View source for Great Western Loop

{{Infobox hiking trail
 | name = Great Western Loop
 | photo = ?<!-- Load Wikimedia Commons image here, ie CowlitzDivide.JPG -->
 | caption = A loop connecting some of the American West's most famous backpacking routes.
 | location = Western United States: Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
 | length = 6,875 miles (11,064 km)<ref name="AndrewSkurka.com">
     {{cite book
     | author = Skurka, Andrew
     | title = Great Western Loop
     }}</ref>
 | trailheads = Numerous
 | use = Long Distance Hiking
 | elev_gain_and_loss = ?<!-- {{convert|22000|m|ft|-2}} gain approximately<ref name="Filley"/> -->
 | highest = Gray's Peak 14,278 feet (4,352 m)
 | lowest = ?<!-- Ipsut Creek Campground {{convert|2320|m|ft|-1}}<ref name="Filley"/> -->
 | direction = ? <!--Nobo, Sobo...-->
 | season = ?<!-- Summer to early Fall -->
 | months = ?<!-- Mid-July through late September -->
 | maintainer = ?<!-- National Park Service -->
 | website = ?<!-- [http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/the-wonderland-trail.htm nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/the-wonderland-trail.htm] -->
}}

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The Great Western Loop is a route circumnavigating the Western United States which connects large sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantments Trail, and Arizona Trail.  It was created by Andrew Skurka and is one of American Hiking's most difficult accomplishments alongside the Triple Crown.

'''Length:''' 6,875 miles (11,064 km)

'''Standard Direction(s) of Travel:'''  Clockwise

'''Season:''' Ideally the hiker attempts to avoid the worst of winter, most low elevation and low latitude sections are best in the spring or fall, while the higher elevations and latitues are typically best in summer.

'''Trail Association:'''  Many of the component trails have their own organizations, but the Great Western Loop is simply a recognized route.

== Sections ==
Grand Canyon NP to Morongo, CA - Self made trail - 675 mi

Morongo, CA to North Cascades NP - Pacific Crest Trail - 2415 mi

North Cascades NP to Glacier NP - Pacific Northwest Trail - 685 mi

Glacier NP to New Mexico - Continental Divide Trail - 2400 mi

New Mexico to Arizona - Grand Enchantment Trail - 350 mi

Return to Grand Canyon - Arizona Trail - 350 mi

== Water ==
<!-- Is water plentiful, scarce, seasonal? Does it vary by section? If standard water locations exist along this trail, such as on the triple crown trails, list of links to individual LTW articles. -->

== Resupply ==
Resupplies for the component trails are relatively well documented, but extreme distances or preparedness may be necessary to pass certain areas of trail without connecting to towns or businesses.

== Weather and Seasonality ==
Hikers can expect to encounter any and all forms of weather, as this hike spans across many biomes and a hike will take several seasons.

== Noteworthy Section Hikes ==
This hike links together several noteworthy National Scenic Trails: the Pacific Crest Trail, the Pacific Northwest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, 
the Grand Enchantments Trail, and the Arizona Trail.  Within those trails you can find the John Muir Trail and the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim.

== Permits and Regulations ==
Permits are required for protected wilderness areas along the route.  

== Maps == 

=== Online Maps ===
<!-- Links to longtrailsmap.net and other mapping sites. -->

=== Printed Maps === 

== Information Resources == 

=== Websites ===
https://andrewskurka.com/adventures/great-western-loop/overview/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dicLxgFP6nI - Andrew Skurka Youtube Talk

https://thetrek.co/the-great-western-loop/ - Trip Report by Emma Rosenfeld

https://www.garagegrowngear.com/blogs/trends-top-10/the-great-western-loop - Trip Report by Jeff Garmire

https://www.justagermanhiker.com/blog/categories/great-western-loop-2021 - JustAGermanHiker Trip Report

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/nick-gagnon-great-western-loop-record/ - Nick Gagnon FKT Report

https://chezwicktreks.com/ - Trip Reports by "Chezwick"

https://besthike.com/2019/04/02/legend-hiked-the-great-western-loop/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skdOBa91Msc - Video by "Legend" from a thru-hike

https://faroutguides.com/my-great-western-loop-story-by-crystal-gail-welcome/ - Trip Report by Crystal Gail

https://fastestknowntime.com/route/great-western-loop

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Western_Loop

=== Apps ===
<!-- Ie Guthook -->

=== Guidebooks ===
<!-- Ie Yogi's, Wilderness Press. -->

=== Other === 

== Getting To and From the Trail ==
The trail is a loop and can be accessed from many points, which are documented under its component trails.

== Geographic Features ==
The noteworthy features this trail crosses are almost too numerous to list and include the Colorado Desert, the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada, the Cadcade Range, the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, and more.

== Administrative Territories ==
<!-- Nations, states, national and state parks, national forests, etc., that this trail passes through. -->

== Online Communities ==
<!-- If there are active online communities for this trail, where are they? -->

== References ==
<references />

== External Links ==
https://andrewskurka.com/adventures/great-western-loop/overview/
<!-- Add [[Category:]] links here. For a list of existing categories, see http://www.longtrailswiki.net/wiki/Special:Categories -->