Appalachian Trail: 14 states from Georgia to Maine, 2,185 miles. Although it's not the oldest or the longest US long-distance footpath, the Appalachian Trail is regarded as the granddaddy of them all, in part because it's the most user-friendly.
Longest Hiking Trails In The United States
| Rank | Hiking Trail | Route Length |
|---|
| 1 | American Discovery | 6,800+ total; 5,057 miles (Southern Route alone); 4,834 miles(Northern Route alone) |
| 2 | Great Western Loop | 6,800 miles |
| 3 | Eastern Continental | 5,400 miles |
| 4 | North Country | 4,600 miles |
If you were to hike The Great Trail in Canada straight through at a pace of 20 miles per day, it would take approximately 750 days (with zero rest days) to complete the entire hike and touch all three ocean coasts.
Calories Burned Per Mile
| Calories Burned Walking 4.0 mph by Miles and Weight (Pace of 15 Minutes per Mile or 9 Minutes per Kilometer) |
|---|
| Mile 5 | 284 | 455 |
| Mile 6 | 341 | 545 |
| Mile 7 | 398 | 636 |
| Mile 8 | 454 | 727 |
If your fitness level is relatively good and the hike isn't littered with hills, mountains, or other obstacles, your 10-mile hike could be around four to five hours. However, if there are large hills or steep slopes, it's possible a 10-mile hike could take all day.
Here are six of the worst things you could do when planning your hike.
- Pick a hot day. In Phoenix, pretty much every day from May to October is a hot day.
- Hydrate improperly. Nothing is more crucial to a safe hike than drinking plenty of water.
- Bring only junk food.
- Wear denim, cotton and flip-flops.
- Go off trail.
- Hike alone.
Generally speaking, a five mile hike on mostly flat terrain should take you about an hour and forty-five minutes, according to Naismith's rule (which we'll discuss later).
How Long Does It Take To Hike A Few Miles?
| How Many Miles | A Flat Hike Takes | A Gradual Hike Takes |
|---|
| 5 miles | 1 hr 35 mins | 2 hrs |
| 6 miles | 2 hrs | 2 hrs 25 mins |
| 7 miles | 2 hrs 15 mins | 2 hrs 50 mins |
| 8 miles | 2 hrs 35 mins | 3 hrs 15 mins |
An 8 mile hike can easily take 4 to 7 hours depending on the speed, terrain surface, pack weight, elevation gain, and the number of rest breaks you need to take. There are several variables that will determine your actual hiking time.
Exposure, wild animals, guerrilla fighters, heat—just some of the variables that can turn a walk through the mountains into a flirt with death. And while many people complete these routes unscathed, they're dangerous enough that a few mistakes can leave you seriously injured—or dead.
Training for a Day Hike
- Take yourself out for a walk two or three times during the week. Make sure to move briskly enough to get your heart rate up, and then keep it up for at least 30 minutes.
- Be sure to wear the same shoes that you'll be wearing on your hike.
- Carry a lightly-weighted daypack on your weekday walks.
