AllTrails’ 2026 Bucket List: 8 Incredible Hiking Trails and Destinations Around the World

AllTrails has unveiled its 2026 Travel-Worthy Trails list, naming the 8 hiking trails every adventurer should put on their bucket list next year. Here’s where to go, what makes each spot special and how AllTrails picked them.

What are the 8 hiking trails AllTrails recommends for 2026?

The 8 hiking trails AllTrails selected for 2026 span three continents and include the Tatra Mountains, the Julian Alps, France’s Massif Central, Canada’s Kluane National Park and Reserve, Australia’s Margaret River, New Zealand’s Queenstown region, England’s Northumberland and North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest.

AllTrails, an online platform that specializes in curating trails for nature lovers, released its Travel-Worthy Trails list earlier this year. The roundup blends well-known parks with under-the-radar destinations on the Polish-Slovak border, the Yukon and beyond.

“We searched the world using real experiences from AllTrails members and insights from our local partners to select these special spots,” Carly Smith, the chief marketing officer of AllTrails, told USA TODAY 10 Best. “These once-in-a-lifetime destinations will inspire you to plan a trip or just get outside closer to home.”

The picks lean into variety. The Tatra Mountains, which form the natural boundary between Poland and Slovakia, offer breathtaking trails on both sides of the border, plus access to the historic mountain resort town of Zakopane and the untouristed Pieniny Mountains. Slovakia’s High Tatras add mountain lakes, waterfalls and flocks of sheep among rocky crests. Travelers can extend the trip with a visit to Kraków, a UNESCO World Heritage city.

The Julian Alps, stretching across Italy, Slovenia and Austria, are described as ecologically rich and a hidden gem. The Alpe-Adria Trail moves through Austria’s glacial valleys and alpine meadows, Slovenia’s dense forests and Italy’s rolling hills. Slovenia’s Soča Valley carries World War I history, with a museum in Kobarid documenting clashes between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces. Austria’s highest peak, the Grossglockner, delivers turquoise lakes and glacier edges.

France’s Massif Central rounds out the European picks with dormant volcanoes, deep river gorges and lush plateaus. The crown jewel is the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of geologically young volcanoes that have been inactive for roughly 10,000 years. The terrain is difficult and recommended for experienced, intensive hikers only.

Which 8 hiking trails on the AllTrails 2026 list are in North America?

Two of the 8 hiking trails AllTrails highlighted for 2026 are in North America: Kluane National Park and Reserve in Canada’s Yukon, and Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina.

Kluane National Park and Reserve features 14 trails, including old mining roads, the perimeter of Kathleen Lake and Thechàl Dhâl, also known as Sheep Mountain. According to Parks Canada, hiking is the most popular activity among visitors. The park is defined by high mountain peaks, massive valley glaciers, boreal forests and sparkling lakes, and travelers can encounter iconic northern wildlife along with the cultural heritage of the Southern Tutchone people.

Nantahala National Forest is the largest of four national forests in North Carolina and part of the Appalachian Trail, which AllTrails calls one of the best hiking spots in the U.S. The region is the second wettest in the continental U.S. after the Pacific Northwest and sits within the Appalachian temperate rainforest. That climate fuels rewarding trails and river activities, with options ranging from a six-hour day trip to a six-month thru-hike depending on experience.

Margaret River in Australia also lands on the list. Best known for legendary wineries, the area’s scenic hiking is equally impressive, and its most famous route, the Cape to Cape Track, takes five to six days to fully hike.

Where can hikers find the rest of the AllTrails 2026 picks?

The remaining destinations on the AllTrails 2026 list take hikers to New Zealand’s Queenstown region and England’s Northumberland, two stops that round out the platform’s global roundup.

Queenstown sits in the Queenstown Lakes District, near Mount Aspiring National Park and the Remarkables Conservation Area. Casual walkers can take the Queenstown Gardens Loop, while serious hikers can tackle the Ben Lomond Track, which climbs more than 3,316 feet in elevation gain. The mix gives travelers an easy option and a serious challenge in the same destination.

Northumberland, in the United Kingdom, weaves trails through important medieval sites, including castles, moorland and rugged coastlines. Hikers can move from sandy beaches to coastal castles to remote wilderness in a single trip. AllTrails also calls the region “Europe’s best Dark Sky destination,” making it a prime spot for stargazing after the trails close down for the day.

Together with the Tatra Mountains, the Julian Alps, the Massif Central, Kluane, Margaret River and Nantahala, these picks complete the 8 hiking trails AllTrails wants travelers to prioritize in 2026. The common thread: each destination pairs a marquee trail with cultural, historical or wildlife experiences that reward travelers who plan beyond the hike itself — whether that means a UNESCO city after the Tatras, a WWI museum in the Julian Alps or a Dark Sky night in Northumberland.