Growth Of Thru Hiking As A Distinct Pursuit

While people have walked long distances for many reasons throughout history, the idea of completing an entire designated trail in a single, continuous journey developed over time. Early end to end completions of long routes were uncommon, required significant self-reliance, and often reflected a mix of exploration, personal challenge, and curiosity about whether the journey was feasible.

As mapping, guidebooks, and trail infrastructure improved, more hikers became aware of the possibility of continuous end to end trips. The notion of a “thru hike” emerged as a way to describe this specific style of using a trail, differentiating it from shorter backpacking trips or multi-year section completions.

Trail organizations, authors, and later online communities contributed to shared expectations, vocabulary, and culture around thru hiking. Topics such as start dates, typical daily mileage, resupply strategies, and completion rates became subjects of conversation and planning. At the same time, the idea of a “successful” thru hike remained personal, with many hikers defining completion in different ways.

This article describes how thru hiking came to be recognized as a distinct activity within the broader world of long distance hiking. It does not prescribe a single definition of completion or success, recognizing that hikers and communities may use different criteria for their own purposes.