Adventures like hiking and camping are great and many people love to do them. People are inclined toward these activities in countries like the USA where there are a lot of hiking places and camping places. In this post, we will share with you the best hiking trails in the USA.
10. Cadillac North Ridge Trail, Maine
Acadia national park bears many distinctions. It’s recognized as the first national park founded in the eastern United States. It’s also home to Cadillac mountain, the landmark from which our first hiking trail takes its name. And in addition to being just an all-around beautiful natural attraction, Cadillac mountain is also among the tallest peaks anywhere on the North Atlantic coast.
Pair that height with the beauty of the surrounding area and you get some of the most stunning views. The Cadillac North Ridge trail is a roughly five to six-hour hike round trip and all things considered, is actually a remarkably easy hike considering the payoff. As if that’s not enough, this trail also benefits from the fact that beautiful bar harbor and a lobster dinner are just a few miles away.
9. Billy Goat Trail, Maryland
If you’re looking for rugged American beauty in a convenient location, you couldn’t ask for better than Billy Goat Trail. It’s just a few miles away from Washington DC. Now before you get your hopes up we should clarify that you are unlikely to spot any wild goats roaming the trail.
What you do get, however, are beautiful views of the mighty Potomac river including the area’s famous great falls which make for a great photo option. At roughly four to five hours total, Billy Goat Trail isn’t a major time investment. But, you get a ton of variety and exciting terrains to navigate because lengths of the hike are spent along the river’s rocky edge. There are boulders steep escarpments and even some narrow ledges to navigate. All in all, it makes for quite the adventure.
8. Chautauqua trail, Colorado
This is really the best hike in the USA. Chautauqua Park located near boulder Colorado has a wide variety of hiking trails to explore. Some of them are quite the undertaking but the Chautauqua trail is a nice place to start, offering only moderate difficulty but a ton of great views.
Over a relatively short period of time, it’s a great warm-up for a multi-day trip in the park or a perfect choice for families. Views along the trail include the park’s jagged flat irons and the city of Boulder itself. Best of all Chautauqua leads to a number of entry points to the park’s more challenging hikes such as the royal arch. So if you do find this namesake hike to be too much of a walk in the park, you can always pivot and push yourself further.
7. Appalachian Trail, Virginia
Okay! We know that there are more athletic among you, starting to grumble so we’re upping the difficulty. The iconic Appalachian trail is among the country’s most celebrated and historic hikes. Altogether it adds up to over 2180 miles of trails and carries travelers through a wide array of natural environments. W=What’s so great about the Appalachian trail is that it’s a real choose your adventure and difficulty sort of hike.
You can jump on and off different sections depending on your fitness level and overall interests. We’re specifically highlighting the portion that falls within Shenandoah national park in Virginia, However, because it offers some truly stunning views and a solid day of hiking. Of course, Shenandoah also has other excellent hikes for all skill levels.
6. Petroglyph Wall Trail, Nevada
Typically, when hiking the trail itself is the main attraction, there’s often a great view at the end of the trail or along the way. But, the Petroglyph wall trail offers something that you really won’t find in many places. Petroglyphs are located in Nevada’s red rock national conservation area. This hiking trail is technically only a few hundred feet long but it’s usually paired with any number of trails in the larger park that top out at about six miles in length.
Walking in the footsteps of people who created this rock art some 800 year ago, however, adds a real sense of perspective to the adventure. Many of the trails involve some rather tough terrain with certain sections of the trails requiring up to an hour per mile. The trails boast awe-inspiring Nevada views. Furthermore, local wildlife sightings include hawks and lizards. Indeed, this is best hikes in the USA.
5. Highline Trails, Montana
Montana is often referred to as ‘big sky country’ in Glacier national park. However, everything feels larger than life from the sky to the scenic views mountains, and everything in between. A hike along the Highline trail is one of the best ways to see it all. The trail can be approached in a few different ways.
There’s the shorter round trip from Logan pass to Haystack pass at just over seven miles, the Highline loop at 11.8 miles, and the Granite park chalet. Add on that brings you to a total of 15.8 miles. However, you approach it, this trail will bring you through some stunning views with scenic vistas seemingly around every turn. While exploring Glacier national park, you can also consider the Grinnell glacier trail which carries you to the hike’s namesake landmark.
4. Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail, Wyoming
Taking only an hour or two to complete, the Grand Prismatic Overlook trail is by no means the toughest hike on our list. But what it lacks in arduous physical activity the trail is just over a mile long in each direction. It more than makes up for its massive payoff. The trail leads to and from Grand Prismatic spring overlook.
The rainbow-hued hot spring attracts visitors from around the globe, the largest of its kind in the USA. The Grand Prismatic Hot Spring and the perspective offered from this trail would be worth a hike many times longer. Beyond the spring itself, the trail is steeped in history. You’ll traverse the Firehole river over a historic steel truss bridge and walk the old fountain freight road which dates back to the late 1800s. Some hikes aren’t about the distance but rather the journey.
3. Kalalau Trail, Hawaii
For those seeking a true challenge, this epic hike on the island of Kauai will not disappoint. The trail winds along the island’s rugged north shore offering stunning ocean views along the way. Located in Hyena state park, the Kalalau trail is undoubtedly among the best hikes in the united states but it’s also considered to be one of the country’s most difficult. The trail is often extremely narrow and covers steep terrain. One stretch involves an 800-foot rise in elevation across just one and a quarter miles of trail.
For those with the stamina and experience, the Kalalau trail makes for a truly unforgettable hike. If that sounds too daunting for you, however, consider doing the sunset hike at Hawaii’s Haleakala national park. The view from the summit at dusk is truly breathtaking. Indeed, this is one of the best hiking trails in the USA.
2. Navajo Loop Trail, Utah
At under 2 miles per round trip, the Navajo Loop trail is a fantastic accessible trail for families or beginner hikers who are looking for a unique hiking experience. Then again considering the scenery and environment, more advanced hikers won’t want to skip it either. Navajo Loop trail is located in Bryce Canyon national park and carries you amongst the surreal geological formations for which the park is famous, the hoodoos or fairy chimneys like something.
Out of a fantasy film, this area of the park sparks the imagination. The Navajo Loop carries you by the park’s most famous Hudu Thor’s hammer, as well as. Other notable sites like the wall street slot canyon and the temple of Osiris are also included in it. For those looking to extend the hike, the queen’s garden trail is a great add-on.
1. The Mist Trail, California
Don’t let the relatively short distance fool you. This hike is a pretty tough one and yet it remains one of the most popular trails, not only in Yosemite national park but arguably all of the united states. With a round trip total of about seven miles, the trail begins at happy isles and ends at the breathtaking Nevada falls. Passing both the Vernal falls and Emerald pool along the way as you follow the Merced river, each of the aforementioned sites would be worth the hike by themselves.
But when you consider the altogether awe-inspiring environment of Yosemite, it really all makes for an unforgettable experience. The Mist trail gets its name from the heavy mist that often covers sections of the path. The stones can get quite slippery. So proper clothing and footwear are a must. But this is truly an astonishingly worthwhile hike. No doubt, this is one of the best hiking trails in the USA.
So, these are the best hiking trails in the USA. Be sure to wear hiking boots for safety. I hope you enjoyed our article. For more articles, visit our website.
Note: Must read 7 Best Winter Hiking Boots For Men
