List of long-distance footpaths explained
This is a list of some long-distance footpaths used for walking and hiking.
Africa
Lesotho
a hiking trail that passes three mountain ranges, namely Thaba Putsoa Range, Central Range and ends at Drakensburg Range. It starts at Lesotho lowest point, at the confluence of Makhaleng and Senqu and ends at the country's highest point, Thabana Ntlenyane (3482m).
Namibia
route in the ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
South Africa
section of the Garden Route along the Cape coast
- Drakensberg Grand Traverse
rugged trek in KwaZulu-Natal
Egypt
Uganda
- Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Trail: 575 km (357 mi) trek through northern Uganda[1]
Asia
Bangladesh
- Jhiri Path: ascent of Keokradong, one of the highest mountains in Bangladesh.
Bhutan
trek through high passes near the border with Tibet https://web.archive.org/web/20130502110011/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventure-travel/asia/bhutan-kira-salak.html
Hong Kong
across Hong Kong Island
on Lantau Island
from Stanley, Hong Kong Island to Nam Chung, New Territories
from Sai Kung to Tuen Mun
Georgia
of trail over Georgia and Armenia
India
, Himalayan trek, from Sonamarg to Naranag.[2]
, The route follows the path of the King of the Dangs, from his residence to the Mount Mary Steps via his favourite den at the foot of his Sea Breeze residence.
Israel
from Dan to Eilat, covering many historic and scenic points
trail, connecting the Israel National Trail with Jerusalem
in the Galilee region, connecting important sites from the life of Jesus. The trail begins in Nazareth and passes through Sepphoris, Cana, the horns of Hattin, Arbel Cliffs, Capernaum, Tabgha, the Mount of Beatitudes, the Jordan River, and Mount Tabor.
from Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee
from the sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean Sea
- Valley of the springs Trail (Emek HaMaayanot): around the Valley of springs near the Sea of Galilee
- Haifa Wadis Trail
trail connecting the Israel National Trail with Haifa and its surroundings
Japan
all over the island of Hokkaidō (in planning)
within Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata and Fukushima prefectures
- Chubu Hokuriku Nature Trail
within Gunma, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Nagano, Gifu and Shiga prefectures
within Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tōkyō and Kanagawa prefectures. Also known as the Capital Region Nature Trail.[3]
from Tokyo to Osaka via Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Shiga, Gifu, Mie, Kyōto and Nara prefectures
within Fukui, Mie, Shiga, Kyōto, Osaka, Hyōgo, Nara, Wakayama and Tottori prefectures
within Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures
within Ehime, Tokushima, Kagawa and Kōchi prefectures
within Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures
within Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures
Japan is also home to several lengthy pilgrimage routes, such as the Shikoku Pilgrimage that visits 88 temples and Mount Kōya. Today these temples and shrines are easily accessible by car and mass transit, but many visitors choose to walk the traditional routes.
Jordan
north-south, cross country from Um Qais to Aqaba[4]
Lebanon
Myanmar
- Hkakabo Razi Trail, climbing the highest peak in Myanmar, in Khakaborazi National Park, and various footpaths in Putao
Nepal
- Trek to Everest Base Camp, an 18-day trail to the base camp of Mt. Everest
- Annapurna Circuit, a 3-week loop trek through the Annapurna range
- Manaslu Circuit Trek, a 3-week loop trek through the adjacent range to the Annapurna region—the Manaslu region. (see Manaslu Circuit at WikiVoyage)
The Great Himalaya Trail is a proposed trail from Namche Barwa, Tibet to Nanga Parbat, Pakistan, with sections in Bhutan, China, and India. It uses existing trails, many of which are trekking, trade, or pilgrimage routes, but no new trails have been built. Starting near Kanchenjunga in the east and ending in Humla in the west, the Nepal section has been walked and documented and is about .
Russia
Sri Lanka
- The Pekoe Trail: 300 km, a 22 stage hike through Sri Lanka's tea plantations.
South Korea
Turkey
Europe
Some of the best known footpaths in Europe are joined by 12 designated European long-distance paths over some . Some other popular international routes include:
- GR (Grande Randonnée) footpaths in Belgium, France, Spain and the Netherlands
- Tour du Mont Blanc, circling the Mont Blanc massif in Italy, Switzerland, and France. It covers a distance of roughly with of elevation change.
- Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne (HRP), along the length of the Pyrenees in France, Spain and Andorra
- Nordkalottleden Trail (Kalottireitti), in the northernmost parts of Finland, Sweden, and Norway (Lapland)
- St James's Way (Camino de Santiago de Compostela),with commonly walked through France and Spain, but also including old pilgrimage routes from as far afield as Poland and Portugal
- Peaks of the Balkans Trail, through Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo in the Accursed Mountains[9]
- Sultans Trail in Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey
- The Via Alpina network of Alpine trails
- Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome
- from L'Aquila (Abruzzo region, Italy) to Foggia (Puglia region, Italy). At, Tratturo Magno is the longest and the most important ancient route, traversed by shepherds in Transhumance
- The Via Dinarica from Slovenia to Montenegro via the Dinaric Alps connects Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The trail connects with Kosovo and Albania via the High Scardus Trail.[10]
Austria
The "10 great Austrian long-distance trails"
- Ruperti Trail 10 from Bärenstein to Nassfeld
Other important trails
- Arnoweg around the state of Salzburg
- Alpe Adria Trail, Austria, Slovenia, Italy
Bulgaria
- Kom-Emine, from Mount Kom to Cape Emine (part of European walking route E3)[11]
Czechia
- Polish - Czech Friendship Trail
trail along the Polish and Czech border in Sudetes
First Official Czech Thru-Hike Trail 1,000-kilometer[12]
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
- Sentier de Grande Randonnée (GR)
- Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne (HRP): High Pyrenees Trail, along the border with Spain.
- The Tour du Lot: a circuit of over around the Department of the Lot's periphery.
- Sentier Métropolitain: urban and suburban hiking routes, that allow their users to discover a metropolitan territory in several days of hiking.
- Hexatrek: a 3000km trail linking France's main mountain ranges.
Germany
- Barbarossaweg: Korbach to Kyffhäuserdenkmal
- Bergischer Weg: Essen to Königswinter
- Birkenhainer Strasse: Hanau to Gemünden am Main
- Bonifatiusweg: Mainz to Fulda
- Christine-Koch-Weg: Menden to Bad Laasphe
- Eselsweg: Schlüchtern to Großheubach
- König-Ludwig-Weg
Berg am Starnberger See to Füssen
Lindau to Berchtesgaden
Trier to Koblenz
Waldmuenchen to Passau
Hörsel to Blankenstein/Saale through the Thuringian Forest
Bingen to Koblenz to Rüdesheim am Rhein (c.)
Bonn to Alsheim/Wiesbaden
Bonn to Wiesbaden
Mühlacker to Karlsruhe
round hiking trail from/to Waldkirch
- Freiburg-Lake Constance Black Forest Trail: Freiburg to Konstanz
- Saar-Hunsrück-Steig
Trier to Saarschleife in Mettlach or Idar-Oberstein 9
Hattingen to Altenbergen
Greece
Hungary
connecting several World Heritage Sites
Iceland
from Landmannalaugar to Skógar via Thórsmörk mountain ridge
Italy
pilgrimage route across Italy to Rome from France
Via degli Dei is a path that crosses the Apennines from Bologna to Florence.
Montenegro
- Primorska planinarska transverzala (Coastal Mountain Transversal), from Herceg Novi to Bar,
- Crnogorska Transverzala (Montenegrin Transversal), from Durmitor to Kučka Krajina,
Netherlands
- Zevenwoudenpad from Lauwersoog to Steenwijk
- Pionierspad from Steenwijk to Muiden
- Floris V-pad from Amsterdam to Bergen op Zoom
- Trekvogelpad from Bergen aan Zee to Enschede
- Marskramerpad from Bad Bentheim to Den Haag
- Maarten van Rossumpad from 's-Hertogenbosch to Ommen
- Deltapad from Sluis to Hook of Holland
- Hollands Kustpad from Hook of Holland to Den Helder
- Friese Kustpad from Stavoren to Lauwersoog
- Wad- en Wierdenpad from Lauwersoog to Nieuweschans
- Oeverloperpad from Rotterdam Europoort to Leerdam
- Lingepad from Leerdam to Nijmegen (German border)
- Pelgrimspad from Amsterdam to Maastricht
- Zuiderzeepad from Enkhuizen to Stavoren
- Pieterpad from Pieterburen to the Sint Pietersberg
- Noaberpad from Nieuweschans to Emmerich
- Grenslandpad from Sluis to Thorn
- Overijssels Havezatenpad from Oldenzaal to Steenwijk
- Peellandpad from 's-Hertogenbosch to Roermond
- Airbornepad from the Belgian border to Arnhem
Norway
- Jotunheimen Trail (Norwegian: "Jotunheimstien"): from downtown Oslo to Lake Gjende in Jotunheimen
- Nordkalottruta (Finnish: Kalottireitti, Swedish: Nordkalottleden): from Kautokeino (located in Finnmark, Northern Norway) to Sulitjelma (Norway) or alternately Kvikkjokk (Sweden)
Poland
trail along the Polish and Czech border in Sudetes
Portugal
- Fisherman's Trail: along the cliffs of southern Portugal
Romania
Serbia
- The Fruška Gora Transversal (Serbian: Fruškogorska Transverzala) – circular trail around Fruška Gora mountain – 160 km (100 mi)
- The Small Toplica Transversal (Serbian: Mala Toplička Transverzala) –
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
See also: List of long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom and Long-distance footpaths in Scotland. Some of the best-known National Trails in England and Wales include:
North America
Canada
- The Trans-Canada Trail is a trail system of over extending throughout Canada
Western Canada
Ontario
Quebec
- Sentier des Caps,
- Traversée de Charlevoix,
- Vallée Bras-du-Nord,
Atlantic Canada
Greenland
Panama
United States
See main article: National Trails System. Three famous north–south trails spanning the USA comprise the Triple Crown of Hiking:
Other popular trails include:
- John Muir Trail in central California, mostly along the Pacific Crest Trail in the central Sierra,
- Tahoe Rim Trail in California and Nevada,
- Long Trail through Vermont,
- Pacific Northwest Trail from the Washington coast to the North American continental divide in Montana,
- Colorado Trail from southwestern Colorado to the Denver suburbs,
- Arizona Trail running the length of the state north - south,
- Ouachita National Recreation Trail in Oklahoma and Arkansas,
- River to River Trail in southern Illinois,
- Florida Trail running the length of the state, built with some planned
Oceania
Australia
See also: List of long-distance hiking tracks in Australia.
New Zealand
See also: New Zealand tramping tracks.
Central and South America
Argentina
- Los Glaciares
- Huella Andina
- from Alumine Lake to Baggilt lake[19]
Bolivia
Brazil
Costa Rica
280 km from Atlantic to Pacific coasts of Costa Rica
• El Camino de Costa Rica https://www.caminodecostarica.org
Chile
- Central Chile and Patagonia
- Greater Patagonian Trail[23] from the capital Santiago de Chile to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
- Magallanes
- . Full circuit of Torres del Paine, including Valle del Francés and access to the base of Torres del Paine.[24]
- Dientes de Navarino Circuit ≈. 3‑7 days. Starts out of Puerto Williams. Access from mainland Chile by ferry from Punta Areas, plane or from Ushuaia. [25]
Peru
- Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash mountain range near Huaráz
- 10- to 14-day trek on the Huayhuash Circuit
- 3- to 4-day "W" Circuit Santa Cruz trek
- 6- to 10-day Alpamayo Circuit, full "O" Circuit
- Sacred Valley & Vilcanota mountain range near Cuzco
- for the longest Mollepata variant of the Inca trail, with options for a single day to more than six days, all ending at Machu Picchu
- Cachora to Choquequirao trek
- 5- to 6-day trek on Ausangate Circuit
- Colca Canyon near Arequipa
- 5-day trek around Canyon or other single-day and multi-day hikes
Notes and References
- Web site: The Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail - South Sudan & Uganda . 2023-01-24 . www.thebakertrail.com.
- Web site: Treks . Kashmir . Long distance treks of Kashmir . Kashmir Treks . 11 May 2019.
- Web site: The Kanto Fureai no Michi in Tokyo - 東京.
- Route descriptions, maps, photos, etc. at jordantrail.org
- Web site: Lee . Hae-rin . 2023-05-26 . Korea hiking trail weeks kick off to promote regional tourism . 2024-08-18 . . en.
- Web site: Cho . Jung-woo . 2024-06-23 . Seoul Trail hike gives international students taste of city's greener side . 2024-07-10 . . en.
- Web site: Jejuolle Trail . 2024-08-18 . www.jejuolle.org.
- Web site: 2014-12-17. Trek: The Lycian Way. 2021-12-13. Trekopedia. en-US.
- Web site: Scott. Audrey. 2015-10-08. Peaks of the Balkans Trek: A Beginners Guide. 2021-12-13. Uncornered Market. en-US.
- Web site: Discover the High Scardus Trail - Hiking & Mountain Biking Adventures. 2021-12-13. High Scardus Trail. en-US.
- Web site: Kom-Emine – the longest tourist route in Bulgaria.
- Web site: Stezka ČESKEM thru hike.
- Web site: Loodusega Koos. Loodusega Koos. June 5, 2017.
- Web site: Loodusega Koos. Loodusega Koos. June 5, 2017.
- http://www.czerwonyszlak.republika.pl/opis_trasy.htm Główny Szlak Beskidzki – opis trasy
- https://snptrail.com English website of The Slovak National Uprising Heroes Trail
- http://www.caminodosfaros.com O Camiño dos Faros (The Lighthouse Way)
- Book: Paddy., Dillon. Trekking in Greenland : the Arctic Trail. 2010. Cicerone. 978-1-85284-624-4. 642289837.
- Web site: Huella Andina . March 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150326050128/http://www.huellaandina.desarrolloturistico.gov.ar/ . March 26, 2015 . dead .
- Web site: Explore o Caminho . 2023-05-15 . Caminho da Mata Atlântica . en-US.
- Web site: Início.
- Web site: Home.
- Web site: Dudeck. Jan. Greater Patagonian Trail. wikiexplora. August 17, 2014.
- Web site: Meneses. Patricia. Trekking Torres del Paine. Wikiexplora. August 17, 2014.
- Web site: How to hike Dientes de Navarino, the southernmost trek in the world. www.lonelyplanet.com.