| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
all hikes
Acadia National Park: Mountain Carriage Loop
This old 11.1-mile carriage loop is a family-friendly adventure complete with lakes, streams, easy walking, and beautiful ocean vistas. Open to cyclists and hikers.
Albany: Tongue Mountain Loop
This strenuous 11.7-mile loop hops three peaks to outstanding views in the Tongue Mountain Range, then returns along the gorgeous shoreline of Northwest Bay.
Albuquerque: Gila Loop
Lush river canyons meet high desert mesas on this 23.7-mile, 3-day loop in the Gila Wilderness.
Albuquerque: Whitewater Creek via the Catwalk
Set a weekend aside for this challenging 19.7-mile lasso loop (with numerous campsites) that connects two pinched gorges with suspended bridges.
Arches National Park: Eye of the Whale Loop
Find solitude in a geological playground of narrow canyons and pristine red sandstone arches on this rarely visited 4.5-mile loop.
Assateague National Seashore: Park Loop
Watch wild ponies trot by the seashore on this 11.1-mile loop along a unique barrier island. Bring a bucket and hunt for clams on the isle's massive, undeveloped beaches.
Atlanta: AT-Benton MacKaye Loop
Sample two long paths on a 5.8-mile figure-8 loop through hemlock groves and along churning creeks to an AT shelter in Chattahoochee National Forest.
Atlanta: Coosa Backcountry Trail
This strenuous 11.3-mile loop offers a bit of everything--rugged summits, challenging trails, dense woodlands, mountain streams, remote campsites, and heaps of solitude.
Atlanta: Coosa Backcountry Trail
This strenuous 11.3-mile loop offers a bit of everything--rugged summits, challenging trails, dense woodlands, mountain streams, remote campsites, and heaps of solitude.
Atlanta: Flat Creek Loop
This lovely 5.4-mile loop shaded by oaks, pines, and birches leads to the rushing headwaters of Flat Creek in Chattahoochee National Forest.
Atlanta: Gahuti Backcountry Trail
This moderate 7.9-mile loop descends into lush tunnels of rhododendron, then rises to lofty views of endless forest in Fort Mountain State Park.
Atlanta: Miller Trek Trail
This moderate 6.5-mile loop climbs through an open oak forest, reaches nearly 3,000 feet, and pays off with expansive views of distant ridgelines.
Atlanta: Red & White Blaze Loop
Visit Georgia's Little Grand Canyon on this 6.7-mile loop to backcountry shelters and geologic wonders in Providence Canyon State Park.
Austin: Enchanted Rock
This 6.4-mile loop circles the best scenery in Texas Hill Country: amazing pink rock formations, picturesque ponds, and a giant granite dome.
Baltimore: Cascade Falls
Hike, bike, or snowshoe this 3.1-mile loop to pioneer ruins and a relaxing waterfall in Patapsco State Park, a short drive from downtown.
Big Bend National Park: Outer Loop Trail
From the Chisos Mountains to the Chihuahuan Desert, this 3- or 4-day hike samples it all.
Big Bend National Park: South Rim Loop
Explore one of the Lower 48's last remaining wild corners on this 11.6-mile loop from the High Chisos Mountains to the South Rim escarpment.
Birmingham: Foothill-Double Oak Loop
Stroll through a tableau of pine-studded foothills past a secluded lake, then climb to a steep saddle on this 7.5-mile loop in Oak Mountain State Park.
Birmingham: Land Trust Loop
Explore seasonal waterfalls, mellow woods, and a large quarry on this moderate 4.5-mile loop along the relatively steep flanks of Monte Sano Mountain.
Boise: Sleeping Deer to Mid-Salmon River Loop
Set aside a long weekend for great fishing on this 32.4-mile loop in the remote Salmon River Mountains, where crystal waters attract elk, moose, and bears.
Boston: Ispwich Water Trail
Paddle this 11.5-mile loop through open bays and protected salt marshes to beaches with giant sand dunes and historic buildings from the late 1700s.
Boston: Mt. Moosilauke
This 7.3-mile loop hike takes you up a steep, rocky trail to an exposed, treeless summit that's the southwesternmost high peak in the White Mountains, and one of the prettiest.
Boston: Skyline Trail to Cross Fells Loop
This 12.1-mile loop skirts five reservoirs, cuts through forests of oak, hemlock, and birch, and gains 2,600 feet of elevation in 2,060-acre Middlesex Fells Reservation.
Boston: Wachusett Mountain Loop
This 5.8-mile loop takes you through a 400-year-old forest to summit the highest Bay State peak east of the Berkshires.
Bryce Canyon National Park: Fairyland Loop
This 8-mile trail is arguably the most scenic dayhike in Bryce Canyon, and is less-trafficked than other dayhike loops.
Buffalo: Genesse Gorge Loop
Nestled deep along Genesee Falls, this 6.5-mile reverse-lasso loop overlooks New York's "Grand Canyon" in Letchworth State Park.
Butterfield Hiking Trail
Butterfield Hiking Trail is a 14.5 mile loop trail in the state of Arkansas. Half in State Park, half Ozark National Forest. Located at N 35.74728 and W -94.27686.
Channel Islands National Park: Lobo Canyon Trail
Discover ancient archaeology and island isolation (playful sea lions excepted) on this 5.2-mile loop through Santa Rosa's steep canyons and sandy beaches.
Charlotte: Upper Falls Loop
Hike a 6.9-mile loop past raging waterfalls to the lonely ridges of North Carolina's Upper Piedmont for sky-high views in South Mountains State Park.
Chattanooga: Chickamauga CreekTrail
This 5.6-mile loop climbs the woody spine of Dick's Ridge, then meanders along a twisting mountain stream in a hilly section of Chattahoochee National Forest.
Chattanooga: West Rim Loop
This easy 4-mile loop plunges you into a deep canyon to view high waterfalls, then skirts up the canyon rim, passing impressive overlooks in Cloudland Canyon State Park.
Chicago, IL: Starved Rock Trail
This beautiful 4.3-mile loop adjacent to the Illinois River adds welcome relief--waterfalls, sculpted sandstone canyons, and impressive overlooks--to the usually pancake-flat landscape.
Cincinnati: Redwing Trail Loop
Flowers? Check. Wildlife? Yep. Good trails? You bet. This easy loop in Rowe Woods packs a lot in 4.9 miles, and it’s just a short drive from the I-275 loop.
Cincinnati: Taylorsville Loop
Get far away from it all on this 4-mile loop through wooded ravines and giant rock outcroppings abutting the Great Miami River.
Cincinnati: Trail Ridge Loop
City life getting dull? Just minutes from downtown, this 3.8-mile rollercoaster loop follows the steep ravines and trickling streams of Mt. Airy Forest.
Cincinnati: Trail Ridge Loop
City life getting dull? Just minutes from downtown, this 3.8-mile rollercoaster loop follows the steep ravines and trickling streams of Mt. Airy Forest.
Columbus, OH: Old Mans Cave Loop
This beautiful 5.1-mile loop in Hocking Hills State Park runs along a tight sandstone gorge to waterfalls, caves, and funky rock formations.
Columbus: Paint Creek North Loop
Hike 4.9 miles into wooded pockets colored with summer wildflowers along the hills of Paint Creek, where white-tailed deer congregate at sunset.
Columbus: Scioto Trail State Forest Loop
This 11.2-mile loop traces an old Shawnee trail over ragged foothills, across view-laden ridges, and into quiet, wooded hollows with darting streams.
Dallas: Bonham State Park Loop
This gentle 4.8-mile loop rolls through Texas woods and grasslands to a breezy lakeshore.
Dallas: Coyote Run
Discover the river gullies, wildlife, and floral delights of Cooper Lake State Park on this winding 4.7-mile lollipop loop through a towering hardwood forest.
Dallas: Dogwood Canyon Trail
Find an oasis of thick cypress groves, lakeside coves, and nesting bald eagles on this 4.8-mile lollipop loop in Ray Roberts Lake State Park.
Denver: Bitterbrush to Nelson Loop
This 10-mile loop in Hall Ranch begins with a stiff, sometimes technical, climb then speeds into rolling forestland and endless grassy meadows to an old ranch in the shadow of Longs Peak.
Denver, CO: Golden Gate Panorama Point
Mule deer, raccoon, elk, and black bear: sample the scattered wildlife of Golden Gate Canyon (and a Continental Divide panorama) on this 12.25-mile loop.
Denver: Devils Thumb Loop
Bag two peaks on this 9-mile, fido-friendly loop around Boulder's signature Flatirons.
Glacier National Park: Five Pass-Red Eagle Loop
This strenuous 54.8-mile, 6-day loop follows a historic abandoned trail across the true crown of the continent.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Llewellyn Loop
Pioneer your own loop across virtually unknown, once-submerged benches on this 3-day, 17.3-mile cross-country trek following a remote route coveted by canyon junkies.
Grand Rapids: Big Sable Point
Climb to a historic lighthouse and spot a mysterious shipwreck in Lake Michigan on this 4.3-mile loop in Ludington State Park.
Great Sand Dunes National Park: Star Dune Loop
Ascend North America's tallest dunes for a day surrounded by alpine peaks, a desert valley, and shifting mountains of sand on this 6.6-mile loop in America's newest national park.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park: Spence Field Loop
Wander from bubbling cascades to scenic balds to wide ridgelines to old-growth forest on this classic 12.5-mile, 2-day loop in the shadow of several 5,000-foot peaks.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park: Spence Field Loop
Wander from bubbling cascades to scenic balds to wide ridgelines to old-growth forest on this classic 12.5-mile, 2-day loop in the shadow of several 5,000-foot peaks.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Deep Creek Loop Trail
This moderate 5.5-mile loop on the eastern boundary of the Smokies combines stellar woodland hiking with superb waterfall exploration.
Greenville: Raven Cliff Falls Loop
This 7.7-mile lollipop loop through the Mountain Bridge Wilderness leads to Raven Cliff Falls, arguably South Carolina's most famous waterfall.
Hot Springs National Park: Sunset Trail Loop
Traverse the secluded ridgelines of the "Valley of Vapors" on this 12.4-mile loop through America's oldest National Park Service site.
Indianapolis: Sycamore Loop
This 6.1-mile loop wanders into Indiana's only wilderness area, Charles C. Deam Wilderness, along an exceptional ridgeline to the sometimes-dry Sycamore Branch Creek
Jacksonville: Fort Clinch Loop
Massive sand dunes, scenic side trips, and a historic fort highlight this mellow 5.3-mile loop on Florida's northernmost barrier island.
Jacksonville: Suwanne River Trail
Hike easy on a rolling 4.5-mile loop through bluffs and ravines to an oak hammock above this gorgeous riverway in northern Florida.
Kitching Creek Trail
Kitching Creek Trail is a short 1.5 mile loop located in the Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hope Sound, Florida. Beginning from the northeast corner of the main parking lot, hikers may hike this trail in conjunction with Wilson Creek Trail; the two form a figure eight.
Knoxville: Knobby Rock Loop
This 4.8-mile loop links caves, sandstone towers, waterfalls, and a scenic overlook in the old-growth forests in Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve.
Knoxville: Twin Arches Loop
This 4.8-mile loop ranks as one of the best dayhikes on the Cumberland Plateau, thanks to whitewater cascades, giant twin arches, and a rustic lodge.
Knoxville: Twin Arches Loop
This 4.8-mile loop ranks as one of the best dayhikes on the Cumberland Plateau, thanks to whitewater cascades, giant twin arches, and a rustic lodge.
Lake Tahoe, CA: Eagle Lake-Granite Lake Loop
This popular 6.2-mile hike loop visits two alpine lakes in the Desolation Wilderness and offers outstanding views of the bright blue waters of Lake Tahoe.
Lansing: Deerfield Park
This pleasant 4-mile loop runs through a peaceful hardwood forest, then roughly parallels the banks of the Chippewa River to a wooden covered bridge.
Las Vegas: Bootleg Wash Loop
Cash in on big-money views above Lake Mead and the Vegas Valley on this rugged 4.6-mile loop in the River Mountains.
Little Rock: White Rock-Shores Lake Loop
Embark on an 11.8-mile loop into the Ozark Mountains with haunted hollows and undulating ridgelines bearded in oak and rare views of the Arkansas Valley. Best hiked in fall or spring.
Los Angeles: Bear Canyon Loop
This 6.5-mile loop passes through sage, chaparral, and oak groves to a high plateau with panoramic views of the Santa Ana Mountains.
Los Angeles: Bell Canyon-East Ridge Loop
Tall grass mixes with prickly pear on this 6-mile loop to sprawling ridgeline views of the Santa Ana Mountains, Bell Canyon, and San Juan Canyon.
Los Angeles: Bolsa Chica Wetlands Loop
This 5-mile loop meanders along coastal bluffs and into wetlands in the heart of one of the finest birding spots in the United States.
Los Angeles: Cold Springs Trail
This 8.3-mile lollipop loop quickly ascends 2,500 feet into the coastal hills; bring your camera to capture striking above-the-fog seascapes.
Los Angeles: Eagle Rock Loop
A scattering of rocky outcrops, with their big sky views, offers a surprisingly wild haven within the city limits on this 6.7-mile, figure-8 loop in Topanga State Park.
Los Angeles: East Island Loop
Escape the city's bustle by leaving the mainland. This 10.4-mile loop explores the crowd-free hills and beautiful gardens of Santa Catalina Island.
Los Angeles: Fryman Canyon Loop
This 5-mile loop winds through an undisturbed swath of parkland to babbling creeks and fine views across the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Mountains.
Los Angeles: Holy Jim Falls-Trabuco Canyon Loop
This 14.4-mile loop starts in a lush canyon framed by a secluded waterfall, then ascends to a mellow ridgeline in the Santa Ana foothills.
Los Angeles: Holy Jim Falls-Trabuco Canyon Loop
This 14.8-mile loop enters a lush canyon framed by a secluded waterfall, then cranks up 17 switchbacks to a mellow ridgeline in the Santa Ana foothills.
Los Angeles: La Jolla Valley Loop
Escape the city's smog on this pretty 7.3-mile loop into the chaparral-covered ecosystem of La Jolla Canyon. Fresh air and Pacific Ocean vistas are only a 30-minute drive from downtown.
Los Angeles: Nicholas Flat
This 7.3-mile loop leads to photo-worthy views of the colorful Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, then enters a highland meadow to a tranquil pond.
Los Angeles: Sandstone Peak Loop
Climb high above the Pacific on this 6-mile loop over 3,111-foot Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Los Angeles: Weir Canyon Loop
This 4-mile loop boasts canyon views among layers and layers of hills, sandstone cliffs. Look for wild zucchini, thistle, prickly pear cactus, white sage, and raptors.
Los Angeles: Winter Creek Loop, Angeles NF
Enjoy a gurgling creek, the staccato of canyon wrens, and ridgetop vistas on this 4.2-mile jaunt just minutes from downtown Pasadena.
Mammoth Cave: Sal Hollow Loop
Traverse boulder fields and skirt eroded hollows on this 10.8-mile loop across the roof of the longest mapped cave system in the world.
Milwaukee: John Muir White Loop
Skirt the edges of a boggy cauldron in Kettle Moraine State Forest as you loop 4 miles into terrain tilled by supersize glaciers thousands of years ago.
Milwaukee: Scuppernong Green Loop
This 5-mile loop undulates through glacially tilled terrain under a hardwood canopy of magnificent fall colors in Kettle Moraine State Forest.
Milwaukee, WI: Vern Wolf Lake Loop
Bring binocs on this 3.9-mile loop in the Richard Bong State Recreation Area; open grassland invites long views of Vern Wolf Lake, its shoreline, and flying falcons.
Minneapolis: River Trail to Logging Trail Loop
A convenient city escape along the St. Croix River, this easy 4-mile hike in Wild River State Park skirts healthy wetlands with prime waterfowl viewing.
Minneapolis: Willow Falls Trail
This easy 3-mile loop in Willow River State Park is spiked with cool sights and sounds: rolling bluffs, loud waterfalls, and beautiful lakeshore views.
Montpelier: Cotton Brook Loop
At 9.9 miles, this multi-use loop gently climbs an old logging road crisscrossing Cotton Brook, then moves up the banks of a reservoir with dramatic views of the Worcester Range.
New Haven, CT: Chatfield Hollow State Park Loop
This easy 4.6-mile loop serves up large tracts of hardwoods, a side of granite ledges, and the continuous pour of a lively brook.
New Haven, CT: Kettletown State Park Loop
Climb miles up to viewpoints over the cool waters of the Housatonic River and Lake Zoar on this 3.8-mile loop through Kettletown State Park.
New York City: Bald Rocks to Hogencamp Mountain
Bag the best views withing 50 miles of Manhattan on this 6.5-mile loop along open ridges and bucolic forest trails in Harriman State Park.
New York City: Fingerboard-Tiorati Loop
Hike a section of America's first National Scenic Trail on this 23.2-mile, 3-day loop around Lake Tiorati in Harriman State Park.
New York City: Kaaterskill High Peak
Hike 9.2 miles to a picturesque peak loved by Hudson Valley painters like Thomas Cole. This lasso loop passes two plane wrecks and provides unmatched views of the Catskills.
New York City: Neversink Loop
This 12-mile loop in Slide Mountain Wilderness connects popular trails with a rough route to secluded campsites and trail-less peaks near the headwaters of the Neversink River.
Oklahoma City: Watonga Lake North Loop
Hike or bike around the quiet shores of Watonga Lake, then into the brushy hills on this moderate 4.9-mile loop in Roman Nose State Park.
Omaha: Hidden Lake
Only 8 miles from downtown, this diverse 3.4-mile loop curves gently around a pair of crystal-clear lakes (bring binocs to watch waterfowl) to an old trading post.
Pacific Crest Trail: Best Dayhike - Sonora Pass, CA
This 8.4-mile hike gets top billing for its 100-mile Sierra views of shimmering alpine lakes, towering peaks, and hillsides bursting with wildflowers.
Pacific Crest Trail: Best Weekend - Marble Mountains, CA
Find big views and small crowds on this 18-mile loop in the
Philadelphia: Pinnacle and Pulpit Rocks
This sometimes-steep 6.8-mile loop climbs hillsides carpeted with mountain laurel and hardwoods to two sweeping vistas overlooking the Lehigh and Cumberland Valleys.
Phoenix, AZ: Papago Park West Buttes
This 3-mile lasso loop travels up, into, and over the pockmarked contours and sloping buttes of Papago Park.
Phoenix: David Miller Loop
Named after a Forest Service employee who disappeared while hiking in the late 1990s, this 6.5-mile loop links rugged high desert terrain with deep, cool forest.
Phoenix: Hackberry Spring Loop
Hike saguaro-covered hillsides to a small desert spring on this 5.2-mile loop encircled by mesas and red sandstone cliffs.
Phoenix: Shaw Butte-North Mountain Loop
You'll climb nearly 1,300 feet and bag two neighboring peaks by the end of this 7.4-mile lasso loop in Phoenix Mountains Preserve.
Phoenix: Shaw Butte-North Mountain Ultra
Bag two summits on this 7.9-mile lasso loop that gains roughly 1,300 ft.
Phoenix: South Mountain, Judith Tunell Trail
This half-mile interpretive loop describes the unique natural features of the Arizona desert, including 600-year-old Indian rock carvings. Wheelchair accessible.
Pinnacles National Monument: High Peaks Loop
See the result of millions of years of tectonic movement on this 7.9-mile loop beneath massive volcanic monoliths. Bring a flashlight for optional cave trails.
Portland: Leif Erickson Corridor to Maple Trail
This 5.3-mile loop into old-growth forests and along whispering streams offers a true wilderness escape only a few miles from downtown Portland in Forest Park.
Portland: Oaks Bottom
Explore a local wildlife hideout on this easy 3.5-mile loop into oak forest and along soggy wetlands near the Willamette River.
Portland: Tillamook Head
Hike to the western terminius of the Lewis and Clark expedition on this 5-mile loop to the Pacific coast.
Portsmouth, ME: Folly Pond Loop
Moose tracks outnumber boot tracks on this secluded 8.4-mile loop through rolling farmland to a wooded New England pond.
Prescott National Forest via Butte Creek Trail
This is a nice scenic hike starting along Butte Creek, and then entering the Prescott National Forest, and ending at Thumb Butte, one of the most distinguishable landmarks in Prescott.
Though the suburbs have invaded a large part of this country side, a good portion of the hike is through the Prescott National Forest, which is protected from such Invasion.
Reno: Arc Dome Loop
This 22-mile Toiyabe Range loop offers a front-row vantage of vibrant aspen glades, crowdless peaks, and the frozen-wave geography of central Nevada.
Richmond: Beaver Lake Trail
Flee summer's heat spells on this relaxing 2-mile loop around a breezy lake in Pocahontas State Park, which is just a few minutes by car from downtown.
Rochester: Clark Gully Loop
Enjoy 4-star views on this challenging 4.2-mile loop near Canandaigua Lake--an advanced route down a steep gorge with several waterfalls.
Salida--Lookout Loop
A popular ride-from-town Salida route, Lookout Loop takes you into the Arkansas Hills east of town. As you return to town, a traversing section gives you killer views of the whole Upper Arkansas Valley, before the trail drops precipitously into a series of rock gardens and switchbacks.
Trip By Absolute Bikes
San Diego: Monument Trail Loop
Visit stream-fed meadows and regenerating woodlands on this 5.3-mile loop to a 1922 plane wreck in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.
San Diego: Pacific Crest Trail (Long Canyon)
This aggressive 20.2-mile loop snakes past canyon walls and up aggressive ridgelines to stellar views of the Laguna Mountains and beyond.
San Francisco: Alameda Quicksilver County Park Loop
Take a self-guided tour of abandoned mine shafts and old miner homesteads on this 7.9-mile loop with breathtaking vistas of the San Francisco Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
San Francisco: Black Diamond Mines Loop
Explore historic sites on this 5.9-mile loop in the fascinating Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve-once California's largest coalfield.
San Francisco: Blue Ridge Loop
Knock off an adventure quickie on this 4.2-mile loop into toothy, little-known ridgelines above the Central Valley.
San Francisco: Briones Park Loop
This enchanting 5.7-mile loop through 6,000-acre Briones Regional Park has it all-rolling hills, shady woods, and spectacular views of the East Bay.
San Francisco: China Camp Loop
Hike this rolling 5.8-mile loop on a weekday for quiet trails and frequent sightings of wild turkeys and deer.
San Francisco: Clipper Ridge Loop
Watch ships glide into Half Moon Bay as you climb a steep ridgeline, then drop into a secluded ravine perfect for spying wildlife. This loop with recommended spur trail runs 7.6 miles.
San Francisco: Hazelnut Loop
This easy 4.2-mile loop is the perfect sunset hike, thanks to sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Keep an eye out for foraging rabbits and deer.
San Francisco: High Ridge Loop Trail
Find subtle beauty in the suntanned hills of Garin Regional Park as you hike this 5.9-mile loop past creeks to breezy overlooks.
San Francisco: Indian Joe Trail Loop
As you hike this 6.3-mile route, check out a small, Yosemite-type gorge tucked beneath the vibrantly blooming hills of Sunol Regional Wilderness.
San Francisco: Matt Davis Loop
This 7.4-mile loop in Mt. Tamalpais State Park links three superb trails stretching from ridgeline to sea.
San Francisco: Mitchell Canyon Loop
This 7.3-mile loop over Eagle Peak offers panoramic views, from nearby Mt. Diablo to the Pacific Ocean.
San Francisco: Morning Sun Trail to Rodeo Valley Trail
Enjoy stellar views of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz and the Angel Island on this 6-mile loop through Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
San Francisco: Pescadero Creek Loop
Go deep into a rugged creek basin teeming with towering trees and a charming waterfall on this 4.2-mile hike in Portola Redwoods State Park.
San Francisco: Purisima Creek
In 6.9 miles, this loop leads from Purisima Creek through the huckleberry-filled hills of Half Moon Bay up to a ridgeline with impressive ocean views.
San Francisco: Sam McDonald County Park Loop
This 5-mile loop wanders through huge redwood stands along the western slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Extend the trip with an overnight at a Sierra Club hut.
San Francisco: Wilder Ranch Loop
This 7.6-mile loop stitches together windswept coastline bluffs with the steep and quiet foothills of Santa Cruz County. Open to hikers and mountain bikers.
San Franscisco: Coyote Hills
This easy 6.2-mile loop links lush marshland with ancient mountains--now small weathered hills--that were once islands before river sediment filled in the channel.
Seattle: Boulder River
This all-season 9-mile loop gently ascends through fast-growing (and fast-falling) alders, fragrant cedars, and rugged Douglas firs.
Shenandoah National Park: Riprap Trail
Gurgling mountain streams and peaceful vistas line this 9-mile loop in southern Shenandoah National Park
St. Louis: Fern Hollow Goat Cliff Loop
On this 6.8-mile loop, you'll find reclaimed prairies, sacred Indian grounds, and scenic overlooks of the lakes and rivers surrounding St. Louis.
St. Louis: Lewis and Clark Trail
This 8.5-mile loop climbs to rugged bluffs and views of the Missouri River and its bluffs, then rolls through cool hollows in Weldon Spring Conservation Area.
Tallahassee: Lake Overstreet Loop
This double loop takes you 5.4 miles past old homesites to the abundant native vegetation on the undeveloped shores of Lake Overstreet.
Tallahassee: Leon Sinks Loop
Spend a laid-back afternoon in a unique geologic area chock full of swamps and sinkholes on a fascinating 4.4-mile loop in Apalachicola National Forest.
Tampa: Croom A-Loop Trail
Discover central Florida's hidden pocket of dry, undulating forest on this 8-mile loop through longleaf pine hills, wet prairie, and an abandoned lead mine.
Topeka: Eagle Ridge Trail
Witness delicate blooms in a peaceful prairieland on this 5.6-mile loop in Milford State Park, which also features wooded ravines and secluded coves.
Topeka: Fancy Creek Loop
Not even Dorothy would recognize the Flint Hills, where the prairie breaks from its flat-as-a-pancake routine on this 4.6-miler to photogenic outcrops.
Tucson: Bog Springs Loop
Take a walk on the wildlife side on this moderate 4.5-mile half-day hike in the Santa Rita Mountains to springs, shady campsites, and pleasant views.
Tulsa: Billy Creek Trail
Wandering fom remote hollows to picturesque ridges on Winding Stair Mountain, this 13-mile loop in the less-traveled Ouachita country is a must-hike.
Tulsa: Reading-Spy Rock Loop
Solitude is easy to find in the Ozarks, and this 6.6-mile loop is no exception. Tackle this hike, which features forest, river, and bluff views in one day or camp out for the weekend.
Tulsa: Robber's Cave State Park
This 10-mile loop explores Jesse James’s old hideout then links gurgling streams and quiet ponds in the rugged folds of the San Bois Mountains.
Washington, DC: Wild Oak Loop
Find your inner hermit on this 26.3-mile loop in George Washington National Forest, complete with endless scenery, heaps of wildlife, and oh-so-quiet campsites.
Waupaca, WI: Hartman Creek
This 3.9-mile, figure-8 loop meanders along the shores of glacial lakes under a mixed forest of hardwoods and pine-a perfect trail/off-trail adventure for ambitious young hikers
Winston-Salem: Salem Lake Trail
Stroll along the shores of Salem Lake on this 7-mile loop over rolling hills and under tall pine and poplar trees.
Yosemite National Park: Nevada Falls Loop
This 6.2-mile loop leads into a land of rainbows and big waterfalls among the granite faces of Yosemite Valley.
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