Great Western Loop
| Great Western Loop | |
|---|---|
| 264px A loop connecting some of the American West's most famous backpacking routes. | |
| Length | 6,875 miles (11,064 km)[1] |
| Location | Western United States: Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. |
| Trailheads | Numerous |
| Elevation | |
| Elevation gain/loss | ? |
| Highest point | Gray's Peak 14,278 feet (4,352 m) |
| Lowest point | ? |
| Hiking details | |
| Season | ? |
| Months | ? |
| Website | ? |
| Direction | ? |
 |
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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.
Contents
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
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
Printed Maps
Information Resources
Websites
https://andrewskurka.com/adventures/great-western-loop/overview/
Apps
Guidebooks
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
Online Communities
References
- ↑ Skurka, Andrew. Great Western Loop.
External Links
https://andrewskurka.com/adventures/great-western-loop/overview/
