Across the globe, young adventurers and seniors alike are wearing sturdy boots and reconnecting with nature on lengthy treks that take them deep into the wilderness. It is customary to spend months on end on a long-distance, non-stop journey while thru-hiking. This is especially true for marathon runners. Thru-hikers began tackling the Appalachian Trail in the United States in the late 1940s, and the sport has only grown in popularity over the last few decades, particularly in Europe.
Ten of the world's most scenic routes, some of which are multi-use and may be enjoyed by walkers, bikers, and equestrians, are included below. The majority of these epic routes are a collection of long-established favorites—and as such, they would require extensive training and planning.

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- 1. The Great Trail of Canada (14,912 miles/24,000 kilometres)
- 2. The American Discovery Trail (6800 miles/10,944 kilometres)
- 3. The E1 European Long-Distance Path (4960 miles/7980 kilometres)
- 4. The Grand Italian Trail (4455 miles/7170 kilometres)
- 5. Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles/5000 kilometres)
- 6. The Great Himalayan Trail (about 2800 miles/4585 kilometres long)
- 7. The Hokkaido Nature Trail (2,848 miles/4,585 kilometres)
- 8) The England Coast Path (2,795 miles/4,500 kilometres long)
- 9) The Pacific Crest Trail (2653 miles / 4270 kilometres)
- 10. Te Araroa (1894 miles/3000 kilometres)
1. The Great Trail of Canada (14,912 miles/24,000 kilometres)
The Great Trail, Canada (formerly known as the Trans Canada Trail) connects hundreds of local paths that stretch across the length and breadth of the country's landscape. A northward loop that includes the Yukon was added to the route, which was originally proposed in 1992 and winds its way through 13 provinces and territories from St. John's in Newfoundland all the way to Vancouver in British Columbia, with a stop in St. John's on the way back.
Officially inaugurated in 2017, the multi-use trail has received high acclaim for its objectives of linking communities and integrating abandoned railway lines into the trail system by converting them to pathways. It has, however, drawn some criticism since just 30 percent of the route is presently off-road at this time.
2. The American Discovery Trail (6800 miles/10,944 kilometres)
The American Discovery Path is the country's first and longest non-motorized coast-to-coast trail, and it is also the country's first and longest non-motorized trail in the world. In order to get from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, hikers and horseback riders must cross the United States from Delaware to California via the states of West Virginia to Ohio to Indiana to Illinois to Kentucky to Iowa to Missouri to Nebraska to Kansas to Colorado to Utah to Nevada to California.

The route was officially dedicated in 2000, but the first people to complete it were power-walking pair Ken and Marcia Powers (also known as GottaWalk), who finished the path's entire length in October 2005, covering a distance of 5000 miles from coast to coast. A hiker named Mike "Lion King" Daniel became the first person to complete the whole circle, including both parallel potential ways (the trail divides into two alternative courses before rejoining again). Daniel completed the trail's 6800 miles in November 2008.
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3. The E1 European Long-Distance Path (4960 miles/7980 kilometres)
According to the European Ramblers Association, the E1 path is the longest of 12 long-distance paths in Europe that are supervised by the organization. It's a vertical journey: the trip begins in Norway's northernmost extremities and ends in Sicily, Italy's southernmost region. The path is not signposted in upper Norway, out of respect for the indigenous Sami people, although it is marked with cairns from Nordkapp southward, as seen on the map.
Following the countries of Norway, Finland, and Sweden, the route goes on into the country of Denmark (thanks to a short ferry ride). Later, the trail descends through Germany before crossing Switzerland and concluding its journey over the whole length of Italy.
4. The Grand Italian Trail (4455 miles/7170 kilometres)
Then this is the trek for you if you prefer your long-distance hikes to be fuelled by pasta. Itineraries along the Grand Italian Trail, also known as Sentiero Italia, are accompanied by a food blog that provides suggestions for regional cuisine in the areas you will travel through, ensuring that you do not miss out on the finest tastes and natural delights available along the route. You'll need all of that food to keep you fueled while you travel:
This route is mostly mountainous, traveling across the whole length of the Alpine Arc and the entire Apennine Chain before passing into Sicily and finishing in Sardinia, where it is primarily mountainous. The idea for the path was conceived in 1983. Despite the fact that the first hikers to complete the whole trip did it twice in 1995 and 1999, enthusiasm for the accomplishment has waned in recent years. There is a free online guide, accessible in both English and Italian, provided by the group that created the path.
5. Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles/5000 kilometres)
Vertically cutting across the United States from Montana on the northernmost border to New Mexico on the southernmost, this difficult five-month-long route is a true test of endurance. The Colorado Desert Trail (CDT) was designated as a National Scenic Trail in 1978, and it is well-known for its rough, unfinished sections; the coalition that maintains the CDT refers to it as "a living museum of the American West." Because of the rugged terrain, it is only suited for hikers and horseback riders.

Mountain bikers and horseback riders will find it difficult. When the route was first opened in 1995, only 15 individuals had officially finished it; now, about 150 people try to complete it each year. As part of the "Triple Crown of Hiking," which includes the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail, the CDT is one of three American routes that comprise the "Triple Crown of Hiking."
6. The Great Himalayan Trail (about 2800 miles/4585 kilometres long)
If the arduous hikes of Nepal aren't enough of a challenge for you, the Great Himalayan Trail, which has yet to be finished, maybe the answer. The planned route traverses the whole length of the Himalayan mountain range, passing through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet on its way to Beijing. Terrain that is difficult to navigate and very high elevations are unsuitable for the faint of heart:
The Sherpani Col Pass in Nepal is the highest point of the trip, rising to a frightening 20,210 feet (6160 meters) above sea level, making it the most difficult part of the journey. There is also a planned lower path known as the "culture route" that would take hikers through mid-range hills and towns if the "extreme route" seems too dangerous.
7. The Hokkaido Nature Trail (2,848 miles/4,585 kilometres)
On the northernmost island of the Japanese archipelago, Hokkaido, the longest of Japan's nature paths takes you on a circle around the island. In contrast to the bulk of the country's nature trails, which were recognized by the government in 1970, the idea for this mega-hike was originally conceived in 2003 and initially implemented in 2004.
It incorporates all of the trails on Hokkaido into a single, expansive circle. Despite the fact that there is still work to be done, with some sections still to be connected, it is estimated that this journey will take enthusiastic hikers 230 days to complete.
8) The England Coast Path (2,795 miles/4,500 kilometres long)
Since 2014, this large-scale undertaking has been in the planning stages. It will run the length of England's coastline and will be the world's longest coastal path when completed. The path, which was inspired by the popularity of the Wales Coast Path, passes through a variety of landscapes, including cliffs, moors, beaches, ports, marshes, and agricultural areas.

It was originally scheduled to open in 2020, but the COVID-19 epidemic forced that date to be postponed. Long sections of the Coast Path, on the other hand, are still open, and Natural England, the organization in charge of maintaining it, is consulting with local people along the last lengths.
9) The Pacific Crest Trail (2653 miles / 4270 kilometres)
The Pacific Crest Route is a hiking trail that runs the length of the Pacific coast of the United States. It takes about six months to accomplish one continuous thru-hike in a single setting. After being envisioned in the 1930s, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) was established in 1977 and has been maintained and administered by the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
It became well-known in recent years due to Reece Witherspoon's role in the 2014 film Wild, which was based on the memoirs of writer Cheryl Strayed. As a result, it is a popular trek rather than the lonely experience shown in the film. The PCT is often regarded as one of the most picturesque hiking routes in the nation, which further adds to its appeal.
10. Te Araroa (1894 miles/3000 kilometres)
Te Araroa (which translates as "The Long Pathway") is a beautiful yet difficult path. Located in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, it runs the full length of the country. The Te Araroa Trust is responsible for the upkeep of the walkway, which was formally inaugurated on December 3, 2011. Te Araroa is about six months long if hiked from beginning to end.
Visitors may spend the night in huts maintained by the Department of Conservation in New Zealand, either renting shelters on a nightly basis or applying for a six-month pass to use the huts exclusively. Runner Jez Bragg of the United Kingdom holds the record for finishing the route in the lowest amount of time. He completed it in 53 days in 2013 to set the record.
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