Skip to content

Best Long-Distance Hikes near Washington

The directory currently contains 6 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Washington. Their average mapped distance is 80.4 km and average recorded ascent is 577 m (1,893 ft); the longest route in the set is 173 km.

This subset represents 4% of the 146 quality-checked routes near Washington. Its average distance is 80.4 km, compared with 7.5 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 577 m (1,893 ft), versus 73 m (240 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the long-distance tag. Total distance is shown for comparison; stage planning and accommodation require separate research. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 6 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 0 (0%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

50.0 km

Patapsco Howard County Thru Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

254 m

ADT - Maryland - Seg 2

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Crofton is a census-designated place and planned community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. Crofton is located 24 miles (39 km) south of Baltimore, 14 miles (23 km) west of Annapolis, and 24 miles (39 km) east-northeast of W
Expert

Maryland · United States

Distance
69.1 km
/ 42.9 mi
Elevation gain
254 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
ADT - Maryland - Seg 2Maryland69.1 km254 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Patapsco Traverse (north hiking)Maryland51.5 km676 m12 hrExpertApril to October
Patapsco Traverse (south hiking)Maryland51.9 km752 m13 hrExpertApril to October
Patapsco Howard County Thru TrailMaryland50.0 km604 m12 hrExpertApril to October
Liberty Reservoir Survivor ExpeditionMaryland86.9 km575 m21 hrExpertApril to October
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (right bank)District of Columbia173 km600 m41 hrExpertApril to October

ADT - Maryland - Seg 2, Patapsco Traverse (north hiking), Patapsco Traverse (south hiking) currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

People also search for