Just figured out that I can take three weeks off in August, from about the 5th to the 27th. Any thoughts about the best trail to fill my time? I’m open to suggestions, but something east of the Mississippi (I’m from Michigan). Long Trail? Superior Hiking Trail? Thanks for your help, Joel
Joel
The Long Trail will fit your bill. You should be able to do most (if not all) of it in 22 days. I did it in 30 days, but had a couple of zeros and several leisure days. If you want to take your time, I’d start in Manchester Center or something like that and hike north.
-Howie
Hungry Howie
Join me and Gypsy on the LT. We’re leaving around 9 Aug. from the Canadian border. SOBO is a better trip. I lived at Jay Peak for 10 years. Thinkin of moving back.
Wolf
I can think of several great trails to spend 3 weeks on. It depends on what shape you are in, and what your goals are.
Certainly the Long Trail is a good choice provided that you are in reasonable (good) shape, and want to do an end to end. I should caution you that north of Middlebury Gap, the Long Trail becomes the Long and Hard Trail.
You might consider the AT in Maine. If you are in hiking shape, it takes about 3 full weeks to go from Gorham to Katahdin.
For that matter, you could do 3 weeks just about anywhere on the trail. Each section of trail is unique and has it’s good points.
You might consider the Northville-Lake Placid Trail in the Adirondacks. That’s shorter and does not go over the high peaks. Probably about a 10 day trip by itself.
Or spend some time bagging the 46 High Peaks of the Adirondacks. That is strenous hiking, and many peaks are trail-less. You will probably want a car to go from trail head to trail head.
Or work on the 4000 footers in New Hampshire. Again, you will probably want a car to go from trail head to trail head.
So many trails, So little time.
Peaks
Have you ever heard of the Illinois River to River Trail? It’s a little closer to you than the AT or New England. It runs 175 miles from the Ohio to the Mississippi in southern Illinois. It’s part of the American Discovery Trail. It should take 2 to 3 weeks to hike the whole thing. If you have extra time you can hike part of the ADT, too. I think there are also people down there who are willing to do shuttles. See:
Carolina Beau
I too am from Michigan, and some of my best hiking was done there. My all time favorite is the south shore of Lk. Superior, near and along the pictured rocks area. I hiked from the the Soo to Copper Point in the summer of '91, took just over 9 weeks. But shorter distances are easy to find, though there often really is no trail, just follow the lake shore along the tree ridge.
Tequamanon (phonetic) falls is also really nice area to do some camping in too.
xtn
airferret
The Cohas Trail in NH is a new trail that goes through the north country to the Canadian Border. The northern part is not complete yet but the part that is finished is beautiful. Just a warning though, there are few lean-tos or camping areas so its stealth camping most of the way.
Big B
I’ll second the Cohos, wild and beautiful.
Of course I love the LT too and myself I’ll be re-hiking the Maine AT southbound in September/October.
I’ve heard good things About the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota as-well. so many trails…
celt