Has completing a thru hike been on your bucket list, but don’t have the time or resources to spend six months on AT? If you’re a New Englander, there are 8 trails you can hike end-to-end that takes the average person 19 days or less (some of these are much less!) to complete. Whether it be a lack of vacation time, funds, or you know- daily responsibilities stopping you, you’ll want to check out these trails you can walk every inch of!

Long Trail- Vermont

Sunrise from Skylight Lodge along the Long Trail

• The Long Trail runs the entire north to south distance of Vermont from the Canadian border to the Massachusetts border covering 272 miles.
• The Long Trail is the oldest marked long distance trail in the United States.
• It takes the average hiker 19 days to complete a thru hike
• The Long Trail goes over all 5 Vermont 4000-footers if you are working on the New England 67 list and overlaps with the Appalachian Trail for 100 miles if you have a goal to section hike the AT!

New England Trail- Connecticut, Massachusetts

Howe Reservoir, seen from the NET

• The New England Trail (AKA the New England National Scenic Trail) extends 215 miles through 39 communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
• There are 8 designated shelters or campgrounds along the route on the official NET website
• Some of the trail goes through private land
• There’s limited data on this trail so planning is part of the adventure! Hiked it end-to-end? We’d love to hear how it went for you!

Cohos Trail- New Hampshire

View from Mt Eisenhower before the Cohos Trail leads to the north country

• The Cohos Trail runs about 170 miles through northern New Hampshire from Crawford Notch to the Canadian border in Pittsburg, NH.
• In the last few years extensive work has been completed on and for the trail including multiple lean-tos, signage, and a new guidebook and map.
• It takes about 12 days to hike the Cohos Trail

Midstate Trail- Massachusetts

Looking at Mt Wachusett

• The Midstate Trail (not to be confused with Pennsylvania’s Midstate Trail) spans 92 miles in Massachusetts through Worcester County from the Rhode Island border to the New Hampshire border. 
• The trail includes the summits of Mount Wachusett and Mount Watatic, as well as many interesting geologic, historic, and natural features. 
• Due to its gentle terrain, this trail can certainly be completed in less than a week.

Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway- New Hampshire

View from Mt Sunapee

• The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway runs 48 miles through southern New Hampshire from Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey to Mount Sunapee in Newbury.
• 4 days is the recommended number of days to complete this hike
• You’ll pass through a general store about mile 32 so you can even resupply making this a very light thru-hike 
• There is some great variety on this trail and would make a perfect practice hike before a longer trek or first time backpacking trip.

Wapack Trail- Massachusetts, New Hampshire

Hiking along the northern end of the Wapack Trail

• The Wapack Trail is a 21.5-mile hiking trail that runs from Mt. Watatic in Ashburnham, Mass., to North Pack Monadnock in Greenfield, N.H.
• The trail features over a half-dozen small mountains, none taller than 2,300 feet with fine views of Boston to the hills of Vermont.
• You can connect with the Midstate Trail in Massachusetts at the southern end.
• Fit and ambitious hikers can complete this hike in a day and most can tackle it in two. There is no camping along the trail, except for the halfway point where you can reserve a spot at the shelter or tenting areas. 

Have you hiked any of these trails end-to-end? We’d love to hear your experience! Leave a comment below and let us know which of these you plan to hike!

Last modified: February 21, 2018