Best Hikes on the East Coast

With thousands of miles of stunning coastline, the East Coast is a great place for hiking, with some of the best trails in the country. Here are OROGOLD’s top picks of the best hikes on the East Coast.

The Appalachian Trail
With over 2000 miles that stretch through fourteen different states, the Appalachian Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in the US. While it may not be the oldest or the longest, it is a varied trail that is extremely user friendly when compared to other hikes, and passes through a number of towns, making it easy to plan your trip. There are many trail towns and businesses along the way, each catering to the large number of hikers that pass through each year, and you will easily find a number of affordable hostels, as well as restaurants offering up hiker specials. There are also around 250 shelters placed along the trail, each about a one day walk from the other, meaning that if you are hoping to camp for the night, you won’t need to worry about carrying a tent along with you. While many people hike the entire trail in one trip, if you don’t have the time or experience for this, OROGOLD suggests that you do some further research and pick out specific stretches of the trail that appeal to you the most.

The Long Trail
The Long Trail, which was completed in 1930, is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the US. It begins at the Massachusetts state line, running north for 272 miles to the Canadian border. Like the Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail has shelters that are placed about a one day walk from each other, making overnight stays much more convenient. However, unlike the Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail, especially its northern stretches, are quite remote and extremely quiet, giving you a sense of solitude that can often be hard to find on the East Coast.

The White Mountains
Covering around a quarter of the state of New Hampshire, as well as a small part of western Maine, the White Mountains provide some exceptional hiking opportunities. This is a great place to hike for those who don’t want to make an overnight trip of it, as there are a huge variety of short trails, perfectly suited for a day hike. The Lonesome Trail will lead you to a stunningly pristine mountain lake, while the Boulder Loop Trail is a relatively easy walk through the woods, with beautiful views. If you want to see a whole string of cascading waterfalls, then the Falling Waters Trail is the one to choose, whereas if you want to take in some of the best views of Cannon Mountain, OROGOLD recommends either the Bald Mountain Trail or the Artist’s Bluff Trail.

Hiking is a great way to get some exercise while spending some time in nature. Whether you are looking to hike a famous route for a couple of weeks, or simply spend a day hiking in gorgeous surroundings, you can be sure that the East Coast will have the perfect hiking trail for you.