A Guide to Hiking Trails in the USA
Few countries pack as much variety into their hiking trails as the USA. Within a single road trip, you can walk beneath towering redwoods, cross a high alpine pass, trace the rim of a desert canyon, or follow a boardwalk across a steaming volcanic crater. The numbers back it up: the National Park Service maintains more than 18,000 miles of trails, the U.S. Forest Service manages roughly 150,000 more, and 63 national parks anchor a public-lands system that spans nearly every landscape on Earth.
This guide is built to help you navigate all of it. Below you will find the best hiking trails in the USA organized by region, a close look at the country’s legendary long-distance routes, practical advice for matching trails to your skill level, and the safety and etiquette knowledge that keeps wild places wild. Whether you are planning your first day hike or dreaming about a thru-hike, the trail is out there waiting.
What Makes Hiking Trails in the USA World-Class
A Landscape for Every Hiker: Mountains, Deserts, Coasts, and Forests
The variety is the point. You can hike below sea level in Death Valley one week and stand above 14,000 feet on a Colorado Fourteener the next. The USA offers glaciated peaks in Alaska and Washington, active volcanoes in Hawaii and the Cascades, hardwood forests along the Appalachians, cypress swamps in the Southeast, and rolling prairie on Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail. Add in the granite coastline of Maine, the sea cliffs of Big Sur, the 380-mile Oregon Coast Trail, and the slot canyons of southern Utah, and you have a trail network with no real equal.
For hikers, this means you never have to settle. If you love waterfalls, the Pacific Northwest and the Smoky Mountains deliver. If you crave wide-open space, the deserts of the Southwest and the high plains of Wyoming go on for miles. If you want ocean views, both coasts have you covered.
America’s Public Lands: National Parks, Forests, and State Trail Systems
Most of the best hiking in America happens on public land, and there is a lot of it:
- 63 national parks, from Acadia to Zion, each with signature trail networks
- 150+ national forests and grasslands, covering roughly 193 million acres and offering quieter alternatives to park crowds
- Bureau of Land Management areas, which protect vast stretches of the desert West
- Thousands of state parks, often just minutes from major cities
The federal National Trails System adds another layer, with 11 designated national scenic trails, including the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails, plus lesser-known giants like the 4,800-mile North Country Trail and the 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail.
Practically speaking, access is affordable. Many trailheads are free, park entrance fees are modest, and an annual America the Beautiful pass covers entry to every federal fee area. The main thing to plan ahead for is permits, which are required for several of the most popular hikes discussed below.
How Trail Difficulty Ratings Work (and How to Read Them)
Difficulty ratings are helpful but inconsistent. One app’s “moderate” can be another guidebook’s “strenuous.” A reliable way to judge any trail is to look at three factors: distance, elevation gain, and terrain. Use this table as a starting point:
| Rating | Typical Distance | Typical Elevation Gain | Terrain | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1–5 miles | Under 500 feet | Smooth, well-graded paths | First-timers, families, casual outings |
| Moderate | 5–10 miles | 500–2,000 feet | Rocks, roots, switchbacks, some exposure | Hikers with basic fitness |
| Strenuous | 10+ miles | 2,000+ feet | Steep grades, scrambling, remote sections | Experienced, well-conditioned hikers |
Two caveats matter. First, altitude multiplies difficulty: a “moderate” 8-mile hike at 10,000 feet feels far harder than the same distance at sea level. Second, ratings assume good conditions. Heat, ice, and darkness can turn an easy trail serious. Always read recent trip reports before you go.
The Best Hiking Trails in the USA by Region
West Coast Wonders: California, Oregon, and Washington
The West Coast combines big mountains with big water, and its trail menu reflects both:
- Mist Trail (Yosemite National Park, California) – About 3 miles round trip past two of the park’s most powerful waterfalls, Vernal and Nevada Falls. Expect granite steps and plenty of spray.
- Mount Whitney Trail (California) – The highest summit in the lower 48 states at 14,505 feet. The standard route is a 22-mile round trip, and permits are awarded by lottery.
- Lost Coast Trail (California) – Roughly 25 miles of roadless northern California shoreline where the mountains meet the Pacific.
- Trail of Ten Falls (Silver Falls State Park, Oregon) – A seven-mile loop that actually passes behind several of its waterfalls. One of the best easy-to-moderate hikes anywhere in the country.
- South Sister (Oregon) – An 11-mile round trip volcano summit near Bend, with a turquoise crater lake at the top.
- Colchuck Lake (Washington) – An 8-mile round trip into the granite heart of the Cascades, near the famous Enchantments.
- Wonderland Trail (Mount Rainier National Park, Washington) – A 93-mile circumnavigation of Mount Rainier that many hikers call the finest loop trail in the country.
- Rialto Beach to Hole-in-the-Wall (Olympic National Park, Washington) – An easy coastal walk among driftwood, tide pools, and a natural sea arch.
Southwest and Rocky Mountain Trails: Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming
This is red rock and big-peak country, home to some of the most recognizable hiking trails in the USA:
- Angels Landing (Zion National Park, Utah) – A 5.4-mile round trip with a chained, exposed ridge finale. Permits are required and issued by lottery.
- The Narrows (Zion National Park, Utah) – Hike upstream through the Virgin River between thousand-foot canyon walls. Check the flash flood forecast every time.
- Delicate Arch (Arches National Park, Utah) – A 3-mile round trip to the free-standing arch on Utah’s license plate. Go at sunset for the full effect.
- Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails (Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona) – The classic routes into the canyon. Hike below the rim in warm months with realistic turnaround plans; hiking to the river and back in one day is not advisable in the heat.
- Havasu Falls (Arizona) – Ten miles one way across the Havasupai Reservation to travertine waterfalls of surreal blue-green water. Reservations are essential and book out fast.
- Sky Pond (Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado) – About 9 miles round trip past waterfalls and a scramble to a jagged-ringed alpine lake.
- Longs Peak, Keyhole Route (Colorado) – A 14,259-foot classic involving scrambling and exposure. Most hikers start at midnight to be off the summit before afternoon storms.
- Cascade Canyon (Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming) – Take the Jenny Lake boat shuttle, then walk deep into a canyon walled by 12,000-foot peaks.
- Mount Washburn (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming) – A 6-mile round trip to a fire lookout with park-wide views and frequent bighorn sheep sightings.
East Coast Classics: The Appalachians, Acadia, and Beyond
The East trades the West’s scale for history, green ridgelines, and some surprisingly rugged terrain:
- Precipice Trail (Acadia National Park, Maine) – A short but serious iron-rung climb up sea cliffs. It closes seasonally for nesting peregrine falcons, so check before you go.
- Hunt Trail to Mount Katahdin (Baxter State Park, Maine) – The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and a worthy summit in its own right. Baxter State Park requires advance reservations.
- Franconia Ridge Loop (White Mountains, New Hampshire) – About 9 miles spent almost entirely above treeline along a razor-backed ridge. Start early and pack layers.
- Old Rag Mountain (Shenandoah National Park, Virginia) – A beloved rock-scramble circuit that now requires a day-use ticket.
- Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte (Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee) – An 11-mile round trip through arches and cliffs to the 6,593-foot summit that towers over the Smokies.
- Breakneck Ridge (Hudson Highlands State Park, New York) – A steep, rocky climb reachable by commuter train from New York City, which makes it one of the most accessible hard hikes in the East.
- Mount Marcy (Adirondacks, New York) – New York’s highest point at 5,344 feet, about 15 miles round trip through boreal forest and open alpine summit.
Hidden Gems: The Midwest, Alaska, and Hawaii
Some of the most rewarding hiking trails in the USA sit far from the marquee parks:
- Starved Rock State Park (Illinois) – Sandstone canyons and seasonal waterfalls within 90 minutes of Chicago.
- Superior Hiking Trail (Minnesota) – More than 300 miles of ridgeline above Lake Superior; the sections near Duluth make perfect weekend hikes.
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Trail (Michigan) – Sandstone cliffs in shades of orange and turquoise above the clearest water in the Great Lakes.
- Ice Age Trail (Wisconsin) – A 1,200-mile national scenic trail tracing the edge of the last glacier, broken into day-hike-friendly segments.
- Buffalo River Trail (Arkansas) – Ozark bluffs and gravel bars along the country’s first national river.
- Harding Icefield Trail (Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska) – An 8.2-mile round trip climbing to a viewpoint over an ocean of ice stretching to the horizon.
- Kesugi Ridge Trail (Denali State Park, Alaska) – Roughly 30 miles of tundra ridgeline with views of Denali on clear days.
- Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai (Kauai, Hawaii) – The first two miles of the legendary Na Pali coast trail. Permits are required to continue farther.
- Kilauea Iki Trail (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island) – A 4-mile loop that descends across the solidified floor of a lava lake, still steaming in places.
America’s Most Iconic Long-Distance Trails
The Appalachian Trail: The East’s Legendary 2,190-Mile Route
The Appalachian Trail, or AT, runs roughly 2,190 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, crossing 14 states along the way. It is the most social of the long trails, with a shelter roughly every 8 to 10 miles, frequent town resupply points, and a deep culture of trail magic and trail names. Most thru-hikers walk northbound between March and April and finish five to seven months later. Around one in four who attempt a full thru-hike reaches Katahdin, usually because of time, money, or injury rather than fitness alone.
The Pacific Crest Trail: 2,650 Miles from Mexico to Canada
The Pacific Crest Trail, or PCT, stretches 2,650 miles from the Mexican border through California, Oregon, and Washington to the Canadian border. Its defining features are the High Sierra, where the trail spends weeks above 10,000 feet, and the volcanic peaks of the Cascades. Snowpack dictates everything: start dates shift year to year, and hikers time their calendars around both Sierra snow and autumn storms in Washington. The reward is arguably the most scenic continuous route on the planet.
The Continental Divide Trail: The Wild “Triple Crown” Finale
The Continental Divide Trail, or CDT, follows the spine of the continent for about 3,100 miles through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. It is the least marked and most remote of the Triple Crown trails, with long waterless stretches in New Mexico, brutal afternoon storms in Colorado’s San Juans, and grizzly country in the north. Solid navigation skills and flexible planning are prerequisites. Finishing the AT, PCT, and CDT earns hikers a place in the small Triple Crown club.
| Trail | Length | States | Typical Season | Signature Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Trail | ~2,190 miles | 14 | March–October | Community, shelters, green tunnels of hardwood forest |
| Pacific Crest Trail | ~2,650 miles | 3 | April–October | The High Sierra and the Cascade volcanoes |
| Continental Divide Trail | ~3,100 miles | 5 | April–September | Solitude, navigation, true wilderness |
Thru-Hiking vs. Section Hiking: Which Approach Is Right for You?
A thru-hike means walking an entire trail in one continuous trip, usually in a single season. It demands five to seven months of time, a budget commonly in the four-figure range, and the ability to handle daily physical and mental repetition. It is life-changing, but it is not the only way to experience these routes.
Section hiking breaks a long trail into pieces completed over months or years. This is how most people enjoy the big three, and it opens the door to world-class sub-routes:
- The John Muir Trail, a 211-mile alpine masterpiece through the Sierra Nevada that overlaps the PCT
- The Appalachian Trail through New Hampshire’s White Mountains
- The PCT through Washington’s North Cascades
- The CDT through Colorado’s San Juan mountains
A good middle ground is a 2- to 4-day “thru-hike lite”: pick one scenic stretch, arrange a shuttle or two cars, and sleep out along the way. You will get a genuine taste of long-distance hiking without quitting your job.
How to Choose the Right Trail for Your Skill Level
Beginner-Friendly Trails: Short, Scenic, and Low-Stakes
If you are new to hiking, start with trails of 2 to 5 miles, under 600 feet of elevation gain, on well-marked paths with other people around. Strong beginner options include the Jordan Pond Path in Acadia, Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, Delicate Arch in Arches, Diamond Head on Oahu, and any segment of the Trail of Ten Falls. Focus on learning the basics: pacing, layering, water management, and reading a trail map.
Intermediate Trails: Adding Distance, Elevation, and Exposure
Once you can comfortably handle 6 to 8 miles with a few hundred feet of climb, step up to routes in the 8-to-14-mile range with 2,000 to 3,500 feet of gain. Good bridges to the next level include Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte, Colchuck Lake, Cascade Canyon, and South Sister. At this stage, trekking poles, earlier starts, and better fueling habits pay immediate dividends.
Advanced Trails: Big Challenges for Experienced Hikers
Advanced routes combine distance, exposure, altitude, or remoteness. Half Dome in Yosemite and Angels Landing in Zion both require permits and involve exposed scrambling with cables. Longs Peak, Franconia Ridge, the Harding Icefield Trail, and the full Enchantments traverse (itself a permit-lottery hike) all demand early starts, weather windows, and honest self-assessment. Set a turnaround time before you leave the trailhead, and stick to it.
The Best Time of Year to Hike in Each Region
Timing can make or break a hike. Use this guide when planning:
| Region | Best Months | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest deserts (Arizona, southern Utah) | March–May, October–November | Summer heat is dangerous; July–September brings monsoon storms and flash flood risk |
| Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Wyoming, Montana) | June–September | Snow lingers into June; afternoon thunderstorms are routine |
| Sierra Nevada (California) | July–September | High passes hold snow well into summer |
| Pacific Northwest | July–September | Alpine trails are often snowbound until mid-July |
| Appalachians and Northeast | May–October | Fall foliage in late September and October is spectacular; summers are humid and buggy |
| Alaska | June–September | Mosquitoes peak in late June and July; bring repellent |
| Hawaii | Year-round | November–March is wetter; flash floods and muddy trails are common |
Trail-Finding Tools: Apps, Maps, and Guidebooks
A few reliable tools cover nearly every situation:
- AllTrails – The most popular discovery app, with user reviews, photos, and offline maps on the paid tier
- FarOut – The standard for long-distance trails, showing water sources, campsites, and resupply points
- Gaia GPS and CalTopo – Powerful options for offline topographic maps and route planning
- Paper maps – National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps are excellent backups for national parks
- Ranger stations and trail associations – The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Pacific Crest Trail Association, and Continental Divide Trail Coalition publish current, authoritative condition updates
Whatever you use, download offline maps before you lose signal, and always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
Staying Safe on the Trail: Gear, Wildlife, and Leave No Trace
What to Pack for Any Trail
The Ten Essentials remain the gold standard for day hikes and overnight trips alike:
- Navigation – Map, compass, and a GPS app on a charged phone
- Sun protection – Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
- Insulation – An extra layer beyond what you expect to need
- Headlamp – With spare batteries
- First-aid kit – Including blister care
- Fire – Lighter or waterproof matches
- Repair kit and knife – Duct tape fixes a surprising number of problems
- Nutrition – More food than you think you need
- Hydration – Water plus a filter or purification tablets
- Emergency shelter – A lightweight space blanket or bivy
Sturdy footwear with good traction matters more than any single gadget, and trekking poles save knees on long descents.
Wildlife Awareness and Weather Preparedness
Wildlife encounters in the USA are usually a highlight, not a hazard, but a few rules keep them that way. In grizzly country, which includes Yellowstone, Glacier, and Alaska, carry bear spray, make noise on blind corners, and know how to use approved food storage. With black bears, give them space and never leave food unattended. Rattlesnakes in the Southwest want nothing to do with you; watch where you step and never handle one. Moose injure more people than bears in Alaska, so treat them with the same respect you would give a bull.
Weather deserves equal attention. Start early so you are below treeline before afternoon thunderstorms build. In slot canyons and desert washes, check flash flood forecasts even if the sky above you is blue. In heat, drink before you are thirsty and plan shorter days. At altitude, give yourself time to acclimatize and descend if headache and nausea set in.
Leave No Trace Principles and Trail Etiquette
The hiking trails in the USA stay beautiful because millions of visitors follow a shared code. The seven Leave No Trace principles, in short form:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly, including packing out all trash and using catholes 200 feet from water
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife by observing from a distance
- Be considerate of other visitors
Etiquette is simple once you know the rules of the road. Hikers yield to horses and mules, mountain bikers yield to everyone on foot, and downhill hikers yield to uphill hikers. Walk single file through mud rather than widening the trail around it, keep your voice down in the backcountry, and keep pets leashed where rules require it. Small habits like these are what keep the best hiking trails in the USA worth returning to.
Conclusion
From a two-mile boardwalk over a lava lake to a 3,100-mile walk along the spine of a continent, the hiking trails in the USA cover every ambition a hiker can have. The best part is that you do not need to start big. Pick one trail from this guide that matches your fitness and your calendar, check the conditions, pack the essentials, and go.
The mountains, deserts, coasts, and forests described here have been waiting for thousands of years. Whichever trail you choose, the hardest step is the one out your front door. Take it, and let the trail handle the rest.