Pt. 9 – The Final Ascent: Legendary Trails of the Top 20

We’ve entered the home stretch of the Top 100 Hikes in the World countdown—where the treks are not just trails, but epic journeys that define adventure itself. These hikes are legendary for their scale, their challenge, and the way they capture the spirit of exploration across continents.

Here you’ll cross entire countries, summit sacred peaks, and follow in the footsteps of pilgrims, poets, and pioneers. From Iceland’s fiery volcanic passes to Peru’s alternative route to Machu Picchu, from the towering granite spires of Patagonia to Bhutan’s mythical Himalayan crossings, every trek in this tier is a bucket-list pilgrimage.

These are trails that test endurance and reward it with awe-inspiring landscapes and cultural immersion—the Pacific Crest Trail stretching 2,600 miles across America’s wilderness, the Snowman Trek threading through Bhutan’s high passes, or the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim cutting through eons of Earth’s history.

This is Part 9 of our series, featuring hikes #20 to #11—a collection that represents the pinnacle of what it means to hike: to journey across worlds, to connect with history, and to discover yourself along the way.

Follow along on Instagram @TrailheadTraveler for reel highlights of each trail and inspiration for your own adventure.

Let’s take the next step.

Part 1: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #100 – #91

Part 2: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #90 – #81

Part 3: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #80 – #71

Part 4: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #70 – #61

Part 5: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #60 – #51

Part 6: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #50 – #41

Part 7: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #40 – #31

Part 8: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #30 – #21

Part 10: Top 100 Hikes in the World: #10 – #1

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💡 Why This Series Stands Out

This isn’t just another roundup of “famous trails.” It’s a curated journey through the most transformative hikes on Earth—routes that combine natural wonder, cultural resonance, and a true sense of adventure. The Top 100 Hikes in the World goes deeper than bucket-list hype; it’s about the experiences that stay with you long after the boots come off.

From Andean passes leading to ancient Incan cities, to Himalayan epics where only the hardiest dare to tread, to long-distance icons that have inspired generations—these are hikes that define what it means to be a trailblazer.

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🧭 How We Ranked the World’s Best Hikes

Each trail earned its place through a balance of four key pillars:

🌄 Scenic Brilliance – Sweeping alpine ridges, glacial valleys, and panoramic horizons that stop you in your tracks.
🔥 Adventure Factor – The grit required for multi-week odysseys, high-altitude summits, and remote terrain.
🏛️ Cultural & Historical Significance – Journeys steeped in legend, pilgrimage, and deep-rooted tradition.
🧳 Accessibility – Challenging, yes—but attainable with preparation, determination, and heart.

The result: a countdown for those who want more than a hike—they want a life-defining trek.

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🌍 What to Expect in the #20–#11 Countdown

This section marks the threshold of true hiking royalty. These trails aren’t just famous—they’re iconic journeys that represent the pinnacle of trekking culture.

Here’s a taste of what’s ahead:

🗺️ Legendary Long-Distance Trails – Walk in the footsteps of thru-hikers on the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails.
🏔️ High-Altitude Challenges – Test yourself on Bhutan’s Snowman Trek or Peru’s Salkantay Pass.
📿 Sacred & Mythic Journeys – Trace pilgrim routes across Jordan or stand beneath Patagonia’s most revered peaks.
🌄 Global Icons – From the Dolomites’ dramatic spires to the chiseled depths of the Grand Canyon, these trails define entire regions.

Every hike in this tier carries weight—these are the stories you tell for a lifetime.

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🥾 Who This List Is For

This series is made for adventurers who dream big, push limits, and seek meaning in the miles.

🌍 Global explorers chasing trails that shape entire travel itineraries
💪 Seasoned trekkers ready for the next great test of endurance
📸 Story seekers chasing views worthy of legend and lens alike
🕊️ Cultural wanderers who believe a trail can be as spiritual as it is scenic

If Part 8 felt like stepping into the spotlight of iconic trails, Part 9 is the front row seat to the legends.

Ready? Let’s dive into hikes #20 to #11! ⬇️

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Top 100 Hikes in the World: #20–#11

🥾 #20. Long Range Traverse (Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada)

📍 Trailhead Location: Western Brook Pond (boat shuttle) to Gros Morne Mountain/Berry Hill area
🥾 Distance: ~35 km (22 miles) point-to-point (route, not a built trail)
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~1,500 m (4,900 ft) cumulative
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (off-trail navigation, bogs, tuckamore, steep gullies)
🌟 Highlight: Fjord-top vistas over Western Brook Pond and true wilderness solitude
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: July–September (permit, orientation, and reservations required)

Why It Made the List

The Long Range Traverse is a pure backcountry experience—an unmarked route across tussocky plateaus, glacial bowls, and wind-carved ridgelines. After a boat drop deep in the fjord, you scramble a steep scree gully to gain the high country, then thread around ponds and tuckamore using map and compass. Camps are wild and quiet, with chances to spot caribou and ptarmigan under sweeping Atlantic skies. It’s rugged, committing, and gloriously remote—Canada’s answer to off-trail adventure.

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🥾 #19. Pacific Crest Trail (California–Oregon–Washington, USA)

📍 Trailhead Location: Campo, California (Mexican border) or Manning Park, British Columbia
🥾 Distance: ~4,265 km (2,650 miles)
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~128,000 m (420,000 ft) cumulative
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (thru-hike endurance, desert heat, Sierra snow, logistics)
🌟 Highlight: A continent-spanning traverse of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: NOBO April–September; SOBO late June/July–October (permits required)

Why It Made the List

The PCT is the archetypal American long-trail—a wilderness corridor linking desert, alpine, and volcanic landscapes across three states. Hikers move from the sun-baked Mojave to the granite cathedrals of the High Sierra, then through Oregon’s lava fields and Washington’s glacier-clad peaks. Success demands dialed logistics, seasonal savvy, and months of resilience. Whether you section hike or go end-to-end, the PCT delivers a masterclass in scale, variety, and trail community.

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🥾 #18. Fimmvörðuháls + Laugavegur (Iceland)

📍 Trailhead Location: Skógar → Þórsmörk → Landmannalaugar (or reverse)
🥾 Distance: ~80 km (50 miles) combined
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~2,400 m (7,900 ft) cumulative
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (volatile weather, river crossings, highland exposure)
🌟 Highlight: Volcanic craters, glaciers, and rhyolite mountains in one grand traverse
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: July–September (huts/buses in season)

Why It Made the List

Linking Fimmvörðuháls with the Laugavegur creates Iceland’s definitive trek: waterfalls and new lava fields near Eyjafjallajökull, then steaming vents, obsidian deserts, and candy-colored rhyolite ridges to Landmannalaugar. Expect swift, thigh-deep river fords, quick-changing weather, and surreal views where glacier meets lava. Cozy mountain huts punctuate big-sky days, while hot springs bookend the journey. It’s a compact, high-impact odyssey through Iceland’s elemental power.

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🥾 #17. The Jordan Trail (Jordan)

📍 Trailhead Location: Umm Qais (north) to Aqaba (Red Sea)
🥾 Distance: ~675 km (420 miles)
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~20,000 m (65,600 ft) cumulative (varies by stage)
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (multi-week desert sections, heat, resupply)
🌟 Highlight: Trekking through Dana Reserve, Petra, and the red sands of Wadi Rum
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: March–May or October–April

Why It Made the List

The Jordan Trail stitches together biblical landscapes, Bedouin pathways, and sandstone canyons into a single north-to-south journey. You’ll traverse fragrant wadis, sleep under galaxies of stars, and walk ancient approaches to Petra’s rose-red marvels. Southward, the dunes and buttes of Wadi Rum deliver wide-screen desert drama and warm hospitality in Bedouin camps. Part cultural pilgrimage, part wild traverse, it’s the Middle East’s standout long-distance trek.

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🥾 #16. Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu (Peru)

📍 Trailhead Location: Mollepata, Peru
🥾 Distance: ~72 km (45 miles)
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~2,500 m (8,200 ft)
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (high altitude, multi-day trek)
🌟 Highlight: Crossing Salkantay Pass (4,650 m / 15,255 ft) en route to Machu Picchu
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: April through October

Why It Made the List

The Salkantay Trek offers a less crowded, but equally stunning, alternative to the Inca Trail. Towering glacial peaks, turquoise lakes, and cloud forests highlight this route as it crosses the dramatic Salkantay Pass. The multi-day journey blends Andean wilderness with glimpses of ancient history, eventually leading to the gates of Machu Picchu. For those seeking challenge and solitude without sacrificing cultural depth, the Salkantay is an unforgettable pilgrimage.

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🥾 #15. Dolomites Alta Via 2 (Italy)

📍 Trailhead Location: Bressanone, Italy
🥾 Distance: ~160 km (100 miles)
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~11,000 m (36,000 ft) cumulative
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (high mountain passes, via ferrata options)
🌟 Highlight: Traversing the heart of the Dolomites’ jagged peaks and alpine huts
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: Late June through September

Why It Made the List

Known as the “Way of the Legends,” the Alta Via 2 is the rugged counterpart to the more popular AV1. Over nearly 100 miles, hikers encounter dramatic dolomite towers, airy ridgelines, and historic rifugios that make hut-to-hut trekking a cultural experience. The remoteness of certain stretches adds to its allure, demanding stamina and respect for the mountains. With every stage, the trail delivers a perfect mix of adventure and alpine charm.

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🥾 #14. Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim (Arizona, USA)

📍 Trailhead Location: North Kaibab Trailhead or South Kaibab/Bright Angel, Grand Canyon National Park
🥾 Distance: 39 km (24 miles) one-way
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~1,525 m (5,000 ft) descent, then ~1,370 m (4,500 ft) ascent
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (heat, steep climbs, long mileage)
🌟 Highlight: Crossing the Grand Canyon from rim to rim
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: May–June or September–October

Why It Made the List

Few hikes match the sheer scale of a rim-to-rim traverse of the Grand Canyon. Descending from alpine forests into desert depths, hikers cross millions of years of geologic history layer by layer. The challenge lies not just in the distance but in the heat and the climb back out. Yet the reward is profound: a full immersion into one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, experienced in a single epic journey.

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🥾 #13. Snowman Trek (Bhutan)

📍 Trailhead Location: Drukgyel Dzong, Paro District, Bhutan
🥾 Distance: ~347 km (216 miles)
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~10,000 m+ cumulative
🥵 Difficulty: Extremely strenuous (high altitude, remote, long duration)
🌟 Highlight: Crossing 11 high passes over 4,500 m (14,800 ft)
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: September through October

Why It Made the List

The Snowman Trek is often called the hardest trek in the world, but also one of the most rewarding. Over the course of nearly a month, hikers cross remote Himalayan valleys, encounter prayer-flag-draped passes, and glimpse peaks rarely seen by outsiders. The physical and mental demands are extreme, but so is the cultural richness, as the trail passes through isolated Bhutanese villages. It’s a journey reserved for the truly committed—one that offers both suffering and transcendence.

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🥾 #12. Cerro Torre & Fitz Roy Trek (Argentina)

📍 Trailhead Location: El Chaltén, Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
🥾 Distance: 50–60 km (31–37 miles) depending on route
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~1,200 m (4,000 ft)
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
🌟 Highlight: Views of Patagonia’s legendary granite spires
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: November through March

Why It Made the List

Patagonia’s Cerro Torre and Mount Fitz Roy are two of the most photogenic peaks in the world, and this trek brings you face to face with both. Glacial valleys, turquoise lagoons, and sharp granite spires make every corner a postcard. Basecamps like Laguna Capri and Laguna Torre provide front-row seats to some of Earth’s most dramatic mountain scenery. Accessible yet epic, it’s a trek that captures the essence of Patagonian wilderness.

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🥾 #11. Appalachian Trail (USA)

📍 Trailhead Location: Springer Mountain, Georgia, or Mount Katahdin, Maine
🥾 Distance: 3,540 km (2,190 miles)
🧗‍♂️ Elevation Gain: ~141,580 m (465,000 ft) cumulative
🥵 Difficulty: Strenuous (endurance, weather, long duration)
🌟 Highlight: Traversing 14 U.S. states along the Appalachian Mountains
🕰️ Best Time to Hike: March through October (varies by section)

Why It Made the List

The Appalachian Trail is more than a hike—it’s an American epic. Stretching from Georgia to Maine, it weaves through dense forests, wild ridgelines, and countless small towns that embrace the trail culture. For thru-hikers, the challenge isn’t just physical but also mental, demanding months of commitment and resilience. Whether done in sections or all at once, the A.T. remains a bucket-list journey and a cornerstone of long-distance hiking worldwide.

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🧭 What’s Coming Up Next?

That wraps up hikes #20 to #11 in our countdown of the Top 100 Hikes in the World! From the wild remoteness of Newfoundland’s Long Range Traverse to the sacred heights of Bhutan’s Snowman Trek and the sheer grandeur of Patagonia’s Fitz Roy, this section showcased some of the boldest and most unforgettable journeys on Earth.

Now we’ve reached the grand finale.

Next up: hikes #10 to #1—the absolute pinnacle of global trekking. You’ll take on Italy’s iconic Dolomites Alta Via 1, circle the mighty Annapurna in Nepal, climb to the roof of Africa on Mount Kilimanjaro, and journey through the legendary Alps on the Walker’s Haute Route and Tour du Mont Blanc. The list builds to a dramatic conclusion with the Milford Track, GR20, Patagonia’s epic W Trek, and the ultimate Himalayan adventure: the Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes Trek.

This is the culmination of every hiker’s dream list—trails that define adventure, culture, and world-class landscapes.

📍 Follow @TrailheadTraveler on Instagram for exclusive reels, planning tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at these final hikes.

Which one do you think deserves the #1 spot? Drop your prediction below—we’d love to see if you’re right. 🌍🥾🔥

Stay tuned—the countdown ends here, but the inspiration lasts forever.

Featured Image: Photo by Jorge Cachambi