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    Lonely Planet National Trails of America
    Lonely Planet National Trails of America
    Lonely Planet National Trails of America
    Ebook796 pages7 hours

    Lonely Planet National Trails of America

    By Lonely Planet

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    About this ebook

    Hike across some of America's most impressive and scenic trails with this inspiring travelling companion from Lonely Planet. With a foreword by celebrated author Cheryl Strayed, the celebrated author of Wild: A Journey From Lost To Found, the National Trails of America features the US's 30 National Trails - from the scenic wonder of the Pacific Crest Trail to the heavy history of the Trail of Tears - as well as 28 others. Hikers will discover the majesty of each route and all the unmissable stops along the way.

    With a series of beautifully-shot photos and maps scattered throughout, this comprehensive guide to America's best trails can't help but inspire. From the epic scenery of the mighty Grand Canyon to the steamy rainforests of Puerto Rico, and from the historic battlefields of Eastern Tennessee to the Gateway Arch of St. Louis, no corner of America is left unturned. Plus, with accompanying planning details for each and every hike, including details on where to stay, top tips along the way and how to get there, it's never been easier to hit the road. And, with a mixture of day treks and multi-day thru-hikes, there's something to cater for all types of hikers. So, lace up your boots and hit the road!

    About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, on mobile, video and in 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, eBooks, and more.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLonely Planet
    Release dateMay 1, 2020
    ISBN9781838690359
    Lonely Planet National Trails of America
    Author

    Lonely Planet

    Lonely Planet has gone on to become the world’s most successful travel publisher, printing over 100 million books. The guides are printed in nine different languages; English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and Korean. Lonely Planet enables curious travellers to experience the world and get to the heart of a place via guidebooks and eBooks to almost every destination on the planet, an award-winning website and magazine, a range of mobile and digital travel products and a dedicated traveller community.

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      Lonely Planet National Trails of America - Lonely Planet

      IMAGES

      01

      Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

      This 175-mile trail on the lush Big Island honors and protects Native Hawaiian culture and natural resources. Still in development, it traverses the coast from kiawe forest and beaches to petroglyph grounds and fishponds.

      Hawai‘i, also called the Big Island, is twice as big as the other Hawaiian islands combined, and its dramatic terrain will surprise you and take you to extremes. The island’s history can be readily found along its coastal and mauka to makai (mountain to shoreline) trails, a network imprinted by the hands and feet of Hawai‘i’s original Polynesian settlers and their descendants. The main coastal or Ala Loa (long path) trail formed the backbone of the trail network that supported communication and commerce between ahupua‘a (land districts). In recognition of the importance of the coastal trail, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail was added to the National Historic Trails register in 2000. Once circumnavigating the entire island, the coastal trail corridor, rich in historic sites, now stretches 175 miles from Upolu Point in North Kohala along the coast, rounding Ka Lae (South Point) and heading northeast and into Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

      The Highways Act of 1892, signed into law through the auspices of Queen Lili‘uokalani and the legislature of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i, dictated that any trail in existence at that time was a public right-of-way. This has become a critical tool for the establishment of trail segments for the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail and the state’s Nā Ala Hele trail system, which coincides with the Ala Kahakai at various points. When complete, the Ala Kahakai Trail will be the cordage that binds the island canoe together. The 175-mile trail includes four national park units and traverses 220 active ahupua‘a. The NPS and community volunteer groups work closely with lineal descendants who have ancestral ties to the trail, its ahupua‘a and its cultural resources, and who wanted the chance to manage their shoreline areas. The trail is a viable cultural corridor and a living source of Hawaiian history, as well as a treasure trove of ocean wildlife, native plants and birds.

      The trail begins at a sacred site, the Pu‘ukoholā Heiau, a massive temple built by Kamehameha I (1758–1819) and the hands of thousands, stone by stone. The heiau was dedicated to Kamehameha’s war god Kukai‘ilimoku and is thought to have been instrumental in Kamehameha’s success in unifying Hawai‘i Island and, ultimately, the entire island chain. Just north of the heiau is Pelekane Bay, where sharks often gather over the site of a submerged temple. In August, at the annual Ho‘oku‘ikahi i Pu‘ukoholā Heiau Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival, visitors can experience living Hawaiian history.

      As the trail meanders south, it passes through kiawe forest and along the shore, with spectacular panoramas of the azure Pacific and majestic Maui. There is a sense of timelessness as you imagine fisherfolk perusing fishing grounds for signs that it was time to throw the net, and in winter you may see humpback whales frolicking. Yet the trail also passes by massive beachside resorts. It’s an apt reminder of how Hawai‘i plays hosts both to modern tourist infrastructure and indigenous cultural touchstones.

      Later, the trail crosses the entrance to the Puakō petroglyph field. With more than 3000 petroglyphs, this preserve is among the largest collections of ancient lava carvings in Hawai‘i. The carvings might not make sense to you, but viewed together, they are fascinating and worth a visit. The petroglyphs are a window into the history of the area’s residents and are a recording of births and other important events.

      On the opposite end of the trail is the fearsome, elemental Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, its geothermal activity a constant guessing game. The park is a micro-continent of thriving rainforests, volcano-induced deserts, high-mountain meadows, coastal plains and plenty of geological marvels in between. While other national parks in the US are home to active volcanoes, Kīlauea holds the distinction of being one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Mauna Loa, also within the park’s boundaries, is the world’s most massive shield volcano. It’s hardly surprising that Native Hawaiian culture, religion and mythology place a large emphasis on vulcanism. Halema‘uma‘u crater on Kīlauea is believed to be the home of the goddess Pele, creator of the Hawaiian Islands. Stop at the Kīlauea Visitor Center first. Extraordinarily helpful (and remarkably patient) rangers and volunteers can advise you about volcanic activity, air quality, road closures and hiking-trail conditions.

      It’s best to experience the trail in segments for now; the national park access points are well marked and provide a way to experience Hawai‘i’s unique environment and culture up close. The hike is often scorching, but you can turn back at any point, and the path’s shoreline-hugging nature means plenty of opportunities to cool off with a swim.

      Hāpuna Beach.

      © DAVID L. MOORE - HI / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

      Toolbox

      When to go

      Summer is fairly hot and dry, and the cooler fall, winter and spring months are rainier, with changeable weather such as flash floods, high surf and winds. The trail status along the coastline of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park should be checked in advance, as access can be limited by volcanic activity.

      Getting there

      The NPS is currently working with the entities along the planned route to establish trail segments. The existing official segments are best accessed through the parks and historic sites along the route. All national park access points have info, water and restrooms. Flights usually land at Kona International Airport.

      Practicalities

      Start: Pu̒ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

      End: Hawai̒i Volcanoes National Park

      Length: 175 miles (with interruptions)

      Dog friendly: No

      Bike friendly: No

      Permit needed: Not on official segments

      States covered: Hawai̒i

      Kohala Coast.

      © WESTEND61 GMBH / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

      Sleep here...

      South Kohala’s ‘Gold Coast’ doesn’t just offer opportunities for feeling the ancient mana (spiritual essence) at Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park. As you head toward the ocean, rolling emerald golf course slopes edge onto condo complexes and electric-teal pools. Whatever your feelings are on resorts, this is where you’ll find some of the area’s best beaches, and the grand hotels are directly on the trail path.

      Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area

      The Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area in Waimea has four-person A-frame cabins that you can rent through the Hawaii state website. It’s the perfect spot to bask in the rays and one of only a small number of camping options on the island.

      Spencer Beach Park Campground

      Permits for camping at Spencer Beach Park, directly next to Pu‘ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, can be obtained through the County of Hawai‘i website. The campground has full facilities, plus beach access and a nighttime security guard.

      Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

      This grand hotel on the Gold Coast is understated and quietly confident of its reputation. At first glance it might not wow you, but there is history here. Rooms are regularly renovated and nicely maintained. The hotel’s crowning jewel is simply its location on Kauna‘oa Bay, which contains some of the island’s best beaches.

      Fairmont Orchid

      Elegant and almost formal (for Hawai‘i), the Orchid never lets you forget that you’re at an exclusive, luxury hotel. The architecture may be continental, but the gorgeous grounds are buoyantly tropical.

      Sunset at Hāpuna Beach

      © DESIGN PICS INC / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

      Highlights

      Even among the Big Island’s many wonders, the path of the Ala Kahakai trail is something special. While South Kohala resort visitors have access to part of the same shoreline, walking its length reveals a wilder, more untamed Hawai‘i.

      © MARIUSZ S. JURGIELEWICZ / SHUTTERSTOCK

      SHORELINE ECOSYSTEMS

      Hikers will find anchialine ponds, which provided the ancients with drinking water. These ponds contain small fish, mollusks and opai’ula, small red shrimp.

      © ETHAN DANIELS / SHUTTERSTOCK

      KAUNA‘OA BAY

      There are vibrant coral reefs at either point of this bay, which is home to the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Manta rays gather at the north end at night.

      HĀPUNA BEACH STATE RECREATION AREA

      Kick off your shoes and walk with the ocean lapping at your feet, or stop in the shade of the kiawe trees for a snack.

      BIRD-WATCHING

      Be on the lookout for black-crowned night herons perching on rocks or flying along the coast. Also look for shoreline birds such as the Hawaiian stilt.

      HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

      Its two active volcanoes testify to the ongoing birth of the islands. With luck, you’ll witness the primal power of molten earth meeting the sea.

      The trail follows the coast.

      © MESE.BERG / SHUTTERSTOCK

      Resources

      01 National Park Service Websites

      Hawai̒i Volcanoes National Park: www.nps.gov/havo

      Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park: www.nps.gov/kaho

      Pu̒uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park: www.nps.gov/puho

      Pu̒ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site: www.nps.gov/puhe

      02 Other Trail Resources

      Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan: www.nps.gov/alka/learn/management/upload/ALKA_CMP_low-resolution.pdf

      Ala Kahakai Trail Association: www.alakahakaitrail.org

      Nā Ala Hele Trail and Access Program: hawaiitrails.hawaii.gov/trails/#/trail/ala-kahakai-trail/5

      Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

      © BRYAN BUSOVICKI / SHUTTERSTOCK

      Shoreline in Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park in South Kona, Hawai’i with Mauna Loa in the distance.

      © ALVIS UPITIS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

      Hike this...

      175 miles of trail is a lot to bite off, but the still-in-progress Ala Kahakai is best done in sections anyway, jumping off from nearby park access to some of the area’s best beaches and numerous ancient Hawaiian sights.

      01

      South Kohala Beaches

      This 15-mile stretch of signature beaches takes you past pristine shoreline. Start at the southern end of Spencer Beach Park and pass thick kiawe groves to reach white-sand Mau‘umae Beach. The trail turns right and travels by private residences until it reaches the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, on Kauna‘oa Bay. At the south end of the beach, walk or wade around a rock wall and an overhanging tree to pick up the trail on the other side, or head uphill and turn right on a paved road to rejoin the trail on the other side. Continue along the shoreline to the north end of Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area. From here, look for the Ala Kahakai Trail sign and follow the trail uphill to Wailea Beach and Puakō. From Puakō, the easiest way is to walk along the road to Pani‘au, where the trail continues to Holoholokai Beach Park. Walk the Mauna Lani Hotel grounds, past a lava field, to the Hilton Waikoloa golf course, pass the Waikoloa Beach Marriott and on to ‘Anaeho‘omalu Beach.

      02

      Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

      This 1160-acre national park may be the Kona Coast’s most under-appreciated ancient Hawaiian site. Hidden among lava fields lies evidence of the innovations that allowed Hawaiians to thrive in this hostile landscape: fish traps, lava planters used to grow taro and other staples, and the ahupua‘a between Kaloko and Honokōhau that gives the park its name. There are also heiau, burial caves and petroglyphs. From the visitors center, take the Ala Mauka Makai Trail for 0.7 miles to Honokōhau Beach, where it will intersect with the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. At this point turn right and head north along the white-sand beach for 1.2 miles to the Kaloko Fishpond, where the massive rock retaining wall is being completely rebuilt in the traditional way (without mortar) so it can once again be fished. To continue, head inland on an unpaved road for 0.2 miles, where it intersects with the Ala Kahakai Trail, and continue north 1.5 miles to Wāwahiwa‘a Point.

      03

      Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

      Two trails originate in the Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, in South Kona: the coastal trail and the ‘1871 trail,’ the latter a widening of the ala loa to accommodate horses, which were first brought to the island by Captain George Vancouver. About a mile along, the trails meet and continue on to Ho‘okena Beach Park, where there are showers, camping and beach access. Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau was once a place of refuge where, if a kapu (law) breaker reached the enclosure, they would be sheltered from punishment.

      Today the park is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian culture. In 1993 the Mauloa, a traditional coastal sailing canoe, was constructed in the canoe house here using traditional materials and techniques, from sennit cording made of coconut fiber braided together to lauhala sails. The native plants along the trail provided the needed raw materials, such as the hala tree, whose leaves are used to weave mats and baskets.

      A green turtle relaxing on the beach

      © ANDREA IZZOTTI / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

      02

      American Discovery Trail

      Covering 6800 miles from coast to coast, the multiuse American Discovery Trail (ADT) connects cities, forests and rural areas in 15 states from Delaware to California.

      One of the allures of the American Discovery Trail is its appeal as an old-fashioned trail, the kind of trodden path used for getting from one town to the next before motorized travel. Except this path has tens of thousands of places to discover from sea to shining sea.

      Starting at the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean in Delaware and stretching to the California coast, the ADT is a 6800-mile transcontinental phenomenon that passes through 15 states, connecting dramatic natural sites to lively urban areas including Washington, DC, Chicago, St Louis, Kansas City, Denver and San Francisco.

      Because the ADT is the first coast-to-coast trail that links other national trails, such as the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Lewis & Clark and Santa Fe trails, its supporters call it the backbone of the nation’s trail system. The nonprofit organization that manages the ADT, the American Discovery Trail Society (ADTS), says on its website that the ADT offers adventurers ‘the opportunity to journey into the heart of all that is uniquely American – its culture, heritage, landscape and spirit.’

      The ADT, which was first conceived of in 1989, is so different from other national trails that the US Congress has struggled for decades to make it official, mainly because it doesn’t fit other designations in the National Park Service’s National Trails System: Historic, Scenic or Recreation trails. In other words the ADT isn’t just about history, scenery or recreation; as the name says, it’s about the discovery of all those things and more.

      Take a 360-mile section that traces the ‘bootheel’ of southern Indiana along the Ohio River. Westbound from Cincinnati, the ADT follows the hills and dales from one Hoosier town to the next – places called Canaan, French, Vienna, China, Friendship and Sassafras – punctuated along the way by the relative hubbub (and amenities) of small cities like Madison, Corydon and Evansville. In between the town and cities are numerous state parks and forests, as well as Hoosier National Forest, that offer backcountry hiking and camping. Leaving the comfort of one town takes you past meandering trails, wilderness and back roads to another; cresting every ridge could reveal a splendid vista such as a steamboat plying a bend in the Ohio River.

      This is an American walkabout through the heartland of the country, where 19th-century architecture means log cabins and Greek Revival mansions, where local lore means a lottery game called straws, the best fried bologna sandwiches this side of Italy or deathly serious Midwestern euchre tournaments.

      Some people might wonder why you’d take such a hike. As one Hoosier resident put it, ‘You mean you’re walking to Madison? You know, you can get there by car.’ He has a point. Much of the ADT never strays far from well-traveled roads, making many of its interesting sights accessible by car, whether you’re marching along Military Road past Civil War forts outside of Washington, DC, or strolling on the Embarcadero in San Francisco.

      But in southern Indiana, as in other places, a car wouldn’t give you the thrill of hiking limestone canyons, tallgrass meadows, dazzling glens, and rare forests of poplar, sycamore, hickory, white oak and black walnut. And those forest trails lead to caves, waterfalls, Abe Lincoln’s boyhood home and an Indiana monastery in St Meinrad that’s unchanged since 1854.

      Similar discoveries are all along the trail. Several people have completed thru-hikes of the entire route (including at least one by horse and one by running), but almost all other explorers take the ADT in chunks. Because it is the most accessible trail in the country, with 36 million Americans living in the ADT corridor, a hike along any part of it – even, say, the 1.5 miles from Fredonia to Artist Point in southern Indiana – is a hike of national scope, a glimpse of how even disparate regions in the nation are connected.

      Like many trails, the ADT is a work in progress. It began in 1989 when Backpacker magazine and the American Hiking Society proposed a nonmotorized, east–west transcontinental trail. Since then, state coordinators with the ADTS have worked with local groups and governments to map and maintain the trail. While bills to officially designate the ADT have been introduced during almost every session of Congress since the 1990s, they’ve died in committees. In 2019 the effort gained new momentum when a law was passed authorizing the placement of ADT signs on federal lands.

      The American Discovery Trail might not always be noticed by the small communities along its route, but for believers, the trail is a throwback to the original purpose of hiking, in which you hit the road not just for the physical challenge but also for the chance to connect to other ways of life. It’s a chance to live the trail’s mantra: Hike Your Own Hike.

      © YUVAL HELFMAN / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

      Toolbox

      When to go

      Since the ADT spans the nation’s midsection east to west, hikes can be more challenging in the winter; finish mountainous sections before the snow comes.

      Getting there

      The American Discovery Trail Society (ADTS) website has state-by-state details, including contact information for state coordinators who can field queries and give advice.

      Practicalities

      Length in miles: 6800+ miles, including the southern route (5057 miles) and northern route (4834 miles)

      Start: Cape Henlopen State Park, DE

      End: Point Reyes National Seashore, CA

      Dog friendly: Varies by individual trails and sites.

      Bike friendly: The vast majority is bikable, and a few people have hiked/biked the entire length, but evaluate local restrictions and conditions.

      Permit needed: Varies; check the ADTS website.

      States covered: CA, CO, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, OH, UT, WV

      Chimney Rock formation at Capitol Reef National Park.

      © EDMUND LOWE PHOTOGRAPHY / SHUTTERSTOCK

      Sleep here...

      ADT thru-hikers rely on hostels, motels and hotels more than other long-distance hikers because much of the trail passes through private and municipal property where camping isn’t allowed. Still, places to stay along the route run the gamut from backwoods camping in wilderness areas to luxury hotels in cities and resort towns. Here’s a sampling of the more offbeat options.

      Phoenix Hotel, California

      Hotels in the Bunkhouse Group are wonderfully weird and sustainable; its Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco is a 1950s-era motor court frequented by musicians and intrepid travelers.

      Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia

      Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia has the highest elevations along the ADT east of the Rockies. In the forest, the trail crosses the Dolly Sods Wilderness, with rustic campsites near waterfalls and swimming holes – ’nuff said!

      St Meinrad Archabbey, Indiana

      If clean sheets in the abbey’s guest rooms are too luxurious, ask if you can camp on its scenic grounds in St Meinrad, Indiana (65 miles west of Louisville). Bonus: buffet-style meals cost $8 in the dining room.

      Trail Angels, Everywhere

      Seasoned backpackers who live near the trail are known to invite ADT thru-hikers to pitch tents on their property or even to stay in their homes. Check the ADTS website’s contact info for state coordinators, look for blog posts recommending them, or trust in happenstance.

      Aerial of the Katy Trail near Pilot Grove, Missouri.

      © MAREK ULIASZ / SHUTTERSTOCK

      Highlights

      The only coast-to-coast trail in the country, the ADT has it all: cities, mountains, deserts and plains. Crossing the entire nation from Delaware to California (or vice versa), the wonders and discoveries are endless. Here are some favorites.

      CINCINNATI

      Historic neighborhoods and river vistas highlight the ADT’s passage through Mount Adams in the heart of scenic Cincinnati, Ohio, and across the Roebling Suspension Bridge into Kentucky.

      © POSNOV / GETTY IMAGES

      ANGEL MOUNDS

      The culture of Native Americans from the Mississippian period is well-preserved at Angel Mounds State Historic Site along the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana.

      © MAREK ULIASZ / SHUTTERSTOCK

      KATY TRAIL

      A prime example of how the ADT incorporates rail trails (rail tracks converted to multiuse paths), the Katy, as it’s called, follows 240 crushed limestone–surfaced miles of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad through Missouri.

      © TRAVEL DRAWN / SHUTTERSTOCK

      CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

      Red rock country, petroglyphs, narrow canyons and deserts – this is the rural, remote and rugged terrain of Utah.

      THE PEOPLE

      ‘This trail opens you up so much to trust people, to talk to people.’ –Joyce and Peter Cottrell, the first to backpack the entire ADT.

      Sculptured Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore.

      © ED CALLAERT / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

      Resources

      01 American Discovery Trail Society

      discoverytrail.org

      The website has links to affiliated trails, parks and points of interest along the way. GPX files are available for $7 per state, as are Data Books, which include turn-by-turn instructions. The website also includes ‘Trail Tales’ from people who have hiked, biked, run and ridden on horseback the entire ADT.

      02 American Discoveries: Scouting the First Coast-to-Coast Recreational Trail

      Now out of print, Ellen Dudley and Eric Seaborg’s 1996 title shows the ADT’s origins.

      The ADT’s end in Point Reyes

      © ED CALLAERT / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

      The Front Range in Rocky Mountain National Park.

      © PAUL A. SMITH / SHUTTERSTOCK

      Hike this...

      Depending on what part of the country you find yourself in, the terrain of the shorter day hikes on the ADT varies wildly. The below options are a great sample of what some of these regions have to offer.

      01

      North Bend Rail Trail, West Virginia

      Administered by West Virginia State Parks, the North Bend Rail Trail gives a strong sense of the ADT’s mission by turning what was once B&O rail infrastructure and making it an escape from everyday life. At 72 miles long, and incorporating 10 historic rail tunnels and 38 bridges, the crushed limestone bed of North Bend Rail Trail permits usage by bikers and horseback riders as well as hikers, and the flat terrain makes it doable for the whole family.

      In 2018, the North Bend Rail Trail acquired land to extend to Corning Park in Parkersburg, West Virginia, adding a new continuous link on the ADT’s path from Pittsburgh to Parkersburg; work is now underway to finalize work on the trail extension along a former CSX rail line. Taking this path is a wonderful way to get to know the scenic Mountain State better.

      02

      Colorado’s Front Range and Rocky Mountains

      Colorado might be home to the most challenging – and scenically spectacular – part of the ADT. The backcountry segment between Denver and Utah crosses six national forests, the Continental Divide (three times) and 15 mountain passes higher than 9000 feet, as well as many resort towns. Along the Front Range, many excellent day trips are possible. The route passes through the foothills between 5000 and 9000 feet, putting travelers in or near Pikes Peak Greenway, Garden of the Gods and Platte River Greenway, all connected to Colorado Springs and Denver via the ADT. The 24 miles from Canon City to Cripple Creek (‘the world’s greatest gold camp’) features a 5000ft elevation gain. As it can snow any day of the year at higher elevations, July and August are strongly recommended.

      03

      Redwood Creek Trail, California

      After crossing the University of California Berkeley campus and taking a ferry across San Francisco Bay, the ADT passes through San Francisco and into Marin County. Experience Muir Woods via the Redwood Creek Trail loop, featuring 1500ft in elevation gain over 10.5 miles. It’s often quieter than other regions of Muir Woods. The trailhead climbs up the salmon-spawning Redwood Creek of the trail’s name through beautiful meadows to meet Dipsea Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail network and known as the site of the annual Dipsea race, the second oldest footrace in the country. More ambitious hikers can choose to trek up to Mount Tamalpais State Park’s Pantoll Ranger Station by the Stapelveldt Trail instead, while those with less time can opt for a stroll to Muir Beach.

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      Appalachian National Scenic Trail

      The world’s longest hiking-only footpath is a classic bucket list trail, a 2190-mile wilderness pilgrimage from the southern Blue Ridge Mountains to the wilds of Maine.

      The Appalachian Trail – the AT – is a world unto itself. For thru-hikers (people walking the entire stretch of almost 2200 miles) the trail will be home for between five and seven months, on average. When you get back to civilization, you’ll be changed, and we’re not just talking about weight loss and boulder-like quads. A piece of your soul will be forever wild.

      The very language used on the trail sets the AT apart from the rest of the world. As a thru-hiker, you’ll shed your name for a ‘trail name’ – ideally something with a winking double meaning, given to you by a fellow hiker. You’re a thin guy who loves to swim in every river you cross? Hello, Skinny Dip. Are you a Wisconsinite who tells goofy jokes? We dub you Cheesy. A NOBO is a northbound (Georgia to Maine) hiker, while a SOBO is the opposite. A Trail Angel is a person who helps out hikers, whether giving rides to town or leaving snacks by a campground.

      The community is central to the AT experience. Several thousand aspiring thru-hikers start out each year, most heading north. Only about a fifth of them will make it. Those who remain after a few hundred miles begin to bond, meeting up at overlooks and sharing campsites and rustic shelters. They track each other’s progress by looking at signatures in shelter logbooks. Strangers become hiking partners. Hiking partners become lifelong friends.

      Day after day you’ll trek through green tunnels of leaf canopy, ford creeks pulsing with fish and salamanders, and balance on granite ridges above the tree line. You’ll feel the sun on your back as you gaze down at the patchwork fields of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. You’ll be dazzled by the golden afternoon light of the Berkshires in Massachusetts, and awed by the

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