9 experienced through excursions share their favorite and less favorite paths

WWhen we asked Trek writers about their favorites, we expected to find some clear favorites. After all, certain paths have captured the imagination of hikers during generations. However, the answers were literally throughout the map, since writers reflected with love on the paths around the world.

Some chose long -distance iconic paths, while others chose less known routes with personal importance. We listen about the attractiveness of the loneliness and joy of the community, the challenges of the technical land and the beauty of the long and meditative stretching (I am looking at you, CDT Road Walks).

Here, we immerse ourselves in the answers to try to answer the old question: What is the best?

Favorite paths of Trek writers

Despite the many unique answers, the Colorado path and the trail of the Apalaches emerged several times throughout the answers.

The Colorado path

The Colorado path was more frequently mentioned as a favorite, held by its impressive and varied landscapes and a well maintained path.

Matthew Alan Thyler, who walked the path in 1989, says: «The Colorado path had become a walk and would participate in its construction. Walking through my native state when a young man invested me with a deep sense of property/administration of my native land that I carry with me even today. I would like to return and increase it again.»

Even years later, the CT still retains the wild beauty that continues to attract hikers to Colorado. Deirdre Rosenberg, who passed in 2019, says: «It is absolutely impressive and very varied. It is also extremely well maintained with large stops in the city and many friendly people. Some of the segments are very overlooked and will change their lives, even if you don’t have time to spend it, but you can take advantage of it!»

Part of the charm of the path is the ability to complete a walk on a shorter time scale. A little less than 500 miles and with a lot of road access between segments, the Colorado path is uniquely accessible. As Jim Rahtz says, CT class of 2014, «just under 500 miles, the walk was long enough to change life, but without being so long that I had to completely change my life to complete it.»

THE PATH OF THE APALACHES

As expected, the AT was also a popular option, although writers tended to reflect on it a little less affection.

ABS «shitwater» Evans: «The path of the Apalaches will always be the former toxic I still return. She is too hot (literally). It always hurts when I return with her with ass flies, infernal mosquitoes, both mud, climbs that break the knee and rock fights, but when I’m far away, I miss her a lot.

«She builds you with this moving climb, and just when you are about to reach the climax, there is nothing. There is no sight, just some shrubs and trees. It’s amazing. She made me wild. I was in my hands and knees for her. In the mud. Screaming .. baby.»

Claire Dumont, who walked along the path in 2024, explains that «walking through the AT was magic. Between being so many people and being on their way for 5 months, it was socially the most connected that I felt to a plot. For me, the path was the ideal combination of physical and logistically simple challenge.»

Claire «Marmot» Dumont on the path of the Apalaches in 2024. Photo: Claire Dumont

What makes a path a favorite?

Outside the CT and AT, few trails made multiple writers lists. Even so, a common element seemed to join the favorite paths of many hikers, from Scotland to the rocky mountains: loneliness. Two writers noticed the joy of having a path for themselves.

Jess, also known as «Sassafras», chose the Westberry Wilberry Wilderness from Virginia Western as his favorite, saying: «We did not see a single soul out there. Very lush, very magical, excellent campsites, a lot of water and very easy to lose, but not in a» OH Sh*t «way.

Taylor «Haiku» Bell remembers «camping totally alone on beaches, peaks and rainforests in one of the most desolate corners of planet earth; detecting one of the rarest birds in the world (orange belly parrots!), And moving forward and hitting through the true mud of ravings.»

In summary, the paths often feel more magical when you feel that you are one of the only people who discover it. Many writers highlight their love for the community in more busy paths, but we also listen to stories of great tranamilias and strong culture even in less busy paths.

Katie Jackson (Oh, hey, that is me!) He says about the CDT: «There were not many people out there, but they all knew everyone else. More info: mnh2. You would walk to the city, you would see a trip through, ask your name and immediately said: ‘Oh, I’ve been listening to you for you for a thousand miles!’ He made it very easy to make connections quickly, and I could make friends of a lifetime without fighting crowds along the way. «

Tramily celebrating the crowns of Busdriver and Livvy at the northern terminal of the CDT.

Less favorite paths of the Trek writer

The most disgusted paths were defined by two main factors: lack of landscapes and too many errors. Taylor «Haiku» Bell, who walked along the Scottish national path in 2019, says they were «45 days of rain without stopping, trench, dye, athlete foot and mosquitoes thicker than fog in the upper part of each peak.»

Sometimes, the problem is to have more than the path itself. Deirdre Rosenberg said on his North Country 2017 path through the walk: «There were so many mistakes when I did, which was in summer. This is a walk of the safe shoulder season: do it in autumn!»

The long path appeared in the «favorite» and «less favorite» lists. Jim Rahtz described the Long Trail as less favorite. «Vermud is real. With a lot of rain and a steep slippery path, I fell more on this path than all my other combined walks. Surprised that I never hurt myself. Some excellent views, but many of the climbs do not have visual rewards waiting for you.»

A view of the «path» on the long path. Photo: Jim Rahtz

However, Claire Dumont described him as a favorite, noting that «he cannot say enough good things about walking along the long path in September. The autumn climate is par excellence Vermont. It is a challenge in the way it is fun that a path is challenging. It is social but not too full. The green mountains are impressive, especially when the leaves change color.»

Jess (also known as Sasafrass) agrees. «The long path hurts like a homeland, but it’s magical!»

What tells us this?

What is the best? The answer is as individual as the hiker you are asking. If a path becomes a favorite or less favorite, it is both its head space and personal experiences and the landscape and conditions of the path itself. It all depends on personal expectations, climate and what a person seeks in a hiking experience.

The best path could be the one who challenges it most, the one who can share with a strong community or that gives him a very necessary sense of loneliness. It is a deeply personal trip, regardless of destiny.

Happy paths!

Outstanding image: Photos through Jim Rahtz (left) and Claire Dumont. Graphic design by Chris rudder.