The world’s five most anticipated hiking trails of 2026

From a new path opening up a previously inaccessible part of the Canadian Rockies to the world’s longest managed coastal trail, these new routes are sure to inspire.

In a time when travellers are increasingly seeking out off-the-beaten-path destinations and more meaningful experiences, hiking’s popularity is on the rise. Hundreds of millions of trekkers took to trails in 2025, and, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, hiking is now one of the most popular adventure travel activities across the globe.

“Hiking’s attraction is no secret,” says Uta Ibrahimi, a Kosovar mountaineer who recently became the first person from the Balkans to summit all 14 of the planet’s 8,000m peaks. Last year, she also helped launch an overhauled version of Kosovo’s stretch of the Via Dinarica hiking trail that connects the countries of the Western Balkans. “An unplugged walk into nature brings physical, mental and emotional wellness – and you don’t need much more than a pair of boots, an idea of where to go and desire. Hikers are naked to the elements, but they are also exposed to living culture in real time.”

Hiking’s popularity has been bolstered by a wave of adventure navigation apps providing hikers with a continuous supply of self-guided itineraries. AllTrails, for instance, has around 500,000 routes digitally mapped. Trailforks, a crowd-sourced database, shares nearly 1.5 million kilometres of trails. And Komoot boasts more than 45 million users.

From South Korea’s first cross-country trail to the longest managed coastal path in the world in the UK, the trails on this diverse list promote a respect for nature and help adventure-seekers experience those most elusive of states: calm and wonder.