Think planning a hike is just picking a trail and showing up?
Wrong.
Most surprises come from missing small but critical details.
This guide strips the guesswork and gives the exact trail facts you need: distance, elevation, difficulty, GPS coordinates, permits, parking, water, and season notes.
It’s for weekend hikers, trip planners, and anyone who likes to spend less time researching and more time on the trail.
Use the quick-reference table and featured hikes to compare options at a glance and choose the right route with confidence.
Trail Quick-Reference And Featured Hikes
This guide gets straight to the trail data hikers actually need. No fluff, no guesswork, just distance, elevation, difficulty, GPS coordinates, permits, and access details for a curated set of well-known hikes across the U.S. Trying to decide what to hike this weekend, or planning something further out? The table below gives you everything to compare your options in one glance.
| Trail Name | Distance | Elevation Gain | Difficulty | Route Type | Est. Time | Trailhead Coordinates | Permits | Parking | Season | Water | Map Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlies Bunion | 8.0 mi / 12.9 km | 1,640 ft / 500 m | Moderate | Out-and-back | 4:30 | 35.63139, -83.42556 | No | Free lot, ~120 spaces | Apr-Nov | Seasonal streams | GPX (110 KB) |
| Fairyland Loop | 8.0 mi / 12.9 km | 1,715 ft / 523 m | Moderate | Loop | 4:00 | 37.62861, -112.15833 | No | Small lot, fee area | Year-round | None on trail | GPX (98 KB) |
| Mount Whitney Trail | 10.4 mi / 16.7 km | 6,100 ft / 1,859 m | Strenuous | Out-and-back | 10:00-14:00 | 36.58139, -118.23917 | Yes, $15.00 | Portal lot, limited | Jun-Oct | Seasonal creeks | GPX (145 KB) |
| Wonderland Trail | 95.0 mi / 152.9 km | 22,000 ft / 6,706 m | Strenuous | Loop | 7-10 days | 46.78778, -121.73639 | Yes, $6.00 + camp fees | Multiple lots | Jul-Sep | Frequent streams | GPX (180 KB) |
| Bright Angel Trail | 9.5 mi / 15.3 km | 4,380 ft / 1,335 m | Strenuous | Out-and-back | 6:00-8:00 | 36.05427, -112.14011 | Day: none. Camping: yes | Village lots, free | Year-round | Seasonal rest houses | GPX (132 KB) |
Charlies Bunion: Park at Newfound Gap on US-441 and pick up the Appalachian Trail heading north. Cell coverage gets spotty above 5,000 feet, so grab your map beforehand. Weather turns fast on this ridge. Pack a wind layer even in summer.
Fairyland Loop: Trailhead parking sits near Sunrise Point in Bryce Canyon. There’s no water on this route, so carry at least two liters per person. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August, start early if you can.
Mount Whitney Trail: You’ll need a permit reserved well in advance through the recreation.gov lottery system. Parking at Whitney Portal fills before sunrise during peak season. Altitude sickness is the real risk here, not the distance. Pace yourself and watch for symptoms above 12,000 feet.
Wonderland Trail: This one takes real planning. Permits are competitive and campsites are assigned ahead of time. Cell service is basically nonexistent for most of the loop, so carry a satellite communicator if you’re going solo. Refill water often, sources are plentiful but not always where you’d expect.
Bright Angel Trail: No permit needed for a day hike, but backcountry camping below the rim requires one. Water’s available seasonally at rest houses, but check current status before counting on it. Heat exhaustion is the top hazard here, especially climbing back out in summer afternoons.
What A Complete Trail Guide Should Include
A complete trail guide does two things at once. It gives you the hard numbers (distance, elevation, GPS, difficulty), and it tells you the practical stuff you need on the ground (parking, permits, water, safety). Put both in one mobile-friendly package and you can actually use it, instead of stitching together five different sources the night before a hike.
Here’s what the core elements should cover:
- Distance and elevation gain, listed in both miles/km and feet/meters
- Difficulty rating and trail type (loop, out-and-back, point-to-point)
- Trailhead GPS coordinates in decimal degrees
– Parking details including capacity and any fees
Final Words
You’ve got the trail data you need: distance, elevation, difficulty, GPS coordinates, permits, parking, and quick map downloads for five well-known hikes.
You also learned why complete guides standardize fields, how to read ratings and distance, and how to use GPX and navigation apps so you can plan with confidence.
If you want to pick a hike fast, use the quick-reference table, check permits and water, and load the GPX file. Good trails are out there. These hiking trail guides help you find the right one and get on the trail.
FAQ
Q: What is a hiking guide called?
A: The term for a hiking guide is a hiking guide; as a person they’re often called a trail guide, mountain guide, or wilderness guide, and as a written resource they’re a guidebook or route guide.
Q: What is the golden rule of hiking?
A: The golden rule of hiking is to follow Leave No Trace: pack out trash, stay on designated trails, respect wildlife, and minimize campsite impact to protect the land and other hikers’ experiences.
Q: Why do hikers eat gummy bears?
A: Hikers eat gummy bears because they deliver quick, compact simple carbs that boost blood sugar fast, are easy to chew while moving, lightweight to carry, and give a quick energy and morale lift.
Q: How to find a hiking guide?
A: To find a hiking guide, contact park visitor centers, local outfitters, certified guide associations, or reputable review sites, and always check credentials, references, insurance, and permit knowledge before booking.