Author profile

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Liz Thomas is thru-hiker and guidebook author best known for breaking the women’s self-supported record on the Appalachian Trail. She’s the author of the National Outdoor Book Award winning Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike, which won the National Outdoor Book Award in 2017. When she’s not backpacking, Liz is a motivational speaker who has presented on Capitol Hill, corporate retreats, national non-profit donor events, and colleges and universities including Yale and MIT. You can find her at www.eathomas.com or @lizthomashiking
and Facebook.

Best of article

The Best of Big Sur: 8 Hikes and Backpacking Trails for 2023

Raw, rugged, and light on infrastructure, Big Sur is an uncut gem of Californian coastline that draws millions of visitors a year. Learn why hikers and backpackers can’t get enough of the trails and what you need to know before you go.

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Best of article

7 Best Joshua Tree Hikes (According to a Pro Hiker!)

With trees that look ripped straight from the pages of Dr. Seuss, Joshua Tree is a year-round hiking destination that every adventurer needs to explore at least once.

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Best of article

The Best Hiking in Northern California: From Seas to Sequoias

Northern California is one of the few regions in the world where you can hike in redwood forests, coastal headlands, granite cliffs, and volcanic mountains–all within a few hours of each other and year-round!

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Best of article

Hiking the Best of Southern California’s Mountains with a Pro Hiker

As a pro hiker, when I tell people that I live in Los Angeles they stare in disbelief. Trust me, LA may actually be one of the top outdoorsy cities in the country, and these six high peaks prove it.

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Best of article

A Pro Hiker Shares 6 Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park

As a professional hiker, I’ve adventured around the world and Yosemite is one of my favorite hiking destinations anywhere.

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Best of article

The 5 Best Places to Go Hiking in (or Near) Austin, Texas

As a professional hiker who’s hiked urban trail systems across the U.S., I can verify that Austin has gone out of its way to create a human-powered paradise.

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Best of article

The 9 Best Places to Go Hiking In and Around San Diego (by a Local!)

From laid-back leg-stretchers to strenuous summits, join professional hiker Liz Thomas as she shares her top five hiking trails in and around San Diego!

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Best of article

6 Grand Canyon Hiking Trails That Will Take Your Breath Away

In the Grand Canyon, the best views aren’t where you might expect.

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Location Review

Backpacking Big Sur: 4 of the Best Trails Along California’s Coastline

Liz Thomas guides backpacking and yoga retreats in Big Sur. Here are her favorite spots for backpacking along the coastline that feature some of the most scenic and diverse landscapes in the U.S (along with some helpful information you need to know before you go).

Liz Thomas

Professional hiker and guidebook author

Liz Thomas

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