When looking for trails to hike, one of the first things most hikers check is how long the trail is, as trail length can have a huge impact on the amount of time it takes to hike the trail as well as its level of difficulty.
This is especially true for longer hikes such as 10-mile hikes but just how long does it take to hike 10 miles?
There are many factors that can affect the amount of time it takes to hike 10 miles, such as the level of difficulty, elevation change, and ruggedness of the trail. However, in general, it will take between 3 and 5 hours to hike 10 miles, based on the fact that most hikers typically hike 2 to 3 miles per hour.
Now that we know approximately how long it takes to hike 10 miles, let’s take a look at some of the most popular and must hike 10-mile trails that the US has to offer.
Popular 10 Mile Hikes
There are literally thousands of popular and great trails across the US. So when choosing the most popular 10-mile hikes for this list we focused on hiking trails that offered a unique hiking experience, provided plenty of challenge, and allowed for once-in-a-lifetime vistas and views.
| Hiking Trail | Location | Distance | Known For |
| Gregory Ridge Trail | Great Smokey Mountain National Park | 11.3 Miles | Panoramic Views and Flame Azaleas |
| Bright Angel Trail | Grand Canyon National Park | 9.3 Miles | Fantastic Views and Elevation Change |
| Grinnell Glacier Trail | Glacier National Park | 10.3 Miles | Lake and Glacier Views |
| Summerland Trail | Mount Rainier National Park | 11 Miles | Mountain and Waterfalls Views |
| Four Mile Trail | Yosemite National Park | 9.6 Miles | Mountain and Waterfall Views |
| Yosemite Falls Trail | Yosemite National Park | 8.4 Miles | Waterfall Views and Elevation Change |
Gregory Ridge Trail
Gregory Ridge Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in Great Smokey Mountain National Park and one of two trails that summits Gregory Bald.
This strenuous trail has a length of 11.3 miles with a total elevation change of 3,020 feet.
And while the summit at Gregory Bald offers amazing views year-round, the best time to hike this trail is during the summer months as this is where the world-renowned flaming azaleas bloom each year.
Bright Angel Trail
There are many amazing trails to hike while at the Grand Canyon but perhaps one of the most popular trails to hike while there is the iconic Bright Angel Trail.
This trail is well maintained with rest areas, pit toilets, as well as water stations throughout its 9.3-mile length. There are amazing views from start to finish on this trail but due to the 4000 feet of elevation change, it can be a grueling hike, especially during the hot summer months.
If you plan to hike this trail from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, make sure to leave plenty of time as it typically takes twice as long to hike out of the canyon as it does to hike down into it.
Grinnell Glacier Trail
Grinnel Glacier Trail is one of the best trails in Glacier National Park and offers amazing views of pristine nature including Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine as well as Grinnell Glacier.
This 10.3-mile out-and-back hiking trail is rated as strenuous and encompasses 1700 feet of total elevation change.
If you’re in Glacier National Park or in the Montana area and looking for an amazing 10-mile hike you have to go on the Grinnel Glacier Trail.
Summerland Trail
The Summerland Trail is one of the longer and more difficult hikes at Mount Rainier National Park with 11 miles of total distance and 2,950 feet of elevation change.
When it comes to vistas and views this trail is hard to be as there are amazing views from start to finish on this trail. In fact, every time you turn your head while hiking this trail you almost have to pinch yourself as some of the views are so beautiful they almost don’t look real.
If you’re looking for a 10-mile trail with amazing views and vistas then you simply have to check this trail out.
Four Mile Trail
Four Mile Trail is a great out-and-back trail to hike at Yosemite National Park if you want to see most of the main attractions all on one hike. As the first half of the trail offers amazing views of El Capitan and Yosemite Falls while the second half offers spectacular views of Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon.
And if you’re wondering why the trail is called Four Mile Trail when the trail is actually 4.8 miles in length. When the original trail was constructed in 1872 the trail was actually 4 miles long. However, in the early 1900s, the trail was reconstructed to a total length of 4.8 miles but the original name for the trail stuck.
Yosemite Falls Trail
Yosemite Falls Trail is a must-hike trail if you’re in Yosemite National Park or near California as it hikes to the tallest waterfall on the continent, Yosemite Falls. The best time of year for this hike is when the falls are at their peak which is during the spring and early summer.
It’s not all about the waterfall and views though, as this difficult hike offers a ton of challenges for even the most avid of hikers with almost 3000 feet of elevation change.
How Pace Affects the Time it Takes to Hike 10 Miles
While difficulty, elevation change, and ruggedness of the trail can greatly impact the amount of time it takes to hike 10 miles.
There is no bigger factor when determining how long it will take to hike 10 miles than the pace you set while hiking.
For example, as we have already mentioned if you hike at a standard pace of 2 to 3 miles an hour it will take you somewhere between 3 and 5 hours to hike 10 miles. If however, you increase your hiking pace to just 4 or 5 miles an hour it will only take you 2 and a half to 2 hours to hike 10 miles. And if you decide to trail run the 10 miles with a pace of 7 to 10 miles an hour you can actually complete a 10-mile hike in only an hour and 25 minutes to an hour.
How Many Miles is a 2 Hour Hike?
A 2-hour hike will generally cover about a mile of distance based on the fact that most hikers usually hike at a pace of about 2 to 3 miles an hour while hiking.
However, keep in mind that there are many factors that can affect how much distance is covered while on a 2-hour hike such as the difficulty of the hike and the amount of elevation change the hike has.
How Long Does it Take to Hike 8 Miles?
In general, it will usually take most hikers a little over 2 and a half hours to 4 hours to hike 8 miles while hiking at a moderate pace.
However, the pace, of the 8-mile hike can have a huge impact on the amount of time it takes to hike 8 miles. For example, a hiker that is just slowly walking the trail could take over 5 hours to complete the 8-mile hike while someone trail running the hike could complete the hike in as little as an hour.
How Long Does it Take to Hike 20 Miles?
Based on the average hiking pace of 2 to 3 miles an hour it should take approximately 7 to 10 hours to complete a 20-mile hike. However, bear in mind as with any other hiking distance there are a lot of factors that can affect the amount of time it takes to hike 20 miles such as the trail rating of the hike and the total elevation change of the hike.
Can You Hike 20 Miles in a Day?
Considering that most hikers will take anywhere from 7 to 10 hours to hike 20 miles it is possible to hike 20 miles in a day or day-hike 20 miles. However, even though it’s possible, due to the strain of hiking 20 miles in a single day it is generally recommended to break up a 20-mile hike into a least 2 days of hiking.