The Truth About Backpacking in Europe vs. the US

bPacking your bags in the US vs Europe… where to start? When you think about backpacking in the US, you often think of vast, remote wilderness, lots of solitude, and time to yourself. Whereas if you think about backpacking in Europe, it’s often about historic towns, lodges, and more interpersonal connections.

But ultimately, those lines are much blurrier than you think. You can still find plenty of solitude, vast natural spaces, and the same type of experience you would find in North America in Europe. You just have to know where to look.

Hi, my name is Lauren and I’ve hiked tens of thousands of miles across the US and Europe, including trails like the Pacific Crest Trail and Colorado Trail in the US, and Hexatrek and Via Dinarica in Europe. And with all those miles, I can definitely tell you which is better: the United States or Europe.

So let’s get into it.

Trail culture

So the first thing I want to talk about is trail culture.

When you think about backpacking in the US, you’re probably thinking about the Triple Crown routes: the PCT, CDT, or AT. The United States already has a very defined trail culture. You’ll find things like trail families, trail magic, trail angels, and a great sense of community. And the truth is, while you can find those things on European hiking trails, it will be a little different than what you expect.

Europe, of course, is made up of different countries, cultures and languages. Therefore, you will have to navigate all of them, depending on which trail you choose to walk. Lihat juga cvvd. For example, when walking the Via Dinarica earlier this year, I had to cross five different countries, starting in Slovenia, passing through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and then Albania. So that’s five different languages, five different cultures, and five different sets of rules for what I can do along the way.

Because the United States has such a defined trail system and trail culture, when you set out on an American hike, you know pretty well what to expect. It’s pretty easy to get your permits, you know where to start, where to finish, and more or less where to camp along the way.

Depending on which European country you choose to hike in, these things may be a little less straightforward. Not to mention you may have to deal with the language barrier. In my experience, I found that when walking through different countries in Europe, obtaining permits is usually not a problem. However, outdoor camping can be a problem because it’s a little less clear where and when you’re allowed to do those things. And that can be really frustrating because the last thing you want to deal with is law enforcement when you’re in a foreign country speaking a foreign language.

Solo vs. Community Hiking

While hiking long trails in the US, you will find a pretty clear and defined culture, especially on these long trails. Most people you meet will hike the entire trail, or at least try. While hiking in Europe, because there are so many trail networks, you will find it a little harder to meet other people who hike your specific trail to the end. And this can have an impact on trail culture.

For example, when I was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I don’t think I camped alone for a single night during the entire trail. However, on the Hexatrek, I probably spent two months walking alone. While hiking the Hexatrek, I had a hard time finding other hikers who were hiking the entire trail. I probably spent at least eight weeks of the, I don’t know, 120 days I was on the trail camping alone.

So my answer to which is better when it comes to trail culture is: it depends on what you’re looking for.

Are you looking for a great trail family and lots of trail culture, including trail magic and support? Or are you looking for something a little more secluded, where maybe there aren’t as many people hiking the trail and you can have your own experience?

So which one do I think is better?

My cop-out answer is that I really like both.

I love the culture of the long American trails. I love making friends and building a community. But sometimes I also want to be left alone.

Trail infrastructure in Europe

The second point I want to talk about is trail infrastructure. What is the difference between Europe and the United States?

Now, it may seem unusual to want to talk about infrastructure on a hiking trail because what? Do you just need a backpack, a tent and a path to follow? But there is much more to a hiking trail than just a backpack and a tent.

Infrastructure can include things like:

So let’s talk about one of the most common misconceptions about European hiking.

When people think of European hiking, they often imagine lots of huts, dinners every night, and espresso in the morning. And while that may be true for some trails, it’s not the reality for most European hiking trails.

If you’re thinking about some of the really popular trails in Europe, like the Tour du Mont Blanc, that will of course be the case. The downside is that there are large crowds. The more resources and infrastructure there are, usually the more people there will be. So yes, if you are thinking about doing a trail like the Tour du Mont Blanc, you will have resources everywhere. You’re also going to have people everywhere.

But it really depends on what you’re looking for. There are many other countries in Europe that have a more nature-like experience. I could definitely find it on some pieces of the Hexatrek in the Pyrenees, as well as on the Via Dinarica through sections of Croatia and Montenegro. But the other side of the coin is that the infrastructure does not exist. Often that means the trails are not maintained and you do a lot more wandering and getting lost.

Trail infrastructure in the US

Similarly, on US trails, if you’re hiking the popular ones like the PCT or AT, you’ll have tons of resources at your disposal, including: trail angels, shuttles, shelters, resupply points, and trail magic. Whereas if you hike something like the CDT, you’ll get a real wilderness experience and you’ll need to be a lot more self-sufficient.

At the end of the day yes, there are differences.

In the US, the experience is wilder, with larger gaps between trail towns and resupply points. Whereas on most European trails, the resources will be closer together. You may be able to restock every day or two.

If I had to pick a favorite here, I prefer the American style. I find that shelters are often overcrowded. I prefer to sleep in my tent outside. I come to the desert to experience the desert.

Wild camping

Let’s talk about wild camping.

This is important because the last thing you want is to get arrested or fined while camping in a foreign country.

When hiking a long American trail, the rules about wild camping are usually pretty clear. If you have a permit to hike the trail, you will usually be able to camp along it.

The same cannot be said for European trails. Because Europe is made up of so many countries and legal systems, the rules may differ depending on which country (or even county) you are in. For example, while hiking the Hexatrek, France was ideal for long distance hikes because they have bivouac laws that are easy to understand. However, hiking in Croatia was more complicated.

Personally, I was never really sure if I was allowed to camp where I was camping, and that made it a little stressful to go to sleep every night. Technically, outdoor camping is illegal in much of Europe, but it’s probably tolerated if you set up at dusk and leave at dawn… But the probably That’s where the problem lies. Outdoor camping in Europe is often a matter of discretion, opportunity and respect, not rights.

My advice here is to do your research and talk to the locals.

The desert itself

Fourth, let’s talk about nature itself. How is nature different in the United States and Europe?

While walking around the US, I discovered that the biomes themselves are simply larger. For example, on the PCT, you are in the desert for about 700 miles. It’s a long time to be in the same environment.

Whereas when I toured France on the Hexatrek, I was surprised at how quickly the landscape changed. Every 100 kilometers seemed like a completely different place. The Alps, the Pyrenees and the Vosges feel very different from each other.

In the United States there are also long periods without human presence.

In Europe, you’ll typically see more signs of human activity, such as grazing sheep or cattle, shepherd huts, and ancient roads.

So again, which is better?

I love the vastness of the American trails and the feeling of being completely alone… But I also love how quickly the landscapes change in Europe. Again, another cop-out answer, depends on what you’re looking for. But if we’re talking about getting the most bang for your buck, you might have to opt for the European trails.

Side quests

If you’re traveling to Europe, you’ll probably want to see more than just the trail.

Europe has excellent public transportation, making it easy to go off-road for side adventures. For example, when I was doing the Hexatrek, I took a break and hopped on a train to Toulouse to watch a rugby match. On another hike in Croatia, I hitchhiked to the Adriatic coast and spent a few days by the sea. Those kinds of side quests are much easier in Europe.

So as far as side quest potential goes, Europe wins this category.

So who wins?

Over the past few years, I’ve spent more time hiking in Europe than in the United States. I love combining tourism with hiking. I love exploring new countries and exploring trails in another language. But I also miss the vastness of the American wilderness and trail culture: trail families, trail angels, and raw hiking culture. I have had incredible experiences hiking in both places. Honestly, I’m having a hard time choosing.

So I’m just not going to do it.

The best place really depends on what chapter of your life you’re in.

Where would you prefer to walk and why? Or if you’ve hiked in Europe before, what was your favorite long trail?

Again, my name is Lauren, also known as Long Way on the Trails.

Happy hiking!

The above is a transcript. Minor edits have been made for clarity and readability, while preserving the original message and intent. This video is part of a new series about Youtube of the trip. Be sure to check the full video and subscribe to our YouTube channel.