Trail and Ultrarunning Bucket List
Where in the world do you want to go ultrarunning? This is my bucket list for places that I would like to go. Some are already planned, while others will depend on future work, vacation and family plans. Please share with me your thoughts on your bucket list or places I need to go for an amazing ultrarunning destination!
I love to get recommendations and will share where they came from!
Snownodia National Park
I read about Snownodia on @eryri_runner’s instagram page. He’s got some amazing pictures of trails in the national park. Being within a 2 hour drive of Liverpool or Manchester, this looks to be a great option for a weekend trip from most places in Europe.
Timberline Trail around Mount Hood
38 miles around Mount Hood. The hike is described well at : Oregon Hikers
Garden of the Gods - Illinois, USA
The American Discovery Trail cuts through the Garden of the Gods that has some of the most unique rock formations in the American Midwest. Being just a short drive from my home (in US terms, about 6 hours), this would make an excellent choice for a 24 hour overnight adventure. The Backpacker site describes a 23 mile point to point hike that could easily be extended into 50k territory.
Tahoe Rim Trail
This one is definitely more than just a day run. However, with some ultralight gear it could be done over several days. There is even a ultramarathon that does just that: Tahoe 200
Roaring Plains and Dolly Sods Wilderness Areas
This is some of the most rugged land on the east coast and is situated in West Virginia. It is also the highest plateau in the eastern United States. There are many trail options, but I plan on using the Highlands Sky 40 Miler as the basis for my planning. The Canaan Valley State Park Lodge is a convenient place to stay during the run as well.
Via Dinarica Trail, Bosnia Herzegovina
This trail goes from Slovenia to Albania, but I’ve read that one of the best sections is through Bosnia Herzegovina. I’ve yet to explore all of the Balkans, so this trail provides a great option for exploring the country.
Pemigewasset (Pemi) Loop
The Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire’s White Mountains is an excellent ultrarunning destination. But what is amazing is there is another epic run there by way of the Pemi Loop. It is a 31 mile (50k) loop that circles the Pemigewasset Wilderness. It has a total elevation gain of 9000 feet, mainly from ascending 8 four thousand foot (1200m) peaks.