Seven beginner thru‑hikes listed

GearJunkie published a guide on April 17 listing seven shorter thru-hikes it says are better suited to first-time long-distance backpackers than the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail. (gearjunkie.com) The article, by Mary Andino, says it chose six U.S. routes and one international route with good signage, reliable water access and resupply, moderate to low elevation change, and enough campsites for multi-day trips. GearJunkie also set its own floor at 50 miles, noting there is no official governing definition for a thru-hike. (gearjunkie.com) American Hiking Society defines thru-hiking as backpacking a long trail that starts and ends at different locations and can take weeks or months, while backpacking itself means carrying food, shelter, and gear for more than 24 hours. That puts these shorter routes in the space between a one-night trip and a months-long trail commitment. (americanhiking.org) The guide is aimed at hikers moving up from day hikes and weekend trips, a jump that changes the math on mileage, food, water, navigation, and permits. The National Park Foundation says beginners should plan campsites and water sources in advance and expect roughly 5 to 10 miles a day depending on terrain. (nationalparks.org) GearJunkie’s first example is New Jersey’s 53-mile Batona Trail, which the story says has less than 600 feet of total elevation gain and passes through Brendan Byrne and Bass River state forests and the Pinelands National Reserve. The article says no permit is required to hike it, but overnight stays do require a permit. (gearjunkie.com) The article frames these routes as test runs for hikers who want to check their gear and trail routines before attempting a 2,000-mile trail. It says the selected hikes are meant to be approachable without “peak-level fitness or navigation expertise,” while still requiring the planning and logistics of a real thru-hike. (gearjunkie.com) Permits remain one of the main complications even on well-known trails. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says there is no single trail-wide permit for the Appalachian Trail, but overnight permits are required in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Shenandoah National Park, and Baxter State Park, and the Smokies will shift permit processing to Recreation.gov starting April 30, 2026. (appalachiantrail.org) That is the practical pitch behind shorter thru-hikes: not just fewer miles, but fewer unknowns. For new backpackers, the route matters less than whether the daily distance, terrain, water access, and permit rules match the trip they can actually finish. (gearjunkie.com; nationalparks.org)