50 US Hikes and Trails Worth the Trip
America's public lands hold some of the greatest walking on Earth, from slot canyons and granite domes to alpine ridgelines and 2,000-mile thru-hikes. Here are fifty real, named trails we rate. Many popular hikes now use permits or reservations, and park entrance fees often apply — check ahead for details and hike within your ability.
Entries 1–10
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Angels Landing, Zion National Park
Utah's most famous hike: a chain-assisted ridge climb to a lofty perch above Zion Canyon. A permit is now required for the final section — check ahead.
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The Narrows, Zion National Park
Hike in the Virgin River itself between thousand-foot canyon walls — one of America's most unusual walks. Conditions are flow-dependent — check ahead.
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Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon's classic corridor trail, switchbacking below the South Rim; even a short out-and-back gives an unforgettable sense of the canyon's scale.
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South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point, Grand Canyon
A short, steep descent along an exposed ridgeline to a viewpoint whose name says it all — the best quick hike below the rim.
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Rim Trail, Grand Canyon National Park
A mostly level path along the South Rim linking viewpoint after viewpoint, walkable in any length and served by the park shuttle.
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Horseshoe Bend Trail, Arizona
A short sandy walk near Page to the famous overlook where the Colorado River wraps a full horseshoe a thousand feet below. Parking is charged — check ahead.
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Devil's Bridge Trail, Sedona
Sedona's most popular hike, ending at the largest natural sandstone arch in the area — and the classic photo standing on top of it.
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Cathedral Rock Trail, Sedona
A short, steep scramble up slickrock to the saddle of Sedona's most photographed red-rock formation.
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Havasu Falls, Havasupai Reservation
The turquoise waterfalls of Havasu Creek, deep in a side canyon of the Grand Canyon on Havasupai tribal land. Access is by advance permit only — check ahead.
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Delicate Arch Trail, Arches National Park
A three-mile round trip over slickrock to Utah's most famous arch — the one on the license plate — best at sunset.
Entries 11–20
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Devils Garden Loop, Arches National Park
The park's biggest hike, linking a whole gallery of arches including 306-foot Landscape Arch, one of the longest natural spans in the world.
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Mesa Arch Trail, Canyonlands National Park
An easy half-mile loop to a cliff-edge arch that frames the canyon country below — a sunrise pilgrimage for photographers.
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Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden, Bryce Canyon
The classic descent among Bryce's orange hoodoos, through Wall Street's narrow corridor and back up past Thor's Hammer.
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Half Dome via the cables, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite's legendary ascent, finishing up the steel cables on the dome's bare granite shoulder. Permits are awarded by lottery — check ahead.
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Mist Trail, Yosemite National Park
Granite steps climb through the spray of Vernal Fall and on to Nevada Fall — the essential Yosemite hike, and a soaking one in spring.
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Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
A relentless switchback climb to the brink of North America's tallest waterfall, with staggering views over Yosemite Valley.
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John Muir Trail, California
Two hundred and eleven miles of High Sierra perfection between Yosemite Valley and Mount Whitney. Permits are in heavy demand — check ahead.
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Pacific Crest Trail
The 2,650-mile national scenic trail from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington — hikeable in day-sized pieces almost anywhere along its length.
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Appalachian Trail
The most famous footpath in the world, running roughly 2,190 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Katahdin, Maine, through fourteen states.
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Continental Divide Trail
The wildest of the Triple Crown trails, tracing the spine of the Rockies for roughly 3,100 miles from New Mexico to Montana.
Entries 21–30
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Grinnell Glacier Trail, Glacier National Park
A spectacular climb past turquoise lakes to the shrinking Grinnell Glacier, with mountain goats and bighorn sheep often in view. Seasonal — check ahead.
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Highline Trail, Glacier National Park
A ledge-cut path along the Garden Wall from Logan Pass, with wildflower meadows and nonstop views — Glacier's signature day hike. Seasonal — check ahead.
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Avalanche Lake Trail, Glacier National Park
An approachable forest walk through cedar groves to a lake ringed by waterfall-streaked cliffs — Glacier at its most accessible.
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Skyline Trail, Mount Rainier National Park
A loop from Paradise through wildflower meadows to Panorama Point, face to face with Rainier's glaciers. Snow lingers into summer — check ahead.
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Wonderland Trail, Washington
The 93-mile circuit of Mount Rainier, crossing high parks and river valleys all the way around the mountain. Permits required — check ahead.
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Cascade Pass, North Cascades National Park
A graded climb to a historic pass surrounded by glaciers and jagged peaks — the classic introduction to the 'American Alps'.
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Hall of Mosses, Olympic National Park
A short loop through the Hoh Rain Forest's moss-draped maples and giant conifers — one of the finest temperate rainforest walks anywhere.
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Hurricane Hill Trail, Olympic National Park
A paved-then-gravel ridge walk from Hurricane Ridge with views across the Olympic Mountains and over the water to Canada. Seasonal access — check ahead.
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Multnomah Falls, Oregon
Oregon's most famous waterfall, tumbling in two tiers in the Columbia River Gorge; a short paved trail climbs to the Benson Bridge. Timed-entry rules can apply in season — check ahead.
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Emerald Lake Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park
A string of alpine lakes — Nymph, Dream and Emerald — beneath Hallett Peak, packed into an approachable 3.6-mile round trip. Timed entry may apply — check ahead.
Entries 31–40
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Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge, Rocky Mountain National Park
A harder classic past Alberta Falls and The Loch, scrambling beside Timberline Falls to a lake beneath the Sharkstooth spires.
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Bear Lake Nature Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park
An easy, family-friendly loop around a subalpine lake with peaks reflected in the water — the gateway walk of the park.
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Flatirons via Chautauqua Park, Boulder
Boulder's sandstone slabs rise straight from town; the trails from Chautauqua's meadow deliver big views for modest effort.
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Hanging Lake Trail, Colorado
A steep canyon climb to a fragile, impossibly clear travertine lake with waterfalls pouring over its rim. Access is by permit — check ahead.
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Maroon Bells Scenic Loop, Colorado
An easy walk at Maroon Lake below the most photographed mountains in North America. Access is by reservation or shuttle in season — check ahead.
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Old Rag Mountain, Shenandoah National Park
Virginia's favorite mountain: a granite scramble to a wide-open summit. A day-use ticket is required in season — check ahead.
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Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte, Great Smoky Mountains
The Smokies' most interesting ascent, passing Arch Rock and the Alum Cave Bluffs on the way to the high lodge-topped summit of LeConte.
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Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), Great Smoky Mountains
A short, steep paved path to the observation tower on the highest point in the Smokies, with hundred-mile views on a clear day. Seasonal road access — check ahead.
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Charlies Bunion via the Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mountains
A ridgeline out-and-back from Newfound Gap along the AT to a rocky outcrop with sheer views into the Tennessee valleys.
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Laurel Falls Trail, Great Smoky Mountains
A popular paved trail to an 80-foot two-tier waterfall — one of the most walked paths in America's most visited national park.
Entries 41–50
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McAfee Knob, Virginia
The most photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail: a jutting rock ledge above the Catawba Valley, reached by a well-loved day hike.
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Max Patch, North Carolina
A grassy Appalachian bald on the AT with a full 360-degree panorama of the Smokies and Blue Ridge for minimal effort.
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Franconia Ridge Loop, New Hampshire
The White Mountains' finest day: up Falling Waters Trail, across the alpine ridge over Little Haystack, Lincoln and Lafayette, and down past Greenleaf Hut.
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Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine, New Hampshire
The classic route up the Northeast's highest peak, famous for the world's worst weather — a serious mountain day needing proper preparation.
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Precipice Trail, Acadia National Park
Acadia's famous iron-rung climb up the cliffs of Champlain Mountain — exposed, exhilarating and closed seasonally for nesting falcons — check ahead.
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Beehive Loop, Acadia National Park
A short, ladder-assisted scramble above Sand Beach with instant ocean views — the Precipice's friendlier little sibling.
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Jordan Pond Path, Acadia National Park
A gentle shoreline loop around glassy Jordan Pond, looking up at the rounded twin Bubbles — traditionally finished with popovers at the Jordan Pond House. Check ahead.
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Kalalau Trail, Kauai
Eleven miles along the Na Pali Coast's soaring sea cliffs to Kalalau Beach — one of the world's great coastal trails. Permits are required beyond Hanakapiai — check ahead.
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Diamond Head Summit Trail, Oahu
A short, historic climb through the crater to bunkers and a lookout over Waikiki and the Pacific. Out-of-state visitors need reservations — check ahead.
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Sliding Sands (Keonehe'ehe'e) Trail, Haleakala National Park
Descend from over 9,000 feet into Haleakala's vast summit basin on Maui — a hike across an otherworldly volcanic landscape. Check ahead for details.
Rankings are our editorial picks, not objective measurements. Details like hours, access and booking can change — always check ahead with the official site before you travel.