Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada?

Posted by: horry_jing

Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/05/15 01:14 AM

Hi guys,
We have 2 two weeks vacation in early May next year, we'd like to do a backpack hiking in USA/Canada.
We have about 10 days for hiking, and the distance under 200km.
We can camping, and it's better that have 2-3 times re-supply along the trail.
Could anyone recommend some trails for us?
Great thanks in advance!
Horry
Posted by: BZH

Re: Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/05/15 10:49 AM

Others are more knowledgeable than me, but Appalachian Trail is the long trail with consistent resupply points.

Here is a list of trails:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-distance_trails_in_the_United_States

What are you looking for? What would you like to see?
Posted by: aimless

Re: Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/05/15 12:48 PM

In early May the high mountains of the western USA and Canada (the Rockies, Sierra Nevada & Cascades) will still have most of their winter snowpack. It is possible to hike on trails that stay in river valleys and on the lower slopes of these mountains, but these would not be long enough to occupy 10 days on the same trail.

I would recommend looking at sections of the Appalachian Trail.
Posted by: bluefish

Re: Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/05/15 06:18 PM

I'd agree with Aimless about the AT for a point to point hike. Another possibility would be the Gila wilderness in New Mexico which has many miles of trails, but you'd have to put some loops together. In early May I'd look at the AT south of Vermont, as northbound there'd likely be some residual snow, blackflies and mud. I live very close to the trail in Vt. and don't like to use it until around Memorial day. I would think the Shenandoah section might be very nice at that time, it's 101 miles long, and can be extended either direction if needed. Anywhere I've been in Canada has been relatively short or would be covered in snow then. Best of luck finding a wonderful place.
Posted by: horry_jing

Re: Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/05/15 08:49 PM

Thanks everyone's reply, that's very useful.
I'll check the AT trail, try to find a section for us.
Many thanks!
Posted by: BrianLe

Re: Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/06/15 10:57 AM

The downside about the AT is that overall it's not very scenic; it offers a lot, but IMO doesn't hold up well to all sorts of other types of trails in the U.S.

Early May certainly does limit you, however (including on some parts of the AT). The suggestion of New Mexico is a good one, and particularly the Gila River area --- fun stuff. You might look around Utah as well. Early May is a standard time for thru-hikers to be in Southern California on the PCT, FWIW. I liked the Gila River better, but the PCT offers a lot of infrastructure to go whatever amount of time and per-day mileage you want.

Where I live (Washington State), if we want to hike in early May we either think of going well east of the Cascade Mountains, or hiking the coast, typically the Olympic Coast. Coast hiking is somewhat unique, offering unique challenges, but is pretty darned cool too. My wife and I did a 5-day hiking trip from the Hoh River to Cape Alava on the Olympic Coast a few years back, in April as I recall, and it was an absolute hoot. One can also hike along the coast in Oregon; I've done a few days of that as well, but logistics might be more challenging (?). There's also the West Coast trail in the Vancouver B.C. area, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Trail

Again in my neck of the woods, more or less, some like to do a PCT loop starting and ending at the lowest point on the PCT --- Cascade Locks, at the Oregon/Washington border. The loop follows the PCT and another (more fun) trail called Eagle Creek, and all of this should be fine in early May, perhaps depending on the particular year (?). It really depends on what kind of hiking experience you're looking for.

Bottom line is that in early May I think you go for low elevation (including coastal hiking), or relatively southern states. Ironically, I think you're too LATE in the year for the Florida Trail, but there are a whole lot of somewhat early season options I think, on a state-by-state basis.
Posted by: bluefish

Re: Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/06/15 02:17 PM

I would also recommend The stretch of AT from the Roan Highlands up through Mt. Rogers/Grayson Highlands. It may be a bit early for the spectacular Rhododendron displays, but wildflowers would be out. I don't have anywhere near the experience that BrianLe has, but I do find sections of the AT like this one as scenic as places I've backpacked in the Sierra and Rockies, just different. I've lived and worked in the Sierra and the Southwest, but being a native easterner may cloud my view. I'd also mention the Lost Coast in Northern Ca. if the ocean appealed.
Posted by: BrianLe

Re: Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/06/15 07:13 PM

I don't mean to put the AT down, sorry! The Grayson Highlands, Mt. Rogers are indeed nice. Smokies are too. The White Mountains are very cool, but I expect that early May wouldn't be the time for them. Much of the state of Maine was great, though I don't know what early May would be like there either.

I guess I was thinking in terms of a more random stretch of the AT, but of course for a 10-day trip one can focus.
Posted by: bluefish

Re: Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/06/15 09:53 PM

I understood, what you meant, Brian. New England is very sketchy in early May. I've bad a foot of snow dumped on me, been eaten alive by swarms of black flies and encountered horrible mud stretches. Best after Memorial Day. I rarely see NOBOS in my area until then. The Presidentials would still be fairly icy and you'd need at least some traction devices. The stretch from the northern end of the Shenandoah up to Mt. Greylock in Mass. has good points, but lots of just traipsing through the woods. For a 10 day venture, not so much fun.
Posted by: horry_jing

Re: Could you recommend 10days trails in USA/Canada? - 11/10/15 11:19 PM

Great thanks everyone.
I'll check the AT and PCT as well, try to find a section fit for us.
Thanks again!!!