Along-distance trail (or long-distancefootpath, track, way,greenway) is a longer recreationaltrail mainly through rural areas used forhiking,backpacking,cycling,horse riding orcross-country skiing.^[1] They exist on all continents except Antarctica.

Many trails are marked on maps. Typically, a long-distance route will be at least 50 km (30 mi) long, but many run for several hundred miles, or longer.^[2]

Many routes arewaymarked and may cross public or private land and/or follow existingrights of way. Generally, the surface is not specially prepared, and the ground can be rough and uneven in areas, except in places such as converted rail tracks or popular walking routes where stone-pitching and slabs have been laid to prevent erosion.^[3] In some places, official trails will have the surface specially prepared to make the going easier.

Historically, and still nowadays in countries where most people move on foot or with pack animals, long-distance trails linked far away towns and regions. Such paths followed "logical" routes, that can be approximated toleast-cost paths.^[4]

GR footpaths are long-distancefootpaths in Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal (theAlta Via (Italian),Grande Randonnée (French),Grote Routepaden orLange-afstand-wandelpaden (Dutch),Grande Rota (Portuguese) orGran Recorrido (Spanish)).

National Trails are a network of officially sanctioned footpaths in the United Kingdom which are well maintained and well waymarked across England and Wales. Examples are thePennine Way and theSouth West Coast Path.^[5] The equivalent routes in Scotland are styled asScotland's Great Trails; they include theWest Highland Way and theSpeyside Way.

The success of the Welsh government's 870-mileWales Coast Path prompted an ongoing project of create a similar route for England. When completed, theKing Charles III England Coast Path will be around 2,700 miles long.^[6]

There are many other recognised, sometimes waymarked, long-distance footpaths in the UK which do not have National Trail status. TheLong Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) has the most comprehensive online database of long-distance paths in the UK,^[7] and members are able to download GPX files of routes. The association also maintains the LDWA National Trails Register,^[8] with different levels of membership for people who have completed five, 10, 15 or all 19 of the National Trails and Great Trails. An annual report is published in April in the association's magazine, Strider.

TheKerry Way, in south-west Ireland, is the longest of the Irish waymarked trails and circumnavigates the highest mountain range in Ireland.^[9] Along with the adjoiningDingle Way it is noted for its scenic views of theAtlantic,loughs and mountains.

Long-distancetrails in Hong Kong:

• Hong Kong Trail,Hong Kong
• Lantau Trail
• MacLehose Trail
• Wilson Trail

Japan has a network of ten long-distance trails called Long Distance Nature Trails. Their creation is the result of aMinistry of Environment initiative to highlight the specific environmental, cultural or historic landscapes through which the trails pass. They also aim to allow hikers a safe and easy hike in any season, as well as raising awareness of the importance of protecting natural spaces and adopting sustainable behaviors.^[10]

Long Distance Nature Trails inJapan:

• Tokai Nature Trail: 1697 kilometers
• Kyūshū Nature Trail (nicknamed Yamabikosan): 2932 kilometers
• Chūkoku Nature Trail: 2295 kilometers
• Shikoku Nature Trail (nicknamed Shikoku no Michi): 1637 kilometers
• Shutoken Nature Trail (nicknamed Kanto Fureai no Michi): 1800 kilometers
• Tōhoku Nature Trail (nicknamed Shin Oku no Hosomichi): 4374 kilometers
• Chūbu Hokuriku Nature Trail: 4085 kilometers
• Kinki Nature Trail: 3296 kilometers
• Hokkaidō Nature Trail: 4600 kilometers
• Tōhoku Pacific Coast Nature Trail (nicknamedMichinoku Coastal Trail): 1000 kilometers

In Brazil, long-distance trails are regulated by two Federal Government decrees, and implemented and managed by government agencies in partnership with many NGOs, such as the Brazilian Trails Network Association^[11] (Associação Rede Brasileira de Trilhas in Portuguese) and the Atlantic Forest Trail Institute. The aim is to create a national system of trails that are pleasant to hike, but that also generate employment and income and function as conservation tools by linking protected areas with natural corridors.

There are more than 120 trails in different stages of implementation in 25 of the 27Brazilian states, connecting all Brazilian biomes. As of January 2022, Brazil has more than 5,500 km of managed trails and another 20,500 km planned.^[12]

Long-distance trails in Brazil:

• Atlantic Forest Trail: 4270 km^[13][14][15]
• Transmantiqueira National Trail: 1200 km^[16][17]
• Transcarioca Trail: 180 km^[18][19][20]
• Atlantic Amazon Trail: 350 km
• Pioneers Route: 390 km
• Serra do Mar Trail: 300 km

These follow coastlines; examples are theBrittany Coast Path in France,^[21] theCalifornia Coastal Trail in the US,^[22] theSouth West Coast Path in England, theEast Coast Trail in Canada, and theOtter Trail in South Africa.

TheKing Charles III England Coast Path, in development byNatural England, will be around 4,350 kilometres (2,700 mi) long. It is expected to open by the end of 2024 as the longest coastal walking route in the world and Britain's longestNational Trail.^[23][24]

These may be cross-country paths, or may follow roads or other ways, and often intersect with many other trails. Examples areWainwright's Coast-to-Coast path in northern England, and theGR 10 in France. The English Coast to Coast route, despite being amongst the best-known long-distance walking routes in England, is not an officialNational Trail, but simply a series of connected pre-existing rights of way, roads and open country with some informal links between them. There is also a coast-to-coast mountain-bike route in northern England that has the same trailheads as the walkers' path. GR 10 is a FrenchGR footpath that runs the length of thePyrenees Mountains, roughly paralleling the French–Spanish border on the French side. It runs west to east, fromHendaye on theBay of Biscay toBanyuls-sur-Mer on theMediterranean Sea.

TheAmerican Discovery Trail is a hiking and biking trail that crosses the continental United States from east to west, across the mid-tier of the United States 10,900 kilometres (6,800 mi). Horses can also be ridden on most of this trail. The eastern terminus is theDelmarva Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the western terminus isPoint Reyes, on the northern California coast at the Pacific Ocean.^[25] TheIditarod Trail connects the coastal cities ofSeward andNome, Alaska: a distance of around 1,600 kilometres (990 mi).

• 24,000 kilometres (15,000 mi)Trans Canada Trail –Canada

TheEuropean long-distance paths (E-paths) traverse Europe, passing through many countries.Among the longest areEuropean walking route E8 and theIron Curtain Trail (also known asEuroVelo 13). The latter is a partially completelong-distance cycling route which will run along the entire length of the formerIron Curtain. During the period of theCold War (c. 1947–1991), the Iron Curtain delineated the border between theCommunist East and the capitalist West.^[26][27]

• 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi)E4 European long-distance path FromTarifa,Andalusia,Spain, toCrete andCyprus – not yet completely defined.
• 4,700 kilometres (2,900 mi)E8 European long-distance path fromCork, Ireland to theTurkish border ofBulgaria (incomplete).

Some of the longest walking routes worldwide:

• 5,330 kilometres (3,310 mi)Bicentennial National Trail –Australia
• 4,873 kilometers (3,000 mi) Continental Divide Trail – United States
• 4,270 kilometers (2,653 mi) Atlantic Forest Trail – Brazil
• 4,265 kilometers (2,650 mi) Pacific Crest Trail – United States
• 3,520 kilometers (2,190 mi) Appalachian Trail – United States
• 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi)Te Araroa –New Zealand
• 1,250 kilometres (780 mi)Skåneleden –Sweden
• 1,200 kilometres (750 mi)Heysen Trail – Australia
• 1,200 kilometres (750 mi)Transmantiqueira Trail –Brazil
• 1,128 kilometres (701 mi)National Blue Trail –Hungary
• 1,100 kilometres (680 mi)TransPanama Trail –Panama^[28]
• 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)Israel National Trail –Israel

Long-distance mountain trails are of two broad kinds: linear trails and loop trails.

In Europe theVia Alpina consists of five connected hiking trails across thealpine regions ofSlovenia,Austria,Germany,Liechtenstein,Switzerland,Italy,France andMonaco. It is 5,000 km (3,100 miles) long, with 342 day stages.^[29] Circular routes include theTour du Mont Blanc, which passes through theAlps of France, Switzerland, and Italy. In theBalkans region, the Peaks of the Balkans Trail and High Scardus Trail connectAlbania,Kosovo andMontenegro orNorth Macedonia respectively through a network of combined almost 700 kilometres (430 mi).

In the United States, notable linear trails include theAppalachian Trail, 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi), thePacific Crest Trail, 4,300 kilometres (2,700 mi) and theContinental Divide Trail, 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi).^[30] The first long-distance hiking trail in the US was begun in 1910 and named TheLong Trail. Notable circular trails include theTahoe Rim Trail and theWonderland Trail (which encirclesMount Rainier).

TheAustralian Alps Walking Track traverses thealpine areas ofVictoria,New South Wales and theAustralian Capital Territory. It is 655 km (407 miles) long, starting atWalhalla, Victoria, and running through toTharwa, Australian Capital Territory nearCanberra.

TheHimalayan routes are famous for attracting a large number of trekkers (backpackers). Typical trekking regions inNepal areAnnapurna,Dolpo,Langtang,Manaslu,Kangchenjunga andMount Everest. In India, theKashmir Valley is home to several trekking routes that traverse western sections of the Himalayas.^[31]Vishansar Lake,Gangabal Lake andTarsar Lakes are accessible only through different trekking routes.^[32] Other popular trekking routes in India includeChandra Taal, Dzongri, Goechala,Gomukh,Hemkund,Kafni Glacier,Kailash-Manasarovar,Kedarnath,Kedartal,Milam Glacier,Nanda Devi Sanctuary,Pindari Glacier,Richenpong,Roopkund,Sar Pass,Satopanth Tal,Saurkundi Pass and theValley of Flowers.

The Great Himalaya Trail is proposed to follow the Greater Himalaya Range fromNamche Barwa in Tibet toNanga Parbat in Pakistan, forming the world's highest mountain trail.

A long-distance trail network in the southern Andes, the 3,000-kilometre (1,900 mi)Greater Patagonian Trail, was first described in 2014.^[33] It currently connects Santiago de Chile with the Southern Patagonian Icefield and explores the remote areas of the Patagonian Andes in the border region between Chile and Argentina. The entire network currently incorporates more than 16,000-kilometre (9,900 mi) of routes and provides many packrafting options.

• Kilimandjaro in Tanzania
• Simien Mountains in Ethiopia
• Dogu'a Tembien in Ethiopia

These routes have been constructed mainly forbicycle touring. Some are restricted to use by only non-motorized bikes while others are multi-use recreational (i.e. hiking, horseback riding, jogging, rollerblading or walking). Some long-distance cycling routes are hundreds of miles long, such as Australia's mainly off-roadMunda Biddi Trail, or even thousands of miles, such as theEuroVelo routes.

Some trails follow thetowpaths of canal systems. A good example is the 845-kilometre (525 mi)New York State Canal System inNew York. There also numerous routes that can be followed in Europe, which may be suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and canoeists.

Many long-distance trails have sections suitable for equestrians, and a few are suitable for horse riding throughout their length, or have been developed primarily for horse riding. TheBicentennial National Trail (BNT) in Australia is the longest marked multi-use trail in the world, stretching 5,330 kilometres (3,310 mi) fromCooktown, Queensland, throughNew South Wales toHealesville, Victoria. This non-motorised trail runs the length of the ruggedGreat Dividing Range throughnational parks and private property and alongsidewilderness areas. One of the objectives was to develop a trail that linked up thebrumby tracks,^[34]mustering andstock routes along the Great Dividing Range, thus allowing one legally to ride the routes ofstockmen anddrovers who once traveled these areas withpack horses.^[34] The Bicentennial National Trail is suitable for self-reliant horse riders, fit walkers and mountain bike riders.^[35]

In the United Kingdom, theBritish Horse Society is developing a network ofhorse trails known as theNational Bridleroute Network.^[36] A number of long-distancemulti-use trails have been created in England, including threeNational Trails: thePennine Bridleway, 192 km (119 miles),The Ridgeway, 139 km (86 miles), and theSouth Downs Way, 160 km (99 miles).^[37]

Rail trails (or rail paths) are shared-use paths that make use of abandoned railway corridors. There are alsorails with trails in the US that follow working rail tracks. Most rail trails have a gravel or dirt surface and can be used for walking, cycling, and often horse riding as well. The following description comes fromAustralia, but is applicable to other rail trails that exist throughout the world:

Following the route of the railways, they cut through hills, under roads, over embankments and across gullies and creeks. Apart from being great places to walk, cycle or horse ride, rail trails are linear conservation corridors protecting native plants and animals. They often link remnant vegetation in farming areas and contain valuable flora and fauna habitat. Wineries and other attractions are near many trails as well as B&B's and other great places to stay.^[38]

In the US, the 43-kilometre (27 mi)Cheshire Rail Trail, inNew Hampshire, can be used by hikers, horseback riders, snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, cyclists, or even dog-sledders. InCanada, following the abandonment of thePrince Edward Island Railway in 1989, the government ofPrince Edward Island purchased the right-of-way to the entire railway system. TheConfederation Trail was developed as a tip-to-tip walking and cycling gravel rail trail which doubles as a monitored and groomed snowmobile trail during the winter months, operated by the PEI Snowmobile Association.

• Alan Booth,The Roads to Sata: A Two-Thousand-Mile Walk Through Japan (1985).
• Patrick Leigh Fermor,A Time of Gifts (1977),Between the Woods and the Water (1986), andThe Broken Road (2013); describes a walk across Europe in the 1930s.
• John HillabyJourney to the Jade Sea (1964); an account of an African walking tour using camels as pack animals.
  • Journey through Britain (1968). FromLand's End to John o' Groats.
  • Journey through Europe (1972).
  • Journey to the Gods (1991); describes a tour through the mountains of Greece.
• George Meegan,The Longest Walk – Odyssey of the Human Spirit (1988); describes an unbroken walk fromTierra del Fuego at the southernmost tip ofSouth America to the northern coast ofAlaska atPrudhoe Bay between 1977 and 1983.
• Rory Stewart,The Places in Between (2006); recounts a walk acrossAfghanistan in 2002, after the Russians had left.
• Bill Bryson,A Walk in the Woods (1998); an account of the author's partial completion of theAppalachian Trail
• Laurie Lee,As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning; an account of Lee walking from his family home in theCotswolds toLondon, and then across Spain before the outbreak of theSpanish Civil War.