Best hikes for every time of the year

From time to time, when I am planning and preparing for my own hikes, I stumble upon a rather simple question: what are the best hikes for a specific time of the year? Where to hike in June (when I usually have my first big hike of the year), what to do end of year? I have found some resources online but decided to keep my own list, compiled based on my own experience and a wide range of resources.

📍marks the specific time of year I have actually hiked the trail myself.

Best hikes in January

• Torres del Paine (Chile) is best hiked between November and early March.

Best hikes in February

• Jordan Trail (Jordan) is best hiked in February/March (southern part) and March/April (northern part) or in September till mid-November (pleasant weather, but the flowers and greenery are entirely gone after the hot summer months). Summer months are generally considered just too hot.
• 📍Pennine Way (United Kingdom) is best hiked May to October. And not in February, as we did, because of heavy rains.
• Torres del Paine (Chile) is best hiked between November and early March.
• 📍Via Algarviana (Portugal) is accessible pretty much all year, but best in end February, March, April, May and June – skipping the blazing hot summer months of August and September – and September, October and November. The winter months are less stable. Ah, did I already mention that you probably want to hike another path as the path is rather boring?

Best hikes in March

• Annapurna Circuit (Nepal) is hiked best mid-March to mid-April or October through November.
• Jordan Trail (Jordan) is best hiked in February/March (southern part) and March/April (northern part) or in September till mid-November (pleasant weather, but the flowers and greenery are entirely gone after the hot summer months). Summer months are generally considered just too hot.
• Kumano Kodo (Japan) can be walked year round but the weather does vary quite dramatically depending on when you go. March / April is spring and an extremely popular time to go as it is cherry blossom season in Japan. October / November is also a popular time to visit as it is autumn and the colors throughout the forest are stunning. June / July / August is summer with higher humidity and especially in June less population on the trail.
• Torres del Paine (Chile) is best hiked between November and early March.
• Via Algarviana (Portugal) is accessible pretty much all year, but best in end February, March, April, May and June – skipping the blazing hot summer months of August and September – and September, October and November. The winter months are less stable. Ah, did I already mention that you probably want to hike another path as the path is rather boring?

Best hikes in April

• 📍Amalfi Coast (Italy) As the Amalfi Coast Trail is rather challenging with a lot of climbing and open spaces, it is best to hike either in spring (April/May/June) or Autumn (September/October), avoided the blazing sun in the summer months. Please note that the trail usually only is cut free of extra plants in June, just before the tourist season.
• Annapurna Circuit (Nepal) is hiked best mid-March to mid-April or October through November.
• Jordan Trail (Jordan) is best hiked in February/March (southern part) and March/April (northern part) or in September till mid-November (pleasant weather, but the flowers and greenery are entirely gone after the hot summer months). Summer months are generally considered just too hot.
• Kumano Kodo (Japan) can be walked year round but the weather does vary quite dramatically depending on when you go. March / April is spring and an extremely popular time to go as it is cherry blossom season in Japan. October / November is also a popular time to visit as it is autumn and the colors throughout the forest are stunning. June / July / August is summer with higher humidity and especially in June less population on the trail.
• Via Algarviana (Portugal) is accessible pretty much all year, but best in end February, March, April, May and June – skipping the blazing hot summer months of August and September – and September, October and November. The winter months are less stable. Ah, did I already mention that you probably want to hike another path as the path is rather boring?
• West Highland Way (Scotland) is best hiked April through October, where April has the least predictable weather.

Best hikes in May

• Amalfi Coast (Italy) As the Amalfi Coast Trail is rather challenging with a lot of climbing and open spaces, it is best to hike either in spring (April/May/June) or Autumn (September/October), avoided the blazing sun in the summer months. Please note that the trail usually only is cut free of extra plants in June, just before the tourist season.
• Pennine Way (United Kingdom) is best hiked May to October.
• Via Algarviana (Portugal) is accessible pretty much all year, but best in end February, March, April, May and June – skipping the blazing hot summer months of August and September – and September, October and November. The winter months are less stable. Ah, did I already mention that you probably want to hike another path as the path is rather boring?
• West Highland Way (Scotland) is best hiked April through October.

Best hikes in June

• Amalfi Coast (Italy) As the Amalfi Coast Trail is rather challenging with a lot of climbing and open spaces, it is best to hike either in spring (April/May/June) or Autumn (September/October), avoided the blazing sun in the summer months. Please note that the trail usually only is cut free of extra plants in June, just before the tourist season.
• 📍Artic Circle Trail (Greenland) is open between the last weeks of June to September.
• John Muir Trail is best hiked between mid-June and mid-September.
• 📍Kumano Kodo (Japan) can be walked year round but the weather does vary quite dramatically depending on when you go. March / April is spring and an extremely popular time to go as it is cherry blossom season in Japan. October / November is also a popular time to visit as it is autumn and the colors throughout the forest are stunning. June / July / August is summer with higher humidity and especially in June less population on the trail.
• Kungsleden (Sweden) is best accessed between June and September.
• 📍Laugavegur Trail (Iceland): The last weeks of June are normally the first weeks the Laugavegur Trail is actually open. Before that, trails are often closed due to snow. The trail is usually open till September.
• Pennine Way (United Kingdom) is best hiked May to October.
• Via Algarviana (Portugal) is accessible pretty much all year, but best in end February, March, April, May and June – skipping the blazing hot summer months of August and September – and September, October and November. The winter months are less stable. Ah, did I already mention that you probably want to hike another path as the path is rather boring?
• West Highland Way (Scotland) is best hiked April through October.

Best hikes in July

• Artic Circle Trail (Greenland) is open between the last weeks of June to September.
• John Muir Trail is best hiked between mid-June and mid-September.
• Kumano Kodo (Japan) can be walked year round but the weather does vary quite dramatically depending on when you go. March / April is spring and an extremely popular time to go as it is cherry blossom season in Japan. October / November is also a popular time to visit as it is autumn and the colors throughout the forest are stunning. June / July / August is summer with higher humidity and especially in June less population on the trail.
• Kungsleden (Sweden) is best accessed between June and September.
• Laugavegur Trail (Iceland) is open from end of June till September.
• 📍Nijmegen Four Days Marches (Netherlands): As this is an organized event, July is the only moment of the year you can hike the 4*30, 40 or 50 kilometers of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches, the largest multi-day hiking event in the world with over 40.000 participants.
• Pennine Way (United Kingdom) is best hiked May to October.
• Via Algarviana (Portugal) is accessible pretty much all year, but best in end February, March, April, May and June – skipping the blazing hot summer months of August and September – and September, October and November. The winter months are less stable. Ah, did I already mention that you probably want to hike another path as the path is rather boring?
• West Highland Way (Scotland) is best hiked April through October.

Best hikes in August

• Artic Circle Trail (Greenland) is open between the last weeks of June to September.
• John Muir Trail is best hiked between mid-June and mid-September.
• Kumano Kodo (Japan) can be walked year round but the weather does vary quite dramatically depending on when you go. March / April is spring and an extremely popular time to go as it is cherry blossom season in Japan. October / November is also a popular time to visit as it is autumn and the colors throughout the forest are stunning. June / July / August is summer with higher humidity and especially in June less population on the trail.
• Kungsleden (Sweden) is best accessed between June and September.
• Laugavegur Trail (Iceland) is open from end of June till September.
• Pennine Way (United Kingdom) is best hiked May to October.
• West Highland Way (Scotland) is best hiked April through October.

Best hikes in September

• Amalfi Coast (Italy) As the Amalfi Coast Trail is rather challenging with a lot of climbing and open spaces, it is best to hike either in spring (April/May/June) or Autumn (September/October), avoided the blazing sun in the summer months. Please note that the trail usually only is cut free of extra plants in June, just before the tourist season.
• Artic Circle Trail (Greenland) is open between the last weeks of June to September.
• John Muir Trail is best hiked between mid-June and mid-September.
• Jordan Trail (Jordan) is best hiked in February/March (southern part) and March/April (northern part) or in September till mid-November (pleasant weather, but the flowers and greenery are entirely gone after the hot summer months). Summer months are generally considered just too hot.
• Kungsleden (Sweden) is best accessed between June and September.
• Laugavegur Trail (Iceland) is open from end of June till September.
• Pennine Way (United Kingdom) is best hiked May to October.
• West Highland Way (Scotland) is best hiked April through October.

Best hikes in October

• Amalfi Coast (Italy) As the Amalfi Coast Trail is rather challenging with a lot of climbing and open spaces, it is best to hike either in spring (April/May/June) or Autumn (September/October), avoided the blazing sun in the summer months. Please note that the trail usually only is cut free of extra plants in June, just before the tourist season.
• Annapurna Circuit (Nepal) is hiked best mid-March to mid-April or October through November.
• Jordan Trail (Jordan) is best hiked in February/March (southern part) and March/April (northern part) or in September till mid-November (pleasant weather, but the flowers and greenery are entirely gone after the hot summer months). Summer months are generally considered just too hot.
• Kumano Kodo (Japan) can be walked year round but the weather does vary quite dramatically depending on when you go. March / April is spring and an extremely popular time to go as it is cherry blossom season in Japan. October / November is also a popular time to visit as it is autumn and the colors throughout the forest are stunning. June / July / August is summer with higher humidity and especially in June less population on the trail.
• Pennine Way (United Kingdom) is best hiked May to October.
• Via Algarviana (Portugal) is accessible pretty much all year, but best in end February, March, April, May and June – skipping the blazing hot summer months of August and September – and September, October and November. The winter months are less stable. Ah, did I already mention that you probably want to hike another path as the path is rather boring?
• West Highland Way (Scotland) is best hiked April through October.

Best hikes in November

• Annapurna Circuit (Nepal) is hiked best mid-March to mid-April or October through November.
• 📍Jordan Trail (Jordan) is best hiked in February/March (southern part) and March/April (northern part) or in September till mid-November (pleasant weather, but the flowers and greenery are entirely gone after the hot summer months). Summer months are generally considered just too hot.
• Kumano Kodo (Japan) can be walked year round but the weather does vary quite dramatically depending on when you go. March / April is spring and an extremely popular time to go as it is cherry blossom season in Japan. October / November is also a popular time to visit as it is autumn and the colors throughout the forest are stunning. June / July / August is summer with higher humidity and especially in June less population on the trail.
• Torres del Paine (Chile) is best hiked between November and early March.
• Via Algarviana (Portugal) is accessible pretty much all year, but best in end February, March, April, May and June – skipping the blazing hot summer months of August and September – and September, October and November. The winter months are less stable. Ah, did I already mention that you probably want to hike another path as the path is rather boring?

Best hikes in December

• Torres del Paine (Chile) is best hiked between November and early March.