshire; and the Cohos Trail in northern New Hampshire. Several options link the Greenway to the Cohos Trail, with information about them on the NET to Cohos Trail Facebook page.

North or South?: Which direction to hike can depend on the season or how you’re getting to and from the termini. If you’re starting in late winter or early spring setting off at Long Island Sound makes it less likely to encounter snow in the north. Starting in the north during the fall means hiking with the foliage as it changes color north to south.

Arranging transportation to the northern terminus is complicated, while southern terminus transportation is easy because the trail passes through a train station a short walk from the terminus. So hiking south means getting the complicated trip planning out of the way and scoring an easy ride at the end of your hike.

Spur Trail: A ~28-mile NET spur trail runs from near Broomstick Ledges in Guilford to the Connecticut River in Middletown, Connecticut. Once at the river, it’s necessary to backtrack to the main NET. The spur is considered part of the New England Trail, but is it part of a thru-hike? Many thru-hikers walk past the spur trail. The NET website, however, says hikers have to walk every mile of the trail to get an NET finisher patch.

Resupply: Meriden, Connecticut, and Hadley are good jumping-off points for lodging and resupply. Small restaurants and stores on or near the trail also provide food options, but north of Hadley lodging and food stores are far from the trail. The trail passes through the parking lot of Guida’s Restaurant on Route 66 between Beseck and Higby mountains in Connecticut, making it a favorite thru-hiker stop. The trail also passes through the small village of Tariffville, Connecticut, which has some restaurants.

Cell Reception: Cell phone reception is good from Long Island Sound through the northern end of the Holyoke Range. After that it’s good on peaks, but not reliable down low.

Trail Guides: Paper maps of the New England Trail—one for Connecticut, one for Massachusetts—are available here. The maps show trail section mileage but not elevation. The NET online interactive map gives information on camping, directions to trail parking, and section mileage. FarOut has an NET app.

Gun Ranges: Multiple gun ranges and an archery range are near or right next to the trail in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

One of 11: The New England Trail is one of 11 National Scenic Trails. The others are the Appalachian Trail, Arizona Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Florida Trail, Ice Age Trail, Natchez Trace, North Country Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, and Potomac Heritage Trail.

National Park Status: The New England Trail was granted national park status by the U.S. National Park Service in late 2023.

NET’s Origins: The New England Trail was designated a National Scenic Trail in 2009, and is comprised primarily of the historic Mattabesett, Menunkatuk, Metacomet, and Monadnock trails in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Those trail names are still used along sections of the NET.

New England Trail Resources

The New England Trail: Trail website with an interactive map showing campsites and parking. Maps of the trail through Connecticut and Massachusetts are also available.

FarOut: Mobile app of the NET available.

Amtrak

Shoreline East

Metro-North

Peter Pan bus

Greyhound bus

The post The New England National Scenic Trail appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The Mid-State Trail is a 331-mile, orange-blazed footpath traversing some of Pennsylvania’s wildest landscapes from the Maryland border to the New York border. It can be hiked in 3-4 weeks and is part of the Great Eastern Trail, an alternative to the Appalachian Trail.

Region: Mid-Atlantic (Pennsylvania)
Distance: 331 miles
Season: Four-season with proper gear and skills. Spring, summer, and fall recommended.
Total Elevation Gain: 52,803 feet

Physical Difficulty: Moderate

• Gravel forest roads, bike paths, long flat stretches
• Boulder fields and rocky trail, steep ascents and descents
• Thick brush and tall grass with footpath nonexistent or obscured

Logistical Difficulty: Moderate

• The MST passes through multiple well-spaced towns (little hitching required)
• FarOut app for navigation through poorly maintained sections
• Camping is illegal on Pennsylvania state game lands, making some sections tough logistically and financially
• Northern and southern termini are country roads with no place to leave a car

Season: Fall, spring, summer. Winter with proper gear and skills.

Hiking the Mid-State Trail

The Mid-State Trail is a lightly traveled footpath bisecting Pennsylvania south to north and is often touted as one of the state’s best-kept secrets. It traverses four geographically distinct regions and yields new and interesting terrain as hikers cross into each one. Many thru-hikers are able to complete the trail in 3-4 weeks, making it a good hike for extended time off. It is part of the longer Great Eastern Trail, an alternative to the Appalachian Trail. 

The Mid-State Trail is not for those searching for a social experience or frequent jaw-dropping views. Hikers looking to complete this trail should bring a buddy or enjoy solitude. While the trail is often close to civilization, towns are highly rural, giving the trail a remote feel that the Appalachian Trail lacks farther east. 

The Mid-State Trail alternates moderate walking on forest roads with tougher hiking on steep inclines and declines and sharp, rocky ridgelines. The many small points of interest on this trail—historical remnants, quiet and scenic state parks, and ecologically unique areas—keep hikers’ interest along the Mid-State Trail. 

Getting to the Mid-State Trail

Southern Terminus

Nearest City: Cumberland, Maryland. ~17 miles from the trail 

Getting to the Southern Terminus: 

The southern terminus is at the Pennsylvania/Maryland border at the intersection of Black Valley Road and Gap Road. The nearest parking is a half mile up the road at Solid Wood Floors and Moulding (814-458-2032), which allows hikers to park across the street. 

A Greyhound bus also runs to Cumberland. From here, a taxi to Flintstone, Maryland, and a 2-mile road walk or hitch could take hikers to the border to start the hike. 

My dad was kind enough to drop my hiking partner and me at the border on Gap Road. This is the simplest option, but people sometimes offer shuttles on the Mid-State Trail Facebook group, and finding a suitable ride here is not out of the question. 

Getting to the Northern Terminus

Nearest City: Corning, New York, ~16 miles from the trail

The northern terminus is at the intersection of Heffner Hollow Road and State Line Road on the Pennsylvania/New York border. There is no parking here. 

There is no public transport to the terminus, so finding a shuttle or getting a ride will be the best option. The Crystal Hills Trail continues north from the border with orange blazes. 

When to Hike the Mid-State Trail

The Mid-State Trail can potentially be hiked in all four seasons. Spring brings clouds of mosquitoes and overgrown trail, but water will be plentiful. Fall and later summer will have less of all of these, but will have sweltering temperatures and high humidity. Pennsylvania winters are typically milder than those in the taller mountains of the Southeast and New England; however, microspikes, snowshoes, gaiters, and winter backpacking experience will all be necessary to hike this trail in the colder months. Frequent, bright orange blazes make the footpath easy to find in the snow. 

Mid-State Trail Terrain

The Mid-State Trail varies between highly mountainous and rocky terrain with steep ascents and descents to road walks along country lanes and isolated forest roads. Some small sections in the Everett region lack a footpath entirely and will have hikers wading through tall brush, though they are mostly well-blazed and not difficult to follow. 

Logistics on the Mid-State Trail

Resupply: While the towns along the Mid-State Trail are mostly small (population > 3,000), Dollar General and similar stores are not difficult to find. If you have a special diet or want more variety, most towns also have post offices that will hold packages for hikers. 

Many resupply points along the MST do not require hitchhiking, with the exception of some larger towns, such as State College and Lock Haven. 

Everett: NOBO Mile 35.4

The trail runs through the town of Everett, which has a Foodliner (full grocery store) and a Sheetz convenience store, as well as a laundromat, pharmacy, and several restaurants. The lean-to in Tenley Park is the last legal camping northbound for 50 miles. 

Post office info: 

814-652-2525

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Sunday, closed

Williamsburg: NOBO Mile 80.2

The trail runs through Williamsburg, which has a Dollar General, lodging (highly recommend the Blue Lantern B&B – 814-937-1825), a laundromat, and a pizza restaurant. 

Post office info:

814-832-3214

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to noon; Sunday, closed

State College: NOBO Mile 115

Getting to State College is more logistically challenging than most towns along the MST, but the town will have the most amenities, including many options for restaurants, lodging, and resupply. From the Hubler Gap vista, take the Musser Gap Trail to the Musser Gap parking lot, and then the Musser Gap Greenway to the bus stop at The Yards at Old State (apartment complex), about a 3-mile walk. The CATA bus runs Monday to Saturday and the fare as of 2022 is $2.20. https://catabus.com/ for most up-to-date fares and routes. Uber and Lyft should also be abundant in the area. 

Post office info: 

814-238-2435

Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon; Sunday, closed

Lock Haven: NOBO Mile 207.9

Hitchhiking or walking west from Route 150 will take you to Lock Haven, which boasts more amenities than neighboring McElhattan or Woolrich, both of which are much closer to the trail. Like State College, Lock Haven is a college town with lodging, restaurants, a town-wide bus service, laundry, and a full grocery. 

Post office info

570-748-8055 

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon; Sunday, closed

Camping: The Mid-State Trail traverses many different types of public lands. On state forest lands, impact sites are spaced approximately every 10 miles, and many are marked on the FarOut app. About 70 miles of trail in the southern half traverses state game lands, where it is illegal to camp, and off-trail lodging arrangements must be made. Some options to work around this include: 

Tenley Park Shelter: NOBO Mile 35.4

Hikers may stay for free at this three-sided lean-to in Tenley Park on the edge of the town of Everett. Call the Everett Borough at 814-652-9202 to get permission to camp. 

Loysburg Campground: NOBO Mile 50.9

0.2 miles off-trail to an RV campground with a fee of $20 per night. Bathroom amenities and water access are reported to be sporadic. 

Our Place Guesthouse in Martinsburg: NOBO Mile 64.1

Call 814-505-9006 to reserve a room. Pickup point is the state game lands parking lot next to Route 164, 0.6 miles south of the highway crossing. 

Williamsburg: NOBO Mile 80

Dollar General and post office for resupply, Blue Lantern B&B for lodging. Beginning of the Lower Rail Trail section of the MST, which has three-sided lean-tos and water en route. 

Water: While the Mid-State Trail often traverses ridgetops, it dips into plenty of stream valleys, towns, and state parks, and passes by frequent springs. The State College region is the only exception. It traverses the Tussey ridge, where water can be scarce in any season, and a long water carry or a climb down off the ridgetop may be necessary to access water. 

Special Gear: While it may be tempting to hike in shorts in the heat of spring and summer, long pants tucked into long socks come highly recommended–preferably treated with Permethrin. Many sections of the MST are grown in with brush (some of it prickly) and the trail hosts scores of ticks. A sturdy pair of tweezers is also recommended to remove any ticks. 

Know Before You Go

• There is no camping on state game lands. Hikers should plan around this and note that certain sections of trail on private land may be closed during the hunting season. Check the Mid-State Trail Association’s website, Facebook group, or MST’s guide in the FarOut app for the most updated information.
• Ticks abound on the MST. Brightly colored socks and/or gaiters may help you find the dark-colored bloodsuckers crawling before they bite. Permethrin, long pants, and long sleeves are recommended.
• Supply chain issues are preventing the MSTA from printing the latest maps; the FarOut app is the most current option as of this writing. The trail has also undergone several reroutes in the past year, which the MSTA keeps updated in the app.
• Bicycles are not allowed on most parts of MST, except where the route is shared with multi-use paths, such as the Lower Rail Trail.
• The Mid-State Trail was built by a Penn State professor who valued the metric system over the imperial system. All trail signs and measurements on official MST maps are in kilometers and meters.

The post Mid-State Trail appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The Ozark Highlands Trail is a 254-mile point-to-point backpacking route in Arkansas. It is a blazed trail through the northern part of the state with multiple stream crossings. A full thru-hike is considered to be 165 miles, with 254 miles being the full proposed (and possible) route.

Region: Middle South (Arkansas)
Length: 165 – 254 miles (10-18 days)

Physical Difficulty: Moderate

• Creek and river crossings ebb and flow with the weather
• The trail is moderately graded
• The climbs and descents are short

Logistical Difficulty: Moderate

• No permits needed
• Both termini are hard to access
• Resupplies can be tough

Season: Fall, Winter, Spring

Hiking the Ozark Highlands Trail

The Ozark Highlands Trail is a route through northern Arkansas that follows the spine of the Ozark Mountains from east to west.

The trail is white-blazed along most of its route and is fairly straightforward to follow. There is also a FarOut guide. Compared with the Ouachita Trail, there are not as many signs or markers, but for the first chunk, every mile is signed.

The trees are deciduous with small groups of pine and the weather is temperate and mild. On my thru-hike I saw deer, elk, and porcupine. Locals also spoke of small black bears in the Ozarks. It is a peaceful environment that is far removed from any towns. This also makes the resupply strategy more difficult than comparable trails.

One big factor on the Ozark Highlands Trail is the water. There are numerous crossings every day, an abundance of waterfalls, and little need to have more than a 2-liter capacity. I thru-hiked this trail in February, which is one of the wetter times of the year, but water seems to flow year-round based on many of the online comments and water sources on maps.

The Ozark Highlands Trail is not finished, and there are two distinct sections with the opportunity to connect them as I did. The first 165 miles to the Buffalo River at Woolum are largely considered an entire thru-hike, but there is a decent section for 40 more miles to Dillards Ferry at Highway 14 that I was able to easily complete. From there, it was a 20-mile slog of bushwhacking, looking for a trail, and following gravel roads to get to the Sylamore section of the trail. The east end of the trail was beautiful and my 254-mile route ended at Matney Knob Trailhead.

How to Get to the Ozark Highlands Trail

Western Terminus: Fort Smith State Park, Arkansas
Closest City: Fort Smith (1 hour)

Eastern Terminus: Matney Knob Trailhead, Arkansas, or Woolum Campground, Arkansas
Closest City: Mountain Home, Arkansas (20 minutes)

I hiked this trail eastbound and was able to get a ride to the trailhead from a friend, but there is a very active Facebook group and numerous resources for getting to the trail on the Ozark Highlands Trail Association website.

Ozark Highlands Trail Western Terminus

From Fort Smith, Arkansas, it’s a 40-minute drive to Lake Fort Smith State Park

Ozark Highlands Trail Eastern Terminus

The trail ends abruptly at either Woolum or Matney Knob Trailhead (depending on where you conclude your thru-hike). Mountain Home is the largest city of any kind, but transportation can be tricky. I was able to hitch across the state to Fayetteville but there are also some bus options and the opportunity to rent a car to get to a major city. I found hitching to be fairly simple in Arkansas.

When to Hike the Ozark Highlands Trail / Which Direction

The Ozark Highlands Trail fits snuggly into the shoulder seasons when the weather is tamer in Arkansas and without the sticky heat and humidity that the region experiences during the summer. A generally equal split hike the trail in the early spring and the fall, with the season lasting a few months twice a year.

The trail can be hiked year-round, but a number of factors ranging from bugs to floods to cold weather make the February to April and October to November timeframes the most popular. In late February it snowed on me and the rivers were swollen after a rainstorm. The weather can be inclement, and despite the lack of true elevation the terrain can be rugged.

Most thru-hikers start at Lake Fort Smith State Park and travel eastbound because it is fairly easy to get a ride to and makes the logistics work a little better. The two possible termini on the east side are both remote and difficult.

Ozark Highlands Trail Terrain

The Ozark Highlands Trail is very much under the canopy of deciduous trees, but there are a number of views as the oscillating elevation brings you up and down numerous mountains. The trail is rocky with mud, waterfalls, and numerous stream crossings. Compared with the drier Ouachita Trail to the south, the Ozark Highlands Trail has a lot more dependable water.

Ozark Highlands Trail Resupply

Resupply can be complicated on the OHT. There are no major towns nearby, and the roads cutting through the mountains are lightly traveled. But with a couple of longer carries the trail can be thru-hiked without going hungry.

Resupply 1, Ozone, Arkansas
Mile 68

A tiny Burger Barn that accepts thru-hiker packages is only 2 miles off the trail. The other option at this crossing of Highway 21 is Clarksville. If you can manage the long carry from here to Woolum, the simplest way to thru-hike the Ozark Highlands Trail is to only resupply at this location.

Resupply 2, Highway 65
Mile 205

If you are hiking the full (proposed) length of the trail, Highway 65 is well-traveled and can provide access to a Dollar General in St. Joe. It is a fairly easy hitch and is the only real relevant resupply option for the second half of the lesser-traveled section of the trail.

Logistics: Camping and Water

Camping: Camping is dispersed and plentiful on the OHT. There are a number of flat spots, and FarOut has a number of waypoints marked as potential spots to set up a tent.

Water: There is so much water on the Ozark Highlands Trail that flooding can be an issue. Especially in the Hurricane Creek section, the water crossings can swell substantially when it rains. Keep an eye on the weather and the current levels of the rivers and creeks.

Ozark Highlands Trail: Know Before You Go

Weather: Shoulder season hiking comes with variable weather. I experienced rain, snow, and sunshine in late February. The weather was in the 70s one day and dipped below 20 the next. Packing the gear to weather any potential conditions is highly recommended.

Ozark Highlands Trail Resources

Ozark Highlands Trail Association

Ozark Highlands Trail Guide – Book

Ozark Highland Trail Facebook

The post Ozark Highlands Trail appeared first on Backpacking Routes.

The John Muir Trail is a permit-required 211-mile trail through California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Most of the trail follows the Pacific Crest Trail, and can be done safely between June and September. 

Region: Pacific West (Sierra Nevada, California)
Length: 211 miles (12-25 days)  

Physical Difficulty: Difficult  

• High elevations, consistent camping above 10,000 feet
• Variable weather conditions, dangerous stream crossings early season, and snowstorms late season 
• Lots of elevation gain and loss, six mountain passes over 11,000 feet 

Logistical Difficulty: Moderate

• Competitive permit system 
• Resupplies needed but resupply system is well-established
• Transportation needed between two trailheads (Yosemite National Park and Mount Whitney Portal) 

Season: Summer (July – September).
Average Elevation: ~8,500 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 46,000 feet

Hiking the John Muir Trail 

Every time I hear a story detailing Pacific Crest Trail hikers struggling on the John Muir Trail portion, I feel extremely validated. The JMT was my second backpacking trip longer than one night. With minimal research and planning, we scraped together a 17-day trek the week before, relying on the walk-up permit process, and driving our resupplies to their locations. Do I recommend doing it this way? No. Does it puff my ego to know that this is the section where PCT thru-hikers break down and face their limits? Yes. 

Personal anecdotes aside, I do not recommend this trail for beginners. The Sierra Nevada mountain range features extremely difficult terrain and varied weather conditions. Each day we hiked 15 to 20 miles, climbing anywhere from 2,500 to 4,500 feet of elevation. The solitude in stunning, jaw-dropping wilderness is magical, yet isolating. Even though I had my best friend and trail brother with me, I had a couple of weepy, existential nights in my sleeping bag. 

If you’re looking to dip your toe into long-distance backpacking, I recommend sectioning the JMT or picking a shorter High Sierra trip. The John Muir Trail is perfect for extremely experienced backpackers, or individuals contemplating a longer thru-hike. Even though there’s more than one video of me crying on this trail, it gave me a taste of the hiker trash lifestyle that I’m not prepared to give up anytime soon. 

How to Get to the John Muir Trail 

Transportation is a bit of a doozy for the JMT, given its remote location. Many hikers drop a car at each terminus, or arrange a ride from a friend. There are public transportation options available. 

Northern Terminus: Happy Isles Trailhead
Closest Cities: Merced, California (~80 miles) or Modesto, California (~114 miles) 
Closest Major City: Oakland, California (~150 miles)

Southern Terminus: Mount Whitney Portal
Closest Cities: Bakersfield, California (~150 miles) or Bishop, California (~60 miles)
Closest Major City: Los Angeles, California (~210 miles) 

John Muir Trail Southern Terminus

Cars are allowed to drive and park in Yosemite Valley. You’ll need to make sure you’re at the right parking lot for Happy Isles Trailhead, and that overnight parking is allowed. We wrote a note with our itinerary and placed it on the dashboard to ensure our car wasn’t marked as abandoned. Also, you will need to remove absolutely all scented items from your car before hitting the trail, due to high bear activity in the valley. 

Amtrak, Greyhound, and YARTS all work in conjunction to provide public transportation from the California Bay Area into Yosemite. From Oakland or San Francisco, hikers can chose Amtrak or Greyhound to take them into Merced, where YARTS (Yosemite’s transit system), shuttles into the valley. More information here. 

Whether you are starting at Tuolumne Meadows or Happy Isles, you will need a national parks pass to enter the park. 

The Yosemite Valley hikers bus travels from the valley to Tuolumne Meadows during peak season. You will need to purchase a ticket; check here for more information. 

John Muir Trail Northern Terminus

Getting from Whitney Portal back to Yosemite Valley is a bit of a drag. I recommend staying at least one night in Lone Pine after your trek, to soak in your experience at the Whitney Portal Hostel. Also, The Grill serves enormous, delicious portions of post-hike heavenly food. 

Between Whitney Portal (the trailhead) and Lone Pine is a 10-mile mountain road. There are independent shuttle services available (like this one), but this is also a very easy hitch. Though the hiker smell is rank by this point, day-hikers may be eager to give some JMTers a ride into town. 

There is no direct route from Lone Pine to Yosemite Valley via public transportation. However, the Eastern Sierra Transit goes from Lone Pine to Mammoth Lakes, where you can transfer to YARTS into the valley or Tuolumne Meadows. 

When to Hike the John Muir Trail 

Throughout all the summer months the JMT features extraordinary wildflowers, plentiful water, and snowcapped peaks. The month you choose will dictate which difficulties you face, whether it be weather, bugs, or river crossings. On low snow years June is possible, if you’re prepared to cross rivers and hike with microspikes and an ice axe. September is ideal (no bugs), though toward the end of the month winter storms may arrive.

June: Though you won’t yet be assaulted by mosquitoes, I would only plan for a June thru-hike if you have experience hiking through snow. Or, on a low snow year, consider a walk-up permit. The summer crowds won’t be out in full force yet. 

July: The weather is best in July, though at lower elevations the mosquitoes will be out in full force. Creek crossings will also be less of an issue by July. 

August: The weather will still be warmer, but bugs may be less of an issue. August and July both will bring more crowds to the trail. 

September: The weather will be on the chillier side, but still manageable with the right gear. Bugs will only be an issue at the lowest elevations, and the crowds will thin out. In 2019, the first snowstorm hit the region on September 29, our exit day. We had to wait an extra day in Lone Pine to be able to drive back into Yosemite National Park. Consider the possibility of winter storms coming very early. 

John Muir Trail Terrain 

The JMT is established and relatively easy to follow. Even on the highest mountain passes, there is a blazed trail to the top and no scrambling is required. Though the passes are challenging and steep, there are switchbacks the entire way up. 

The trail itself is a mix of dirt and granite, with a few rockier sections. I opted to wear trail runners and appreciated the agility, though the shoes were completely busted by the end due to the varied terrain. Depending on when you go, there are a number of river crossings. If you opt to bring camp shoes, make sure they’re waterproof. 

John Muir Trail Resupply Strategies 

There are a handful of spots along the JMT to either mail or stash a resupply. I recommend selecting at least two locations to resupply. Bear in mind that ~7 days of food will fit in a large (BV500) bear canister. Here are the different options for resupply, and how to get your food there. The JMT FarOut app will help you dial in exactly how close you are getting to your resupply point.  

Tuolumne Meadows: Mile 23.9. Some people send a resupply here in order to start off with 1-2 days worth of food. Very smart. There is also a restaurant and small convenience store here. Here is information on how to send a package there. 

Red’s Meadow Pack Station and Resort: Mile 57.3. This is a popular resupply, and also an opportunity to hitch into the town of Mammoth Lakes. There is a restaurant, a small convenience store, showers, and laundry available here. Read here for information on how to ship a resupply to Red’s Meadow. They do charge a holding fee upon arrival, and the shipping charge is already steep. We drove our resupply here a week before our hike, and only paid the holding fee. 

Vermillion Valley Resort: Mile 86.5. VVR is a ferry ride away from the JMT, but rumor is you get a free beer upon arrival. There is a restaurant and small store available, as well as lodging and camping. Read their website for information on how to ship to VVR. 

Muir Trail Ranch: Mile 106.4. MTR is just a short detour from the JMT, but offers considerably fewer resources than VVR. Though their hiker boxes are legendary, there is no restaurant, showers, laundry, or grocery shopping available to hikers. We were able to drive our resupply to a station across the lake from MTR and pay $30 for transportation, as opposed to an $85 shipping fee. Information on how to get your food to MTR is available here. 

Onion Valley Campsite: Mile 177.9. This is an unpopular resupply point, but in my opinion it’s under-utilized. Though Onion Valley is a 15-mile round-trip detour from the JMT, stashing your resupply here is free. The campsite has large bear vaults to hold hikers’ food; just label it with your name and arrival date. If you don’t have the ability to drive out there, you can also ship a general delivery box to the nearby town of Independence and hitch a ride there. 

Logistics: Permits, Bear Cans, Camping, Water

Permits: Permits are absolutely 100% required on the John Muir Trail, and are dutifully monitored. There are a few ways to go about getting a permit, despite the competitive system. If you have a wide range of dates available ~6 months out, follow this link to apply for a three-week rolling permit. This is only for SOBO hikers (Yosemite to Whitney) and has a few different starting trailhead options. Getting a permit to hike NOBO is much less competitive. This website lays out that process.

Another way to get a permit, if you’re a spontaneous son-of-a-gun, is the walk-up process. Both Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows have a specific number of permits allocated for walk-ups, so you just have to get in line first. Your desired starting trailhead may not be available, but chances are something will be. My hiking partner and I got our permits in Yosemite Valley the day before we started our thru-hike. We were able to do the entire JMT (Happy Isles to Mount Whitney), including a summit up Half Dome on day one. I am a walk-up process believer. This page has some information on the walk-up process.

Bear Cans: Hard-sided bear cans are required within Yosemite National Park and the Yosemite Wilderness. You cannot use bear bags or a different food-storage method. Though the other wilderness areas don’t require hard-sided canisters (bear bags are OK), the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the JMT Conservancy both implore hikers to keep their canisters the entire way. 

Camping: Campsites are plentiful and absolutely stunning along the entire trail. There are a handful of no camping zones along certain protected lakes, but for the most part, you just need to be mindful of the basic LNT principles. 

Water: The water is plentiful and delicious in the Sierra Nevada. The longest stretch without water is five miles, and oftent the trail follows creeks. A single water filtration method is plenty.  

Half Dome Detour: We hit the jackpot with our walk-up permits, and were also able to snag two Half Dome tickets, so we tacked that onto our day one itinerary. However, when applying for a permit in advance, you do have the option to add on a Half Dome permit if you wish. It’s a 4-mile round trip detour from the JMT, and well worth it in my opinion. We were able to stash our packs at the junction where the JMT splits from the Half Dome Trail. The hike from this point on is very challenging, and I recommend leaving the heavy packs behind, and just taking food, water, layers, and gloves for the cables. Also note that Half Dome is more than just a steep hike: the cables section is incredibly steep and exposed, and if you hit the cables during the busiest time of day, it might be a long time waiting in line behind people on the route. It’s an amazing experience, but do your research before committing.

Know Before You Go 

Cell Reception: There is none. I’ll admit it, the 7-day stretch without a single bar of service affected me more than I care to admit. Mentally prepare yourself to feel utterly disconnected from the world for as long as the trail takes you. 

Extra Gear Needed: Bear cans are necessary, and there are some long food carries. Because of this, your pack may not be as light as you would like. Plan accordingly, and make sure you are adequately prepared for temperatures well below freezing. In September, we had some ~20 degree nights and I was NOT happy on my Therm-a-Rest Z-lite.  

It’s Hard. Like Really, Really Hard. Train adequately. We saw a lot of people leave the trail because it was way harder than they expected. We credit ourselves with finishing (despite our lack of preparation) because we took it one day at a time, and didn’t have any expectations tied to the trail. The more you train, the more you will be able to enjoy your time. 

Plan Your Resupply Strategy: If you are mailing boxes, you’ll want to have the details nailed down about one month in advance. The locations are extremely remote, and shipping takes quite a while. 

John Muir Trail Resources 

PCTA – John Muir Trail Resource Library

JMT Wilderness Conservancy – Hiker Resources

John Muir Trail Map on the FarOut app 

Northbound Permit Process

Southbound Permit Info

Walk-up Permit Info

Katie is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. When she’s not guzzling instant coffee in the backcountry, you can find her down the ski slopes or using inappropriate language around children at the climbing gym. For ramblings, rants, and the occasional dose of inspirational musing follow her on Instagram or her blog Small Towns to Summits. Maybe someday soon she’ll start posting there again, you’ll just have to follow to find out.

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The Colorado Trail is a 485-mile point-to-point backpacking route in Colorado. It stretches from Denver to Durango across the Southern Rockies and can be hiked in 25-35 days.

Colorado Trail Resupply Guide Here

Region: Mountain West (Colorado)
Length: 485 miles (20-35 days)

Physical Difficulty: Difficult

• High average elevation of 10,000 feet and a few passes over 12,000 feet
• Long, steep ascents and descents, particularly around the San Juans
• Exposure to sun and storms can be wearying

Logistical Difficulty: Moderate

• Resupplies are well-spaced and plentiful, but not necessarily near the trail
• Western and eastern termini are easy to access
• Hikers must schedule daily mileage to account for exposure and altitude 

Season: Summer (into early fall)
Average Elevation: 10,300
Total Elevation Gain: 89,000 feet

Hiking the Colorado Trail

The Colorado Trail is a 485-mile multiuse footpath that stretches from Denver to Durango and takes you through some of the most scenic stretches of the southern Rockies. Large sections of the trail are above treeline, offering epic views and challenging conditions. Towns are regularly spaced along the trail, though they vary in terms of how easy they are to get to (resupply might involve multiple-stage hitches, single-stage hitches, flagging down a narrow-gauge tourist train, taking a shuttle, bus travel, or some combination of all of the above).

We love the Colorado Trail because the mileage is in a sweet spot–it takes about a month to complete if traveling at a fairly leisurely 20 miles a day. That’s long enough to get into the swing of a thru-hike but not long enough that you have to quit your job. The trail also offers opportunities for interesting diversions like peak bagging one of Colorado’s famous 14ers (Mount Elbert, the second-highest mountain in the Lower 48 is just a few miles off-trail). All this combined with world-class views on a daily basis, the historic mining towns that make up your resupply points, and the lack of required permits make the Colorado Trail a must-do on any long-distance hiker’s list.

The Colorado Trail is broken into 28 segments. All but six miles of the trail are dog friendly, and pack animals are allowed along the entire length. Mountain bikers are allowed on most of the trail, with the exception of six wilderness areas. Altitude, weather (particularly lightning safety), and exposure are the biggest concerns when planning a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail, followed closely by resupply and managing the travel logistics of a point-to-point hike.

How to Get to the Colorado Trail

Eastern Terminus: Waterton Canyon Trailhead, Colorado
Closest City: Denver, Colorado (45 minutes)

Western Terminus: Junction Creek Trailhead, Colorado
Closest City: Durango, Colorado (10 minutes)

Colorado Trail Eastern Terminus

The Colorado Trail’s Eastern Terminus is at Waterton Canyon trailhead, off Highway 121, about 26 miles from downtown Denver. The parking area is well-signed and has plenty of parking, and you (or your Uber driver) should have no problem finding the area on your navigation program of choice. We recommend an early start if beginning your journey from this trailhead. The first six miles of the Colorado Trail follow a gravel road up Waterton Canyon, and this walk can be grueling and unrewarding in the full heat of the day. That being said, keep your eyes peeled for a local population of bighorn sheep that call this area home.

This six miles of gravel road is the only portion of the trail on which dogs are not allowed, due to watershed preservation measures and the aforementioned population of bighorns. There’s an alternate route available for those traveling with dogs.

You should have no problem getting an Uber or ride-share from a hotel or airport in Denver, but if you’d rather rely on the kindness of strangers, you can submit a request to the Colorado Trail foundation to receive an emailed list of trail angels and shuttles.

Colorado Trail Western Terminus

Durango is a much smaller city than Denver, but you are still likely to have no problem snagging a ride-share, hitch, or shuttle to or from the trailhead at the western terminus. It’s only about a ten-minute drive from the trailhead to downtown Durango. Once there, you can grab a bus back to Denver or, even better, stick around for a while and partake of some of the region’s legendary mountain biking and day-hiking.

When to Hike the Colorado Trail / Which Direction

Late summer is generally the best time to hike the Colorado Trail due to altitude and snowpack conditions. The Colorado Trail Foundation recommends a hiking window of July 1 to September 30. Start too early (May or June) and much of the trail will still be covered by late-melting snow. Finish your journey too late (October) and you’ll almost certainly run into dangerous fall storms. 

The general wisdom is to hike the Colorado Trail from east to west, starting at Waterton Canyon outside Denver and finishing at the western terminus in Durango.

The idea behind this strategy is twofold and has everything to do with altitude. If you start in the east and head westward, it will be about 100 miles before you hit your first challenging high-altitude pass. This gives your body some time to adjust and has the added benefit of allowing snowpack at higher elevations to melt off a little more.

This plan has advantages from an aesthetic standpoint as well. Some of the most remote and beautiful spots on the trail are on the western segments, with the San Juan range being chief among them. Many backpackers prefer to finish long hikes with dramatic, awe-inspiring scenery, though to be fair almost all of the Colorado Trail falls into this category. 

Of course, you can also go the other direction. People starting later in the summer who want to finish at lower altitudes (or who, for logistical reasons, need to finish in Denver) might find the climb out of Durango worth the effort. BPR’s own Jeff Garmire took this approach on his 2020 FKT of the Colorado Trail because he wanted to get the most challenging sections of the trail completed early in his hike.

Colorado Trail Terrain

The Colorado Trail’s terrain is fairly consistent–well packed, mostly well-graded single track with occasional forest roads and jeep tracks. There’s only one major road walk, though like all road walks it can feel longer than it is. Some of the meadows you traverse might be squishy, especially earlier in the summer. In our hikes of the Colorado Trail, we rarely, if ever, had to navigate around blowdowns. Stream crossings that require more than ankle-deep fording are rare.

There are some steep climbs and descents for sure, especially as you head up and over the high-elevation passes. These locations, plus north-facing slopes, are where you are likely to find snowpack still hanging around from the previous winter’s storms. These patches are relatively easy to navigate because they are well into the summer’s freeze/melt cycle (in other words, you won’t be postholing) but can still slip and slide on them a bit if you aren’t careful. Use caution.

Colorado Trail Resupply

Resupply opportunities are plentiful along the Colorado Trail, though many of the towns are several miles off-trail, and a few require multiple hitches to access.

The trail directly passes through only two resupply locations (Copper Mountain Resort and Molas Lake Campground) and comes within walking distance of a few more (Twin Lakes Village and Buffalo Creek).

The FarOut guide to the Colorado Trail has information about trail towns, as does the Colorado Trail Databook. Published by the Colorado Trail Foundation, the Colorado Trail Databook is one of the most thoughtfully designed and useful on-trail paper resources we’ve ever used on a thru-hike. We highly recommend it, even if you are predominately using FarOut for day-to-day navigation. Be prepared to receive fundraising requests from the Colorado Trail Foundation in the mail for the rest of your life, however. 

Breckinridge is one of the easiest trail towns to access via use of a free bus that stops about .2 miles from the trail on Highway 9 (Segment 6). On a westward hike, this puts you about 100 miles into your trip–an ideal first major resupply point. Breck is a famous ski town and has a plethora of lodging options to choose from.

One of the most fun ways to resupply is to flag down the Durango and Silverton narrow-gauge train as it travels along the Animas River between the two towns. The trail cross this railroad in Segment 24. There’s a train stop .3 miles south, and for a few bucks you can take the most scenic hitch we know of into Silverton for a burger and a stay at the Silverton Inn and Hostel. With just a little over 80 miles left in your hike, it’s a fun final stop.

Logistics: Camping, Water, and Food Storage

Camping: Established sites are plentiful along the trail, and are easy to find via the Colorado Trail Databook or FarOut. Although it has large sections of trail above treeline, it’s easy enough to avoid camping in exposed locations with careful planning and attention to pace of travel. That being said, a well-chosen spot above treeline can be a truly outstanding way to do some stargazing.

Water: For the most part, water is easy to find along the Colorado Trail. There are a few dry-ish segments, however, that require a little more planning. Segments 2/3, 18/19, and 26/27 all contain areas that need some careful attention. Again, FarOut and the CT Databook are your friends here (FarOut is likely to have more recent and up-to-date water-source information).

We recommend treating water along the Colorado Trail, particularly as it becomes more popular and heavily trafficked.

Food Storage: There’s a significant black bear population in Colorado, along with a ravenous collection of the usual rodents and miscellaneous small creatures with a heavy investment in chewing through your pack to find your food. For this reason, the Colorado Trail Foundation recommends hanging food or using a Kevlar food storage solution like an Ursack. Bear canisters are not required to hike the Colorado Trail.

Colorado Trail Know Before You Go

Altitude: Minor altitude sickness is a common ailment along the Colorado Trail. Much of the trail is above 10,000 feet, and most people simply don’t live (much less exercise) at that altitude. Headaches, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, nausea, and trouble sleeping are all common symptoms. Usually, these symptoms abate within a week or two on the trail, although their length and severity depend as much upon random biological chance as it does upon training and preparation.

You can plan to offset the symptoms of altitude sickness in a few ways (other than training). Carrying Dramamine or other anti-nausea medicine is a good idea, as is planning your food strategy accordingly (plan on having your favorite meals early in the trip so you are incentivized to eat). Pay attention to daily elevation changes, and don’t attempt big-mileage days that include going over 12,000-foot passes if you can help it.

Weather: The Colorado Rockies are famous for daily afternoon thunderstorms. In peak hiking season, it will be rare to go more than a few days without a brief but intense rainstorm. Although these storms often pass quickly, lightning danger on the Colorado Trail is a real concern, and probably the chief safety factor that should occupy your mind while hiking it.

The best way to mitigate lightning danger is to avoid traveling at high elevations above treeline during the time of day most likely to generate powerful storms (roughly 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.). You can accomplish this by planning out your daily mileage a few days in advance, and paying attention to what areas are likely above treeline (around 11,000 to 12,000 feet). Make sure you are up to date on the latest lightning safety recommendations in case you do get caught in a storm. 

Multiuse Trail: Almost the entirety of the Colorado Trail is open to pack animals use, and most of it is open to mountain bike use (with the exception of in the six wilderness areas it passes through). In fact, the CT is one of the most popular long-distance mountain bike trails in the country, so you can certainly expect to see mountain bikers nearly every day during peak summer or as you near towns. Although technically you as a backpacker have the right of way over mountain bikers, it’s often easier for you to get out of the way of mountain bikers as they travel downhill. A good practice is to ask the first biker you see if she has any bikers following, and then confirm with the final biker that she is indeed the final biker.

Pack animals have the right-of-way over both bikers and hikers. Pack animals can be easily spooked, so make sure to give them plenty of space and avoid making quick movements as they pass you.

Collegiate East or West: In 2012 the Colorado Trail expanded to include an alternate path on the western side of the Collegiate Peaks. CT hikers will have to choose which route they will take, the original (and shorter) Collegiate East route or the newer (and longer) Collegiate West route. The College West route adds about 82 miles to the entire length of the trail and is entirely contiguous with the Continental Divide Trail.

Both routes together form the CT Collegiate loop, a 160-mile path that can be hiked all on its own.

Peakbagging: Colorado is famous for its 14ers–peaks rising higher than 14,000 feet. Many of these peaks are accessible via short(ish) side-trips from the Colorado Trail. Highlights include Mount Elbert (the second highest mountain in the contiguous United States) and neighboring Mount Massive. Massive is only a few feet shorter than Elbert but has a much more exciting finish along a knife-edge that includes some scrambling. If you’ve got an extra day or two built into your schedule, we recommend tackling Mount Massive at the very least. You can find the side-trail in Section 10, about 166 miles into your hike (going east to west). 

Start early so you are up and down again before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in.

Colorado Trail Resources

Colorado Trail Foundation

FarOut app for the Colorado Trail

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The Benton MacKaye Trail is a lightly trafficked 287-mile trail that travels through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. This spring / fall thru-hike makes a great alternative to the first 300 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Region:  Deep South – Lower Appalachians (GA, TN, NC)
Length: 287.6 miles (15-30 days)

Physical Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

• Trail can be overgrown, some sections have blowdowns
• More difficult than the correlating section of the Appalachian Trail
• Lots of elevation gain and loss

Logistical Difficulty: Moderate

• Permit needed for Great Smoky Mountains
• BMT Guide Book is very helpful, and has resupply information
• We recommend sending at least one or two resupply packages

Season:  Spring, Fall, Winter. Shoulder season is ideal, but winter is realistic as well. Summers can be hot and buggy.

Average Elevation: ~3,000 feet

Hiking the Benton MacKaye Trail

I like to think of the Benton MacKaye Trail as a more remote, less well traveled, and slightly more challenging alternative to the Appalachian Trail for the first 300 miles.  It is an excellent choice for hikers with some previous experience, especially hikers who wish to hike the Appalachian Trail, but are weary of the swarms of thru-hikers that appear each spring.  Since it shares the same Southern Terminus, and then intersects the Appalachian Trail twice, it is easy to hop from one trail to the other, or make loops.

Compared to the Appalachian Trail, the Benton MacKaye Trail has practically no thru-hikers. The trail is mostly wooded, but there are a few short road walks, some of which have options for grabbing food, which make the road walking much more pleasant.

The Benton MacKaye Trail travels through an ecologically diverse landscape, with old beech trees, and an abundance of wildflowers—if you hike it in the right season. The trail travels through valleys with water feature,s including waterfalls, rivers, and creeks, along with the famous Toccoa suspension bridge and Fontana Lake (and dam).

How to get to the Benton MacKaye Trail

Southern Terminus:  Springer Mountain, Georgia

Closest City: Dahlonega, Georgia (~20 miles), or Gainesville, Georgia (~40 miles)
Closest Major City: Atlanta, Georgia

The Benton MacKaye Trail shares its Southern Terminus with the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain. In order to reach the summit of Springer Mountain, you can either hike the Approach Trail from Amicalola Falls, which is 8.5 miles, and includes climbing the staircase in Amicalola State Park, or you can ascend Springer Mountain from Forest Service Road 42, which is a 0.9-mile hike.  

There is no public transportation to Amicalola State Park or Forest Service Road 42 (which is remote and not paved), so options for transportation include hiring a shuttle, a ride from a friend, or hitchhiking.  Given that the Appalachian Trail is so popular, there are many shuttle services in the area.

Shuttles: Depending on on when you’re starting or finishing your hike, you may find many shuttles services in Gainesville (there is a Greyhound station here), MARTA’s North Springs Station (north of Atlanta), or Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Benton Mackaye Trail Southern Terminus Shuttles:

Survivor Dave: (678-469-0978)
Ron Brown: (706-669-0919)
Hiker Hostel: (770-312-7342)

Northern Terminus: Davenport Gap, Tennessee

Closest City: Waynesville, North Carolina (35 miles), Newport, Tennessee (20 miles)
Closest Major City: Asheville, North Carolina (55 miles)

There is no public transportation to Davenport Gap, so again, you will need to get a shuttle, a ride from a friend, or hitchhike to this terminus.  Davenport Gap is right off of Interstate 40, so it is easily accessible to Asheville and there are a few shuttle services in the area that can get you there.

Benton Mackaye Trail Northern Terminus Shuttles:

Standing Bear Farm Hiker’s Hostel (423-487-0014)
Blue Ridge Hiking Company (828-713-5451)
A Walk in the Woods (865-436-8283)
Bluff Mountain Outfitters (828-622-7162) 

When to Hike the Benton MacKaye Trail

Although the Benton Mackaye Trail is not particularly challenging to follow, there are sections where the trail becomes overgrown, especially with blackberry bushes and poison ivy.  For this reason, I would suggest hiking in early spring or late fall rather than the summer months. Winter thru-hikes are also possible, but snow and ice are likely during winter months, especially mid-November through mid-March. Peak fall foliage is likely to be around late October into early November, and spring ephemeral wildflowers will start to appear in March, and continue into April.

We hiked the trail from mid-November through early December, and were lucky with the weather, but still had a number of nights that were well below freezing.

Benton Mackaye Trail Resupply

If you’re a fast hiker, and would prefer not to hitchhike, it is possible to hike the trail with just a few walkable resupply points, roughly every 100 miles.   Although these two points do not offer much, they will hold packages for thru-hikers, so you can send yourself a mail drop with the food and supplies needed.  These two spots are Reliance Fly and Tackle, and Fontana Dam Village.

There are many other resupply options. They are listed here in order from south to north:

Mile 37.5: Aska Road – Iron Bridge Cafe and Toccoa Riverside Restaurant. Limited resupply, but since they’re right on the trail, it’s worth stopping for a meal.

Mile 49.6: Hwy 76 – Hitchhike to Blue Ridge, Georgia, for a full resupply. There are also several amenities in Cherry Log, Georgia, that are easy walking distance off the trail from this spot, including a post office.

Mile 109.3: Reliance, TN – Reliance Fly & Tackle, Webb Brothers Store. Right on the trail, but you will want to send a box.  Definitely call ahead, as these businesses operate on a somewhat seasonal basis, and close for the season sometime in the fall. Webb Brothers Store also has a post office inside for easy maildrop.

Mile 130.1: Coker Creek Welcome Center and Post Office. This is roughly three miles of walking from the trail. Send a box, but call ahead for their hours.  You can also hitchhike from here to Tellico Plains for a full resupply, or to stay in one of local cabins, including Mountain View Cabins Rentals and Silver Top Cabins. The Silver Top owners will provide a shuttle to and from the trail. Tellico Plains can also be accessed from 152.8.

Mile 180.3: Tapoco Lodge. They accept mail drops if you have a reservation, but they also have a restaurant with amazing pizza.  Since they’re situated right on the trail, it’s worth stopping for a bite to eat.

Mile 190.1: Fontana Dam Village. This is right on the trail, but resupply options can be limited so you will likely want to send a box here.

Mile 254.7: US44, Smokemont Campground. Hitchhike to Cherokee, North Carolina, for a full resupply.

Benton MacKaye Trail Terrain

The Benton MacKaye is mostly in forested mountains, with a few short (1-5 mile) road walks, which total about 15 miles.  In some sections, the trail is steep and rocky.  There are many areas where the trail goes straight up and straight down the short, but rugged mountains of the Southeast. 

The most technical section is in Joyce Kilmer Wilderness, where the trail is very steep, rocky, overgrown, and often has blowdowns to reckon with since the wilderness designation does not allow for chainsaw use. Many sections of the Benton MacKaye Trail are narrow and lightly trodden, so the trail can be difficult to follow at night or in snow. In the Smoky Mountains, the trail is much easier to follow, but there are at least three creek crossings that will likely require you to get your feet wet, and potentially more if there has been recent rain.

Logistics: Camping, Permits, Land Designation, Water

Camping: There are only two shelters along the entire trail, one in Cherry Log, Georgia, and the other in the Smokies (Laurel Gap Shelter). Camping spots are not as easy to come by as on the Appalachian Trail, so you have to be a bit more creative when picking a spot.  A map can be handy for finding flat areas that could be good candidates. 

Permits: You’ll only need a permit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park section. Your permit will include your chosen camping spots for the 93-mile section within the park.  The Benton MacKaye Trail is less popular than the Appalachian Trail through the park, so permits are easier to come by, and camping spots are more easily available.  During our thru-hike in late November through early December (2017), we did not share a campsite with any other hikers in the Smokies. 

Land Designation: The Benton MacKaye Trail travels through many different land designations, from national park (Great Smoky Mountains), to wilderness areas (the BMT comes in contact with six different wilderness areas, including Joyce Kilmer and Big Frog Wilderness). Wilderness areas do not allow motorized equipment to be used, even to maintain the trail, so the trail is often quite rugged.

Water: Water is almost not an issue on the Benton MacKaye Trail; the longest stretch without water is about 10 miles (Tapoco Lodge to Fontana Dam), but more commonly, dry stretches are 5-7 miles.  There are some days where you are traveling in a stream valley for most of the day.

Know Before You Go

Reserve your campsites in the Smokies: Remember that you will need to reserve campsites in the Smokies for the exact dates that you will be there, so it may be helpful for that reason to hike the trail southbound, or plan how you will get your permit if you plan to be more spontaneous with the first 200 miles of your thru-hike.

Consider the season: I highly recommend hiking this trail in a shoulder season, but since the trail is often close to water, consider the fact that condensation could be an issue, and consider taking a double-walled tent.

Call ahead for your resupply: Many of the resupply locations along this trail are seasonal, or have weird hours.  Call ahead to each of your resupply points and make sure you will be able to resupply or mail a box there.

Wildlife: The Benton MacKaye travels through bear country, and proper food storage is advised.

Practice Leave No Trace when camping:  There are not very many designated campsites outside of the Smoky Mountains, so make sure you are assessing your impact, and the likelihood of previous or future impact.  For more information, visit Leave No Trace Center For Outdoor Education.

Benton Mackaye Trail Resources

Benton Mackaye Trail Guidebook

Benton Mackaye Trail Association

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Permits

Christine Martens is a long-distance hiker who has hiked over 10,000 miles, including some of the famous long-distance trails such as the PCT and AT.  She lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and enjoys hiking and running in her local mountains (which happen to be the tallest on the East Coast).  She does not own a TV, so for entertainment she enjoys letting foster kittens destroy her house.  You can find Christine on her personal blog, or Instagram and Facebook.

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The Ouachita Trail is a 223-mile point-to-point backpacking route in Oklahoma and Arkansas. It is a blazed trail with frequent shelters, and can be hiked in 10-18 days.

Find my Ouachita Trail gear here, and the resupply guide here.

Region: Middle South, Plains Midwest (Oklahoma / Arkansas, National Forest)
Length: 223 miles (10-18 days)

Physical Difficulty: Moderate

• Trail can be rocky and overgrown
• Most climbs and descents are mildly graded and switchbacked
• Lots of PUDs

Logistical Difficulty: Moderate

• No permit needed
• Oklahoma terminus (west) is hard to access
• Many road crossings and easy resupply hitches

Season: Fall, winter

Average Elevation: 1,000 feet
Total Elevation Gain: ~30,000 feet

Hiking the Ouachita Trail

The Ouachita Trail is almost entirely under trees, winding through the Ouachita National Forest for hundreds of miles. The western side is decidedly more challenging than the eastern side, so we started with that to get the toughest part out of the way.

This is a blue-blazed trail with incredible signage and frequent blazes. Each mile is marked (yes, every single mile) and there are gorgeous shelters every 10 miles or so. The Ouachita Trail has the wonderful Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT) that works hard to care for the trail and provide resources.

All along the OT, painted and signed arrows point you in the right direction, and you’ll encounter less than two miles of road walking along the entire length of the trail. You cross a highway several times—convenient for resupply—and you also hit Queen Wilhelmina State Park, which has a lodge with a restaurant before you’re even out of Oklahoma.

The initial few days (40 or so miles) felt as rocky and challenging as the hardest parts of Northern Pennsylvania on the Appalachian Trail. (If you know, you know.) Dense layers of slick leaves obscure the rocks, so each step felt cautious and unsteady since it was impossible to know what was under the leaves. I slipped and slid for two solid days, and to make it more challenging, the trail is incredibly well-marked for the most part, but can be frustratingly obscure through this tricky Oklahoma section. Since there are so many leaves carpeting the forest, it’s hard to tell if you’re on the trail or not.

After the first few days (heading east), the trail is a lot easier to follow and the terrain is milder and easier to follow. The climbs and descents are never more than 1,500 feet in elevation change, and there are very few steep climbs. Depending on the section, some days can accumulate the elevation gain—we had a few days with 3,500 feet of gain, but the individual climbs are switchbacked and rarely gain more than 500 feet at a time.

We hit a few overgrown sections around Blue Mountain across a low ridgeline. This was rough, since it wasn’t just overgrown, but overgrown with thorns and briars. But for the most part, the trail is extremely well maintained. Some sections are dense and green with ferns, others have towering oak and pine trees.

As you cross the halfway point, the ridgelines open up and you get sweeping views of the Ouachita National Forest rippling out in every direction. It’s truly stunning and expansive—I had never been to Arkansas or Oklahoma before and didn’t know what to expect. In the last 70 miles there are a few short side trails to different pinnacles. You’ll definitely want to take them and get a view of the low-slung mountains you just traversed.

The final section around Lake Maumelle is very flat and fast. Some sections are a bit overgrown, but overall there is almost no elevation gain for the last 30 miles.

This is a very quiet trail, getting fewer than 50 thru-hikers each year. We encountered a few section hikers, and saw a couple of hunters each day. Everyone we met was incredibly kind and friendly. This is a perfect trail for a first thru-hike or an AT shakedown. It’s blazed, it has a FarOut guide, and it is amazingly well-maintained and a wonderful distance to get some real backpacking in without committing to six months of hiking.

How to Get to the Ouachita Trail

Western Terminus: Talimena State Park, Oklahoma
Closest City: Oklahoma City (3 hours)

Eastern Terminus: Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas
Closest City: Little Rock (20 minutes)

We hiked this trail eastbound from Talimena, since that’s the harder side to access and we had prearranged a ride. There is no public transportation to either end, so your options are a car shuttle, a ride from a friend, or arranging a private shuttle. If you hike eastbound, getting to Little Rock when you finish is an easy hitch from Pinnacle Mountain State Park. You can post in message boards when you’re a few days from finishing and you’ll likely get offered a ride to the airport.

There is an active Facebook group where people post car swaps and rides.

Ouachita Trail Western Terminus

From Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, it’s a three-hour drive to Talimena State Park, and you’ll want to arrange a ride in advance or plan it with someone else in the active Facebook group.

You can also drive yourself to Talimena State Park and leave your car there for a small daily fee, then arrange a ride back through the trail community. Call the park in advance for information at 918-567-2052

Shuttles*
-Mike with Ouachita Trail Guide shuttles on the west side. 918-383-0060
-Lori, with the Bluebell Cafe at midtrail can do longer shuttles. 870-867-3999
*It’s not guaranteed any shuttle will drive you from OK City to Talimena

Ouachita Trail Eastern Terminus

From Clinton International Airport in Little Rock, it’s about 20 minutes to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Little Rock has Uber and Lyft, which is the most obvious solution. You can also post in the Facebook group and try to share a ride with someone.

Again, there is no public transport to either end, so you’ll have to plan in advance.

When to Hike the Ouachita Trail / Which Direction

For a winter / shoulder-season trail, the Ouachita Trail is ideal. Think of it like an off-season trail compared to a “regular season” thru-hike. It never reaches over 2,200 feet, and while you might encounter freezing days and nights, it’s entirely doable throughout the winter.

Late October through late March is very possible, with the bulk of the hikers hitting it in November. We hiked it in late November in 11 days, averaging about 20 miles per day. Depending on how challenging the day was, we would hike up to two hours after dark. As the trail got easier (and I got in shape), we were able to cover 20 miles during the limited daylight hours of a late-November hike.

It’s totally fine to hike this trail in either direction. Hiking eastbound from Oklahoma gets the hardest terrain out of the way first. If you are concerned about your fitness and want to start on easier terrain, start on the Arkansas side. Our decision was primarily due to getting a ride to the western terminus.

Ouachita Trail Terrain

The Ouachita Trail is a low-elevation, forested trail. You’ll climb and descend switchbacks over low peaks for most of the hike, with much of the climbing and descending in the first half of the trail. Some sections (Oklahoma) are quite rocky, but overall you can make really good time on smooth terrain. The last 30 miles or so are almost entirely flat.

Ouachita Trail Resupply

You have a few options for resupply on the Ouachita Trail. The trail crosses numerous forest service roads, and some hikers choose to cache a few days’ worth of food in bear-proof containers at these crossings. If you go this route, you’ll need to have a decent estimate of your hiking pace, and you’ll also have to drive the entire route twice: once to drop off the food, and once to pick up the containers.

You can also send maildrops to Queen Wilhelmina Lodge at Mile 51, and Bluebell Cafe at Mile 121.

The best way to do this is with one resupply in the middle, since Bluebell Cafe will pick you up and take you back to the trail, and Mount Ida, Arkansas, has a grocery story and a Dollar General. We resupplied three times on the trail, and didn’t do caches or mail drops. It was very easy and the locations were spaced a few days apart. The first and last time were hitches into town, and the middle was calling the Bluebell Cafe for a ride.

Resupply 1, Mena, Arkansas
Mile 51 or 56, Day 3-4
Hitch from Wilhelmina Lodge or the road crossing at Highway 270. Mena has a WalMart, and it took two hitches to get into town.

Resupply 2, Bluebell Cafe / Mount Ida, Arkansas
Mile 121, Day 7-9
Bluebell Cafe is located in Story, Arkansas. They love hikers and are happy to shuttle from the Highway 270 trailhead about 20 minutes from their store. Call them in the morning and give them an estimate of your arrival time to the trailhead. If they give you a ride, be sure to get food at the cafe and buy something. They are a tiny local business who does a lot for the community. We got a ride from a customer into the nearby town of Mount Ida, where they have a local store and a Dollar General.

Resupply 3, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Mile 155, Day 9-11
There is a large trailhead at the Route 7 road crossing here, and it was fairly busy. You’re only 65 miles from the end, so we just bought a few days’ worth of food from the Dollar General. We also ran into Warren Doyle at McDonald’s (???), making for an easy ride back to the trail.

Logistics: Camping, Water, Hunting Season

Camping: Camping is free and frequent along the Ouachita Trail, with amazing shelters spaced every 10 miles or so off well-signed intersections. There are numerous campsites with fire rings, and even if you don’t see a listed campsite on Gaia or FarOut, there will be a nice flat spot nearby, guaranteed.

Water: Water can be a concern on the Ouachita Trail, but if you keep track of water sources and streams on your app or map, you’ll be fine. We carried enough bottles for a three-liter capacity, and never ran out. There were two potential 20-mile waterless stretches, but even with that, there were a few icky streams we could have used if we were desperate.

Local trail crew and trail angels will often cache water at crossings and in shelters, but totally relying on other people’s caches is never smart. If you use the last of a gallon jug at a cache, do your part and strap the empty bottle to your pack and pack it out.

Hunting Season: The prime time to hike the OT is also whitetail season in Arkansas. We saw more hunters than hikers. Everyone gets along well and respects each other, but not a day went by when we didn’t hear shots ring out in the woods. You really, really need to wear at least one piece of blaze orange during an OT thru-hike. I totally spaced on this and didn’t wear a piece of orange, and I was fairly nervous at times. I respect hunters immensely and I trust them to know where they’re firing, but it should have also been my responsibility to keep myself safe by wearing blaze orange. A blaze hat, pack cover, or vest would have been fine.

Ouachita Trail Know Before You Go

Weather: A late-fall / winter thru-hike means being prepared for everything from 50 degrees and sunny to days and days of fog and rain. The visibility was low at times, which can be especially challenging when night hiking in the fog. Good rain gear is a must.

Shorter Daylight: Since this is a shoulder-season hike, you have far fewer daylight hours to hike. Plan accordingly—if you don’t like night hiking, you might hike fewer hours and your hike will last longer. If you’re night hiking, be prepared with a good headlamp (at least 300 lumens) and plenty of spare batteries, or a battery pack to recharge your headlamp. This was something I did not plan for, and had to buy a second headlamp in Mena.

Shelter and Trail Courtesy: The Ouachita Trail has the unique position (at least in my trail experience) of being a trail with a lot of amazing amenities and also very low foot traffic. As word of this trail spreads, the foot traffic will increase. Be respectful of the shelters, campsites, and resources. Don’t leave food as “trail magic” in the shelters (it attracts mice), and really take the time to appreciate the incredible pride and care that the FoOT and trail volunteers put into this corridor.

Ouachita Trail Resources

Friends of the Ouachita Trail

Friends of the Ouachita Facebook (they also make groups for each hiking year)

Bluebell Cafe Facebook

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The Superior Hiking Trail is a 300-mile point-to-point hike in Minnesota best hiked in spring, summer, or fall. The trail is well-marked, the camping and water is plentiful, and it can be hiked in 2-4 weeks.

Region: Great Lakes Midwest (Minnesota; a variety of land ownership)
Length: 300 miles (15-30 days)

Physical Difficulty: Moderate

• Generally good tread for most of trail
• Lots of elevation change in some sections
• Trail can be rocky, muddy, and full of roots
• Challenging weather possible, especially during shoulder seasons

Logistical Difficulty: Easy

• No permit needed
• Shuttles available to terminuses and throughout trail
• Many well-spaced town and resupply options
• Plentiful water year-round

Season: Spring, summer, fall
Elevation: 600 to 1,800 feet
Total Elevation Gain: ~43,000 feet

Hiking the Superior Hiking Trail

The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) follows the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota, from the southern terminus at the border with Wisconsin to the northern terminus near the border with Canada. The topography may seem unexpectedly varied for the Midwest, as the “Sawtooth Mountains”—though topping out around 2,000 feet—give the trail a bit of cumulative elevation gain. The boreal forest, lake views, and expanses of wild lands give the trail a scenic and unique character. This is an accessible trail that’s also worthwhile for the experienced hiker.

The SHT’s southern terminus is at the border of Wisconsin, where tread continues east as part of the 4,700-mile North Country Trail. From there, the trail goes through wooded Jay Cooke State Park and soon enters the 85,000-person city of Duluth—unusually urban for a long trail, but worthwhile in showcasing the city’s high-quality urban parks and trail network and allowing the hungry hiker ample opportunities for restaurant food. Hotel stays and private/state park camping required here. North out of Duluth, hikers will enter the backcountry, where there are free Superior Hiking Trail Association-maintained campsites through 250 miles of uninterrupted forest trail. 

The trail is well-constructed, blue-blazed, and maintained with ample signage. Sights include views of Lake Superior (including 1.5 miles of lakeshore near the northern end), roaring rivers and imposing cliffs, tall stands of pine and other boreal trees, and the possibility of seeing moose, wolves, bears, and more. Some sections are flatter while others involve lots of elevation gain and loss over constant ups and downs. Tread is generally good, but is at times rough and muddy, depending on conditions. 

A northbound hike allows for an increasing sense of ruggedness as the hiker approaches the remote northern terminus, whereas a southbound hike brings the city of Duluth and its comforts closer as the hike goes on.

How to Get to the Superior Hiking Trail

Northern Terminus here
Southern Terminus here

This is a simple trail to access. If flying to MSP airport in St. Paul-Minneapolis, Groome Transportation or Jefferson Bus Lines can get you to Duluth, Minnesota. 

A shuttle from Superior Shuttle Service or Harriet Quarles Transportation can get you to the northern or southern terminus (or the skip-Duluth southern) terminus from Duluth, or any trailhead in between and arrange for a ride back.

When to Hike the Superior Hiking Trail

The SHT’s hiking season is the typical spring-fall window, though extreme-cold winter hiking is done on the SHT. A summer hike can be muggy and mosquitoes will be a constant factor, though bug pressure lessens by late August, but the lush forest and comfortable temperature range make this a fine time to hike.

Spring and fall are usually preferred for their lack of bugs, with fall having the bonus possibility of incredible leaf colors. There’s always a risk of extended wet weather on the trail, which can really push comfort and safety levels in the shoulder seasons—snow is possible in May or October.

Superior Trail Terrain

Expect boreal forest, cliffside hiking, lakeshore views, and even urban road walks. The trail is low in elevation, never cresting 2,000 feet, but the shorter ups and downs through the forest can add up. Tread and trail maintenance is usually superb, but be ready for sections of mud and some rooty, rocky miles.

Logistics: Permits, Camping, Water, Resupply

Permits: The SHT does not require any permits. There are a variety of landowners along the trail, including county, state, federal, and private land, but the trail is permit-free throughout and the campsites are frequent, conveniently spaced, and free north of Duluth.

Camping: Outside of the 50-mile section through Jay Cooke State Park and Duluth, where campsite reservations and hotels are necessary, campsites are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. A hiker will usually have some company on weekends near popular trailheads, but there will always be room, especially for a solo hiker or a pair of thru-hikers.

Care should be taken to respect landowners, but this is of no concern to the hiker staying on trail and camping at designated sites. 

Water: There are plenty of streams and water is predictably plentiful in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but heavy beaver presence demands appropriate water treatment. Hikers will notice obvious water sources on their maps that can be relied upon. Again, extra consideration will be necessary when hiking through the city of Duluth, where park fountains (and potentially brewery stops) will be necessary to assure hydration. 

Resupply: Food resupplies for the thru-hiker are easy to plan and manage. Many towns/resupply locations are within walking distance or a short hitch off trail and are friendly tourist spots. Post offices, grocery stores, restaurants, and lodging are all widely available. Further resources linked below.

Know Before You Go

Thru-hike designation: I’ve described a “full” thru-hike beginning at the Wisconsin border, but it’s generally accepted as legit if a hiker starts/finishes north of Duluth in order to avoid the complications of urban hiking. However, the northern terminus must be part of a thru-hike. 

The SHT is not remote, but it’s not easy: The SHT is like the Appalachian Trail in that it’s never too remote, except near the northern terminus, making it seem deceptively “easy” to hike, when in reality weather, bugs, rough trail and terrain can be quite challenging at times.

Extension options: The SHT, in addition to being a part of the North Country NST, connects with the Border Route Trail that leads to the Kekekabic Trail, allowing a hiker to continue another 110 miles across the extremely remote and rugged Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness—a highly recommended addition if possible.

Resources

The Superior Hiking Trail has a great trail association and a highly informative website.

Superior Hiking Trail Shuttles

Maps and guidebooks

Superior Trail Facebook group

Superior Trail resupply info can be found here

Eli Simmer lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has thru-hiked the Superior Hiking Trail three times, among other trails.

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Region: Deep South (Alabama, Georgia)
Length: 335 miles (4-6 weeks)

Physical Difficulty: Moderate 

• Steep climbs under treeline
• High humidity
• Rooty, rocky trails with blowdowns

Logistical Difficulty: Moderate 

• Point-to-point
• No permit required
• Easy navigation, well-signed, easy resupply

Season: Spring / Fall

Hiking the Pinhoti Trail

Pinhoti is Creek Indian for “Turkey Home.” The southern Appalachians hiking trail stretches laterally across Alabama and Georgia and can be linked up with the Benton MacKaye Trail and followed to Springer Mountain (Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail). The trail is 335 miles in length and offers an abundance of amenities and resupply options to aid new hikers. Similar to trails that share the same mountain range, the route is filled with short ups and downs, along with occasional road walks and direct passage through cities. 

The draw of the Pinhoti Trail and what makes it noteworthy is that the route links the southernmost 1,000-foot-tall peak (Flagg Mountain) in the Appalachian Mountains with the rest of the range spanning north. The Pinhoti Trail is a part of the Eastern Continental Trail, which spans nearly 5,000 miles up the Eastern Seaboard from Florida into Canada.

How to Get to the Pinhoti Trail

Southern Terminus

The Southern Terminus is located at Flagg Mountain near Weogufka, Alabama. Map it here.

Closest Major City: Birmingham, Alabama (72 miles)

From the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, you can find a shuttle to the Southern Terminus (info below) or a ride from the Pinhoti Facebook groups. 

Other Options: Greyhound bus from Birmingham, Alabama, to Sylacauga, Alabama, and hitchhike or walk to the Southern Terminus.

Northern Terminus

The Northern Terminus is the intersection of the Pinhoti Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail. It is remote, but shuttle options are listed below.

Closest Major City:  Atlanta, Georgia (105 miles)

Northern Section Shuttle

Buddy Lique
[email protected]

Ron’s Shuttle Service

Central Section Shuttle

Next Step Hostel and Shuttle Service
406 North Street. E, Talladega, AL 35160
205-601-9107

Southern Section Shuttles

Coosa’s Hiker Hostel and Shuttle Service
Owned by Callie Thornton, located near the Pinhoti Southern Terminus / Flagg Mountain Trailhead.
Hwy 22 West, Rockford, AL
256-786-0894

Pinhoti Outdoor Center – Hostel and Shuttle Service​
49951 Hwy. 280
Sylacauga, AL 35150
205-202-9525

When to Hike the Pinhoti Trail 

Alabama and Georgia can be notoriously humid, and avoiding the brunt of the summer weather is best when planning a thru-hike of the Pinhoti Trail. This is best done between early fall and early spring, and with similar climates spanning the trail east and west (slightly north/south), the direction taken on the trail has little impact on the timing. Overall, October-November and March-April would be the most ideal times to hike the trail. 

Should You Hike Northbound or Southbound?

The Pinhoti Trail can be completed in either direction throughout the winter months. When completed as part of the Eastern Continental Trail it is often used to connect the Florida Trail to the Benton MacKaye Trail (with a road walk). The main considerations for which direction to hike the trail should be resupplying and transportation.

Pinhoti Trail Terrain 

The terrain on the Pinhoti Trail is similar to the Appalachian Trail. The landscape is green, and often resembles the iconic green tunnels of the AT. There are numerous PUDs, rocky terrain, and rooted trail. The majority of the route winds through the deciduous forests of Alabama and Georgia with some views of lakes, streams, and rivers. There are dry sections, and areas where one’s feet will often be wet.

Logistics: Permits, Camping, Water

Permits: The Pinhoti Trail does not require permits for any of the sections

Camping: The Pinhoti Trail has more than 75 designated campsites and shelters. Most of the shelters are newer and more maintained than the usual three-sided style on the Appalachian Trail, and the outhouses carried less of a stench than the competing toilets on the AT. 

Water Carries: There are multiple waterless stretches up to 10 miles in length, so check your sources and be prepared with plenty of water and add electrolyte tabs to stay hydrated.

Know Before You Go

Bugs: The ticks and mosquitoes can be persistent, so prepare with plenty of bug spray, a mosquito headnet, treat your clothes with permethrin, do tick checks, and always carry a fully enclosed shelter.

Road Walks: You’ll encounter some road walks on this trail. Not the most thrilling sections, but they go by fast.

Pinhoti Trail Shuttles / Resources

Pinhoti Trail Alliance

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Physical Difficulty: Extremely Difficult 

• Steep climbs and descents, some involving ladders
• Muddy, rooty, technical terrain
• Fast-changing weather

Logistical Difficulty: Moderate 

• Well-spaced resupply locations
• No permit required
• Difficult to get to and from both termini

Season: Summer, Fall
Elevation (Average): ~2,000 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 66,000 feet

Hiking the Long Trail

The Long Trail is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States. It is known for its mud, rugged terrain, and spans the length of Vermont from north to south. Most long-distance hikers describe the route as the Appalachian Trail but much more difficult. 

Switchbacks are a rare occurrence on the difficult terrain and the grade is rarely flat. But the trail maintains the East Coast style in being dotted with shelters about every 10 miles, and frequent water. Although it is still a green tunnel, the views are more prevalent than on the rest of the Appalachian Trail. 

The Long Trail shares the southern 100 miles with the Appalachian Trail and these are the easiest miles of the entire trail. There is a notable difference in both the difficulty and quality of the trail, ranging from the most difficult up north to the least difficult once the trail joins with the AT at Maine Junction.

Many hikers go NOBO to acclimate themselves to the trail before hitting the harder sections in the north.

How to Get to the Long Trail

The trail is difficult to get to on both ends, and it’s best to set up a shuttle ahead of time. You can also email the GMC Visitor Center for a list of private shuttle drivers.

How to get to the Northern Terminus from Burlington

1) Options for getting to Burlington

Fly into Burlington International Airport, then take Amtrak to Essex Junction / Burlington Station. From there, take Greyhound Bus Lines to Burlington.

2) Options for getting from Burlington to Northern Terminus

Take a private shuttle to the Northern Terminus (listed here).

You can also take the Montpelier Express Bus to the Waterbury Park & Ride, the Jeffersonville Commuter Bus to Jeffersonville, and the St. Albans Express Bus to St. Albans.

How to Get to the Southern Terminus

1) Options for getting to Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Fly into Albany International Airport, take Peter Pan Bus Lines to Williamstown—Peter Pan Bus Lines connects to Williamstown from most major cities. From there, the Pine Cobble Trail in Williamstown connects to the Appalachian Trail just south of the Vermont border.

When to Hike the Long Trail

Spring hiking in Vermont starts after mud season, usually around Memorial Day. NOBO hikers can start in June, although that’s peak bug season. The northern peaks might still have snow and ice in June. The prime time for a NOBO hike is mid-August, when the bugs are mostly gone and the air is cooler. A late September, early October finish at Journey’s End (the Northern Terminus) would be at near-peak foliage season. A SOBO hike starting around Labor Day would put you ahead of the falling temperatures and chances of snow and ice in the north.

Long Trail Terrain

The trail can be broken into two segments: the Massachusetts border to Killington, and Killington north to the Canadian border. South of Killington the trail rolls up and down over moderate terrain, climbing a few notable mountains: Glastenbury, Stratton, Bromley, and Killington. North of Killington the terrain turns harder, with hikers scrambling up and down ladders (yes, a real aluminum ladder in Ladder Ravine) and rebar ladders through rocky ravines and on mountainsides.

Logistics: Camping, Permits, Water

Camping: Dispersed camping is permitted along the entire Long Trail, and there are nicely spaced shelters throughout the entire trail. Be aware that dispersed camping is harder, and sometimes impossible, to find north of Maine Junction.

Permits: No permits required

Water: There is plentiful water along the trail, but some sources dry up in August and September during dry years.

Bears: Hikers are required to use a bear box, bear can, or hang all food and refuse 12 feet from the ground and 6 feet from a tree and branch on Green Mountain National Forest Land. The Long Trail and its side trails from Massachusetts to Route 17 (Appalachian Gap) are mostly on GMNF land. The Green Mountain Club recommends using these food storage methods on the entire trail. Most shelters and campsites south of Killington have a bear box, and the Green Mountain Club lists shelters with bear boxes here.

Resupply: Good resupply options are, from south to north, Bennington, Manchester, Rutland, Waitsfield, and Johnson. The Bus runs from the Long Trail trailhead in Killington to Rutland.

Trail Info: The Long Trail FarOut app is indispensable for determining whether water sources are flowing or dry and whether an established campsite has a shelter, tent pads or limited tent sites.

Know Before You Go

Mud: This is a very muddy trail at most points in the summer. Stay on the trail, and don’t make it wider to try to avoid the mud. You’re going to get muddy; just deal with it.

Terrain: This is a VERY hard trail. Mile for mile, you’re gaining significant elevation on tough tread, especially in the northern half. Don’t underestimate the difficulty of this trail, and don’t expect to have 20-mile days right off the bat. It’s also humid in July and August. So add that to the list.

Off-Trail: The Vermont beer scene is fantastic. Any town will have a selection of the state’s finest, but for a truly fine sampling of Vermont’s beers Waterbury can’t be beat. The hitch into Waterbury can be long and difficult, but if you have the time it’s worth it. Runner-up for beer sampling is Waitsfield.

Sleeping Under the Stars: The Long Trail passes over several ski mountains, and sleeping on the peaks is possible in warming huts or under the stars.

Views Worth the Climb: The views are fantastic from old fire towers on Stratton and Belvidere mountains. The fire tower on Glastenbury Mountain is closed because it is considered unsafe.

Resources

Green Mountain Club

Long Trail updates from the Green Mountain Club

FarOut app

Green Mountain National Forest

Weather Today

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