Epic trips in states that don’t get the glory

In California the high mountains get all the glory and the lower elevation areas are considered low tier quality hiking.
The Calistoga Palisades are a local place to me and they are seriously epic. Lots of craggy lava cliffs, ridges to climb, and hidden caves.

Interesting that you mentioned Louisiana…on the Gulf Coast, there are many protected wilderness areas, most of which are bayous. It's a fascinating ecosystem that you might explore.
Think paddling through the backwaters of Jean LaFitte National Park, or boating/camping on a barrier island (like Horn Island) in Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Head a little further East from Louisiana and hike the Florida Trail. It oughta be long enough for ya! Well over 1,000 miles through such a vast array of wildlife and (really!) some very challenging hiking.

Oh … nice thread!

Have you considered the Superstitions in Az? That can turn into a "BIG" hike in a hurry. The East side seems less accessible/more interesting. Not sure if it gets too much press to qualify … but there's climbing, lakes, caves, et cetera.

Always thought the Knobstone in Indiana trail would be a great fall hike.

~60 miles with nearly 20k ft of gain. Lots of ups and downs.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/outdoor/4275.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knobstone_Trail

Don't know if it *EPIC*, but it does sound fun and challenging.

If you want longer, how about the Ice Age trail in Wisconsin?
http://www.iceagetrail.org/

1000 miles of hiking.

I think it has THE BEST logo of any long trail! :)

The Guadalupes don't get much love compared to Big Bend. But they are very nice in cool months. When other mountain ranges are snowed in they offer mountain scenery without the need for winter gear. Daily mileage is shorter because hikes are normally in winter, you have to carry a lot of water and the terrain is pretty rugged.

Guadalupe Ridge Trail as described in Backpacker Magazine about ten years ago.

If you want a bit more in Indiana, you can put the Knobstone Trail together with the Tecumseh Trail, some National Forest trails, and 40 miles of road walking to get a 140-mile trail: http://www.hoosierhikerscouncil.org/140-mile-visionary-trail/

Haven't done it myself but it's on my radar for some time in the next few years.

I've done sections of the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota and the Missouri-Ozark Trail in Missouri. Both were well marked, but I preferred the Superior Hiking Trail – stunning views all over. Definitely one of the best Midwest hikes I've done, and lots of distance for a thru. It's just under 300 miles, not including a ~45 mile section near Duluth that will eventually be connected. The campsites are generally well maintained, flat, and near water sources; they require you to camp at designated spots, but the sites are every few miles and I never was at a site with other campers. That being said, I was out pretty early (early May) so your results may vary.

There are no epic backpacks in Iowa, when I lived there I looked. What is available is a practically endless selection of quiet pavement and gravel roads for bike touring. You could take just about as much time as you like making a huge loop around the state. Great people, and a surprising variety of terrain along the way. RAGBRAI is worth doing as well.

A bunch of midwestern states have some very long rivers, and a canoe or kayak trip can give you a unique look at the areas. Camping can be a pain, so check stream access laws for each state and generally do your homework. The North Raccoon in Iowa is a great paddle.

Agreed, haven't found much in Iowa or Nebraska that I'd consider "epic." Wisconsin has the Ice Age trail as others have mentioned, and Minnesota has the SHT, but Iowa and Nebraska are a lot flatter and have more farmland – not too conducive to hiking. I'd love to hear any IA/NE suggestions though – pretty hard to get outside the two for weekend trips from Omaha.

The Boone and Upper Iowa Rivers are very nice floats. The Upper Iowa is more highly touted, but I prefer the Boone.

Ozark Highlands Trail (218 miles)
Buffalo National River.
Buffalo River Trail.

The Cowboy Trail in Nebraska runs thru some beautiful country in the Sandhills. 321 miles long ought to satisfy anyone. It's a rail trail so you will have bikes and I think horses may be allowed too. When you get to the end, canoe the Niobrara.

I like the input gang!

We aren't ALL purely hikers… Some of us do bike tours, paddle, climb, ski… RAGBRAI, though extremely popular, would be fun. That is a way to see a lot of Iowa in a short time. 8 days? can't remember. Though it seems like when in doubt, do a bike tour… heh.

SD and ND have the Missouri River with HUGE lakes. Could mean a lot of paddling. Of course they also have Black Hills and Badlands and such…

I know some of those states have startling beauty and stunning activities that one wouldn't expect. World class rock climbing in Arkansas, and rafting I have heard. Also, I think there is something beautiful about miles of wheat fields in late summer too! It is a different beauty than say… the Wind Rivers.

Couldn't agree more with what Luke said. Guadalupe Mountains always seem to be an afterthought relative to Big Bend for most Texans, and I'm not exactly sure why. While the Chisos in Big Bend offer incredible views of Mexico to the south, Guadalupe Mountains are far more rugged and see a whole lot less foot traffic than its interstate cousin. There are countless day hiking options in the park, which make it ideal for families or those who lack substantial backpacking experience. But if it's solitude you crave there's plenty of that as well. Due to the lack of reliable water sources in the mountains themselves I have rarely encountered hikers doing much more than an overnight (although, clearly some do), but if you have a partner with transportation of their own the park becomes much more accessible. While I've never had an opportunity to explore Dog Canyon, I have spent quite a bit of time in McKittrick Canyon. In the fall I think you would be hard pressed to find a more beautiful spot in Texas to see the fall foliage.

Boundary waters in Minnesota. After your second portage you'll hardly see anyone.

I haven't done it yet, but will, and have heard good things about, the River to River trail in Shawnee National Forest (southern IL.) 160 miles.