Ever wonder what the crazy ambitious hikers in your life are talking about but don’t want to sound totally ignorant so you smile and nod instead? Me too. But now, at least where types of hiking are concerned, you’ll be prepared for the next convo. Heck, you might even be able to jump in and show off a little. Or better yet, you’ll share a bushwhacking adventure or thru-hike escapade with your own buddies one day.

What You’ll Find in This Guide
15 Types of Hiking

 

15 Types of Hiking

Types of hiking can range from simple, relatively short day hikes to multi-day or even multi-month treks into the wild. Here are the top 15 types of hiking explained – starting with the most accessible. We’ll then get into more challenging, technical, and unusual types of hiking you might want to try someday (or steer clear of for life).

1. Day Hiking

Day hiking is the easiest way to start if you’re new to hiking. You can get by with the least amount of gear on this one. A small backpack or hydration pack where you can stash your keys, cell phone, snacks, and water is perfect. Make sure you wear comfy hiking shoes or boots with socks that cover any part of your foot or ankle that could rub to avoid blisters.

But let’s not overcomplicate things. Day hiking is simply walking on trails during daylight hours. Hikes can range anywhere from less than an hour to a full day.

Hiking is healthy for your body, mind, and soul. Not only is it great cardio walking up and down hills and over natural obstacles, but it’s pretty much a full-body workout – building up large muscles you didn’t know you had. When you hike, your body also releases lots of feel-good hormones like endorphins and adrenaline.1

2. Overnight Hiking

This is the same as backpacking, meaning you’re heading out on a multi-day trip and must have all the gear necessary to stay safe, fed, and hydrated. You’ll camp out somewhere for at least one night.

Sometimes hikers spend hours on the trail during the day before setting up camp for the night. Depending on your skill level and time availability, you might do a quick out and back, parking it for a single evening. Or you might hike for the day, make camp, pick up camp and hike further in…and make camp again (for as many days and nights as you want).

Another name for overnight hikes is weekenders. If you’re new to backpacking, you can also opt for base camping to make it a tad easier on the body. (See numero seis for a list of the bare essentials you should take on an overnight hiking trip.)

3. Out and Back Hiking

Out and back (or in and out) hiking trails start and end at the same place. You’ll follow the same route out as you do back to the starting point. So if you’re doing an 8-mile out and back hike, you’ll go 4 miles in, turn around, and go back from whence you came.

Other common types of trail routes are loop trails and point-to-point trails:4

  • Loop trail: You’ll start and end at the same spot, following a trail that takes you in a loop.
  • Point-to-point trail: Start at one location and end at another. These are common for multi-day hiking trips. You can also start somewhere and have a friend pick up when you’re finished for the day (as long as you’re exploring the frontcountry).

4. Summit Hiking

Up, up, up you go! Summit hiking is, again, pretty much exactly what it sounds like: ascending often steep terrain to reach the top of a tall hill or mountain. While challenging, summit hiking can be super rewarding. Just make sure you’re well prepared before attempting this type of hike. It’s not for the faint of heart (or the underprepared).

Fun Fact: Officially speaking, there’s no difference between a mountain and a hill. National Geographic calls a hill “a piece of land that rises higher than everything surrounding it.” Until the mid-twentieth century, the U.S. called a hill land with a summit less than 1,000 feet (300 meters) high.

To keep things simple, let’s just go ahead and call a mountain any hill that rises 1,000 feet or more above the surrounding land. Here are the top five mountain ranges in the Unites States:2,3

  • Appalachian Mountains: Running along the east coast from Alabama to Maine (include subranges: Blue Ridge Mountains, Green Mountains, White Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains, The Berkshires, Longfellow Mountains)
  • Rocky Mountains: The longest mountain range in North America, running south to north from New Mexico to Montana (and up into Canada and Alaska!)
  • Sierra Nevada: Running north to south along the west coast (mainly in California, into Nevada)
  • Brooks Range: Between Canada and Alaska running east to west
  • Cascade Range: From Washington to Oregon

And in case you’re wondering, here are the highest mountains in each of those mountain ranges (in case you want to tick them off your bucket list):

  • Appalachian Mountains: Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet (2,037 meters)
  • Rocky Mountains: Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet (4,401 meters)
  • Sierra Nevada: Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters)
  • Brooks Range: Mount Isto at 8,976 feet (2,736 meters)
  • Cascade Range: Mount Rainier at 14,411 feet (4,392 meters)

5. Peak-Bagging

Peak bagging is summit hiking to the extreme. You’ll try to “bag” (reach or check off) every summit in a series of peaks. If you can accomplish such a feat, you’ll officially have the rights to brag about it to anyone who will listen, a high honor indeed. You’ll also have endless stories to tell. ((Just be smart, and don’t push yourself past your ability level or risk your neck. Seriously.))

A Quick History Lesson

Peak-bagging has been a thing since the early 1900s when three dudes (Robert Marshall, George Marshall, and Herbert Clark) became the first “46ers” after completing 46 peaks over 4,000 feet in the Adirondacks.

Popular Peak-Bagging Lists

  • Colorado 14ers (53 total peaks above 14,000 feet)
  • Adirondack 46ers (46 peaks above 4,000 feet)
  • New Hampshire 48 (4,000+ footers)
  • Montana 53 (ranging from 4,200 feet to 12,799 feet)
  • Everest by the Bay (9 mountains between 2,000-3,000 feet that add up to over 32,000 feet total, greater in elevation than Mount Everest [which is about 29,000 feet])
  • Arizona 20-20 Challenge (a mix of mountains up to 12,000 feet high and canyons 7,000 feet deep)
  • South Beyond 6000 Challenge (40 peaks above 6,000 feet)

6. Backpacking

When you backpack, you carry everything you’ll need throughout your multi-day journey. Learning to pack your bag with the essentials is key to a successful adventure.

For your very first backpacking trip, opt for an easy, short hike. You’ll have to plan out what you’re going to eat and where you’ll get water along the route. Check to see if you need any permits, and try to choose an area that’s not too far from home.

Backpacking essentials

  • Backpack
  • Tent
  • Sleeping bag, sleeping pad
  • Comfortable hiking boots/shoes
  • Food
  • Water bottle, water treatment
  • First aid
  • Layers
  • Fire supplies (or stove)
  • Knife
  • Sunscreen
  • Navigation
  • Headlamp

REI has tons of great resources to help you start off on the right foot. Here are a few:

You get the idea…

7. Base Camping

This type of hike includes setting up a campsite as your “base” and then hiking from there. You can leave your heaviest gear at your site and hike in and out, checking off trails as you go, for as long as you want.

Let’s say you want to get out in nature and hike for several days. You can set up camp in a central location and venture out on a new path each day knowing you can always refuel and replenish your resources as needed.

Base camping is popular in the Adirondacks. Hikers set up camp in a central location and then check off their 46ers list one by one, many of which are in close proximity to each other.

8. Long-Distance Hiking

Long-distance hiking involves backpacking anywhere from a couple of days to months at a time. Thru-hikes and section hikes are two types of long-distance hikes. Typically, the goal is to complete an entire trail. The trail doesn’t have to be overly challenging in terms of terrain and altitude. But regardless, you’ll no doubt be challenged by the distance. You can also break up long-distance hikes by doing one section at a time.

9. Section Hiking

When you hike a smaller portion of a longer trail, you’re section hiking. Many long-distance hiking trails are hundreds or even thousands of miles long. So many hikers shoot for completing the entire trail in phases. Others may stick with their favorite sections of the trail and hike them over and over again.

Here’s a mix of popular long-distance hiking trails for section hiking (and thru-hiking, which we’ll hit next).

Trail

Distance

Appalachian Trail (U.S.)

2,180 miles

Camino de Santiago (Spain)

500 miles

South West Coast Path (U.K.)

630 miles

Continental Divide Trail (U.S.)

3,100 miles

Oregon Desert Trail (U.S.)

800 miles

Te Araroa (New Zealand)

1,864 miles

Great Wall of China

4,200 miles

Great Himalayan Trail (Nepal)

1,056 miles

Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland)

110 miles

Inca Trail (Peru)

28 miles

American Discovery Trail (U.S.)

6,800 miles

Pacific Crest Trail

2,650 miles

10. Thru-Hiking

Here’s where things really heat up. Thru-hiking is trekking across those long-distance trails we just mentioned – but without stopping and living your normal life in between sections. For many, it’s an end-to-end backpacking excursion of a lifetime.

You often need permits to complete thru-hikes. And you’ll need all the right gear to complete your journey successfully. Thru-hikes can take anywhere from a few days to many months. Before attempting such an epic feat, make sure you train and prepare your body, mind, and soul. (We want you to come home in one piece.)

So before calling your boss and saying you’re outta there for the next half year!, make sure you do some serious training, know first-aid, can afford it, carefully plan your itinerary, buy all your gear and learn how to use it inside and out, and get pretty darn comfy hiking and camping solo. Got all that, honey?

11. NoBo and SoBo Hiking

This one’s easy. NoBo is someone who hikes “northbound” and SoBo is someone who hikes “southbound.” You might hear these terms on a long-distance hike like the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail. Most thru-hikers are NoBos because many hikers set out in the spring and end their journeys in the summer or fall. The weather is naturally better (and safer) heading northbound throughout the year on many trails.

12. Backcountry Hiking

The National Park Service defines “backcountry” as primitive, underdeveloped portions of parks. The extent of development is typically unpaved roads, trails, and admin facilities.

On the other hand, “frontcountry” hiking takes place on well-marked trails, often close to town. These trails are usually much more popular. Many designated trails in National Parks are also considered frontcountry trails.

Backcountry trails are quieter, with very few people on them. And they may not be well marked, so it’s important to know how to navigate well. You likely won’t have any facilities along the way, either. So make sure you know first-aid, have some survival skills, and can use a map or GPS system to find your way home.

13. Bushwhacking

This type of hike takes you off trail and into the wild, dense, thick, and/or tall vegetation. You may need a knife, small axe, or machete to push through. Needless to say, bushwhacking is strenuous and should only be attempted if you’re an expert off-trail navigator.

Maybe before considering this type of hike, you check out some examples of what it takes. Here’s a good place to start:

For experienced hikers and navigators only. Survival skills and equipment required. Or hiring Bear Grylls as your personal guide.

14. Trail Running

Trail running made the list because it involves a lot of hiking. Run in nature, on dirt paths, over obstacles, and under whatever conditions Mother Nature throws at you. You don’t actually run the whole time while trail running. In fact, it’s highly recommended to take walking, snacking, and slurping (H2O) breaks.

Again, make sure you’re well prepared before heading out for your first run on the trails. Use our Trail Running Guide for Beginners for some nifty pointers.

15. Naked Hiking

Any Naked and Afraid fans in the house? (Yeah, you’re right. That’s a little different.)

Okay, folks. For some reason, this one frequently shows up as one of the top 10 types of hiking. Though I have to say, I’ve never seen (nor ever hope to see) it happening in real time when I’m out there. But in case you find it interesting, here’s the lowdown…

Apparently, it’s common to find groups of people hiking in the buff on the Pacific Crest and Appalachian trails on June 21, the Summer Solstice. In fact, this day is (unofficially) called Naked Hiking Day. Here are some tips if you’re a naturalist wanting to participate:5

  • Find a private (safe) trail, or join an established naked hiker group.
  • Watch out for the sun of course, as well as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
  • Also look for ticks and mosquitos that may try to hitch a ride.
  • There’s a big difference between “naturalists” and “obscene exhibitionists.” The latter is highly illegal. If you see one, steer clear and report them to the police immediately.
  • There are specific laws to follow.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a novice hiker or want to step up your hiking game this year, I hope this list helps you identify which type of hike to approach next. I recommend choosing one that’s a little outside of your comfort zone – but not too far. The former can help you learn and grow and have a ton of fun in the process. The latter can get you into some deep doo-doo.

To the trails!

Micah

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