Destinations USA The Best Hikes in the U.S. From Maine to California Explore the great outdoors at these hiking areas across the U.S. By Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 2, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: thinair28/Getty Images There’s no shortage of hiking trails snaking through the beautiful natural landscapes of the United States. From the meadows of Mount Rainier National Park to volcanic vistas in Hawaii, sometimes the best way to appreciate this country is on your own two feet. As proof, we’ve rounded up some of the very best hikes, from the East Coast to the West. These trails range from easy to moderate. They also represent a diversity of landscapes, from alpine to volcanic, from the Appalachian Trail to Carmel-by-the-Sea. As you weigh up which one is right for you, it’s always a good rule of thumb to check the official site of the park operating your trail of choice for information on current conditions, permits, and closures. Explore canyons, waterfalls, and breathtaking views on the best 18 hiking trails in the U.S. 01 of 18 Nugget Falls Trail, Tongass National Forest, Alaska Kevin Smith/Getty Images Visitors to the Tongass National Forest can hike through dense forests and meadows, explore caves, or even venture on a wooden "boardwalk" trail through swampy bogs called muskegs. With more than 700 miles of trails cutting through the property, hikers need never see the same sights twice. Many of the most accessible paths start at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau. The area is a nature lover's paradise, with visitors often spotting bald eagles, sockeye salmon, and black bear cubs. The Nugget Falls Trail provides particularly great views of the waterfall and the glacier, and it's a relatively easy 0.8-mile hike. 02 of 18 Appalachian Trail, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia NetaDegany/Getty Images Shenandoah National Park, 75 miles from Washington, D.C., is the perfect place to explore the great outdoors in Virginia. The park consists of 200,000 acres of protected lands, home to deer, songbirds, and a clear, star-speckled night sky. The park also has over 500 miles of hiking trails, including more than 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail; you can tackle a small section for a day hike. Each trail offers something new, including waterfalls, viewpoints, and deep forests. 10 Charming Small Towns to Visit Along the Appalachian Trail 03 of 18 Burroughs Mountain Trail, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington thinair28/Getty Images Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state is home to one of the most iconic mountains in the world. Mount Rainier rises 14,410 feet above sea level straight into the clouds. But the summit of the mountain isn't the only hiking opportunity in the park. The park has more than 260 miles of maintained trails that lead visitors through peaceful old-growth forests, river valleys, and subalpine meadows. Check out the Burroughs Mountain Trail for stunning views of Mount Rainier and the alpine landscape. 04 of 18 Halema'uma'u Trail, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii Greg Vaughn/Getty Images Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park provides visitors with the once-in-a-lifetime experience of getting up close and personal with the extreme heat of a volcano. The park has several trails available to visitors, including the Halema'uma'u Trail, a 0.8-mile hike descending 425 feet at the southern edge of Kīlauea caldera that takes visitors through a rain forest. 05 of 18 Charlies Bunion Hike, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina jcarillet/Getty Images Spread across two states, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is world-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life and sprawling mountains to explore. The park offers miles of official and backcountry trails with views of waterfalls and old-growth forests. For a particularly breathtaking vista of the mountains and valley, hike to Charlies Bunion, a popular outcropping along the Appalachian Trail. You may even be inspired to take up the "Hike the Smokies" challenge, which rewards hikers who have covered more than 100 miles with exclusive mileage pins. 06 of 18 Billy Goat Trail, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland Rob Crandall/Alamy Billy Goat Trail is a moderate 4.75-mile hike located in Maryland, just minutes from Washington, D.C. Here, outdoor enthusiasts can experience the raging Potomac River and the rocky crags of Great Falls. The hike is incredibly popular, so visit early to beat the crowds. Be sure to check for closures, as Section A is sometimes closed due to flooding, and Section B may be unavailable due to trail damage and erosion. 07 of 18 Kalalau Trail, Hā'ena State Park, Hawaii Westend61/Getty Images Kalalau Trail in Hā'ena State Park on the island of Kauai runs about 11 miles along the island's north shore from Keʻe Beach to the Kalalau Valley. All visitors must pay an entrance fee, and a camping permit is required to hike past Hanakāpīʻai Beach, even if you don't plan to stay the night. Be warned: The trail is challenging and dangerous. The trek takes experienced hikers through streams and up steep hills but rewards thrill seekers with stunning views of the crystal blue waters surrounding the island. How to Make the Most of Your Trip to Kauai — State Parks, Epic Surfing, and the Largest Limestone Cave in Hawaii Included 08 of 18 Chautauqua Trail, Chautauqua Park, Colorado Lightvision, LLC/Getty Images Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado, has been around since 1898. The 80-acre park has miles of hiking, much of which is uphill. But there are less strenuous hikes, too. You can start with the Chautauqua Trail, which offers views of the Flatiron mountains and Boulder, before moving on to more challenging trails. 09 of 18 Canyon to Rim Loop, Smith Rock State Park, Oregon Jordan Siemens/Getty Images Hikes at Smith Rock State Park vary in length and difficulty, but they all offer beautiful views of the Central Oregon landscape. The park suggests visitors arrive early in the morning for sightings of geese and ducks on the banks of the river. And throughout the day, you may even spot golden eagles, prairie falcons, river otters, and beaver. Take the gentle Canyon Trail past the Rope-de-Dope climbing area and up to the rim for spectacular canyon views. 10 of 18 Petroglyph Wall Trail, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada narawon/Getty Images Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada offers mainly short-distance hikes (many clock in at less than five miles), but don't let the length fool you. Many of the hikes at Red Rock Canyon are labeled as difficult, and it can take upward of four to five hours to complete just a five-mile hike. Along the different routes, you can try to spot desert wildlife, including lizards, toads, and hawks. One of the park's most beginner-friendly must-do hikes is the 0.2-mile Petroglyph Wall Trail, which takes you past centuries-old rock art. 11 of 18 South Rim Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona Garry Ridsdale/Getty Images With more than 630 miles of trails, Grand Canyon National Park is a magnet for adventurous hikers. The canyon's rim offers stunning panoramas for miles and miles, while the inner corridor boasts multicolored rock layers carved by the Colorado River. Experts can attempt to see it all by hiking the canyon from rim to rim. But the park also has a plethora of easier hiking options, including the South Rim Trail. This mostly flat and paved trail offers access to canyon's-edge views for hikers and visitors using the South Rim's hop-on, hop-off shuttle. 12 of 18 Cadillac North Ridge Trail, Acadia National Park, Maine Michael Ver Sprill/Getty Images Acadia National Park has hikes from easy to strenuous, each offering different views of the bays and tiny islands off the coast of Maine. The Cadillac North Ridge Trail is a great choice for incredible views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the Schoodic Peninsula, and is 4.4 miles round trip. The park remains open year-round, but it does experience limited closures in the harsh winter months, so be sure to check the website before visiting. 13 of 18 Grinnell Glacier Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana JeffGoulden/Getty Images Covering more than a million acres, Glacier National Park provides the headwaters for streams that flow to the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Hudson Bay. The Montana park has several hikes, including more than a dozen options ranging from easy to difficult around the Many Glacier area, like the 11.2-mile out-and-back Grinnell Glacier Trail. Along the way, look out for the park's varied wildlife, including 71 species of mammals, from the tiny pygmy shrew to one of the largest remaining grizzly bear populations in the lower 48. 14 of 18 Rim Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah Peter Unger/Getty Images Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah offers one of the most unique sights of any hiking excursion. The park is home to hoodoos, which are odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion. In fact, Bryce Canyon has the largest collection of hoodoos in the world, and you can see them from the Rim Trail. Once you reach the end of the 5.5 mile trail, you'll be treated to views of the Main Amphitheater. Bryce Canyon offers hikes for all levels, including backcountry options for those looking for a little added adventure and moonlight tours for night-owl explorers. 15 of 18 Upper Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park, Utah Jordan Siemens/Getty Images Zion National Park, Utah's first national park, is famous for its massive cream, pink, and red sandstone cliffs, freestanding arches, and hiking trails suitable for all experience levels. Hikers should attempt to visit for sunrise and sunset to snap breathtaking photos of sunlight splashing off the cliffs and into the rivers below. Try the Upper Emerald Pools Trail for an easy hike leading to sparkling waterfalls. Visit in the spring to beat the summer crowds and see the most waterfalls. 15 Best Waterfall Hikes in the World 16 of 18 Mount Ida Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Ethan Welty/Getty Images The Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles of Colorado wilderness encompasses lakes, mountains, and spectacular hiking. The park has more than 350 miles of trails, offering the chance to see wide-open views and wildlife, including birds, reptiles, and bears. The 9.4-mile out-and-back Mount Ida Trail is one of the park's most popular hikes thanks to its spectacular scenery above the treeline. 17 of 18 Point Lobos Loop Trail, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, California Roberto Soncin Gerometta/Getty Images The Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in California's picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea has more than a dozen trails for visitors to explore. To experience the stunning ocean vistas to the full, tackle the Point Lobos Loop Trail, which stretches more than six miles mainly along the coast. Look out for the 19th-century Whalers Cabin and marine mammals basking on the rocks in secluded Sea Lion Cove. 18 of 18 Half Dome Day Hike, Yosemite National Park, California Irjaliina Paavonpera/Travel + Leisure The Half Dome day hike in California's Yosemite National Park offers visitors a true adventure into the wilderness along the 14- to 16-mile round-trip trail. Visitors, however, are warned on the national park's site that this trail is exclusively for well-prepared and experienced hikers, as the elevation gain of 4,800 feet can feel overwhelming. In total, the hike usually takes between 10 and 12 hours to complete. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit