When hikers ask which trails in Wyoming are worth a full day — or several — the conversation always circles back to the same handful of routes. Below we've ranked the ten longest hiking trails in Wyoming by total mapped distance, drawing from the 4,372 trails OutsideAtlas currently tracks in the state. Each entry includes the distance, what makes the route distinctive, and an honest note on who should actually attempt it.
Wyoming holds the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone's thermal-and-bison plateau, the Wind River Range (arguably the country's most beautiful alpine wilderness), and the Bighorns. The CDT, the Wind River High Route, and the Teton Crest Trail (40 miles) provide world-class long-distance terrain. July through mid-September is the high-country window; afternoon thunderstorms and grizzly activity are baseline conditions.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 4,372 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Wyoming — but the data has limits worth being honest about. OpenStreetMap distance tags are crowd-sourced and inconsistent. A route may appear longer or shorter than the official measurement, especially when long-distance trails (like state and national scenic trails) are tagged in segments rather than as a single relation.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Purple Mountain Trail
Purple Mountain Trail earns the #1 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect 2 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Purple Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Phillip's Canyon Access Trail (Crosses Private Land Please Stay On Trail)
Phillip's Canyon Access Trail (Crosses Private Land Please Stay On Trail) earns the #2 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Phillip's Canyon Access Trail (Crosses Private Land Please Stay On Trail) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Wally World (Open to Motorized July 1 to September 9)
Wally World (Open to Motorized July 1 to September 9) earns the #3 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Wally World (Open to Motorized July 1 to September 9) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. South Boundary-Lynx Creek Trail / Continental Divide
South Boundary-Lynx Creek Trail / Continental Divide earns the #4 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Wyoming, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the South Boundary-Lynx Creek Trail / Continental Divide trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. South Shore Shoshone Lake Trail / Continental Divide
South Shore Shoshone Lake Trail / Continental Divide earns the #5 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the South Shore Shoshone Lake Trail / Continental Divide trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. North Two Ocean Creek Trail / Continental Divide
North Two Ocean Creek Trail / Continental Divide earns the #6 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the North Two Ocean Creek Trail / Continental Divide trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Fox Park-Yellowstone Trail / Continental Divide
Fox Park-Yellowstone Trail / Continental Divide earns the #7 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Fox Park-Yellowstone Trail / Continental Divide trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Old Beauty Park Creek Road / Continental Divide
Old Beauty Park Creek Road / Continental Divide earns the #8 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Old Beauty Park Creek Road / Continental Divide trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. South Shore Shoshone Lake / Continental Divide
South Shore Shoshone Lake / Continental Divide earns the #9 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Wyoming, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the South Shore Shoshone Lake / Continental Divide trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. North Buffalo Fork Trail / Continental Divide
North Buffalo Fork Trail / Continental Divide earns the #10 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the North Buffalo Fork Trail / Continental Divide trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Wyoming trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Wyoming. July through mid-September is the high-country window; afternoon thunderstorms and grizzly activity are baseline conditions. Grizzly bears (carry spray), lightning above treeline, and unbridged stream crossings on Wind River routes are the standard hazards.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Wyoming hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Wyoming coverage continues below.
- Steepest trails in Wyoming — Hikes with the most elevation gain in the state.
- Best beginner hikes in Wyoming — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Wyoming — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Wyoming — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Wyoming — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Wyoming — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Wyoming — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Wyoming last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
