This overlooked locals-only jewel across the Salmon River Valley from the more-famous Sawtooth Mountains delivers solitude and adventure on a 32-mile partly off-trail loop.
Eagle Cap's top trip, a 41-mile tucked away in the southeastern part of Oregon's largest wilderness, deals a royal flush of granite towers and secluded lakeside camping.
Discover solitude in busy Rocky Mountain National Park on this 8.7-mile out-and-back leading to a pristine lake perched beneath the Mummy Range.
Wander through an ethereal wonderland of Navajo Sandstone on this easy stroll in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Climb to the highest of Central California’s Nine Sisters on this 3.5-mile out-and-back to Bishop Peak.
Tackle a steep climb to the immaculately clear Gem Lake on this 3.6-mile out-and-back deep in the Cabinet Mountains.
Climb from Yosemite Valley's forested floor to the cloud-scraping South Rim on this 18-miler featuring trips to Taft Point, Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point.
Ramble 4.4 miles troll along the cascades of the Eno River before ascending Cox Mountain. End with a dip the river's clear waters.
Notch inimitable panoramas of Yosemite Valley from the soaring Glacier Point before tackling a steep descent from the South Wall on this staggeringly scenic 4.6-miler.
On this four-day trip through the Clark Range, push deep into Yosemite's backcountry to discover a wonderland of slickrock waterfalls, pristine alpine lakes and jagged peaks.
Climb through deep lodgepole forest toward the foot of the Cathedral Range on this 4-mile out-and-back to the peaceful Elizabeth Lake.
Big on views and short on distance, this out-and-back climbs to the granite-topped Lembert Dome: sprawling panoramas of Tuolumne Meadows and the surrounding mountain country await.
On this 15-mile overnighter in Yosemite National Park, climb through wildflower-dotted meadows and whitebark pine forest en route to three remote lakes circled by towering granite peaks.
Visit some of the world's oldest and largest trees on this peaceful stroll to Yosemite's most remote giant sequoia grove.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll to the postcard-like May Lake before taking on the rugged ascent to the 10,850-foot Mount Hoffmann, which serves up a 360-degree display of every major peak in the park.
Wander along Yosemite's towering South Rim for unbeatable Valley panoramas from a series of high-country, cliff-edge vantage points.
Attain deep-forest tranquility on this leisurely amble to Yosemite's Tuolumne Grove of giant sequoias, home to some of the largest living organisms on Earth.
Savor can't-miss Yosemite panoramas from the Valley's second-highest vantage point on this easy hike to the legendary Sentinel Dome.
Looking for an oasis in the middle of the Research Triangle? Hike this 10-mile circuit through the towering pines and fern-filled ravines of William B. Umstead State Park.
Just an hour and a half from Pittsburgh, this easy 3.2-mile loop rolls through forests bustling with migratory warblers, passes the spillway of the Yellow Creek dam, and tours the shore of Yellow Creek Lake.
Hear red-cockaded woodpeckers thumping pines and see Florida black bears roaming the underbrush in this out-and-back hike through Osceola National Forest.
Ramble along a wide river to quiet, old-growth hollows.
Less than five minutes from downtown Juneau, this 6.5-mile dayhike climbs through lush rainforest to two glacier-fed waterfalls.
Ascend two White Mountain peaks on this 8.5-mile sneak route to the Appalachian Trail's best view in the state.
Tour sycamore forests to over-gorge views above the Genesee River on this branch trail off the Finger Lakes Trail.
This 25-mile point-to-point in North Cascades National Park weaves past electric wildflower displays and climbs to an airy, 6,525-foot alpine pass.
Score some of the John Muir Trail's most classic views on this 31-mile section hike in Yosemite National Park that starts less than two hours from Bishop.
For guaranteed solitude in Great Smoky Mountains National Park's southwest reaches, explore this quiet, 15.7-mile loop during the off-season.
Two days. Forty-two miles. More than 10,000 feet elevation gain climbing 100+ stairways. In Los Angeles? Here's how one visionary (OK, a slightly obsessed backpacker) started a local-hikes revolution in the epicenter of urban sprawl.
Follow cliff bands on this 18.3-mile point-to-point to some of the East’s largest natural arches.
Walk deliberately into woods filled with waterfalls and stone walls on this 23.6-mile point-to-point deep in Massachusetts' Mt. Grace State Forest.
Cross elk-filled woods and bighorn-busy flats on this park's quiet side.
Venture off SoCal's coast for long beaches, hidden canyons, and sea life.
This magnificent, 55.5-mile northern loop accesses the moose-filled Waterton Valley backcountry, and finishes with a grand finale along the Highline Trail, a topo line below the Continental Divide.
As every student of wilderness knows, Denali’s rewards—raw Alaska, awe-inspiring wildlife, soul-quieting solitude—are commensurate with the challenges. Get them all on a 31.8-mile crown-jewel trip that climbs to Anderson Pass, the only nontechnical path across the Alaska Range.
Pack maximum Glacier highlights—densely stacked peaks, jewel-like turquoise pools, and blinding-white waterfalls—into three days with this 35.6-mile point-to-point from St. Mary to Two Medicine.
Discover a private paradise in Capitol Reef National Park by crossing the park's convoluted Waterpocket Fold on this 32-mile point-to-point.
Come for the sheer, glaciated peaks, but be mesmerized by rain-fed waterfalls that pour down on all sides along this weeklong trip in North Cascades National Park.
See the tallest waterfall in the United States up close in this short and easy loop hike in Yosemite Valley.
This trail goes through the desert. You'll pass cactus flowers in March and April, abandoned cars & hot tubs and you might see a coyote or two. You can follow any road up to the radio tower - either at the base of the hills or near the railway. Bring water as it's very dry and there's no shade.
This 10-mile, cathedral-like hallway in Capitol Reef National Park combines easy canyon hiking and foolproof routefinding with life-list sights.
This 7.2-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail visits the Shuckstack Mountain lookout tower for unrivaled views.
Climb two steep miles up Chimney Tops Trail, 10 miles south of Gatlinburg, to rocky outcrops overlooking Mt. Le Conte, Mt. Mingus, and Sugarland Mountain.
This paved, half-mile (one-way) trail leads to the highest point on the Appalachian Trail and 100-mile views of seven states.
Descend from Grandview Point for a lesser-hiked, four-day, point-to-point between rim and river.
Spend the night at a five-star campsite tucked in the broad slickrock bowls between Capitol Gorge and Pleasant Creek on this 7.7-miler in Capitol Reef National Park.
A forgotten explorer's route leads to 42-mile off-trail adventure--with several peak bagging options--and bona fide solitude in Yellowstone National Park.
Find unusual solitude at this popular alpine park on a 16.4-mile peakbagging overnight to the Continental Divide.
Go high above this tiny Lake Superior island for solitude, views, and one of Michigan's most incredible ridge hikes.
On this 13.7-mile out-and-back trek to the bottom of the Grand Canyon tour rugged canyons, cross the Colorado River, and take in stunning river-to-rim views.
Get full-canyon views from Skeleton Point on this 7-mile drop into the Big Ditch.
Drop off the north rim on the North Kaibab Trail on 8.1-mile hike down to Bright Angel Canyon.
Multi-layered red rocks line mile-deep canyons and cactus flowers explode with pastels on this 9.7-mile out-and-back to Esplanade overlook.
You'll summit the highest point in Texas on this 8-mile overnight trip in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
A perfect summer hike, this 7.5 mile in-and-back features a cool swimming hole at the halfway point in North Chickamauga Creek. Indian rock houses, wild blackberries, and remnants of the coal industry can be found along this trek.
On this climb from the Hoh River's silty riffles to high-country glacier views, you'll pass through a moss-hung rainforest that might be the lushest place in America.
This moderate, 6.2-mile hiking (or running) trail in Red Rock Canyon winds around sandstone and limestone hills with postcard views.
Glide through back-to-back lakes on this classic, 35-mile North Country paddling trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Just 20 minutes outside of Durham, take this 3.9-mile loop to get a good look at an old mill as you traipse through bluffs, banks, and boulders along the Eno River.
In a mere 3.2 miles, reach the top of Occoneechee Mountain—the tallest point between the North Carolina Triangle and the Atlantic Ocean.
This little-known 8.8-mile trail an hour outside of Seattle weaves through lush forest to the stunning and secluded Rainy Lake beneath the east face of Preacher Mountain.
Stroll through root-wrapped rocks, venerable hemlocks, and moss carpeted undergrowth on this 4.4-mile hike to Barclay Lake in the Washington Cascades' new Wild Sky Wilderness.
Take this beloved and well-maintained 6.6-mile trail through abundant greenery and past the enchanting Bridal Veil Falls to arrive at the snowy peaks of Mount Index reflecting in Lake Serene.
Pack for a quick overnight in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and discover hidden alpine lakes and the stunning panorama of peaks that is the Central Cascades.
Hike this 13.2-mile there-and-back just outside of Seattle to summit Green Mountain along a path where vibrant magentas and yellows bloom between your feet.
Take a walk though Washington's mining and logging history by exploring the area once known as Mineral City on this 15-mile out-and-back.
Get near-instant mountain view gratification from the top of this steep, one-mile trail to a still-operational fire lookout near Stevens Pass.
Exercise your route-finding skills on this steep fiver-miler up a little-known peak named for a Seattle-area mountaineer offering wide panoramas over the Snoqualmie Pass area.
If you like splendid isolation with a little challenge, try this messy 11-mile out-and-back to the Blethlen Lakes along Quartz Creek.
This short but challenging 1.3-mile route climbs 1,300' above an old mining quarry to a scenic viewpoint high above the small town of Index, WA.
Massive stands of old growth forest, an abundance of cascading waterfalls, and an azure alpine lake resting below the sheer cliffs of Mt. Pilchuck await on this 6.2-mile lollipop loop.
This two-mile walk up an old mining road visits the remains of the Sunset Copper Company. Exercise extreme caution when exploring in or around mine openings.
Try this less-crowded alternative to the top of popular Mount Si on the original, steeper 2.7 mile route.
Climb two miles up the switchbacked flanks of Greider Peak to a pair of lovely lakes in a deep, glacier-carved basin.
Take this unofficial two-mile trail to the top of a little-known mountaintop offering views over Annette Lake and several Snoqualmie Pass peaks.
This short (1.5 miles) but steep (more than 3,000 feet elevation gain) ends atop one of the highest peaks in Snoqualmie Pass.
Hike or bike this former forest road to the Dingford Creek trailhead.
Tackle tricky terrain to gain a solitary alp.
Summit the Southwest's most European mountain.
Spend three days circling the jagged, gaping remains of one of Central Oregon’s peaks on this 22.6-mile loop in the Three Sisters Wilderness.