Hayduke trail, Backcountry trail in Utah, United States

The Hayduke Trail is an 812-mile (1,307 km) backpacking route across southern Utah and northern Arizona, starting in Arches National Park near Moab and passing through the Needles district of Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon and Zion. It runs on public land along ridgelines, drainages, foot and game trails, dirt roads and rivers, from 1,800 feet in the Grand Canyon to 11,419 feet on Mount Ellen in the Henry Mountains.

The trail takes its name from George Washington Hayduke III, a character in Edward Abbey's novel who fought for the protection of public lands. This naming reflects Abbey's themes about defending wilderness from destruction.

The route is named after George Washington Hayduke, a character in Edward Abbey's novel The Monkey Wrench Gang. Mike Coronella and Joe Mitchell created it by combining several treks, including a 94-day expedition in 1998 and a 101-day journey in 2000. A guidebook by the same name was published by the University of Utah Press in 2005.

The route is largely off-trail, unsigned and unmaintained, so carry a map and compass and expect to link ridgelines, drainages, dirt roads and rivers rather than follow a marked path. Water is scarce over long stretches, and the elevation runs from 1,800 feet in the Grand Canyon to 11,419 feet on Mount Ellen, so plan resupply and fitness accordingly.

The route blends established hiking paths with old jeep tracks and completely unmarked terrain, letting travelers explore both well-known parks and isolated wilderness areas. This mix of different trail types makes each day's journey varied and unpredictable.