Picking a Thru-Hike (and Why the CT May Be a Great First Choice)

Books like A Walk in the Woods and Wild popularized the idea of thru-hiking and it’s easy to see why. There’s something undeniably romantic about traveling from Point A to Point B under your own power, relying only on your pack and two feet to carry you through rugged terrain.

If you’ve caught the thru-hiking bug—whether it’s the thrill of a physical challenge, the need for healing or reflection, or just a longing to spend a chunk of time outside—this post breaks down what to consider when choosing a U.S.-based thru-hike and why one particular trail, the Colorado Trail, might be a perfect entry point.

First off, what is a thru-hike?

It's a good question, because the definition depends on who you ask. Some insist a thru-hike must take many months. Others say it just needs to be one continuous trail. And then there are those who’ll tell you (in Big Lebowski Voice, “Anything can be a thru-hike if you believe, man.”

Here’s my litmus test:

• A point-to-point hike on a continuous trail (excluding town crossings)

• Long enough to require at least one resupply (even for fast hikers)

• A culture where trail nicknames are a thing

If all three of those boxes are checked, (in my opinion) you're in thru-hike territory.

The "Splendid Seven"

No one calls them that—yet. But if it catches on, remember you heard it here first. These are some of the most iconic U.S. thru-hikes, offering a variety of lengths, regions, and challenges:

Appalachian Trail (AT)

The OG thru-hike. First envisioned by Benton MacKaye and made famous by Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods (now a film). It spans 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine and snakes through some of the East Coast’s most scenic mountain ranges.

Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)

Another film-famous trail thanks to Wild, based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir. The PCT runs 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, traversing desert, high Sierra, and the Cascades. It’s diverse, beautiful, and a major bucket list item.

Continental Divide Trail (CDT)

The beast of the Triple Crown. At 3,100 miles, this trail follows the spine of the Rockies and is notorious for its difficulty, navigation challenges, and sheer remoteness. Expect epic views—and solitude.

Arizona Trail (AZT)

A relative newcomer at 800 miles, the AZT delivers a wide array of desert, mountain, and canyon scenery. It’s also one of the driest hikes, so water logistics are a major part of the experience.

Colorado Trail (CT)

Stretching 491 miles from Denver to Durango, the CT offers stunning alpine scenery, aspen forests, and brutal elevation. It’s a serious physical challenge, but more accessible time-wise.

The Long Trail (LT)

This state isn't just Bernie Sanders' stomping grounds; Vermont and its Green Mountains are also home to the LT, the oldest long-distance trail in the U.S. Covering 272 miles, it’s a rugged trek through dense forests and scenic peaks.

John Muir Trail (JMT)

Named for the famous outdoorsman and conservationist, the JMT is a 211-mile trail through California's High Sierra. It overlaps with part of the PCT, offering iconic views of Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks.

Factors to Consider

I break down my assessment into five factors:

• Time to complete

• Physical difficulty

• Crowdedness ("socialness")

• Hazards

• Scenery

Some of these will be shaped by practical life constraints (like how much time you can take off), but together they give a well-rounded picture of which trail might be the best fit.

Time to completion

Note: The CDT shows a surprisingly short average duration because many attempting it are seasoned thru-hikers.

This might be the most practical factor in picking your thru-hike. Ask yourself:

• How much time can I take off (or do I need to quit my job)?

• What’s my budget?

• How much can my body handle?

  
  

Completion times range from about three weeks to over six months. Personally, I found the CT’s one-month window ideal. It scratched the itch without taking over my year (or wrecking my knees).

Pro Tip: Consider section hiking. It’s a great option for longer trails if you're short on time or not quite ready to commit to the full grind. Forget the ego—section hiking still counts.

Physical difficulty

Physical difficulty boils down to two things: distance and elevation.

Sure, any multi-month hike will wear you down. But even short trails can be brutal if the elevation profile is unforgiving. That's why bringing back a little geometry and calculating some of that rise over run can be an interesting way to look at relative difficulty.

What surprised me was how steep the Long Trail is—it has more elevation gain per mile than anything else on this list at ~250 ft per mile (50 m per km) traveled on average. The JMT isn’t far behind. And the AT? Just plain tough any way you slice it.

The CT? It lands squarely in the middle—truly the Goldilocks Trail: not too easy, not too punishing.

Crowdedness ("socialness")

Before doing the CT, I didn’t realize how social thru-hiking can be. And honestly? It was a huge part of the experience.

This chart gives a rough idea of how many people you might meet. It’s not perfect. Permit counts don't capture drop-offs, and shorter trails naturally concentrate hikers—but it's a useful vibe check.

My take from this:

• The AT is a full-blown party.

• The CDT is for the solitude seekers.

• The CT? A nice middle ground.

You’ll be surprised how quickly trail chatter turns into genuine connection.

Hazards

Hazards get a lot of attention, especially from folks considering their first hike. And for good reason—some trails are just riskier than others.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what to watch for:

• Water scarcity: Scarcity can be a real issue on trails like the AZT. You might need to carry more than you’re used to or depend on water caches.

• Navigation challenges: Well-marked trails (like the AT) reduce stress. Others (like the CDT) require real map and GPS skills.

• Weather: Most trails have a “storm season” you’ll want to plan around. High-elevation hikes are particularly vulnerable to lightning and snow.

• Altitude: Any trail through the Rockies or Sierra Nevada comes with a risk of altitude sickness.

• Remoteness: The CDT and parts of the AZT can leave you days away from aid.

• Resupply: Tied closely to remoteness. Fewer towns = more planning (and heavier food carries).

So what does this chart say? The CDT is not for the faint of heart. It clearly has the most challenges of any of the splendid seven. The AT on the other hand, while physically brutal, is more tame from a hazard standpoint.

And the CT? Once again, it threads the needle. It provides just enough challenge for those that want it without extremes.

A note on wildlife

On additional "hazard” that often comes to mind is wildlife—specifically the scary wildlife (mountain lions, bears, snakes...oh my!). The reality? Serious or fatal wildlife encounters are vanishingly rare. There are essentially no recorded fatal bear or cougar attacks on the AT, PCT, or CDT, and most hiker stories fall into the “bear stole my granola bar” category. If you store food properly and give animals space, chances are you’ll only come away with a story to tell.

What is a more realistic concern: ticks. On eastern trails like the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail, Lyme disease is the hazard you’re statistically more likely to face. Daily tick checks, treating your clothing with permethrin, and using repellent are simple habits that drastically reduce the odds. It’s not glamorous, but it’s worth taking seriously—Lyme can sideline a thru-hike faster than a thunderstorm.

The bottom line: wildlife encounters make for good stories, but the real risk lies in the tiny critters you barely notice.

Scenery

This is an element of thru-hikes that I feel gets overlooked, at least initially. And while I think distance and time will most likely be a prevailing factor in picking your first thru-hike, if you are still looking for another factor to consider, scenery may serve as a good tiebreaking.

There are those among us (I'd put myself in this list) that get an insane sense of awe from a big jagged tall peak. Then there are others that love the moody feel of a dense, green, foggy ridge. Humans have preferences. And taking into account what natural scenery is going to give you the most energy as you put one foot in front of the other, day after day, is important.

Final Thoughts

Choosing your first thru-hike can feel overwhelming—there’s a lot to weigh, from mileage and resupply to altitude and isolation. But here’s the thing: there’s no perfect trail, only the one that matches what you need right now.

Some people are drawn to the social buzz of the AT. Others want the epic solitude of the CDT. For me, the Colorado Trail was the Goldilocks Trail—big scenery, a manageable commitment, and a trail community without sacrificing solitude. It felt like a real adventure without being a life-altering detour.

If you’re still on the fence, start small. Do a section. Try a shorter trail like the Long Trail or the JMT. The world of thru-hiking doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing.

And who knows? That first trail might just be the start of something bigger.

Helpful resources

• This writeup that conducts a detailed comparison of the PCT and the AT