{"id":16675,"date":"2026-08-24T15:49:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T15:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=16675"},"modified":"2026-08-24T15:49:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T15:49:28","slug":"5-steep-trail-running-routes-worth-the-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=16675","title":{"rendered":"5 Steep Trail Running Routes Worth the Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>The reward is worth the effort? Better believe it on these monster runs. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\"> (Photo: Brooks)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Published August 24, 2026 09:43AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>If you love trail running for the views, the fresh air, <i>and<\/i> the challenge, you will really love these steep routes. Whether you\u2019re already trained up for the elevation change, or looking to up your game, test yourself on one of these iconic routes in key spots across the country. Find even more great routes for every fitness level in this comprehensive guide, and wherever the trail takes you and whatever conditions you encounter, take on any terrain with the Brooks <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brooksrunning.com\/en_us\/featured\/trail-running-collection\/?tid=dis:Outside:H2T:Custom-Article:USA:na:na:mct_cascadia20_apparel\">Cascadia Collection<\/a>\u2014and experience the force of nature.<\/p>\n<h2>Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado<\/h2>\n<h4>13.6 miles<\/h4>\n<p>Yes, 14,259-foot Longs Peak is the tallest mountain in Colorado, but that\u2019s not why it\u2019s such a magnet for ambitious trail runners. It\u2019s because the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trailforks.com\/route\/longs-peak-out-and-back\/\">challenging route<\/a> delivers the perfect balance between smooth-striding singletrack and rocky, test-yourself scrambling. Caution: The last mile is an exposed, rocky scramble.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2749568\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Longs Peak\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1097\" height=\"535\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2749568\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imgi_28_longs-peak-getty-1386546482.png?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imgi_28_longs-peak-getty-1386546482.png?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imgi_28_longs-peak-getty-1386546482.png?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Longs Peak<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Mission Trails Five-Peak Challenge, San Diego, California<\/h2>\n<h4>16.3 miles<\/h4>\n<p>The precise distance of this run depends on the route you choose, but one thing doesn\u2019t change: the epic views of ocean and peaks and valleys. The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trailforks.com\/route\/mission-trails-five-peak-challenge\/\">classic challenge<\/a> strings together the five peaks in Mission Trails Regional Park: Cowles Mountain, Pyles Peak, Kwaay Paay, and North\/South Fortuna. It\u2019s an epic day with more than 4,000 feet of climbing. Just pack plenty of water for the dry terrain.<\/p>\n<h2>Art Loeb Trail, Canton\/Davidson, North Carolina<\/h2>\n<h4>29.4 miles<\/h4>\n<p>Put all of North Carolina\u2019s forest highlights together on the Art Loeb Trail, affectionately known as one of the toughest trails in the East. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trailforks.com\/route\/art-loeb-trail-point-to-point\/\">The route<\/a> climbs more than 8,000 feet, descends nearly as much, and traverses wildflower-filled ridgelines and travels up and over big-view balds in the Pisgah National Forest. It\u2019s such an iconic one-way route that local shuttle services have sprung up, making logistics easy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2749570\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Art Loeb Trail\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1290\" height=\"630\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2749570\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imgi_201_art-loeb-adobestock-647341883.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imgi_201_art-loeb-adobestock-647341883.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imgi_201_art-loeb-adobestock-647341883.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Art Loeb Trail<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The Enchantments Thru-Run, Leavenworth, Washington<\/h2>\n<h4>18.6 miles<\/h4>\n<p>You\u2019ll want to keep your phone handy for nonstop photos on this breathtaking route. The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trailforks.com\/route\/the-enchantment-trail\/\">point-to-point epic<\/a> serves up granite slabs, alpine lakes, rocky spires, creek crossings, and (often) mountain goats in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The run can be tackled in either direction, but the most popular\u2014west to east\u2014delivers a whopping 2,200 feet of climbing in a single mile up Aasgard Pass (the whole route climbs more than 5,000 feet). Local shuttle services are available.<\/p>\n<h2>Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim (or Rim-to-River), Grand Canyon<\/h2>\n<h4>40.6 miles<\/h4>\n<p>When it comes to big-adventure trail runs, nothing compares to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trailforks.com\/route\/rimtorimtorim-south-to-north-rim\/\">crossing the Grand Canyon<\/a>. There\u2019s also nothing steeper (it packs in more than 22,000 feet of elevation change), so get fit and get <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brooksrunning.com\/en_us\/featured\/trail-running-collection\/?tid=dis:Outside:H2T:Custom-Article:USA:na:na:mct_cascadia20_apparel\">equipped<\/a>. From the South Rim, you plunge to the Colorado River on the South Kaibab Trail, ascend to the North Rim on the North Kaibab Trail, and reverse course. The payoff: the run of a lifetime.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2749571\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1097\" height=\"535\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2749571\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imgi_54_rimtorimgettyimages-2268018083.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imgi_54_rimtorimgettyimages-2268018083.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/imgi_54_rimtorimgettyimages-2268018083.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr\/>\n<p><i>Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Brooks makes performance running gear for runners everywhere. Propelled by a never\u2011ending curiosity with how humans move, Brooks designs gear to make every run, walk, and workout better than before. To learn more, visit<\/i> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/sr.studiostack.com\/c\/link?l=2300504&amp;s=2300498&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Frun.outsideonline.com%2Ftrail%2Fexpand-your-running-horizons-with-road-to-trail-routes%2F\"><i>BrooksRunning.com<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-gear\/run\/5-steep-trail-running-routes-worth-the-challenge\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The reward is worth the effort? Better believe it on these monster runs. (Photo: Brooks) Published August 24, 2026 09:43AM If you love trail running for the views, the fresh air, and the challenge, you will really love these steep routes. Whether you\u2019re already trained up for the elevation change, or looking to up your<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wild-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16675\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}