10 Best Hikes in the U.S

As famed writer Wallace Stegner once said,America’s national parks are “the best idea we ever had.” And with warmer weather approaching, now’s the time to start planning a hike around the national or state park nearest you. Pull on your hiking boots, grab a water bottle, and visit one of the best hiking trails in the U.S. for your next active adventure.

Explore canyons, visit waterfalls, and take in breathtaking landscapes on these 10 best hikes in the U.S.

Nugget Falls Trail, Tongass National Forest

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau, Alaska is an epicenter of hiking around the Mendenhall Glacier and the Tongass National Forest. The area is a nature-lover's paradise with visitors often spotting bald eagles, sockeye salmon, and black bear cubs. Visitors can choose to 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, hikers need never see the same sights twice. The Nugget Falls trail provides incredible views of the waterfall and the glacier, and it's a relatively easy, 2-mile hike.

Appalachian Trail, Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is located just 75 miles from the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C. The park consists of 200,000 acres of protected lands that are home to deer, songbirds, and a clear, star-speckled night sky. The park also has more than 500 miles of hiking trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail, which you can hike a small section of for a day hike. Each trail offers something new, including waterfalls, viewpoints, and deep forests.

Burroughs Mountain Hike, Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Parkin 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 forest, river valleys, and subalpine meadows. Check out the Burroughs Mountain hike for stunning views of Mount Rainer and the alpine landscape.

Halema'uma'u Trail, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

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 Earthquake Trail and Waldron Ledge, which is an easy 1-mile hike that allows visitors to take in the beautiful ocean views, and the Halema'uma'u Trail, a 1-mile hike descending 425 feet at the southern edge of Kīlauea Caldera that takes visitors through a rain forest.

Charlies Bunion Hike, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina is world-renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life and sprawling mountains to hike and explore. The park even has a “Hike the Smokies” challenge, which rewards hikers who have explored 100+ miles of the park with exclusive mileage pins. The park has miles of official and backcountry trails with views of waterfalls and old-growth forests. Take the hike to Charlies Bunion via the Appalachian Trail for beautiful views of the mountains and forest.

Billy Goat Trail, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Billy Goat Trail is a moderate 4-mile hike located in Maryland, just minutes from Washington, D.C. Here, hikers 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.

Kalalau Trail, Ha'ena State Park

Kalalau Trail in Ha'ena State Park on the island of Kauai runs just about 11 miles along the island's north shore from Keʻe Beach to the Kalalau Valley. Visitors be warned: The trail is very difficult and dangerous. The trek takes hikers through streams and hills and provides stunning views of the crystal blue oceans surrounding the island.

Chautauqua Trail, Chautauqua Park

Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado has been around since 1898, when Boulder citizens approved a bond issue to purchase 80 acres of land. The park has miles of hiking, and those strong enough to make it to the top are rewarded with stunning views of Boulder from above. You can start with the Chautauqua Trail, which offers views of the Flat Irons and Boulder, before moving onto more challenging trails.

Canyon to Rim Loop, Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park in Oregon has hikes ranging from 2 to 7 miles and easy to moderately difficult terrain. The park suggests visitors arrive early in the morning for sightings of geese and ducks on the banks of the river, and later in the afternoon to catch a glimpse of a beautiful blue heron perched on a rock in the river. If you look closely, you may even spot a cougar or two.

Petroglyph Wall Trail, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada offers shorter distance hikes, with the longest trail measuring in at 6 miles, but don’t let the short distance fool you. Many of the hikes at Red Rock Canyon are labeled as difficult, and it can take upward of 4 to 5 hours to complete just a 5-mile hike. Along the different routes, hikers and visitors can try and spot the desert wildlife, including lizards, toads, and hawks soaring above. Even though it's short, the Petroglyph Wall Trail is a must-do to see the 800-year old historical rock art.