Last Updated: June 22, 2022
Longest Hiking Trails In The World
There are many hiking trails dotted all around the globe. And, the longest hiking trails we are going to look at are single trails that don’t require many connections to other trails.
You could easily create the longest hiking trail in the world by connecting paths via roads for example by walking from Paris to Beijing but that is not our vibe.
If you love a long walk or fancy taking a few months off to leave the urban world behind and connect with nature again, here are the longest hiking trails in the world to consider.
Table Of Contents Show All
The Great Trail, Canada
The Great Trail in Canada is a huge 14,912 miles long and is the longest hiking trail in the world. It used to be known as the Trans Canada Trail as it takes you from coast to coast, Atlantic to the Pacific, in one long walk that also touches on the Arctic ocean too.
The trail starts in St. John’s Newfoundland, an island off the east coast of Canada, at the Railway Coastal Museum. It then takes you across Canada to Edmonton, Alberta, and on to British Columbia where you’ll meet the Pacific ocean and then up to the Yukon.
Not many people do the whole trail and usually, just do a section. The trail is so long and vast that it’s said around 80% of Canadians live up to 30 minutes from a part of it.
The E1 – European Long-Distance Path
The second-longest hiking trail in the world is the E1 in Europe. This walking trail takes you through seven different countries over 4,960 miles and if you were to walk it at 3 miles per hour for 10 hours per day, it would take you 165 days to complete, and that’s without a break.
The walk starts at the top of Norway in the arctic circle, dips into Finland, and then runs down Sweden to Malmo. At Malmo, you’ll cross into Denmark and then down to Germany. Once you’ve been through Germany, you’ll arrive in Switzerland, and then it’s over the Alps into Italy where you’ll end the hike in Sicily.
Grand Italian Trail
If you love Italy and want to see it all then hiking the third longest hiking trail in the world but be a great idea. The Grand Italian Trail, also known as the Sentiero Italia, is a massive 3,700 miles long.
It starts in the northern Alps of Italy close to the border with Slovenia. It follows the Alps west and then comes down to the coast where it splits off to central Italy, through Tuscany, and all the way down to Sicily.
It doesn’t end there though, once you’re done in Sicily, it’s time to get onto a ferry to southern Sardinia and walk all the way to the northern part of the island. It’s made up of 368 sections, so you can do it one piece at a time.
Continental Divide Trail
The Continental Divide Trail is number 4 as far as the longest hiking trails in the world go. It runs 3,100 miles from the border between New Mexico and Mexico and then runs 3,100 miles through New Mexico, into Colorado, then Wyoming, Idaho, and the end of the hike is through Montana where the trail ends at the border with Canada.
The trail takes a huge amount of effort to maintain and it requires a ton of volunteer hours and cooperation from the national parks and forest service. The Continental Divide Trail is a stunning walk that hits all the best natural features along the way.
Hokkaido Nature Trail, Japan
The Hokkaido nature trail in Japan is the longest hiking trail in Japan and the 5th longest walking trail in the world.
It’s 2,849 miles long and it covers the entire north island of Japan, Hokkaido. The Hokkaido nature trail takes you around the entire coastline and through all the central mountains too.
Tohoku Nature Trail, Japan
The Tohoku Nature Trail is Japan’s second-longest hiking trail at 2,718 miles long. It takes you around the northern end of Honshu, Japan’s main island, and takes you through the prefectures of Iwate, Aomori, Miyagi, Yamagata, Akita, and Fukushima.
This trail will have you walking over and past some of the most beautiful mountains and lakes you can find in Japan along with traditional villages, rice paddies, and even some ski resorts.
Pacific Crest Trail, USA
The Pacific Crest Trail is on the west coast of the USA and is the seventh of the longest hiking trails in the world. It starts at the Mexican border in California and then runs north through the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Cascade mountain range, up through Oregon and Washington to the Canadian border.
The Pacific Crest Trail is 2,653 miles long and is a stunning hike that passes through a myriad of different terrain and National Parks. You might think the Appalachian Trail is longer, but you’d be wrong.
Chubu Hokuriku Nature Trail, Japan
The third longest walking trail in Japan and the eighth longest in the world is the Chubu Hokuriku Nature Trail. The 2,504-mile walking trail takes you through the most beautiful coastal region of Hokuriku and through the center of Japan when you’ll find what is referred to as the Japanese Alps.
Appalachian Trail, USA
The Appalachian Trail is a trail most people in the world have heard of. You’ll find it on the east coast of the USA and it runs 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine across the Appalachian mountains and beyond. It can take months to walk the entire trail which is the ninth of the longest hiking trails in the world, not the first as it is commonly, and mistakenly thought.
This walking trail is absolutely beautiful but it will take you around 6 months to do it all in one. Most hikers do the trail in chunks and slowly make their way up to the finishing point in Maine. The Appalachian Trail is an easy trail to walk as the path is well maintained and it’s easy to stay on the right track and not get lost.
Te Araroa, New Zealand
Number ten of the longest hiking trails in the world and the longest trail in New Zealand is Te Araroa. Te Araroa is 1,894 miles long and runs all the way from Cape Regina at the tip of the North Island of New Zealand all the way down the country where it ends at Bluff, the southernmost point of New Zealand’s South Island.
Along the trail, you’ll walk past, over, and through stunning beaches, rivers, mountains, cities, and more. It’s probably the most beautiful trail in the world in my eyes.
Other Long Hiking Trails
Of course, there are far more of the longest hiking trails to consider. So, here are a few more to whet your appetite!
The American Discovery Trail
This long hiking trail crosses the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, passing through 15 US states. It starts in Delaware and ends in California, along the way also covering 16 national forests, 14 national parks, and over 10,000 historical sites.
The North Country Trail
Another long hiking trail that measures some 4,700 miles. It starts in North Dakota and ends in Vermont, crossing a total of 8 states weaving through various ten national forests and various state parks.
The Eastern Continental Trail
The Eastern Continental trail is a trail on the East Coast of the USA that heads north from Key West, Florida, to Cape Gaspé, Canada. This is one long trail!
The Great Western Loop
The Great Western Loop is one of the longest hiking trails around. It measures a total of 6,875 miles and covers some serious ground. This trail passes through 9 states: New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, California, Washington, and Oregon.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
