Explore 100 incredible hiking trails around the world. From 1h peaceful forest walks to 7 month long adventures, these must-do routes promise unforgettable views and experiences. We bet!
There’s something about a trail that sticks with you. Maybe it’s the view at the top, or maybe it’s the quiet stretch where you could hear your own footsteps. Over time, hikes turn into memories. This list of 100 hiking trails is simply a starting point for your next story outside. Organized by continent, with distances increasing progressively.
1. Hiking Trails North Amerika
Trail Country Length Duration Description Hall of Mosses United States 1.2 km 20–45 min Olympic rainforest loop; iconic short mossy loop in the rainforest Zion Canyon Overlook United States 1 km 30–60 min Short scenic hike; short viewpoint hike Beehive Trail United States 2.5 km 1–2 hrs Acadia cliff ladder; iron ladders and Acadia sea cliffs Hanging Rock Trail United States 5.8 km 1–3 hrs Carolina summit view; quick summit viewpoint in North Carolina Bryce Canyon Navajo Loop United States 2.1 km 1–2 hrs Hoodoo landscape walk, hoodoos and amphitheater views Grand Wash Trail United States 11.8 km 1–3 hrs Capitol Reef canyon, broad slot canyon, family friendly Nevado de Toluca Crater Mexico 8 km 1.5–3 hrs an extinct volcano that is the fourth highest peak in Mexico Bristlecone Pine Trail United States 1 km 0.5–1 hrs Ancient tree loop; ancient trees at very high elevation Death Valley Mosaic Canyon United States 5.7 km 2 hrs Marble slot trail; polished marble narrows and slot-canyon feel Arches Devil’s Garden United States 11.2 km 3.5 hrs Sandstone arch route; multiple sandstone arches in one route Banff Lake Agnes Canada 14.1 km 5.5 hrs Canadian alpine lake; tea house and alpine lake El Yunque Trail Puerto Rico 8.9 km 3 hrs Puerto Rico rainforest hike; tropical rainforest with viewpoint peaks Angels Landing United States 13.2 km 4.5 hrs Narrow ridge thrill; narrow rock ridge with huge drop-offs Mount Rainier Skyline United States 10.2 km 3.5 hrs Wildflower mountain loop; wildflowers, glaciers, and the Skyline Loop Yosemite Upper Falls United States 10.8 km 4–5 hrs Tall waterfall route; one of North America’s tallest waterfalls Zion Observation Point United States 11.2 km 3 hrs Canyon wide view; wide-reaching view over the entire canyon Zion Narrows United States 14.7 km 4–5 hrs River canyon walk; hiking directly in the riverbed Yosemite Mist Trail United States 8.4 km 2 hrs Waterfall climb; close-up views of Vernal and Nevada Falls Smoky Mountains Alum Cave United States 19 km 6 hrs Forest bluff hike; rock bluff, forest, and access to Mt. LeConte Harding Icefield Trail United States 13.8 km 6–7 hrs Glacier panorama climb; huge glacier panoramas in Kenai Fjords National Park Big Pine Lakes United States 17.4 km 2.5 hrs Turquoise alpine pools; unreal turquoise lakes in the Sierra Olympic Hoh Trail United States 14.8 km 4-5 hrs Mossy rainforest walk; mossy rainforest in Olympic National Park Redwood Creek Trail United States 23.8 km 7 hrs Giant trees route; giant trees and creek crossings Grinnell Glacier Trail United States 11.2 km 3.5 hrs Montana alpine glacier; one of Glacier National Park’s finest glacier hikes Grand Teton Cascade Canyon United States 21.1 km 6-7 hrs Alpine valley hike; alpine valley with dramatic mountain scenery Continental Divide Colorado United States 1.176 km 383 hrs High country section; high-country section along the Divide Bright Angel Trail United States 26 km 11 hrs Grand Canyon views; classic Grand Canyon descent Half Dome Trail United States 23.4 km 10 hrs Iconic granite climb; famous granite summit in Yosemite Kalalau Trail United States 33.1 km 2 days Hawaiian coastal drama; dramatic Nā Pali Coast scenery on Kauaʻi Mount Hood Timberline United States 65.7 km 3 days Oregon summit loop; loop around the volcano John Muir Trail United States 364 km 2–3 weeks Yosemite high country; high Sierra terrain with many major passes Colorado Trail United States 775 km 4–6 weeks Rocky mountain stretch; long Rocky Mountain classic through Colorado Pacific Crest Trail United States 4.255 km 4–6 months Desert to alpine; desert, Sierra, and Cascade landscapes in one route Continental Divide Trail United States 4.990 km 5–7 months Remote mountain route; remote route along North America’s watershed divide
2. Hiking Trails South America
Trail Country Length Duration Description Huayna Picchu Peru 3.6 km 1 hr Machu Picchu overlook; steep side summit above Machu Picchu Monteverde Cloud Forest Costa Rica 6.15 km 1-2 hrs Costa Rica must walk; cloud forest, hanging bridges, and birdlife Fitz Roy Trail Argentina 20.1 km 7-8 hrs Argentina sharp peaks; sharp Patagonian peaks around El Chaltén Quilotoa Loop Ecuador 9.79 km 3-4 hrs Ecuador crater lake; Andean villages and crater-lake scenery Inca Trail Peru 11.4 km 4-5 hrs Ancient stone pathway; historic path to Machu Picchu Lost City Trek Colombia 64.5 km 4 days Jungle ruins hike; jungle route to Ciudad Perdida Torres del Paine W Chile 83 km 5 days Patagonian glacier circuit; towers, glaciers, and Patagonia’s famous wind
3. Hiking Trails Europe
Trail Country Length Duration Description Fairy Pools Walk Scotland 18.5 km 6 hrs Isle of Skye waterfalls; waterfalls and pools on Skye Lake Braies Loop Italy 16.5 km 7.5 hrs Italian lake stroll; picture-perfect circuit around Lake Braies View of Glenariff Valley Northern Ireland 5.6 km 1.5 hrs Northern Ireland waterfalls; forest trails and waterfalls Pico Mountain Trail Portugal 7.5 km 3.5 hrs Portugal island summit; summit route up Portugal’s highest mountain Taiga Forest Path Sweden 11.5 km 2 hrs Sweden northern woods; northern forest character and solitude Black Forest Trail Germany 13.3 km 4 hrs Germany woodland loop; dense woodland and a calm low-mountain atmosphere Rila Seven Lakes Bulgaria 18.3 km 7-8 hrs Bulgaria alpine lakes; chain of high alpine lakes Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço Portugal 6.7 km 2 hrs Beautiful coast hike; Suitable for all skill levels. Plitvice Lakes Trail Croatia 16.9 km 4-5 hrs Waterfall forest paths; boardwalks, lakes, and waterfalls Snowdonia Llanberis Path Wales (UK) 17.8 km 6.5 hrs Wales summit hike; classic Snowdon ascent Tatras National Park Poland / Slovakia 18.9 km 7 hrs Poland rocky peaks; ridge hiking with plenty of rock contact Cinque Terre Trail Italy 140 km 9 days Italian seaside walk; coastal paths between colorful villages Trolltunga Hike Norway 24.8 km 10 hrs Norway cliff view; legendary rock tongue above the lake Laugavegur Trail Iceland 85.9 km 6 days Iceland colorful landscapes; colorful rhyolite mountains, lava, and hot springs Alta Via 1 Italy 113 km 13 days Dolomite ridge walk; Dolomites ridge walk with classic rifugio culture West Highland Way Scotland (UK) 163 km 8 days Scottish loch journey; Scottish lochs, moorland, and Highlands scenery Tour du Mont Blanc France / Italy / Switzerland 168 km 7 days Alpine country loop; alpine circuit through France, Italy, and Switzerland GR20 Corsica France 176 km 15 days Tough mountain traverse; one of Europe’s toughest long-distance hikes Camino de Santiago Spain 769 km 1 month Spiritual walking route; long-distance pilgrimage route with a hostel network
4. Hiking Trails Africa
Trail Country Length Duration Description Mount Sinai Trail Egypt 54.9 km 3 days Sunrise desert climb; sunrise over the Sinai Desert Table Mountain Trail South Africa 9.2 km 4.5 hrs Cape Town views; panoramic mountain above Cape Town Blyde River Canyon South Africa 6.1 km 2 hrs South Africa gorge hike; big canyon scenery with viewpoints and gorges Drakensberg Amphitheatre South Africa 20.1 km 7 hrs South Africa cliffs; massive basalt wall and Tugela Falls Atlas Mountains Trek Morocco 30 km 2 days Morocco village trail; Berber villages and dry mountain landscapes Mount Kenya Trek Kenya 49.7 km 3 days African alpine summit; African high mountain terrain with alpine flora Kilimanjaro Machame Route Tanzania 58.3 km 3 days Roof of Africa; classic Kilimanjaro ascent
5. Hiking Trails Asia
Trail Country Length Duration Description Campuhan Ridge Walk Indonesia 10.1 km 1.5 hrs Bali rolling hills; rolling hills near Ubud Mount Bromo Sunrise Indonesia 8.6 km 3 hrs Indonesian volcanic trail; sunrise views and volcanic scenery Saklikent Gorge Walk Türkiye 5 km 1 hr Turkish river canyon; cool gorge with water sections Great Wall Jiankou China 5.3 km 2.5 hrs China rugged section; the wildest Wall section near Beijing Mount Fuji Trail Japan 14.4 km 8.5 hrs Volcanic summit climb; volcanic summit ascent Petra Backdoor Trail Jordan 6.4 km 2 hrs Hidden canyon path; quieter approach into Petra Wadi Rum Hike Jordan 89.9 km 5 days Jordan desert walk; sandstone desert and wide open valleys Ghorepani Poon Hill Nepal 8 km 3 hrs Nepal sunrise ridge; sunrise Himalayan panorama Kumano Kodo Japan 20.1 km 7.5 hrs Sacred forest route; pilgrimage routes through cedar forests Markha Valley Trek India 72.1 km 4 days Ladakh desert mountains; dry high-altitude landscape in Ladakh Everest Base Camp Nepal 53.4 km 10 – 14 days High altitude adventure; Khumbu Valley route to base camp Annapurna Circuit Nepal 153.2 km 12 – 15 days Himalayan village trek; villages, high mountains, and Thorong La Pass Lycian Way Türkiye 452.5 km 3 weeks Turkish coastal cliffs; Turkish coastline with sea views and ancient ruins
5. Hiking Trails Australasia
Trail Country Length Duration Description Waipoua Forest Walk New Zealand 2.4 km 1 hr Ancient kauri trees; ancient kauri trees and old-growth forest Blue Mountains Grand Canyon Australia 6 km 2 hrs Australia cliff walk; steep steps, ferns, and sandstone walls Mount Cook Hooker Valley New Zealand 10.9 km 3 hrs Glacier lake walk; suspension bridges and a glacier lake Tongariro Crossing New Zealand 20.3 km 10 hrs Volcanic emerald lakes; volcanic plateau and Emerald Lakes Routeburn Track New Zealand 32.3 km 2 days South Island alpine route; compact alpine highlights on the South Island Milford Track New Zealand 55 km 3 days New Zealand rainforest path; New Zealand Great Walk with rainforest and mountain passes Abel Tasman Coast Track New Zealand 60.4 km 3 days Golden beach trail; golden bays, beaches, and coastal scenery Overland Track Australia 79.5 km 4 days Tasmania wilderness trek; Tasmanian wilderness with a hut network
What’s the Best Time to Visit Hiking Trails? There’s no fixed answer to this, since it really depends on where you’re heading. Nevertheless, we feel spring and fall are usually the nicest because the weather is cooler and more comfortable. Summer is great too, especially for high mountain trails, but you’ll want to start early, so the heat doesn’t slow you down. Finally, check the local forecast, because weather can change quickly and surprise you.
Conclusion When you look back, it won’t be the miles you remember most. It’ll be the small laughs, the tired legs, and the views that made you stop. These 100 hiking trails aren’t just places to visit. They’re moments waiting to hap
