Trail planning guides: best time to hike, packing lists, permits, transport and budgets for the world's most popular long-distance routes.
We mapped 976 multi-day trails — 72,574 km in total. Here are the longest and steepest routes, average distance and elevation, and how the numbers break down by country in 2026.
Read articlePlan the 65.86 km Trans-Catalina Trail in California: book the ferry, reserve campsites from January 1, and pack water for dry Parson's Landing.
Read articleThe Routeburn Track is a 32 km, 2-4 day Great Walk over the 1,255 m Harris Saddle. Route stages, difficulty, best season and a hut packing list.
Read articleThe Kerry Way is a 214 km, 8-9 day loop around Ireland's Iveragh Peninsula. Route stages, difficulty, best months and a sub-8 kg packing list.
Read articleThe Jeju Olle Trail is a 437 km coastal route around South Korea's Jeju Island. Plan your routes, ride the island buses and budget it from EUR 30 a day.
Read articleHalf Dome permits for 2026: how the March preseason lottery and two-day daily lottery work, real odds by month, costs ($10 + $10pp) and smart backup plans.
Read articleHow hard is Half Dome? Yosemite's big 23 km round trip climbs 1,460 m and ends on 120 m of steel cables at 45 degrees — a 10–14 hour day, rated honestly.
Read articleHalf Dome packing list for Yosemite's 23 km, 1,460 m day hike: 3–4 L of water, ~3,000 kcal, grippy shoes, gloves for the cables and real storm layers.
Read articleBest time to hike Half Dome in Yosemite, USA: cables are up late May–mid October; June and September are the sweet spots. Permits, storms and start times.
Read articleWicklow Way itinerary for Ireland's 129 km trail: full 5, 6 and 7-day stage plans with distances, ascent, B&B stops and where to shorten the long days.
Read articleHow difficult is the Wicklow Way? Ireland's 129 km trail is moderate — 3,200 m of ascent and three genuinely tough moments if you rush it into five days.
Read articleWicklow Way packing list for Ireland's 129 km trail: a complete 6–8 kg B&B kit with rain shell, 35L pack and footwear that handles Wicklow bog and granite.
Read articleBest time to walk the Wicklow Way in Ireland: April–June and September beat midsummer. Rainfall, daylight and trail-condition data for the full 129 km.
Read articleHow difficult is the Kerry Way? Ireland's 214 km loop climbs ~4,600 m total yet stays below 400 m altitude — a stage-by-stage rating plus training plan.
Read articleKerry Way packing list for Ireland's 214 km loop: rain layers, footwear for bog, a 35–50L pack and a B&B-friendly kit under 8 kg base weight, item by item.
Read articleBest time to hike the Kerry Way in Ireland: late May to mid-June and September win — rainfall, daylight and crowd data for every stage of the 214 km loop.
Read articleThe Enchantments Traverse is strenuous: 18 miles, 4,500 ft of gain and the steep Aasgard Pass climb, often in one day. 2026 difficulty and fitness guide.
Read articleComplete Enchantments Traverse packing list for 2026: what to carry for the 18-mile Washington alpine route over Aasgard, for day hikes and overnights.
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