The Longest Hiking Trail That Passes Through Each State: A Friendly, State-by-State Guide
Want to plan a mega hike, or at least see what’s possible in your backyard? Here’s a clear, quick-hit list of the longest hiking trail that passes through each state. Some are full-state routes, some are epic national paths with a big footprint in-state. Either way, each pick highlights the longest continuous trail you can follow on foot. Lace up and start plotting.
Intro note: For a map-packed overview of America’s marquee long trails, the visual guide in Backpacker’s map of America’s best long trails is helpful. For more context across dozens of routes, the master list on Wikipedia is a great reference: List of long-distance trails in the United States.
Alabama: Pinhoti Trail
The Pinhoti Trail runs roughly 339 miles from central Alabama into north Georgia. It links with the Appalachian Trail via the Benton MacKaye, which makes it a favorite for section hikers looking for a big, wild stretch.
Alaska: Iditarod National Historic Trail
The Iditarod National Historic Trail spans about 1,000 miles across rugged terrain. You’ll find remote segments and historic roadhouses along the route, and winter travel is common. It’s a true frontier experience.
Arizona: Arizona Trail
The Arizona Trail stretches about 800 miles from Mexico to Utah. Expect deserts, sky islands, and the Grand Canyon. It’s a complete journey across the state, with strong support from local trail towns.
Arkansas: Ozark Highlands Trail
Arkansas’s Ozark Highlands Trail clocks in at about 218 miles. It follows ridges, oak forests, and clear streams. Spring and fall bring the best conditions and views.
California: Pacific Crest Trail
California holds the biggest share of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. You’ll pass deserts, the Sierra, and huge swaths of forest. It’s one of the crown jewels of American hiking.
Colorado: Continental Divide Trail
In Colorado, the Continental Divide Trail delivers high mileage and high altitude. The CDT totals around 3,100 miles across five states, and Colorado’s share is among the most dramatic.
Connecticut: New England Trail
The New England Trail covers about 235 miles across southern New England, with a key stretch in Connecticut. Expect traprock ridges, woodlands, and tidy town connectors with constant views.
Delaware: American Discovery Trail
Delaware’s longest through-route is the American Discovery Trail, part of a 6,800-mile cross-country path. It’s a smart way to link coastal scenery with countryside roads and greenways. For deep background on the ADT and other mega routes, see WorldAtlas: Longest Hiking Trails in the United States.
Florida: Florida National Scenic Trail
The Florida Trail runs more than 1,100 miles from Big Cypress north to the Panhandle. You’ll trek through swamps, pine forests, and river corridors. Winter is prime season.
Georgia: Appalachian Trail
Georgia’s longest continuous hiking route is the Appalachian Trail, which starts at Springer Mountain. It’s the classic kickoff to a 2,000-plus-mile journey that heads all the way to Maine.
Hawaii: Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
Hawaii’s Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail links 175 miles of coastal routes, cultural sites, and traditional paths on the Island of Hawai‘i. Expect lava fields, fishponds, and ocean views for days.
Idaho: Continental Divide Trail
The CDT touches Idaho along the Montana border with long, remote ridgelines. This is classic big country with fewer services and quieter miles. It rewards strong navigation skills.
Illinois: River to River Trail
Illinois’s River to River Trail stretches about 160 miles across the Shawnee. You’ll find sandstone bluffs, hardwoods, and backcountry camps. It’s a solid multi-day route in the Midwest.
Indiana: Knobstone Trail
Indiana’s longest continuous footpath is the Knobstone Trail, about 58 to 60 miles. Rolling ridges, hardwood forests, and steady climbs make it a great training ground. The KT also gets a nod on the Wikipedia list of state long trails.
Iowa: American Discovery Trail
Iowa’s share of the American Discovery Trail connects rural roads, rail-trails, and river valleys. It’s the best way to cross the state on foot and link communities along the way.
Kansas: American Discovery Trail
Kansas is another ADT state with long, walkable miles. The route taps farm roads, prairie corridors, and small towns, showing off the Great Plains up close.
Kentucky: Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail
Kentucky’s Sheltowee Trace rolls about 300-plus miles through the Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork. Sandstone arches, deep hollows, and quiet camps make it a standout.
Louisiana: Wild Azalea Trail
Louisiana’s longest marked footpath is the Wild Azalea Trail at about 31 miles in Kisatchie National Forest. It’s piney, peaceful, and a perfect winter or shoulder-season backpack.
Maine: Appalachian Trail
Maine holds the AT’s toughest miles, including the 100-Mile Wilderness and Mount Katahdin. Remote, rocky, and rewarding, it is the state’s longest through-route for hikers.
Maryland: C&O Canal Towpath
Maryland’s longest continuous hiking path is the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath. It’s flat, scenic, and full of history. Many hikers link it with the Appalachian Trail for variety.
Massachusetts: New England Trail
The New England Trail covers substantial mileage in Massachusetts. Expect steady ups and downs on forested ridges, plus side trips into welcoming trail towns.
Michigan: North Country National Scenic Trail
Michigan hosts the single largest share of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which spans thousands of miles across the northern U.S. For a deep look at this record-setting route, see the piece from the National Parks Conservation Association, The Longest Trail in the National Park System.
Minnesota: North Country National Scenic Trail
In Minnesota, the North Country Trail weaves through the North Woods, including beloved sections that overlap or connect with the Superior Hiking Trail. If you’re planning a North Shore getaway, these ideas help you pick a perfect day section: Top Duluth Hiking Trails 2024.
Mississippi: Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
Mississippi’s longest connected hiking option runs along the Natchez Trace corridor. You’ll find multiple trail segments near the historic parkway, plus scenic overlooks and boardwalks.
Missouri: Ozark Trail
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The Ozark Trail system spans roughly 392 miles when you include linked segments, making it the state’s longest backcountry network. Expect rocky paths, deep forests, and big river views.
Montana: Continental Divide Trail
Montana’s CDT miles run long, wild, and alpine. Grizz country, huge passes, and jaw-dropping skylines define the state’s longest through-route.
Nebraska: Cowboy Trail
Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail runs about 321 miles on crushed limestone. It’s a rail-trail, but hikers love the long, gentle grade, big skies, and historic bridges.
Nevada: American Discovery Trail
Nevada’s top through-route for hikers is the ADT, cutting across basins and ranges. The desert scenery changes fast, and the stargazing is unreal. Pair it with water-planning and you’re set.
New Hampshire: Cohos Trail
New Hampshire’s longest end-to-end path beyond the AT is the 170-mile Cohos Trail. It runs from Crawford Notch to the Canadian border, with rugged sections and quiet camps.
New Jersey: Long Path
New Jersey’s Long Path runs about 358 miles from NYC’s George Washington Bridge north to Albany, tracing ridges, lakes, and forest preserves. It’s a green backbone across the region.
New Mexico: Continental Divide Trail
New Mexico’s CDT miles switch from high desert to alpine country. It’s the longest hiking route that passes through the state, and it packs in remote stretches and big solitude. For perspective on America’s longest thru-hikes, check out The Trek: 6 of the Most Outrageously Long Hikes in the US.
New York: Finger Lakes Trail
New York’s longest single footpath is the Finger Lakes Trail system at roughly 580 miles including branches. Rolling hills, gorges, and waterfalls keep the miles fresh.
North Carolina: Mountains-to-Sea Trail
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches about 1,175 miles from Clingmans Dome to the Outer Banks. It is North Carolina’s signature long route, with blue ridge peaks and coastal views.
North Dakota: North Country National Scenic Trail
North Dakota’s longest through-route is the North Country Trail, which links prairie, badlands, and the Little Missouri. It’s a quiet place to rack up big miles.
Ohio: Buckeye Trail
Ohio’s Buckeye Trail loops the entire state for about 1,444 miles. Town paths, forest roads, and singletrack give it a fun, varied feel. The trail frequently comes up in long-trail roundups, like those discussed in this overview of America’s longest routes: WorldAtlas: Longest Hiking Trails in the United States.
Oklahoma: Ouachita National Recreation Trail
Oklahoma’s longest hike is the Ouachita Trail, a 223-mile footpath shared with Arkansas. It is rolling, remote in spots, and a calm alternative to busier southern routes.
Oregon: Pacific Crest Trail
Oregon’s longest through-route is the PCT, with steady tread, Cascade views, and volcanic landscapes. The miles here flow fast, making it a favorite segment for thru-hikers.
Pennsylvania: Mid State Trail
Pennsylvania’s Mid State Trail runs about 327 miles through the state’s ridge-and-valley terrain. It is rocky, scenic, and much quieter than the AT corridor.
Rhode Island: North–South Trail
Rhode Island’s North–South Trail covers roughly 77 miles from the Atlantic shore to the northern border. It feels surprisingly rural, with woodlands and ponds on repeat.
South Carolina: Palmetto Trail
South Carolina’s Palmetto Trail is a cross-state route of roughly 500 miles, with built and developing segments. It links the Blue Ridge to the coast, mixing forest roads and footpaths.
South Dakota: Centennial Trail
South Dakota’s Centennial Trail runs about 111 miles through the Black Hills. Pine forests, granite outcrops, and views of the Needles make it a classic Great Plains hike.
Tennessee: Cumberland Trail
Tennessee’s Cumberland Trail is a developing long-distance route planned at more than 300 miles, with most of it open. Gorges, waterfalls, and rocky bluffs keep it engaging all day.
Texas: Lone Star Hiking Trail
Texas’s longest continuous forest footpath is the Lone Star Hiking Trail at about 96 miles in Sam Houston National Forest. It’s flat, peaceful, and perfect for winter miles.
Utah: Great Western Trail
Utah’s longest through-route option is the multi-state Great Western Trail, which offers hundreds of in-state miles on a north-south line. High plateaus, red rock, and evergreen forests trade places fast. For a sense of how mega routes stitch together across the West, this roundup helps: Backpacker’s map of America’s best long trails.
Vermont: The Long Trail
Vermont’s Long Trail is the oldest long-distance footpath in the U.S., 272 miles along the Green Mountains. Rugged, rooty, and rewarding, it is a bucket list classic.
Virginia: Appalachian Trail
Virginia holds more AT miles than any other state. The trail is Virginia’s longest through-route, rolling across Shenandoah, the Blue Ridge, and a string of welcoming trail towns.
Washington: Pacific Crest Trail
Washington’s longest through-route is the PCT, with glaciers, alpine lakes, and steep climbs. The North Cascades are the dramatic finish many hikers dream about.
West Virginia: Allegheny Trail
West Virginia’s Allegheny Trail runs about 330 miles, linking border to border through forests and highlands. It’s a quieter alternative with classic Appalachian scenery.
Wisconsin: Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail loops about 1,200 miles along glacial features. It’s a perfect long-distance hike to section over time, with friendly towns and varied terrain. The NCT also touches the state, and the NPCA article gives useful context on how the long northern route fits across the region: The Longest Trail in the National Park System.
Wyoming: Continental Divide Trail
Wyoming’s longest through-route is the CDT, with wide-open basins and the Wind River Range. Expect long water carries, huge views, and some of the best alpine trekking in the country.
Bonus: Planning Resources You’ll Love
- A broad overview of America’s mega routes, from the North Country to the ADT and more: The Trek: 6 of the Most Outrageously Long Hikes in the US.
- Want a visual planner? The map-based guide is handy for plotting segments: Map of America’s best long trails.
- If Minnesota’s on your radar, these roundups make picking a section easy: Hidden Hiking Spots in the Twin Cities.
Conclusion
Every state has a longest through-route to claim, from a 30-mile forest path to a monster national trail. Pick the right season, choose a section that fits your time, and start stacking miles. Whether you aim for a full state traverse or a weekend sampler, these trails bring out the best of each place. You’ll love it out there.
