Horse-Shoe Trail vs Mid-State 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
| Horse-Shoe Trail | Mid-State Trail | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 143 mi230 km | 319 mi513 km |
| Elevation gain | 7,260 ft2,213 m | 16,122 ft4,914 m |
| Typical duration | 10 days | 21 days |
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | Regional | Regional |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Best time to hike | Best from October to October | Best from October to October |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
Horse-Shoe Trail vs Mid-State Trail: which should you hike?
At 319 mi513 km, Mid-State Trail is the longer route — roughly 176 mi283 km more than Horse-Shoe Trail (143 mi230 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Horse-Shoe 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.