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June 20 is the summer solstice—the longest day of the year—and there’s no better place to spend it than on the trails. Take advantage of the extra daylight and go for something a little bit longer, steeper, or more fantastic than your average dayhike. These treks have staggering ridgelines, refreshing lakes, and the kind of trail cred that will have you bragging all summer. Start early: On these hikes, you’ll need every second of sunlight you can get.

Pemigewasset Loop, New Hampshire

Miles: 29
Elevation gain: 9,561 feet

This tour of New Hampshire’s Pemigewasset Wilderness is a bucket list overnight (or multiday backpack) for many New Englanders, but swift-footed dayhikers can tick it off on the longest day of the year. Even with maximal sunlight, you’ll want to get an alpine start: Unforgiving climbs characteristic of the White Mountains, ankle-twisting rocks, and wind-exposed ridges await as you traverse eight 4,000-foot peaks. There are 15 hours of daylight on the solstice—if you want to complete the Pemi, plan to be on your feet for all of them and then some. You’ll be rewarded with some of the finest ridgewalking and alpine rambling in the state.

Boulder Skyline Traverse, Colorado

Miles: 17.2
Elevation gain: 5,637 feet

You don’t have to get far out of town to have a big adventure. This point-to-point hike tags the five summits visible from downtown Boulder (with an option to loop back to the start on the Mesa Trail if you want an even longer day). Starting from the south, you’ll high-step your way up the shaded and steep Fern Canyon before busting into an old burn zone atop South Boulder Peak. Then, catch views of the Indian Peaks range to the west and Boulder and Denver to the east as you make your way north over Bear Peak, Green Mountain, and Flagstaff before enduring a quad-shaking descent back toward town. The base of Flagstaff is a good place to bail if your legs are shot, but eager hikers can continue up Mt. Sanitas for an arduous finale. The best part? Celebratory tacos, burgers, or beers are only a few blocks away.

San Jacinto Peak via Deer Springs Trail, California

Miles: 17.1
Elevation gain: 5,748 feet

There are over 50 miles of trail to hike on Mt. San Jacinto, but this tough one is the best for a long summer trek. With big rock steps and pine-hugged switchbacks, you’ll be hiking in Yosemite-level terrain without the Yosemite-level crowds. If you’re lucky, you’ll also be able to briefly share the trail with some of the last PCT hikers to pass through the area this year. Spend a while on the summit—after that climb, you’ll want to recover a bit—and take in views of Palm Springs, the Salton Sea, and hundreds of wind turbines in one of the largest wind farms in the U.S. Keep an eye out on the descent for Tahquitz Peak, which has a fire tower with amazing views, and Suicide Rock, which is popular among rock climbers. Note: To hike this trail, you need a free wilderness permit.

The best way to end a long hike? The promise of ice cream at the end. Check out Idyllwild Ice Cream (1 mile from the trailhead) for a post-hike treat.

Grand Island Loop, Michigan

Miles: 20.5
Elevation gain: 1,099 feet

Hike the perimeter of Grand Island on this 20-mile loop less than a mile from the mainland in Musing, Michigan. At any point along the trail, you can take a dip in the crystal clear waters of Lake Superior, but the best places are Waterfall Beach, Mather Beach, North Light Beach, and Trout Bay Beach. No matter what kind of scenery you’re looking for in a hike, you’ll find it on the Grand Island Loop. Stop for lunch on the north end, specifically at Preservation Point or Northeast Point, for shoreline views all to yourself. From the eastern side of the island, hikers can see the nearby Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which in itself is a hiking destination. On this side of the island, foliage is denser and the trail gets a little muddier, which brings more mosquitoes, black flies, and stable flies from mid-May to mid-July. The island’s west side has pebbled beaches, hardwood and pine forests, and plenty of views of the mainland.

Watch out for mountain bikers who ride this trail, and be sure to time your hike with the Grand Island Ferry Service, which shuttles people to and from the mainland.

Great Range Traverse, New York

Miles: 19.4
Elevation gain: 8,611 feet

Some call this 19-mile quad-buster one of the most difficult hikes in the east, often comparing it to the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire. The trail summits 10 Adirondack 46ers, including Upper and Lower Wolfjaw, the Gothics, Saddleback, Mt. Haystack, and Mt. Marcy. Many of the steeps here can be a mental hurdle, even for experienced hikers, who seriously earn each vertical foot gained. Most of these summits require class 2 or 3 scrambling with ladders on the steepest sections, and on the Gothics, there’s a Half Dome-style cable for assistance up the steep slab. These scrambles can be challenging with a full pack (another reason to tackle them in one day), especially with wind exposure, so be sure to have steady hand and foot placements. The grind of this hike is extremely rewarding, though, and offers many sweeping, 360-degree views of the highest points in the state. You’ll want all day to tackle the traverse; many hikers start or finish the hike in the dark, so be sure to pack a headlamp, even on the longest day of the year.

Kearsarge Pass to Kearsarge Lakes, California

Miles: 12.4
Elevation gain: 4,083 feet

With all the lakes, streams, and amazing lookouts you’ll find on this trail, you’ll want to spend all day hiking from Onion Valley to the top of Kearsarge Pass and into Kings Canyon. Just to get to the top of Kearsarge Pass, you pass Little Pothole Lake, Gilbert Lake, Flower Lake, Heart Lake, and Big Pothole Lake. From the top of the pass, you can see the trail’s steep switchbacks that take you down to Kearsarge Lakes, a perfect place to dip your toes and cool off when the sun’s shining bright. If you’re hungry for more vert, you can tag the scree-filled Mt. Gould from the top of the pass, too. Driving down into Independence after the hike? You have the chance to offer some trail magic to the many PCT hikers you’ll find looking for a ride into town for a resupply.

Mt. Massive

Miles: 12.8
Elevation gain: 4,693 feet

The third highest peak in the Lower 48, Mt. Massive more than lives up to its name. And with the crowds flocking to nearby Mt. Elbert (which is just 12 feet taller), you’re likely to find plenty of solitude here—even on the solstice. Start at the Mt. Massive Trailhead and trace the well-worn path along the shimmering ribbon of Halfmoon Creek. This is all the warm-up you get: After about a mile and a half, the trail tips sharply upward, ascending nearly 3,000 feet over just 3.5 grueling, switchbacking miles. Fortunately, the views are worth it: At this elevation, you’re at eye-level with Colorado’s highest peak—Mt. Elbert—and treated to vistas spilling out across the Sawatch Range, Turquoise Lake, and the Halfmoon Lakes below. After about 5 miles, the summit track will deposit you on Massive’s 14,421-foot crown. Either call it quits here at the highpoint, or keep going: If you continue along the ridgeline northwest for another 1.5 miles, you’ll touch all five of Massive’s summits as well as the Continental Divide.