This breathtaking 15,000-mile network connects 34 states around the perimeter of the United States, offering customizable hikes through diverse landscapes.
The American Perimeter Trail encompasses diverse ecosystems and landscapes of the United States, which includes the 649-mile Gila River. Aldo Leopold, a forest ranger, proposed the first wilderness area in 1922, suggesting that it should encompass the Gila’s headwaters, ensuring they remain dam free.
Photograph by Katie Orlinsky
Stretching across 34 states, The American Perimeter Trail, a more than 15,000-mile trail, is often shared with other trail networks throughout the country. Its trailheads—for example in California and Massachusetts—do not denote a linear trek with a beginning or end but provide access points onto an infinite path that circles the United States.
Completing the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian Trail, Triple Crown hiker Rue McKenrick explored the first APT route on a three-year scouting expedition.
“My intention was to always create a conservation corridor and the way to do that is to create recreational experiences because people take care of what they enjoy and what they use,” says McKenrick, also the executive director of The American Perimeter Trail Conference (APTC).
APTC is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with government agencies, trail and conservation groups, and local communities to help establish and maintain the trail.
Intrepid hikers may want to navigate the entire trail, but here are a few options for amateur hikers looking for manageable treks to explore a specific section of the American Perimeter Trail.
New Hampshire: Hike to the summit of Mount Washington
Part of the American Perimeter Trail includes the iconic and historic trek to Mount Washington in the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire. Within a day, hikers can complete the 8.5-mile hike one-way from Crawford Path trailhead on Route 302 to the highest northeastern point. Make it a two-day trip and reserve a night at the Lake of the Clouds Hut, located at 5,012 feet.
Constructed in 1819, the path to Mount Washington is the oldest continuously maintained trail. Although the climb to the top is a strenuous trek, hikers are rewarded with panoramic views of the Appalachian Mountains and five states (New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York) on a clear day.
North Carolina: Embark on a family-friendly excursion near Kitty Hawk
In North Carolina, the ocean intersects with dunes at this spot along the American Perimeter Trail. The short walk from Jockey’s Ridge State Park to Roanoke Sound is 1.2 miles round trip via the Tracks in the Sand Trail. It can be challenging hiking on sandy terrain, but it’s inspiring to know that this is part of the highest living dune system in the eastern U.S.
Great for kids and families, the side trek to the park travels through easily navigable terrain. Spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach at one of the park’s public access areas. History buffs will be pleased to know that the Wright Brothers traveled to nearby Kitty Hawk to test out their gliders in the early 1900s.
North Dakota: See the Badlands via the Maah Daah Hay Trail
Badlands and prairie envelop the Maah Daah Hey Trail in North Dakota––a total of 144 miles of the American Perimeter Trail. Wooden posts with an etched turtle mark the path every 500 feet. A turtle symbolizes ‘steadfastness’ in Lakota Sioux culture. The trail’s name, Maah Daah Hey, is an Indigenous Mandan phrase that can mean ‘’an area that has been or will be around for a long time”.
Plan a day or multi-day trip along the trail that bridges the North Unit and South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Begin an excursion at Sully Creek State Park and travel north or south (depending on where you start) by foot, bike, or horse. If you’re heading south, you may want to consider an overnight stay at Coal Creek Campground. Temperatures can get extremely hot so stay hydrated and remember to pack plenty of water because most of the trail is not shaded.
(Uncovering Indigenous history in Badlands National Park.)
New Mexico: Visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings and Wilderness
Hikers can head to New Mexico to see firsthand the ruins created in the 1200s by the Mogollon, Indigenous people from Southern New Mexico and Arizona. A point of interest, the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is located on the American Perimeter Trail. Soot on cave ceilings offer evidence that these were used as shelter for thousands of years. Today, visitors can spend the day on a moderately strenuous one-mile loop to see the dwellings or continue farther to explore almost 560,000-acres of Gila Wilderness. It’s not only New Mexico’s largest wilderness, but it was also recognized as the world’s first designated wilderness on June 3, 1924.
Caves fortified by 13th-century builders from the Mogollon culture are now preserved as the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Photograph by Katie Orlinsky
Experienced hikers can embark on the challenging trek along the remote West Fork Trail #151. Consider a day or multi-day backpacking excursion through the canyons and river crossings along the Grand Enchantment and American Perimeter Trails. Elevation at the trailhead starts at 5,700 feet and gains altitude through gradual climbs. Preparation and planning are key for a safe hike along the trail, weathered due to flooding and wildfires.
Oregon: Enjoy epic views of the Casacade Mountains
The American Perimeter Trail integrates the Pacific Crest Trail, which cuts through the Cascade Mountain Range. Hikers can stay at Oregon’s iconic Timberline Lodge and plan an almost two-week backpacking adventure with the lodge as the starting point to travel south toward Elk Lake. For a four-day trek, start your journey on the trail at Big Lake in the Willamette National Forest.
The footpath includes scenic vistas through or around lakes, lava beds, forests, meadows, and mountain peaks. Conclude this part of the journey at Elk Lake Resort, about a mile from the trail. Enjoy a beer and burger while you marvel at majestic Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, and South Sister with other outdoor enthusiasts who converge on the popular lake.
(Explore these 20 legendary day hikes in U.S. National Parks.)
Before you go
Check local and national land management websites (such as the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management) as well as the Recreation.gov website for seasonal closures, climate patterns, wildlife awareness, water sources, transportation, permitting systems, entry requirements, and campsite reservations. A map of the American Perimeter Trail is available on its website and via the HiiKER app.
Cre: National Geographic
