America’s Best High-Mileage Day Hikes

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Teton National Park's Lake Solitude as seen from Paintbrush Divide.

(Photo: Adobe Stock)

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America’s Best High-Mileage Day Hikes

Published: Aug 8, 2024 Updated: Aug 9, 2024

Outfit for extra miles and go the distance on these top long-distance trails

From the otherworldly Badlands to the towering Tetons, from ancient Ozark ranges to the time-worn Appalachians, the United States boasts an embarrassment of topographical riches. The best way to savor this diversity? Long day hikes that let you soak it all in. Despite the high mileage, your feet don’t have to suffer, thanks to footwear innovations like Columbia’s Omni-MAX™ technology found in the , which combines adaptive cushioning, enhanced stability, and increased traction for superior performance on variable terrain. On long hikes, your feet need extra cushioning, and the TechLite+™ midsole on the Konos TRS provides it with light, responsive foam for stability and energy return over that added distance.

The Baker Lake Trail Columbia long trails — Testing out Columbia's new Konos TRS OutDry while hiking the 14-mile Baker Lake Trail section of the larger Pacific Northwest Trail in Washington's Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. (Photo: Erin Dietsche)

The Baker Lake Trail Columbia long trails Konos hiking

Hiking Shenandoah National Park's Blue Ridge. (Photo: Getty)

Long

The Classic: Riprap and Wildcat Ridge Loop
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Here’s how to get to the marrow of Shenandoah’s famed Blue Ridge in one challenging day: this 9-mile loop showcases why is a favorite escape for East Coasters. Less than three hours from Washington, DC, you’ll scramble over the 500 million-year-old Calvary Rocks, look over the Shenandoah Valley’s expanse from Chimney Rock, and dip into some secluded pools. Starting at the Riprap Trail Parking Lot and utilizing the Wildcat Ridge and Appalachian trails, this six-to-eight-hour, 2,228-foot ascent blends rugged ridges, lush forests, and refreshing streams. Spring hikers encounter wildflower-carpeted trails; summer is great for refreshing swimming holes; autumn brings the park’s legendary foliage. It’s quintessential Shenandoah, with a post-hike pub not far away.

via Riprap Trail and AT (Photo: Gaia GPS)

Castle, Badlands National Park, South Dakota.

The Local Favorite: Castle Trail
Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Even if you’re not a geological buff, the Badlands may blow your mind. For the ultimate experience of this alien landscape, target the 4.6-mile . Double the distance for an that showcases the park’s most dramatic features: towering spires, vast mesas, and delicate hoodoos. As you navigate the challenging terrain, you’ll witness the Badlands’ famous color palette: deep reds, golden yellows, and soft lavenders etched into rock layers spanning millions of years. Fall brings contrasting golden prairie grasses, while bighorn sheep and swift foxes make surprise appearances year-round. Castle Trail’s length deters casual visitors, offering a quiet journey through this otherworldly scenery. Bring your own water and avoid peak summer heat.

Badlands National Park via (Photo: Gaia GPS)

Longer

The Classic: Chapel Loop
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

For the ultimate adventure in the Upper Peninsula, tackle this 10-miler in Pictured Rocks, overlooking the “Graveyard Coast,” best known for its rugged scenery and historic shipwrecks. The trail strings together several gems: colorful 200-foot sandstone cliffs, pristine stretches of beach, and hemlock and pine forests. You’ll also see Chapel Falls, an iconic lone pine at Chapel Rock that’s a quarter of a millennium old, and the many memorable panoramas of Lake Superior. Fall paints the landscape in reds and golds. For a longer adventure, combine the loop with nearby segments of the to create a challenging 20-plus-mile day hike along the lake. Be prepared for rapid weather changes—Lake Superior can be moody.

, on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. (Photo: Gaia GPS)

Taum Sauk Mountian, the highest elevation point in Missouri — The top of Taum Sauk Mountain, Missouri's highest elevation point. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

The Local Favorite: Ozark Trail
Taum Sauk Section, Missouri

The Ozarks might be one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets: a rugged, ancient mountain range hiding in plain sight. To experience their essence, tackle the Taum Sauk Section of the Ozark Trail. This showcases the region’s highlights: Missouri’s highest point, its tallest waterfall, and expansive views of the Mark Twain National Forest. Starting at Taum Sauk Mountain, you’ll hike through ancient rhyolite outcrops and deciduous forests to reach Mina Sauk Falls, where water cascades 132 feet over billion-year-old igneous rock. Come mid-October, the trail transforms with vibrant fall foliage at its peak, and as the leaves fall, the vistas get more dramatic. offers a surprisingly challenging trek for the Midwest, rewarding hikers with solitude and scenery that feels more like a rare corner of the East than the heartland.

(Photo: Gaia GPS)

Longest

The Classic: Paintbrush and Cascade Canyons Loop
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

For Teton grandeur minus climbing ropes, this serves up alpine majesty. From String Lake, ascend approximately 4,000 feet through Paintbrush Canyon’s flower-speckled meadows to the stunning 10,720-foot Paintbrush Divide. The imposing Cathedral Group commands the skyline. Navigate the knife-edge ridge, bracing your quivering limbs, before descending into Cascade Canyon. Skirt serene Lake Solitude, a twilight refuge for grazing moose. The 100-foot Hidden Falls and final glimpses of the Snake River plain punctuate this ambitious expedition. It’s a concentrated dose of Teton marvels—lakes, peaks, and varied ecosystems—condensed into one incredible day. Bring trekking poles, check at Jenny Lake about whether crampons are needed, and summon all of your stamina. The loop is best hiked from late summer, after the snow has melted, to early fall, when the aspens erupt in a dazzling display of golden fall color.

. (Photo: Gaia GPS)

Linville Gorge Wilderness (Photo: Adobe Stock)

The Local Favorite: Linville Gorge Grand/ITAYG Loop
Linville Gorge Wilderness, North Carolina

“Is That All Ya Got?” Careful what you ask for over these 21 grueling miles. This rugged loop starts at the Wolf Pit Trailhead and features nearly 6,000 feet of elevation gain, dancing with what some call the “Grand Canyon of the East.” It offers one of the most challenging in the Appalachians. Climbs near Shortoff Mountain, the Chimneys, and Table Rock reveal breathtaking vistas, made even better when fall ignites the gorge in vibrant reds and golds. A few words of warning: with the USGS before attempting to cross the Linville River twice. Bring ample water, and download or bring topo maps; sources are scarce, and trails are not marked once you’re in the woods. Spotty cell service adds to the wild feel. This trek is typically a multiday outing, though strong hikers can complete it in one epic day.

(Photo: Gaia GPS)

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Lead Photo: Adobe Stock

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America’s Best High-Mileage Day Hikes

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