hiking trails

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Paths or routes through countryside, hills, or woods that are meant for walking.

   Grammar: Usually plural; the singular 'hiking trail' refers to one such path.

   Patterns

   • a hiking trail through something
   • mark a hiking trail
   • hike a hiking trail

   We followed the hiking trails marked in red on the map.

   The national park has over 50 miles of hiking trails.

   These hiking trails get busy on sunny weekends.

2. 2nounplural

   A network of walking routes in a particular area, seen as a feature of that place.

   Grammar: Often used with place names or words like 'local' or 'nearby'.

   Patterns

   • local hiking trails
   • hiking trails near somewhere

   The hotel is a good base for exploring the local hiking trails.

   She knows all the best hiking trails around here.

Word forms

Common combinations

well-marked hiking trails

The well-marked hiking trails make the area easy to explore.

maintain hiking trails

Volunteers maintain the hiking trails every spring.

a network of hiking trails

A network of hiking trails links the villages.

hiking trails wind through something

Hiking trails wind through the forest and up to the lake.

Synonyms and how they differ

footpaths

Footpaths are simple walking paths and may not be in wild country, while hiking trails usually suggest longer routes in nature.

walking routes

A neutral British term for paths you walk on; hiking trails sounds more American and more outdoorsy.

Word family

hike verb

to walk a long way in the countryside for pleasure

hiker noun

a person who goes on long walks in nature

hiking noun

the activity of walking long distances outdoors

Commonly confused: hiking trails or tracks?

Practice

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