National Scenic Trails of the USA.

Hike some of America’s most iconic trails.

What is a National Scenic Trail?

If your heart is set on thru-hiking in the USA, a good place to start is with the eleven designated National Scenic Trails.

• Designated as ‘National Scenic Trails’ for their particular natural beauty.  

• Varying in distance from 215 miles to 4,600 miles.

• The three major long-distance hiking trails are the most well known:

  • Appalachian Trail

  • Pacific Crest Trail

  • Continental Divide Trail.

Arizona Trail.

>> 800 miles <<

Border to border trail through Arizona state, from Mexico to Utah.

• North Terminus - Utah and Arizona border

• South Terminus - US and Mexico Border

Highlights: Hike though Grand Canyon National Park and choose from two hiking seasons outside of summer peak months.

Florida Trail.

>> 1,300 miles <<

From sandy beaches to the Everglades, discover the diversity and rich culture of Florida.

• North Terminus - Gulf Islands National Seashore

• South Terminus - Big Cypress National Preserve

Highlights: Hike year-round on the only subtropical National Scenic Trail, relatively flat with low elevation.

Ice Age Trail.

>> 1,000 miles <<

Carved by glacial force over 12,000 years old, hike a unique landscape through Wisconsin - definitely one for geology buffs!

• Western Terminus - Interstate State Park, St. Croix Fall

• Eastern Terminus - Potawatomi State Park, Sturgeon Bay

Highlights: Connect with local communities - selected segments lead you straight through local towns.

Note: The Ice Age Trail is around 50% complete.

Natchez Trace Trail.

>> 450 miles <<

Historical forest trail, running almost parallel to the Natchez Trace Parkway through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.

• North Terminus - Natchez Trace Parkway, milepost 442.1 > Nashville, TN

• South Terminus - Natchez Trace Parkway, milepost 0 > Natchez, MS

New England Trail.

>> 215 miles <<

Hike through Connecticut and Massachusetts experiencing classic New England landscapes.

• North Terminus - Less than a mile off Hwy. 32 (Royalston Falls)

• South Terminus - Guildford’s Chittenden Park, Long Island Sound

North Country Trail.

>> 4,600 miles <<

The giant of the National Scenic Trails, hike through eight states from North Dakota to Vermont.

• Western Terminus - Lake Sakakawea State Park

• Eastern Terminus - Crown Point State Historical site