June 21st is the longest day of the year – the perfect time to put your ambition to rest.
Chase Lake in Colorado (Photo: Lauren Berger)
Published on June 18, 2026 07:26 am
As far as we know, no new hiking-specific bank holidays are taking nominations, but if there were, the summer solstice would be our top candidate. observed with near-religious devotion In some outdoor areas, the solstice marks the longest day of the year – and so it’s the perfect opportunity to stretch yourself a little further than usual. With about 16 hours in northern cities like Seattle, Minneapolis and Burlington, and 14 to 15 hours in the rest of the US – the solstice offers plenty of margin for error for larger purposes. Think: You’ll need every last drop of daylight to complete weekends of hiking, steep climbing and wall-to-wall climbing.
Sankranti falls on a different date every year but usually falls in late June. This year, it is June 21st. Even better, it’s Sunday, which means you probably have the day off — even if we haven’t succeeded in turning it into a national holiday yet. So, if you have made up your mind to do some heavy hiking, now is the time to do it. If you’re still looking for ideas, try one of these on for size.
Take advantage of the extra daylight and go on something longer, faster or more spectacular than your average day trip. These treks feature stunning mountain ranges, refreshing lakes and the kind of trails that will have you bragging all summer long.
Do you love a suffer fest? Extra daylight means extra time for Type-II entertainment. Ranging from 17 to 41 miles, these 10 trails offer steep elevation gain, heavy mileage and technical terrain.
This year’s Sankranti is on Sunday—a perfect excuse to turn your celebration into a two-day celebration. Maximize your mileage on one of these weekend-sized hikes throughout the West, Midwest, and beyond.
By June 21, most of the country’s major mountains had melted, rendering roads and trails impassable. Take advantage of prime-time temperatures and plenty of daylight to knock off some of these to-do lists.
Let’s say you want to celebrate Sankranti – but you also want to get back to town in time to have a beer. In that case, try one of these absolute classics, which give you a taste of the country’s finest long trails in just 10 to 12 miles.
