Clouds Rest Trail vs Skyline Divide 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 | Skyline Divide Trail | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 9.1 mi15 km | 5.3 mi9 km |
| Elevation gain | 1,965 ft599 m | 2,628 ft801 m |
| Typical duration | 1 day | 1 day |
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | Local | Local |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Best time to hike | Best from June to September | Best from July to July |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
Clouds Rest Trail vs Skyline Divide Trail: which should you hike?
At 9.1 mi15 km, Clouds Rest Trail is the longer route — roughly 3.7 mi6 km more than Skyline Divide Trail (5.3 mi9 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Skyline Divide 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.