Hiking Trails

Hiking Trails

Since this is the Mountain Hiking Site, this page is about those hiking trails that are in the mountains. You'll find some suggestions here for some of the best places to go hiking and backpacking, based on my experience, my years of research in outdoor magazines and books, and cruising the internet. So you can investigate further, there are many links here to official park web sites, and other good resources. Also be sure to check out the other pages of this site, for information on hiking and backpacking trails covered more in-depth.

Canada Hiking covers the mountainous hiking trails and parks of Canada.

Smoky Mountains Hiking is a story of a backpacking trip. The page also has information and links related to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Colorado Hiking an account of my first ultralight backpacking trip, along the many trails of the Weminuche Wilderness Area. You'll also find a forest service link there for more information.

Utah Hiking primarily covers hiking trails in the southern part of the state, but has links to more information for all areas.

Alaska Hiking is a page devoted to the remote areas in the mountains of Alaska.

California Hiking has the story of my moonlight trek to Mount Whitney, followed by links, an information about Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park.

Hiking In Michigan is about an overnight hike in the woods and sand dunes of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. There is also information on the Porcupine Mountains area.

Montana Hiking is a collection of stories and information from trails in Big Sky Country.

Glacier National Park Hiking covers the day-hike and backpacking possibilities in the park.

Amazing Trek Across Tibet! : I found this interview with Brandon Wilson, who trekked across Tibet with his wife, and got permission to reprint it here.

Other Mountain Hiking Trails

The "Long Trails" all go through mountains for part or even most of their lengths. They are famous for their thru-hikers, those who hit the trail for months at a time, but there are hundreds of great section-hikes and day-hikes also. Here is some information on three of the long trails.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT)

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,174-mile hiking trail that follows the ridge crests and crosses the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in northern Georgia. The trail goes through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. The trail, and connecting trails, are used by day, weekend and other short-term hikers, section-hikers and thru-hikers. For more information, follow the link here to the National Park Service A.T. Web Site.

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)

The Pacific Crest Trail is a 2,650-mile national scenic trail that runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington. It goes through both the Cascade Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas. Connecting hiking trails along it's length allow for access to day hikers and backpackers, but much of the main trail itself goes through very isolated stretches. For more information, visit the Pacific Crest Trail Association Web Site.

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT)

One of the most scenic, wild and remote hiking trails in America, The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is a 3,100-mile primitive and challenging backcountry trail from Canada to Mexico along the Rocky Mountains. Backpacking and hiking possibilities along the trail, and the associated trails, are endless. For more information, visit the Continental Divide Trail Alliance Web Site.

National Park Service Hiking Trails

In the National Parks of the U.S., as well as in the recreation areas, national monuments, and other lands administered by the Park Service, there are thousands of miles of hiking trails. Below is a list of links to those parks and areas which have both hiking trails and mountains.

Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
King Salmon, AK

Arches National Park
Moab, UT

Bandelier National Monument
Los Alamos, NM

Big Bend National Park
The big bend of the Rio Grande, TX

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Fort Smith, MT,WY

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
Montrose, CO

Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon, UT

Canyonlands National Park
Moab, UT

Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar City, UT

Chiricahua National Monument
Willcox, AZ

City Of Rocks National Reserve
Almo, ID

Colorado National Monument
Fruita, CO