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Best Mountain Hikes in United States

The directory currently contains 1,375 quality-checked routes matching this guide in United States. Their average mapped distance is 45.9 km and average recorded ascent is 788 m (2,585 ft); the longest route in the set is 1872 km.

This subset represents 24% of the 5,699 quality-checked routes in United States. Its average distance is 45.9 km, compared with 14.1 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 788 m (2,585 ft), versus 264 m (866 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 116 routes (8%) are rated easy, 576 (42%) are rated hard or expert, and 84 (6%) 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

62.5 km

ADT - Nevada - S - Seg 5

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

747 m

ADT - Indiana (South) - H - 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

Expert

Appalachian Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
234 km
/ 146 mi
Elevation gain
8,313 m
Typical duration
67 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Pacific Northwest Trail 02 Idaho

Idaho · United States

Distance
156 km
/ 97.1 mi
Elevation gain
5,148 m
Typical duration
44 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Appalachian Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
414 km
/ 257 mi
Elevation gain
8,667 m
Typical duration
111 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
View of the south summit of Mount Jefferson, Nevada from the northwest
Expert

ADT - Nevada - S - Seg 5

Nevada · United States

Distance
62.5 km
/ 38.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,619 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • River
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Appalachian Trail

Massachusetts · United States

Distance
140 km
/ 87.2 mi
Elevation gain
3,455 m
Typical duration
38 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Black Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
153 km
/ 94.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,892 m
Typical duration
40 hr
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Appalachian Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
80.6 km
/ 50.1 mi
Elevation gain
2,207 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Unconventional view, but it works. Bolinas Lagoon Preserve of Audubon Canyon Ranch, California. The coastal subspecies of Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus californicus , lacks the yellow band of median coverts, so we see only a red
Expert

ADT - California - T - Seg 9

California · United States

Distance
70.3 km
/ 43.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,539 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Appalachian Trail

Georgia · United States

Distance
121 km
/ 75.2 mi
Elevation gain
3,249 m
Typical duration
33 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Appalachian Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
64.0 km
/ 39.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,488 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Photo pair shows glacial retreat on both sides of Chilkoot Pass. View of Crater Lake and glaciers on both sides of the United States-Canada boundary. Top photo is composed of five photos made in 1906 by George R. White-Fraser of the Interna
Expert

Chilkoot Trail

Alaska · United States

Distance
50.1 km
/ 31.2 mi
Elevation gain
798 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
Expert

ADT - Iowa - K - Seg 3

Iowa · United States

Distance
128 km
/ 79.5 mi
Elevation gain
125 m
Typical duration
30 hr
  • Waterfall
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
The remains of the St John Mining town in Colorado, somewhat SW of Montezuma.
Expert

ADT - Colorado C - Q - Seg 4

Colorado · United States

Distance
350 km
/ 217 mi
Elevation gain
7,273 m
Typical duration
93 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Cathedral Peak, elevation 13,943 ft (4,250 m), viewed from the southeast. It is located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness within the White River National Forest.
Expert

ADT - Colorado C - Q - Seg 5

Colorado · United States

Distance
148 km
/ 92.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,535 m
Typical duration
38 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Plateau Creek in Mesa County, Colorado. The creek flows through the Plateau Valley.
Expert

ADT - Colorado C - Q - Seg 6

Colorado · United States

Distance
297 km
/ 185 mi
Elevation gain
5,858 m
Typical duration
79 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
The Washoe Valley is a geographical region in the United States covering 66 square miles (170 km2) in southern Washoe County in the state of Nevada. Located between Reno and Carson City, it is named for the Washoe people, Native Americans w
Expert

ADT - Nevada - S - Seg 9

Nevada · United States

Distance
78.6 km
/ 48.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,341 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Picketpost Mountain near Superior, Pinal County, Arizona. "Happy Thanksgiving everyone!"
Expert

Arizona Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
1259 km
/ 782 mi
Elevation gain
10,884 m
Typical duration
315 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Warm Springs State Hospital, Warm Springs, Montana
Expert

CDT - Idaho & Montana Section

Idaho · United States

Distance
1558 km
/ 968 mi
Elevation gain
12,077 m
Typical duration
388 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Habronattus ustulatus in habitat, open pebble barren in chamise + redshanks chaparral. Riverside, California, USA
Expert

PCT - California Section B

California · United States

Distance
158 km
/ 98.4 mi
Elevation gain
3,340 m
Typical duration
42 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

PCT - California Section C

California · United States

Distance
207 km
/ 128 mi
Elevation gain
3,624 m
Typical duration
54 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Ski area at Mount Waterman in the San Gabriel Mountains (Los Angeles Count), California.
Expert

PCT - California Section D

California · United States

Distance
176 km
/ 110 mi
Elevation gain
4,010 m
Typical duration
47 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

PCT - California Section G

California · United States

Distance
182 km
/ 113 mi
Elevation gain
5,122 m
Typical duration
50 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Mount Humphreys , in the Sierra Nevada , California , USA
Expert

PCT - California Section H

California · United States

Distance
287 km
/ 178 mi
Elevation gain
7,332 m
Typical duration
79 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

PCT - California Section N

California · United States

Distance
210 km
/ 131 mi
Elevation gain
3,417 m
Typical duration
54 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

PCT - California Section P

California · United States

Distance
157 km
/ 97.5 mi
Elevation gain
3,446 m
Typical duration
42 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

PCT - California Section Q

California · United States

Distance
90.3 km
/ 56.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,262 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

PCT - California Section R

California · United States

Distance
98.4 km
/ 61.1 mi
Elevation gain
3,142 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

ADT - Maryland - Seg 4

District of Columbia · United States

Distance
268 km
/ 167 mi
Elevation gain
193 m
Typical duration
63 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Grand Enchantment Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
1225 km
/ 761 mi
Elevation gain
15,002 m
Typical duration
314 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

ADT - California - T - Seg 3

California · United States

Distance
73.6 km
/ 45.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,688 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Ute Pass, U.S. Highway 24, Colorado
Expert

ADT - Colorado B - P - Seg 2

Colorado · United States

Distance
264 km
/ 164 mi
Elevation gain
2,733 m
Typical duration
66 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

CDT - Colorado Section

Colorado · United States

Distance
1175 km
/ 730 mi
Elevation gain
11,798 m
Typical duration
297 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Great Western Trail - Arizona

Arizona · United States

Distance
309 km
/ 192 mi
Elevation gain
2,575 m
Typical duration
77 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

ADT - Utah - R - Seg 1

Colorado · United States

Distance
178 km
/ 111 mi
Elevation gain
2,690 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

ADT - Indiana (South) - H - Seg 5

Indiana · United States

Distance
96.6 km
/ 60.0 mi
Elevation gain
232 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • 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 - Indiana (South) - H - Seg 2Indiana93.7 km747 m23 hrExpertApril to October
Appalachian TrailNew Hampshire234 km8,313 m67 hrExpertJune to October
Pacific Northwest Trail 02 IdahoIdaho156 km5,148 m44 hrExpertJune to October
Appalachian TrailMaine414 km8,667 m111 hrExpertApril to October
ADT - Nevada - S - Seg 5Nevada62.5 km1,619 m16 hrExpertJuly to September
Appalachian TrailMassachusetts140 km3,455 m38 hrExpertApril to October
Black Canyon National Recreation TrailArizona162 km2,443 m41 hrExpertApril to October
Black Canyon TrailArizona153 km2,892 m40 hrExpertApril to October
Palouse to Cascades State Park TrailIdaho400 km2,018 m97 hrExpertApril to October
Appalachian TrailConnecticut80.6 km2,207 m22 hrExpertApril to October

Pacific Northwest Trail 02 Idaho, Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail 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 →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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