Welcome to your trail family

Long-Distance Hiking Community

We Welcome

New LONG-DISTANCE HIKERS

 

Learn from the best. Prepare for trail. Talk in real time to experienced hikers. Connect with other new hikers. Have a successful hike.

We Welcome

EXPERIENCED LONG-DISTANCE HIKERS

 

Share your knowledge. Give back to aspiring hikers. Connect with other veteran hikers like you. 

Searching for a better way to connect with long-distance hikers? 

We were, so we built it.

A hiker community built by hikers.

We grew tired of the unfriendly social media comments, taking hiking advice from ananymous people behind the screen and one-sided opinions… and found that other thru-hikers were tired of it too.

THRU-r is a respectful, authentic, fun, diverse, and tight-knit community who wants to help, connect, share stories and laugh together. A true community who cares.

We care about hikers like you, because we are hikers too.

“There is no other group that is more positive and has so much to offer both current and hopeful hikers.”

Ben “Paladin” (Pacific Crest Trail & Appalachian Trail hiker)

“This is the best trail family I’ve ever had!” 

Christine “Apocalypse” (Pacific Crest Trail hiker)

One of my concerns during planning was getting plugged into the community (so I could) get advice from (hikers who) have the specialized knowledge gained from completion. What you are doing with THRU-r is absolutely amazing.” 

Glen “GMan” (Aspiring Pacific Crest Trail Hiker)

BECOME A TRAIL FAMILY MEMBER

A better social experience for long-distance hikers looks like this.

meet other hikers

The best part of the trail is the people you meet along the way. This platform is an effective tool to connect with other long-distance hikers before, during, and after trail.

Exclusive Community

We welcome aspiring & experienced long-distance hikers into our community. Here at THRU-r, we define a “long-distance hike” as a section hike or thru-hike of 50 miles or more in one trip.

CONNECT WITH HIKERS USING THE THRU-r MAP

Our THRU-r Map (or Member Map) allows approved members to view & connect with other hikers in their area and beyond. 

Discuss trail topics in our hiker feed + events

Connect, discuss gear, trail food and more through our hiker feed and during exclusive events. Because our members are all vetted – you know the information you receive is from long-distance hikers like you.

Find friends + private message

Connect with others in a similar way you would on social media: Add friends, private message, and group chat. Our site offers a more exclusive community with more quality information: Long-distance hiker to long-distance hiker.

Free + up-leveled memberships

Here at THRU-r, we love to “pay it forward” and give back to the trail community. That’s why the majority of our offerings are free, including our Trail Family membership, podcast, open events, YouTube channel, blog, and resources pages! If you’d like to get even more perks, sign up to be a Trail Family+ member.

Our Vales

The Foundation of our Community

respect

We respect others and celebrate our differences (“hike your own hike!”)

kindness

We believe in treating everyone as we do on trail, with kindness.

Connection

As we connect, we support each other in this community.

If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.
” 

african proverb