8 Countries Where In-the-Know Hikers May Be Going in 2026

According to year-over-year data from 2024 versus 2025, the eight destinations above are rising quickly in terms of user and traveler interest. Unexpected destinations like Poland and England are on the rise, while international travelers are showing greatly increased interest in Slovenia, Italy, and New Zealand, among other destinations. In the graphic above, the first column indicates an overall increase in navigations to that country’s pages on AllTrails, while the second column removes data from users in that country, reflecting an increase in interest from international visitors.

While that’s not to say the trails in the countries above will be crowded, nor that people are actually traveling to these destinations, it does mean these countries could be where in-the-know hikers are thinking about going in 2026 and beyond.

Poland

Poland’s rise is likely due less to a single new “it” trail and more to travelers looking to escape more crowded and expensive hiking countries while still staying within Europe. Park officials reported record levels of visitation in Tatra National Park in 2025, indicating growing traveler interest. AllTrails’ 2026 Travel-Worthy Trails list recommends options in the park, such as Kuźnice to Kościelec (10.6 miles, +/-3,828-foot gain) and the cable-car accessed Kasprowy Wierch hike (4.9 miles, +/- 354 foot loss).

Though Poland has fewer named multi-day treks than other countries, it does have “The Loop,” first introduced in late 2023. It’s a long-distance route in the Beskids that stitches existing marketed trails and mountain hut offerings into an extended trek. The entire trail covers about 155 miles with more than 36,000 feet of elevation gain, and is designed to take most fit hikers about two weeks.

Slovenia

Slovenia’s international share is the standout in the dataset — not surprising, as the country has been actively investing in trails and promoting itself as a hiking destination. New upgrades in the Julian Alps, including the unveiling of additional stages of the Juliana Trail in 2024, have helped the country lean in to its outdoorsy assets without investing in manufactured tourism draws. Slovenia’s country-wide tourism strategy has also leaned hard into sustainability, including the “Hike Slovenia Green” campaign, which may appeal to international travelers turned off by over-tourism concerns elsewhere in Europe.

AllTrails recommends trails like Mostnica Waterfall (6.6 miles, +/-1,079-foot gain) in the Julian Alps, and Segment 25 of the Alpe Adria Trail (14 miles, +/-2,240-foot gain) near the Triglav National Park gateway town of Bovec.

Italy

Italy’s surge makes sense in a year when the country is trying to spread visitors beyond famous pressure points in Rome and the Amalfi Coast. One new development is the Cammino Retico, a newly opened loop in the Dolomites publicized in 2024 as a multi-day trek linking smaller villages, passing through Veneto and Trentino.

While the Dolomites are a perennial favorite, there are always new trails in development, including the Sentiero Italia. It’s a route that has been possible for a while, but in the last few years, it’s been newly mapped and measured to make it much easier to hike and follow on your own. It’s technically doable, and would cross all 20 regions within Italy and gain 1,338,582 feet of elevation over the course of around 4,400 miles. However, you may need to ask for a sabbatical from work — the full trail takes roughly 11 months.

France

France’s growth is smaller than breakout destinations like Poland, but that’s expected, as its well-developed and easy-to-use hiking system means its long topped many traveling hikers’ bucket lists. The GR network is continuously maintained and adjusted by volunteers, and with about 37,000 miles of trails included in the system, there’s always something new opening or changing. That gives international hikers not just enough trails to fill a lifetime, but a confidence that the trails and routes they want to hike will be navigable, maintained, and well-signed.

However, what may be getting new attention is the HexaTrek. It’s a long-distance route finished in 2022 that bundles dozens of existing GRs into a single north-to-south mountain route through multiple national parks. It’s possible to do in one extended three-to-five month hike, but travelers who don’t have time for all 1,885 miles can do smaller segments in shorter trips. In France, the AllTrails Travel-Worthy Trails List calls out the Le Pont-de-Montvert-to-Florac route (18.4 miles, +/-2,959-foot gain) and the Corniches of Méjan and Tarn hike (4.9 miles, +/-1,453-foot gain), both in Cévennes National Park.

Canada

Canada’s increase is smaller than the others, but it’s notable, given the size of the country. It was also impacted by wildfires in 2024 in one of its most popular hiking areas: Jasper National Park. In 2025, Parks Canada reported substantial reopening progress by spring 2025 following the fires, which is the kind of news that can make visitors from the US plan a trip north.

Parks aside, the TransCanada Trail has continued to expand, with about 435 miles of trail added to the network alone between April 2024 and March 2025.

Australia

Australia’s growth is probably driven by a mix of new trails and successful branding of existing routes. In Queensland, the first stage of the Wangetti Trail opened in 2024, giving international travelers an easy place to start if they want to bike or hike Australia’s coastal stretches but aren’t totally sure where to start.

Much of the interest in Australia is probably attributable to the country’s “Great Walks” label. It’s a campaign that was launched in 2013 by a group of guides and tour operators who wanted to promote the country’s most bucket-list hikes under one unified brand. It’s continued to attract hikers from Down Under and across the world. They’re generally guided and more luxurious than self-supported backpacking trips, drawing hikers who love the great outdoors but aren’t keen on weeks spent sleeping on the ground.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s numbers are some of the most easily explained. The country has spent millions promoting its own “Great Walks” — a collection of multi-day hiking trails developed and maintained by NZ’s Department of Conservation (DOC). The trails go through terrain ranging from fiords and alpine ridgelines to rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches, all with easy-to-follow signage and maintained huts and campsites for easy stops each evening. In October 2024, the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track officially became the country’s 11th Great Walk, which could be appealing to international hikers who have already trekked one or more of the existing routes.

Another factor that could explain the growing interest in New Zealand as a hiking destination relates to the country’s DOC improving the Great Walks reservation process. It made changes to how permits are booked online in advance of the 2025/2026 hiking season, and for some international travelers who like stress-free planning, that could mean the difference between “too difficult to bother” and “let’s do it.”

England

England’s jump is noteworthy, especially as more mountainous countries like Italy and Switzerland seem to be where international hikers tend to visit. However, there’s a new development that could be pulling in hikers, especially from nearby countries in Europe: the King Charles III England Coast Path. It’s a 2,700-mile hiking trail with sections first designated in 2012, but one of the final sections finished in 2025 (a 28-mile section around the Isle of Sheppey). The trail is expected to be entirely finished in 2026, joining 16 other trails throughout the country designated as official National Trails and supported by plenty of infrastructure to make hiking them as easy and accessible as possible.

If you’re headed to England with your hiking boots in tow, the AllTrails Travel-Worthy Trails List recommends the Housesteads to Sycamore Gap trail passing sections of historic Hadrian’s Wall (5 miles, +/-915-foot gain), as well as the Drake Stone and Harbottle Castle Circular trail, overlooking the ruins of an ancient castle (4.5 miles, +/-718-foot gain).