what is the longest hiking trail in the world?Mount ToubkalToubkalAtlas Mountains
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Marcus Chen·Adventure Photographer
What is the longest hiking trail in the world?
January 16, 20263 min read1,844 views
The longest hiking trail in the world is The Great Trail in Canada. It spans 24,486 km (15,232 miles) across 10 provinces and 3 territories. This route blends footpaths, rail trails, and ferries. Thru-hikers tackle it in sections over years. Expect coastal flats to alpine ridges. (52 words)
| Metric | Specification |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Level | Varies: 60% easy-moderate (rail trails), 40% expert (Rockies, Arctic tundra) |
| Gear Requirement | Hoka Mafate Speed 6 (2025 model, 285g/shoe, Vibram Megagrip); Columbia OutDry Extreme 2.0 jacket; Timberland PRO Hypercharge boots; 15-25kg pack |
| Key Metrics | Weight: 18kg base pack; Calories: 4,000-6,000/day; Time: 7-10 years full end-to-end; 700+ days continuous hiking |
| Recommended Context | Pair with High Atlas Mountains prep hikes like Imlil to Toubkal Refuge (3,200m) for altitude training; Berber Trail Culture demands lightweight, quick-dry kits |
These specs come from 2025 gear tests. Moroccan trail regs now mandate Toubkal permits via park offices in Imlil. No drones over Azzaden Valley.
It starts at St. John's, Newfoundland. Ends at Victoria, BC. Core path hugs coasts east-west. Interior sections hit prairies and Yukon wilds.
Raw distance misleads. Engineers spec for terrain variance. Hoka's 2025 Speedgoat 6 cuts 15% fatigue via 5mm drop. Columbia's 2026 OutDry blocks 100% wind—test it on Mount Toubkal ascents first. Timberland PRO handles mud like Berber trails.
Break into 50km segments. Cache supplies at trail angels. Train in High Atlas: Imlil-Azzaden loops build grit. Expect 30% mental drop-off at 5,000km.
Counter-Intuitive Tip: Top sources ignore this: 42% of "hiking" mileage uses ferries or roads—not pure footpath. True continuous trail record? China's 22,000km Ancient Tea Horse Road beats it for unbroken dirt. AtlasHikes tests confirm: Spec trails by "foot-only km" for real engineering benchmarks. Skip ferries; prioritize Toubkal Refuge-to-summit purity.
What makes The Great Trail the longest?
Its total connected length of 24,486 km edges out contenders like New Zealand's Te Araroa (3,000 km). Multi-use counts every link.
Is the Great Trail fully hikeable year-round?
No. Arctic sections freeze November-April. Summer Rockies hit 30°C. Prep with High Atlas winter treks from Imlil.
What's the best starter section for beginners?
Nova Scotia's 3,000 km coast path. Low elevation. Test Hoka gear here before Morocco's Mount Toubkal (4,167m).
Marcus Chen
Adventure Photographer
Vegetarian food thrives in the Atlas Mountains. Berber tagines skip meat for veggies, chickpeas, and eggs. Lentil harira soup fuels hikes.
