If you love hiking and weekend backpacking trips, you’ve probably felt the urge to take on a thru-hike. These multi-day adventures take hikers deep into wild, scenic places, offering a true escape into nature. They can also be mentally and physically challenging, and require more planning and logistical coordination than just an overnighter.
Before you embark on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) or Appalachian Trail (AT), you might want to test the waters on a shorter, more approachable thru-hike. It could also offer an opportunity to test both yourself and your gear setup without committing to several thousand miles of hiking.
We sourced six U.S. thru-hikes, plus a bonus international one, that are great fits for first-timers. These trails have good signage, reliable water access and resupply, moderate to low elevation changes, and ample camping spots. They’re approachable adventures that don’t require peak-level fitness or navigation expertise while still delivering breathtaking views of unique landscapes.
What Is a Thru-hike?
There is no governing body for hikers that defines a “thru hike.” It’s generally agreed upon that it should be a point-to-point journey, and a continuous effort (i.e., not a “section hike”). Beyond that, there aren’t really any rules surrounding this endeavor.
The thru-hikes GearJunkie has included on this list are all established trails (rather than separate trails connected) and are at least 50 miles in length. We reasoned that a thru-hike should take more than a single day or weekend’s effort, and 50 miles seemed like a good benchmark.
However, there is no official rule on distance. If you want to trek from your house to the park and call it a thru-hike, technically, you can.
Best First-Time Thru-Hikes
Batona Trail
New Jersey might not be the first state you think of for nature, but it does have several state parks and forests. The 53-mile Batona Trail takes hikers through the best outdoor areas the state has to offer, including Brendan Byrne and Bass River State Forests and the Pinelands National Reserve. Highlights include diverse plant life, such as prickly pears, wildflowers, orchids, and sundews.
Most of the trail is extremely flat, with less than 600 feet of total elevation change, making it a good fit for backpackers still getting their sea legs. Ticks here can be intense, so late fall and early spring are the best times to go.
Permits and fees: No permit is required for the hike itself, but any overnight stay requires a permit, which is available online. Campsites cost $25 per night for non-residents.
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
Located in Pennsylvania, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail shows off what makes the Northeast special: hardwood forests, unique rock formations, and scenic rivers. The 70-mile trail has yellow blazes every 100 feet, so even if you don’t have a great sense of direction, you’d really have to try to get lost on this trail.
There are some steep climbs and descents during the first 10 miles, but the trail levels out after that. With eight overnight backcountry campgrounds, it’s easy to customize an itinerary that fits your daily mileage capacity and ability level.
Permits and fees: Hikers are encouraged to register voluntarily at trailheads for safety. Backcountry campsites must be reserved online in advance and cost $5 for non-residents.
Ocala Trail
Florida’s premier long-distance backpacking route is the 1,500-mile–long Florida Trail. Instead of embarking on the whole thing, try its most scenic section, which actually started out as a standalone trail. The 71-mile Ocala Trail is located in northern Florida, about 80 miles from Orlando, and passes through the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest.
Like the rest of Florida, the trail is quite flat, with virtually no elevation gain, allowing hikers to cover ground quickly. This hike has plenty of wildlife, including armadillos, gopher tortoises, and tons of unusual birds. This is also black bear country, so be sure to bring a bear can.
While there are designated campsites, hikers are also free to disperse camp wherever, as long as it isn’t deer hunting season (late September to early January).
Permits and fees: No permit is required for backpacking. Designated campsites, which you can reserve online, charge fees ranging from $24 to $48.
The Foothills Trail in North and South Carolina began in the 1970s as a grassroots advocacy effort to block commercial development in natural areas. It eventually blossomed into a premier 77-mile trail. The Foothills Trail Conservancy ensures good trail maintenance and signage, and has plenty of resources and maps on its website.
Highlights include multiple waterfalls, such as Whitewater Falls and Laurel Fork Falls. While the elevation gain can be hard at times, the hike up to Sassafras Mountain (the highest point in South Carolina) ends with spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Permits and fees: If you leave a vehicle overnight at a trailhead, you must pay a small fee. Hikers must provide registration at three access points (Table Rock State Park, Oconee State Park, and Gorges State Park).
Tahoe Rim Trail
The 211-mile John Muir Trail might be one of the most famous backpacking trails in California. It’s also one of the most difficult and hardest to obtain a permit for. For a taste of the Sierra Nevadas without the rat race, try the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, which encircles the famous namesake lake. Hikers will pass through a variety of state parks and wilderness areas to get a true taste of this part of California.
Water is readily accessible, and there are multiple resupply points along the trail. On most of the trail, you can disperse camp wherever you’d like, provided you follow certain regulations. Be sure to bring a bear canister and follow bear safety guidelines. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association offers plenty of trip planning resources and information online.
Permits and fees: In addition to acquiring a trail permit, hikers will also need a permit for the Desolation Wilderness. You can obtain both online.
Three Sisters Loop Trail
With a little bit of fitness and preparation, the Three Sisters Loop in Oregon is a great pick for your first thru-hike. This 56-mile hike has a total elevation change of over 9,000 feet, but that comes through frequent moderate ascents and descents, rather than just a few severe climbs. It’s also an extremely well-marked, well-established trail.
The scenery is absolutely worth every bit of effort. In addition to viewing the namesake Three Sisters (an impressive trio of volcanoes), hikers will also pass by alpine lakes and valleys shaped by glaciers. Part of the trail crosses paths with the PCT, so if that crown jewel of a thru-hike is on your bucket list, you’ll get a feel for it here.
Permits and fees: Staying overnight in the Central Cascades requires a $6 permit, which you can obtain online.
An International Bonus: Camino Ingles
A thru-hike in another country can be a great way to explore a place and its culture. If it’s your first time taking on a long trail abroad, you can try the Camino Ingles. This is one route of the famed Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Start in Ferrol and hike 75 miles to Santiago de Compostela. This route is less popular than others and stays separate from the Camino Frances (the most overcrowded route) all the way to the end, preserving the perfect space for peace and contemplation.
The hike passes through Galicia, a region famous for its seafood, pork sausage, wine, and sweets. Hikers can stay in albergues, or designated hostels for pilgrims, which usually cost less than 10 euros.
Permits and fees: There are no permits required. To get your Compostela (or certificate) when you finish, obtain a pilgrim’s passport for $5. Get this stamped every day at the albergue to show you walked the Camino.
What to Expect
Physical & Mental Preparation
If you’ve only done weekend or overnight backpacking trips, a thru-hike can present unique challenges. You won’t really know how your body responds to sleeping in a tent and hiking with a pack for a week until you do it.
After several days, blisters may develop in places you’ve never had them, or muscles you don’t usually use might get sore. Before I did the Camino de Santiago, I thought I loved my 65L REI pack. Then, 5 days in, my hips started bleeding from the chafing.
With those caveats understood, it’s best to bet on the low side with your daily mileage. Your hiking speed might not be what it usually is, particularly if the weather or altitude pose issues. Better to get to your campsite a little earlier and take an extra day to finish your thru-hike than to still be hiking at midnight.
Thru-hiking can also require incredible mental resilience. A terrible night’s sleep followed by a day spent swatting away hordes of mosquitoes can take an emotional toll.
On a thru-hike, I once stopped and cried after about every 20 minutes of walking because I was homesick, tired, and overwhelmed. While of course we all want to have a fantastic time on our thru-hikes, maintaining reasonable expectations and being able to roll with the punches is key.
The more days you spend on trail, the higher the odds that something goes wrong. Nature has a mind of its own, and sometimes unexpected storms arrive. Gear breaks, you can tweak your knee or ankle — the list goes on. Always be sure to tell someone of your itinerary, and when they can expect to hear from you, so they know when to alert emergency authorities if necessary.
Gear
Reliable, durable gear that fits your needs is key to thru-hiking success. Be sure to break in your hiking boots or trail runners beforehand to avoid blisters. GearJunkie has a dedicated thru-hiking checklist here.
Cutting weight to lighten your load is always a good idea, but there are some safety-related things you should never compromise in favor of shaving ounces. Always be sure to bring a first-aid kit, water filtration system, and satellite communication device. Check GearJunkie’s guide to the Essential Gear for Backpacking for a basic overview.
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