Category: long hikes

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Overview of Hiking in the USA 2025

Chris from Greenbelly looks at the big picture in America.

Public lands uncertainty, declining Appalachian Trail hikers, and economic pressure are reshaping the outdoor world.

Here are some emerging trends and events in hiking, conservation, wildlife, gear culture, and how people discover trips and advice today.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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El Camino de Costa Rica 280 km

El Camino de Costa Rica is a breathtaking 280 km / 174 mile hike from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, which is no easy feat even for the most experienced hikers.

While it can be intimidating to take on this type of adventure, there are so many incredible things to see and do while trekking this route, from tropical beaches and dense trails to mountain villages and indigenous communities.

official website

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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BestHike – John Muir Trail, California

John Muir Trail is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1-minute preview on YouTube.

John Muir Trail

If there’s a hiker’s paradise on earth, it’s the JMT in the Sierra Nevadas.

213 miles without a road. Fantastic weather. 11 high passes. Unbelievable nonstop vistas. And Mt Whitney.

AT A GLANCE

Yosemite map
  • Yosemite, Ansel Adams and John Muir wilderness, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks
  • start in stunning Yosemite, Muir’s “Range of Light”
  • 223mi (360km) to Whitney Portal adding sidetrips to Half Dome, Vermillion Resort and Mt. Whitney 14,505ft (4,421m)
  • 15-21 days recommended
  • carry your own food and tent
  • JMT about 10% the length of the Pacific Crest Trail

Read more on our John Muir Trail information page.

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Lofoten Long Crossing, Norway

Inspired by Cam Honan, I started and soon quit the Long Crossing of the beautiful Lofoten Islands.

For me, the route finding through marshy terrain was slow and difficult. Worst was a risky descent clutching a water pipe and safety ropes.

BUT — Floor Denil survived hiking solo. And she had terrible (typical) wind and rain.

She didn’t much complain about the dangerous descent on the water pipe.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – The Hiking Life – The Long Crossing of Norway’s Lofoten Islands

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Southern Utah Traverse – 800 miles

Epic.

The world’s greatest living hiker, Cam Honan, along with Kate “Swept Away” Pickett, put together a route from Nevada to Colorado across Utah.

Highlights

  • Snow Canyon
  • Red Mountain Wilderness
  • Gooseberry Mesa
  • Canaan Mountain Wilderness
  • The Barracks
  • Great Chamber
  • Bryce Canyon NP – Under the Rim Trail, Peekaboo Loop, and Fairyland Loop.
  • Powell Point
  • Death Hollow
  • Egg Canyon
  • Upper and Lower Muley Twist Canyons
  • Cliff Point on the Waterpocket Fold
  • Stevens Canyon
  • Fold Canyon
  • Coyote Gulch
  • The Lizard Route out of Halls Creek
  • Grand Gulch and Bullet Canyon
  • Comb Ridge
  • Hovenweep National Monument

… a combination of cross country travel, 4WD tracks, rock scrambles, river wading, dirt roads, established trails, and a minimal amount on pavement. More often than not, directional choices were dictated out of geological and historical curiosity …

… water was one of the primary considerations when planning the trip. …

resupply a combination of mail drops and buying as we went …

Along with the America the Beautiful Entrance Pass, overnight camping permits were required for Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, and Bears Ears National Monument.

Southern Utah Traverse: An 800 Mile Hike from Nevada to Colorado

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Tenting the Tour du Mont Blanc

I did the very similar Haute Route in 2009. It was difficult to tent every night.

I — personally — don’t like the European alpine huts.

And I don’t want to book months in advance.

These ladies hiking the TMB could (just barely) tent every night … legally. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (2024)

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How Hiking TRANSFORMS Your Body

Heart, lungs, cardiovascular benefits — for sure.

After 17 days on the John Muir Trail I felt fantastic. Lean and fit.

But there are some risks with long slow distance exercise over many, many days.

  • Perhaps 5000 calories burn rate fuelled by junk food, in many cases
  • reproductive system may be affected
  • possible bone density loss — but it should be restored after a few months

Of course there’s a risk of injury. Especially chronic injury.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Hiking Backpack on Wheels

Anyone considering a long thru hike should look at trailer options.

The best I’ve seen (so far in 2025) is the Model X-Trek Version 3 out of France.

  • quick and easy to switch between riding and carrying your bag
  • can accommodate bags from 30 to 110 litres
  • compact when folded for planes, trains, buses, etc.
  • particularly suited to the military, rescue services, photographers, mountain guides and any other professional or amateur who needs to carry equipment in the wild
  • MIGHT be an option for hikers with physical problems where they cannot carry a backpack

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.