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W hen it comes to thru-hikes, most people picture multi-month hiking trails like the AT and the PCT. But there are many excellent shorter thru-hikes that you can complete in a week or two.
These shorter hikes are perfect for folks able to take a week or two off this winter. They also make great practice or “shake-down” hikes for anyone planning to start one of the big three this spring. They’ll help get you in shape and give you a chance to test all that new gear.
All the trails on this list are accessible in winter with no extensive gear or experience. Many are in warm climates, like the Ocean to Lake Trail, but a couple, like the Ozark Highlands, can see light snow.
Black Canyon Trail | Arizona, US Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail | FL, US Fisherman’s Trail (Trilho dos Pescadores) | Portugal Trans Catalina Trail | California, US Guadalupe Ridge Trail | TX/NM, US Ilha Grande Circuit | Brazil Routeburn Track | New Zealand Ozark Highlands Trail | Arkansas, US Waitukubuli National Trail | Dominica Pekoe Trail | Sri Lanka
Length: 80 miles (129 kilometers) Start/End: Carefree Highway, AZ / Prescott National Forest, AZ
Known as an epic mountain biking location, thru-hikers often overlook the Black Canyon Trail, but it can be a great short, winter option offering a spectacular look at the diverse landscapes of Arizona.
The BCT was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2008. It follows a Native American trade route that was used since prehistoric times. Hikers will experience rugged terrain, five-alarm sunsets in the Sonoran Desert, saguaro forests and rugged canyons in the shadow of the Bradshaw Mountains, juniper and pine forests, and dramatic mountain views.
Length: 61 miles (98 kilometers) Start/End: Hobe Sound Beach, FL / Lake Okeechobee, FL
As the name suggests, the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail connects the Atlantic Ocean to the east side of Lake Okeechobee. The trail travels through the North Everglades Natural Area and a small corridor of other public lands. It offers an immense diversity of landscapes for such a short trail. Hikers will travel through cypress swamps, ancient sand dunes, flooded prairies, tall pine forests, oak hammocks, and more.
The trail has little elevation gain, another reason it’s a good beginner thru-hike. However, hikers should be prepared for sections of sand, mud, and occasional wading. A pair of camp shoes is a must on this thru-hike.
Two of the trail’s optional campsites require permits for free or a small fee.
READ NEXT – Getting Our Feet Wet on the Ocean to Lake Trail
Length: 140 miles (226 kilometers) Start/End: São Torpes, Portugal/Lagos, Portugal
Charming towns, towering cliffs, stunning ocean views, serene farmland, delicious restaurants, sandy beaches, and diverse wildlife make Portugal’s Fisherman’s Trail one of the most impressive coastal hiking routes in the world. It follows the southern coast of Portugal and typically takes hikers 10 to 13 days to complete.
Unlike many thru-hikes, this luxury trail doesn’t allow dispersed camping to protect the delicate seaside dunes and ecosystems. Instead, hikers have the option of staying at affordable hostels or hotels.
Photo by Trek Writer Annika Ananias (Ravenclaw)
While the Fisherman’s Trail is easier than many wilderness thru-hikes, it’s not without its challenges. The hot days, chilly winds, long miles across soft sand beaches and dunes, and short-but-steep climbs up rugged cliffs mean you earn those restaurant breaks.
READ NEXT – Hiking the Fisherman’s Trail in Portugal: A 9 Day Journey Along the Atlantic Coast
Length: 38.5 miles (62 kilometers) Start/End: Avalon, CA/Two Harbors, CA
The Trans Catalina Trail is a short but challenging hike that traverses Catalina Island, about 22 miles off the coast of Long Beach, California. The climbs on Catalina can be strenuous but offer incredible ocean views and great opportunities for viewing the island’s wildlife, like the Catalina Island fox, bison, eagles, and dolphins. Winter on Catalina is generally warm, but the trails can get muddy in January and February after rainy spells.
The Trans Catalina Trail requires a bit of planning. You’ll need a permit to hike, which you can get for free on the Catalina Island Conservancy website. Dispersed camping isn’t allowed on the island, so you’ll also need to reserve campsites and check the ferry’s schedule.
Trek Writer Kira Melendez (Runway) on the Trans Catalina Trail
READ NEXT – Take Me Back to Catalina: Winter Hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail
Length: 100 miles (161 kilometers) Start/End: Guadalupe Peak, TX/White’s City, NM
Starting at Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, the Guadalupe Ridge Trail is about 100 miles long, though hikers may choose to include or exclude the Sitting Bull Falls loop, which makes up about 30 miles of the trail’s length.
Don’t let its relatively short distance fool you; the Guadeloupe Ridge Trail is an incredibly challenging trail. It requires difficult navigation, long water carries, and steep climbs.
The trail travels through the Guadalupe Mountains over rocky terrain, sometimes with an extreme 60% grade, before entering the Chihuahuan Desert and mixed coniferous forests and through Lincoln National Forest. An optional loop takes hikers past Last Chance Canyon and Sitting Bull Falls. The last section travels through Carlsbad Cavern’s high ancient sea ledges and rocky canyons, which can be as unforgiving as the mountains.
Still, the Guadelupe is worth the effort for hikers who are up to the challenge. This remote area, in two of the least visited national parks, offers unparalleled solitude, stunning vistas, fiery sunsets, incredible rock formations, and several unique ecosystems.
You need a wilderness use permit to hike the Guadalupe Ridge Trail, which is free with a national park pass. According to the park service and former Trek hikers, water is critical on this trail, and you may need to plan on caching water.
Trek Writer J. Taylor Bell on The Guadalupe Ridge Trail
READ NEXT – The Guadalupe Ridge Trail: 102 Miles of High Desert Hiking in West Texas
Length: 42 miles (67 kilometers) Start/End: Abraão Village on Ilha Grande in Brazil
Short but sweet, this thru-hike is a great winter escape to a tropical paradise. Starting and ending in Abraão Village, about two hours from Rio de Janeiro, the trail circles Ilha Grande, taking hikers past white-sand beaches with crystal-clear waters, over rolling hills, and through lush rainforests.
As you hike, be sure to watch for Brazil’s incredible wildlife. In the towering forests, hikers may spot capuchin monkeys, colorful toucans, and blue morpho butterflies. Along the coast, keep your eyes open for impressive frigate birds, green sea turtles, and Guiana dolphins.
TMbux, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Length: 20 miles (33 kilometers) Start/End: Glenorchy, New Zealand/Te Anau, New Zealand
If you’ve ever wanted to visit New Zealand, the Routeburn Track is one of the best ways to take it in. It shows off New Zealand’s incredible beauty with towering mountains, mossy forests, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and views of the Tasman Sea.
Despite its short length, many hikers complete the Routeburn Track over three days, taking advantage of the trail’s huts. It’s a somewhat strenuous hike that gains 4,868 feet over its 20 miles, but you’ll also be tempted to extend your trip as long as possible because of the scenery.
Bookings are required for the trail’s huts and campsites during the season (November to April).
Ilya Grigorik, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Length: 254 miles* (409 kilometers) Start/End: Fort Smith, AR/Norfork, AR
*The Ozark Highlands Trail is currently under construction. When finished, it will be 320 miles long.
The Ozark Highlands are the highest peaks between the Appalachians and the Rockies. Often overlooked as a hiking destination, the Ozark Highlands Trail offers enchanting solitude.
You won’t see many hikers, and the only buildings you may spot from the trail are the remains of old homesteads and long-forgotten cellar holes. Hikers can expect rolling hills, craggy bluffs, picturesque rivers and lakes, and dense woodlands.
The Ozark Highlands Trail is hikeable all winter long, but in the depths of winter, you may experience temperatures in the single digits and light snowfall. Still under construction, the trail also offers some tricky sections where legislation has held up trail construction through wilderness areas.
There are a few alternative route options, but you’ll need to research them ahead of time. There’s also the option to aqua blaze on the Buffalo River depending on the weather, and many canoe outfitters in the area are happy to support this trip.
Photo of the Buffalo River by Trek Writer JT Simmons
READ NEXT – How to Hike the Ozark Highlands Trail: 254+ Miles Through the Arkansas Wilderness
Length: 115 miles (185 kilometers) Start/End: Scotts Head, Dominica/Cabrits National Park, Dominica
Who wouldn’t want to spend part of their winter thru-hiking in the Caribbean? Finished in 2011, the Waitukubuli National Trail is the Caribbean’s first long-distance hiking trail. It’s on Dominica, a small island nation often called “the nature island.”
Over 115 miles, the trail winds through Dominica’s diverse landscapes, passing volcanoes, crossing rivers, traversing coastlines, and weaving through lush mountain rainforests. Hikers can watch sperm whales cruise through the bay, soak in hot springs, see parrots soar through the treetops, enjoy fresh tropical fruit, and swim in waterfalls.
The Waitukubuli National Trail requires a permit, which you can purchase at various locations on the island, including the airport. Some hikers report that certain sections of the trail can be difficult to navigate because of previous hurricane damage.
Liam Quinn, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Length: 200 miles (323 kilometers) Start/End: Kandy, Sri Lanka/Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
The Pekoe Trail is a great option for hikers looking to experience a blend of culture and nature. The trail winds through the central highlands of Sri Lanka, offering a blend of wild mountain landscapes, lush tea plantations, stunning rivers and waterfalls, remote villages, historic locations, and incredible wildlife.
While camping is available in some areas, thru-hikers can also find affordable accommodations for each night along the route.
The Pekoe Trail Organization asks all visitors to purchase a $10 trail pass, which supports vital trail services like trail maintenance, signage, and environmental conservation.
Photo courtesy of The Pekoe Trail Organization
For those with the right equipment and know-how, even traditionally three-season hiking trails can remain accessible in winter. Much of the southern AT can be hiked year-round, for instance, if you’re comfortable with cold weather and possible snow and ice.
But for anyone looking for a dry and at least semi-warm winter thru-hike that will not necessitate the use of snowshoes, this list is a good starting point.
Featured image: Photo by Ilya Grigorik. Graphic design by Mackenzie Fischer .
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Hi my name is Jordan. I'm an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, paddler, caver, runner, and biker. After completing my 2013 thru-hike I built an off-grid cabin in the woods with my husband. I write stories and articles that help people connect with the land.
Hi. Just want to point out that AK is not the abbreviation for Arkansas. It’s AR. Alaska is AK.
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