United States
Description
Given the boundless diversity of trails and landscapes, the United States can safely be labelled the hiker's Walhalla. In the U.S. you can truly get lost in the expansive wilderness areas. Meetings with black bears, grizzly bears and vipers are common. Camping out in the wild is a rule rather than an exception. European hikers - thoroughly spoilt with B&B's, mountain huts and gites d'etappe - will be thrown back into reality here.
The U.S. is where the tradition of long distance hiking started. As main eye-catcher, the Appalachian Trail runs for over 2000 miles through 14 eastern states, and was laid out as early as 1937. In fact it was a major inspiration for the first British long distance trail, the Pennine Way. Many legendary thru-hikers have left their tracks on the slopes of the Appalachians.
The most important hiking trails in the U.S. received the status of "National Scenic Trail". There is also a category of so-called National Historic Trails, but these are not really hiking trails. Third are the National Recreational Trails, of which there are several thousand. Most of these measure only a couple of miles, although some continue for a hundred miles or more, and often hikers will share the trail with bikers and riders. And there is more. Countless long distance trails lack a national status, but are no less beautiful or important.
The National Scenic Trails (NST), "designation for protected areas in the United States that consist of trails of particular natural beauty", and the most important long distance hiking trails are the following (take note: the construction many trails is by no means completed. Over time, gaps are being closed, extensions are added, and long stretches exist on paper only):
- American Discovery Trail (6356 miles 10229 km)
- Appalachian Trail - the first, 1937 (2100 miles 3380 km) NST
- Arizona Trail (817 miles 1315 km) NST
- California Coastal Trail (1200 miles 1930 km)
- Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles, 4990 km) NST
- East Coast Greenway (2500 miles 4000 km)
- Florida Trail (1400 miles 2300 km) NST
- Great Eastern Trail (1600 miles 2575 km)
- Great Western Trail (3100 miles, 4990 km)
- Ice Age Trail (1000 miles 1600 km) NST
- Idaho Centennial Trail (1200 miles 1931 km)
- New England Trail (220 miles 354 km) NST
- North Country Trail (4600 miles 7400 km)
- Pacific Crest Trail (2638 miles 4240 km) NST
- Pacific Northwest Trail (1200 miles 1930 km) NST
- Potomac Heritage Trail (700 miles 1127 km) NST
This list covers already 34399 miles or 55360 km!
Longer hiking trails than the above do exist, but consist of shorter trails strung together. For instance the Eastern Continental Trail (5400 miles 8700 km) or the International Appalachian Trail, extending into Canada.
All trails differ widely in terms of landscape, terrain and demands made on the hiker. On the one extreme you will find spectacular and challenging trails like the Pacific Crest Trail, following the Eastern Sierras, Cascades and other mountain ranges from Mexico to Canada. If you're looking for something easier, try the Florida Trail. In urban areas you will find so-called "greenways", a green corridor. For the ultimate survival experience, get dropped in Alaska to find your own way home through the wilderness.
Hiking in the U.S. is not restricted to long distance trails. In the many National and State Parks or Forests you will generally find extensive networks of trails. National Parks do get crowded, so avoid visitors centres and roads and trek into the less accessible parts. Within many parks, separate and secluded wilderness areas exist where hikers are welcome, sometimes with permit. The lesser known National Forests, State Forests and BLM Lands are no less interesting, often larger and more quiet.
The choice of landscapes is unlimited, ranging from tropical rain forests in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and subtropical hiking in the Everglades National Park, to the prairies of the Badlands National Park and canyons in the Grand Canyon of Hells Canyon National Park.Some parks, notably the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the Nez Perce National Forest and the Wenatchee National Forest each have thousands of miles of trails. Alaska has the largest nationale park, Wrangell-St. Elias, about the size of Croatia (55.000 sq. Km) and the highest mountain, Mt. McKinley (20320 ft 6194 m).
The most beautiful (consequently the busiest) parks are:
- Yosemite National Park (California)
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Rocky Mountains National Park (Colorado)
- Glacier National Park (Montana)
- Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park (California)
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee)
Map
Trails
- Allegheny TrailGPX
- American Discovery TrailGPX
- Appalachian TrailGPX
- Arizona TrailGPX
- Baker TrailGPX
- Batona TrailGPX
- Bay Area Ridge TrailGPX
- Bay Circuit TrailGPX
- Benton MacKaye TrailGPX
- Bigfoot Trail
- Black Hills Centennial Trail
- Bonneville Shoreline TrailGPX
- Buckeye TrailGPX
- California Coastal TrailGPX
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal TrailGPX
- Chilkoot TrailGPX
- Cohos TrailGPX
- Colorado TrailGPX
- Continental Divide TrailGPX
- Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail
- Cross Florida Greenway
- Cross Vermont Trail
- Cumberland TrailGPX
- East Coast GreenwayGPX
- Eastern Continental TrailGPX
- Erie CanalwayGPX
- Finger Lakes TrailGPX
- Florida TrailGPX
- Fremont National Recreation Trail
- General George Crook Trail
- George S. Mickelson Trail
- Grand Enchantment TrailGPX
- Great Allegheny PassageGPX
- Great Eastern TrailGPX
- Great Western TrailGPX
- Hennepin Canal Parkway
- Hiawatha Shore to Shore Trail
- Highlands TrailGPX
- Horse-Shoe TrailGPX
- Hudson Trail
- Ice Age TrailGPX
- Idaho Centennial TrailGPX
- International Appalachian TrailGPX
- Jenny Wiley Trail
- John Muir TrailGPX
- Katy TrailGPX
- Lake Ouachita Vista Trail
- Lone Star Hiking TrailGPX
- Long PathGPX
- Long TrailGPX
- Mason-Dixon TrailGPX
- Metacomet Monadnock TrailGPX
- Metolius-Windigo Trail
- Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail
- Mid State Trail PennsylvaniaGPX
- Midstate Trail MassachusettsGPX
- Mokelumne Coast to Crest TrailGPX
- Mountains-to-Sea TrailGPX
- New England TrailGPX
- North Country TrailGPX
- Northville-Placid TrailGPX
- Oregon Coast TrailGPX
- Ouachita Trail
- Ozark TrailGPX
- Pacific Crest TrailGPX
- Pacific Northwest TrailGPX
- Palmetto TrailGPX
- Pinhoti TrailGPX
- River to River TrailGPX
- San Diego Sea to Sea Trail
- Sierra High Route
- Superior Hiking TrailGPX
- Taconite State Trail
- Tahoe Rim TrailGPX
- Tahoe-Yosemite Trail
- Tuscarora TrailGPX
- Wonderland TrailGPX
Regions
- Adirondack Park
- Allegheny Mountains
- Allegheny National Forest
- Angeles National Forest
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
- Apalachicola National Forest
- Appalachian Mountains
- Arapho National Forest
- Beaverhead National Forest
- Big Cypres National Preserve
- Bitterroot National Forest
- Black Hills National Forest
- Boise National Forest
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Cape Cod National Seashore
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- Cape Henlopen State Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Carson National Forest
- Catskill Park
- Challis National Forest
- Chattahoochee National Forest
- Chequamegon National Forest
- Cherokee National Forest
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
- Chihuahuan Desert
- Chippewa National Forest
- Chugach National Forest
- Cibola National Forest
- Clearwater National Forest
- Cleveland National Forest
- Coconino National Forest
- Coronado National Forest
- Crater Lake National Park
- Croatan National Forest
- Cumberland Mountains
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Daniel Boone National Forest
- Death Valley National Park
- Deerlodge National Forest
- Denali National Park
- Deschutes National Forest
- Dixie National Forest
- Eldorado National Forest
- Everglades National Park
- Fishlake National Forest
- Flathead National Forest
- Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
- Fremont National Forest
- Gallatin National Forest
- Gates of the Arctic National Park
- George Washington National Forest
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- Gila National Forest
- Glacier Bay National Park
- Glacier National Park
- Gospel Hump Wilderness
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Great Basin National Park
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Green Mountain National Forest
- Helena National Forest
- Hiawatha National Forest
- Hocking Hills
- Hoosier National Forest
- Humboldt National Forest
- Huron National Forest
- Inyo National Forest
- Jefferson National Forest
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Kaibab National Forest
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
- King Range National Conservation Area
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Klamath Mountains
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
- Lassen National Forest
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Los Padres National Forest
- Manistee National Forest
- Manti-LaSal National Forest
- Mark Twain National Forest
- Monongahela National Forest
- Mount Baker National Forest
- Mount Hood National Forest
- Mount Rainier National Park
- Nantahala National Forest
- Nez Perce National Forest
- Ocala National Forest
- Okanogan National Forest
- Olympic National Park
- Osceola National Forest
- Ottawa National Forest
- Ouachita National Forest
- Payette National Forest
- Pike National Forest
- Pisgah National Forest
- Plumas National Forest
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Redwood National Park
- Rio Grande National Forest
- Rogue River National Forest
- Salmon National Forest
- Sam Houston National Forest
- San Bernardino National Forest
- San Isabel National Forest
- San Juan National Forest
- San Pedro Parks Wilderness
- Sawtooth National Forest
- Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
- Sequoia National Forest
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest
- Shawnee National Forest
- Shenendoah National Park
- Sierra National Forest
- Siskiyou National Forest
- Siuslaw National Forest
- Snoqualmine National Forest
- Sonoran Desert
- Stanislaus National Forest
- Superior National Forest
- Tahoe National Forest
- Targhee National Forest
- Teton National Forest
- Tonto National Forest
- Tyoabee National Forest
- Umpque National Forest
- Utah National Forest
- Wasatch-Cache National Forest
- Wayne National Forest
- White Mountain National Forest
- White River National Forest
- Willamette National Forest
- Wind Cave National Park
- Wrangell-St.Elias National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- Zion National Park
States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Mountains
Links
Facts
Reports
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Books

United Kingdom
- The Parklands
- Trails and Secrets from the National Parks of the United States Read more

United Kingdom
2021
- Moon Pacific Northwest Road Trip (Third Edition)
- Outdoor Adventures and Creative Cities from the Coast to the Mountains Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2021
- Reisgids Road Trip USA Pacific Northwest | Moon Travel Guides
- Outdoor Adventures and Creative Cities from the Coast to the Mountains Read more

United Kingdom
- Hut to Hut USA
- The Complete Guide for Hikers, Bikers, and Skiers Read more

United Kingdom
2022
- Moon USA National Parks (Third Edition)
- The Complete Guide to All 63 Parks Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2022
- Reisgids USA National Parks | Moon Travel Guides
- The Complete Guide to All 63 Parks Read more

United Kingdom
- Conversations Across Our America
- In the summer of 2007, Louis G. Mendoza set off on a bicycle trip across the United States with the intention of conducting a series of interviews along the way. Wanting to move beyond the media`s limited portrayal of immigration as a conflict between newcomers and ”citizens,” he began speaking with people from all walks of life about their... Read more

United Kingdom
- Simple Gestures
- The Greater Middle East poses major challenges for the United States. Yet despite decades of intense involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, most Americans still know little about the cultures of the region. ”Simple Gestures” describes one American`s efforts over forty years to better understand the society in the countries where she lived and... Read more

Netherlands
- The Terrorist-Criminal Nexus
- Postmodern global terrorist groups engage sovereign nations asymmetrically with prolonged, sustained campaigns driven by ideology. Increasingly, transnational criminal organizations operate with sophistication previously only found in multinational corporations. Unfortunately, both of these entities can now effectively hide and morph, keeping... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- The Terrorist-Criminal Nexus
- Postmodern global terrorist groups engage sovereign nations asymmetrically with prolonged, sustained campaigns driven by ideology. Increasingly, transnational criminal organizations operate with sophistication previously only found in multinational corporations. Unfortunately, both of these entities can now effectively hide and morph, keeping... Read more

United Kingdom
- Classic Hikes of North America
- 25 Breathtaking Treks in the United States and Canada Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium

Netherlands
- Classic Hikes of North America
- Classic Hikes of North America is a beautifully photographed and eminently practical account of the best backcountry journeys in the United States and Canada. Peter Potterfield, an experienced hiker and photographer, has analyzed and graded these spectacular wilderness experiences with both beginners and avid hikers in mind. Included in the... Read more

Belgium
- Classic Hikes of North America
- Classic Hikes of North America is a beautifully photographed and eminently practical account of the best backcountry journeys in the United States and Canada. Peter Potterfield, an experienced hiker and photographer, has analyzed and graded these spectacular wilderness experiences with both beginners and avid hikers in mind. Included in the... Read more

Netherlands
- Revolution and Rebellion in the Early Modern World
- What can the great crises of the past teach us about contemporary revolutions? Arguing from an exciting and original perspective, Goldstone suggests that great revolutions were the product of 'ecological crises' that occurred when inflexible political, economic, and social institutions were overwhelmed by the cumulative pressure of population... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Revolution and Rebellion in the Early Modern World
- What can the great crises of the past teach us about contemporary revolutions? Arguing from an exciting and original perspective, Goldstone suggests that great revolutions were the product of 'ecological crises' that occurred when inflexible political, economic, and social institutions were overwhelmed by the cumulative pressure of population... Read more

Netherlands
2014
- The Rough Guide to the USA
- The Rough Guide to the USA is your authoritative state-by-state guidebook to this vast and fascinating country, whether you want to visit Mardi Gras in New Orleans, travel through New England in the fall, play on the Las Vegas Strip, or hike in Yellowstone National Park.This fully updated guidebook is packed with useful tips and detailed... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2014
- The Rough Guide to the USA
- The Rough Guide to the USA is your authoritative state-by-state guidebook to this vast and fascinating country, whether you want to visit Mardi Gras in New Orleans, travel through New England in the fall, play on the Las Vegas Strip, or hike in Yellowstone National Park.This fully updated guidebook is packed with useful tips and detailed... Read more

Netherlands
- What's Up
- Learning the lingo used in the United States can be hard enough for a native speaker, but its even more daunting for immigrants. Jimmy Gyasi Boateng, a native of Ghana, has been living in the US since 1978long enough to successfully adapt to life in a new place. Determining how to use vocabulary has been critical to his success.Learn how to use... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- What's Up
- Learning the lingo used in the United States can be hard enough for a native speaker, but its even more daunting for immigrants. Jimmy Gyasi Boateng, a native of Ghana, has been living in the US since 1978long enough to successfully adapt to life in a new place. Determining how to use vocabulary has been critical to his success.Learn how to use... Read more

Netherlands
- United States Travel Journal
- State to state city to city record your vacations, and experiences. Travel is a time for growth, new experiences, and seeing more of the world. If you're going on a trip, you'll want to remember everything you did. A travel journal will enrich your trip at the time and will preserve your memories of the experience. This journal allows you to... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- United States Travel Journal
- State to state city to city record your vacations, and experiences. Travel is a time for growth, new experiences, and seeing more of the world. If you're going on a trip, you'll want to remember everything you did. A travel journal will enrich your trip at the time and will preserve your memories of the experience. This journal allows you to... Read more

Netherlands
- Mount Shasta
- Mt. Shasta is California's premier, stand-alone, 14,000-foot mountainwith the largest and longest glaciers in the state. Along with Washington's Mt. Rainier, Mt. Shasta is one of the two most prominent large mountains in the contiguous United States. Shasta is sought after by so many climbers and skiers nationwide because it offers such a wide... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Mount Shasta
- Mt. Shasta is California's premier, stand-alone, 14,000-foot mountainwith the largest and longest glaciers in the state. Along with Washington's Mt. Rainier, Mt. Shasta is one of the two most prominent large mountains in the contiguous United States. Shasta is sought after by so many climbers and skiers nationwide because it offers such a wide... Read more
Maps

United Kingdom
- Los Angeles Borch
- Laminated and waterproof map for visitors to Los Angeles, combining a selection of street plans and a road map to cover the LA conurbation as a whole plus its most visited parts in greater detail. An overview street plan of the city at 1:60,000 extends from Santa Monica and the International Airport inland to Pasadena and San Gabriel, naming... Read more

United Kingdom
- World & Flags Hema Political Pacific-Centred
- The world at 1:40,850,000 presented with Pacific Ocean in the centre on a double-sided folded map from the Australian publishers Hema; political version on one side and a physical map on the reverse. Each side shows the land masses against the background of light blue oceans with bathymetric tints to reflect the depth of the ocean floor. Polar... Read more

United Kingdom
- Dinosaur National Monument UT/CO
- Map No. 220, Dinosaur National Monument, UT/CO, in an extensive series of GPS compatible, contoured hiking maps of USA’s national and state parks or forests and other popular recreational areas. Cartography based on the national topographic survey, with additional tourist information.The maps, with most titles now printed on light, waterproof... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
- Wandelkaart - Topografische kaart 220 Dinosaur National Monument | National Geographic
- Prachtige geplastificeerde kaart van het bekende nationaal park. Met alle recreatieve voorzieningen als campsites, maar ook met topografische details en wandelroutes ed. Door uitgekiend kleurgebruik zeer prettig in gebruik. Scheur en watervast! This Trails Illustrated topographic map for Dinosaur National Monument, which straddles the state... Read more

Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart USA Verenigde Staten | ITMB
- USA 1:3 500 000 ab 10.49 EURO International Travel Maps / WATERPROOF ITM Karte. 2nd edition Read more

Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart 02 North Central USA | Hallwag
- Hallwag USA Road Guide 02 North Central 1 : 1.000.000 ab 11.95 EURO Great Plains, Indian Country Hallwag USA Road Guide. Neuauflage, Laufzeit bis 2016 Read more

Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart USA Northeast - USA Noordoost | Hildebrand's
- USA Nordosten 1 : 700 000. Hildebrand´s Urlaubskarte ab 7.95 EURO Umgebungskarten: Boston, New York, Washington - Baltimore. Stadtpläne: Boston, New York/Manhattan, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Pittsburgh. Ortsregister Hildebrand´s Urlaubskarte. Neuauflage, Laufzeit bis 2016 Read more

Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart USA the West | Hildebrand's
- USA West 1 : 3 500 000. Hildebrand´s Urlaubskarte ab 7.95 EURO mit Alaska, Hawaii, diversen Stadtplänen, touristischen Informationen Hildebrand´s Urlaubskarte. 18. Auflage Read more

Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart USA Interstate | Borch
- USA Interstate 1 : 4 000 000 ab 9.9 EURO Einzelkarten: USA West 1:4 Mio. , USA East 1:4 Mio. , Puerto Rico 1:4 Mio. , Hawaiian Islands 1:4 Mio. , Alaska 1:8 Mio. , USA administrative & time zones Borch Maps. 11. Auflage Read more
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Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart USA: east half | ITMB
- USA East Half ab 8.99 EURO ITMB Amerika Read more

Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart USA West - Verenigde Staten West | Marco Polo
- MARCO POLO Kontinentalkarte USA West 1:2 000 000 ab 11.99 EURO Pazifikküste, Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains Marco Polo Karte. 11. Auflage Read more