5 of the World’s Longest Hiking Trails

On the surface, hiking seems relatively simple: Put one foot in front of the other, then repeat. And while that may be true when taking an afternoon stroll around a nature reserve or a weekend trek at a nearby state or national park, there’s a global network of trails that stretch thousands of miles across countries or entire continents. These paths go from scorching deserts to frozen mountaintops and challenge the endurance of even the fittest athletes. The longest trails usually comprise a number of shorter trails with connecting segments linking them. Requiring endurance, months (or sometimes years) of commitment, meticulous planning, and very sturdy shoes, here are five long-distance “thru-hikes” that go way beyond “a walk in the park.” 

E1 European Long Distance Path – Norway to Italy

This mammoth, seven-country trail offers hikers the opportunity to traverse from the Arctic Ocean to the Ionian Sea, with an astonishing array of landscapes and cultures in between. The E1’s roughly 5,000-mile odyssey begins in Norway’s Nordkapp (North Cape), which overlooks the Barents Sea in the “Land of the Midnight Sun” and is the northernmost point in Europe that can be reached by car. 

From there, the path winds through a wide range of terrains, from steep mountains to coastal paths in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland before (eventually, theoretically) terminating at Capo Passero, Italy’s southernmost village on the island of Sicily. 

Why the uncertainty? The southernmost parts of Italy’s portion of the E1 aren’t completed yet, but thru-hikers should be on solid ground at least to the region of Campania. Regardless, from lefse in Norway to pizza in Naples, the E1 is not only an epic trail but a tasty one, too.

Trans Canada Trail – Canada

Several of the longest hiking trails in the world are located in the U.S. The longest, though, is found in its neighbor to the north. The Trans Canada Trail is the most extensive multiuse trail system in the world, stretching an extraordinary 14,912 miles. It connects all three of Canada’s ocean coastlines (Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific), and passes through terrains that range from the rugged Rocky Mountains to chic urban neighborhoods. 

In the east, the Trans Canada Trail begins in St. John’s, Newfoundland; the western terminus is clear across the country at Lake Cowichan in British Columbia. Planning to trek the entire trail? Even if you don’t paddle the river routes, you’ll need to pack an inflatable raft to cross parts of a section called the Canol Heritage Trail. Filmmaker Dianne Whelan completed the journey (over six years) for her documentary 500 Days in the Wild, becoming the first person to do so.

American Discovery Trail – California to Delaware

Looking for something special to celebrate America’s 250th birthday? Perhaps you can take the year off and set out on this grand American adventure. Stretching 6,800 miles from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the American Discovery Trail is the longest continuous trail in the United States. 

Running through 15 states from Cape Henlopen in Delaware to Point Reyes National Seashore in California, the trail splits into northern and southern sections in Elizabethtown, Ohio, and reconnects westward in Denver, Colorado. Much of the trail is accessible to bicycles and horses, and some sections are wheelchair-friendly. 

Continental Divide Trail – Canada to Mexico

If you’d rather travel from north to south than east to west, the Continental Divide Trail is the path for you. Spanning approximately 3,100 miles from the U.S.-Canada border in Montana to the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico, the trail also passes through Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado while traversing some of the nation’s most stunning scenery, including Rocky Mountain National Park and the Chama River Canyon Wilderness. 

The Continental Divide Trail is part of the “Triple Crown” of American trails, the other two being the Pacific Coast Trail and the Appalachian Trail. Dave Odell was the first person to officially thru-hike the route in 1977, and today about 200 people a year complete the journey, with thousands more enjoying shorter sections of the path.

Hokkaido Nature Trail – Japan

On Japan’s second-largest and northernmost island — which is roughly the size of Austria — hikers will find an untamed, yet serene wonderland of rare wildlife, scenic lakes, vast forests, and wetlands. Started in 2003 and still under construction, the Hokkaido Nature Trail consists of 23 not-always-contiguous segments. The newest section, the Hokkaido East Trail, opened in late 2024 and connects Shiretoko, Akan-Mashu, and Kushiro-Shitsugen National Parks. When completed, the full trail will stretch almost 3,000 miles. Fortunately for would-be hikers, the island’s volcanic topography feeds many hot springs, perfect for relaxing after a long day on foot.