Clouds Rest Trail vs Horse-Shoe Trail
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
Units
| Clouds Rest Trail | Horse-Shoe Trail | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 9.1 mi15 km | 143 mi230 km |
| Elevation gain | 1,965 ft599 m | 7,260 ft2,213 m |
| Typical duration | 1 day | 10 days |
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | Local | Regional |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Best time to hike | Best from June to September | Best from October to October |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
Clouds Rest Trail vs Horse-Shoe Trail: which should you hike?
At 143 mi230 km, Horse-Shoe Trail is the longer route — roughly 134 mi215 km more than Clouds Rest Trail (9.1 mi15 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Clouds Rest Trail is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.