Trips

This rigorous but rewarding 9.8-mile out-and-back on the Pacific Crest Trail climbs more than 2,000 feet to a summit with splendid high-desert views.

String together two scenic canyons, several campsites, long vistas, and local landmarks like Rudy's Flats and Elephant Rock on this 9.2-miler.

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.

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.

Ride some of western Colorado’s finest singletrack with tight turns, long descents, and stunning red sandstone on this 7.4-mile heart-pounder.

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.

This 5.2-mile desert hike is great any time, but spectacular in spring when the Antelope Buttes bloom with native grasses and fire-orange poppies, the California state flower.

Amazing views of Catalina Island and Abalone Cove unfold right from the start of this 5.2-mile hike. Minutes from metro L.A., this quiet wildland is also home to red-tailed hawks.

Hike 4.6 miles up the quieter, less-traveled west side on one of the mountain's oldest trails, alternating between forested scrambles, old streambeds, and exposed rock ledges.

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.

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.

This gentle 4.8-mile loop rolls through Texas woods and grasslands to a breezy lakeshore.

Climb to a historic lighthouse and spot a mysterious shipwreck in Lake Michigan on this 4.3-mile loop in Ludington State Park.

This brisk out-and-back quickly climbs nearly 2,000 feet in 2.5 miles to a long ridgeline with views of the Whites and a breezy summit.

This 9-mile lollipop loop is an adventurer's delight: scenic bluffs, spring-fed streams, quiet campsites, and--for those who dare--an elusive limestone cavern.

Delve into the rugged folds of New York's MacIntyre Mountains on this gentle 4.4-mile out-and-back.

This rugged, 16.8-mile, 2-day backpacking trip reveals classic Appalachian wonders: idyllic waterfall-laden hollows, reborn woodlands, and scenic backcountry campsites.

Chug 6.2 miles along an old railroad scar and a lively creek to a wetland glade bustling with wildlife and birds in Monongahela National Forest.

Climb a lone sentinel rising above the rolling Maryland farmland on this short-and-sweet 5.7-mile loop to a mountain oasis in the sky.

Explore pristine alpine terrain from a high, scenic basecamp.

Take this rugged 15.7-mile, mostly cross-country hike only if you like your summits and scenery served up with a big helping of solitude.

Get climbers'-eye views on this adventurous ramble to the peak's base--or summit--on this 3- to 5-day trip.

Enjoy soaring views from open ridges on this easy-access overnight.

Loop 5.7 miles into shaded hollows and up the highest dunes on Lake Michigan's southern shore in Indiana Dunes State Park.

Hike into a vast, volcano-crafted moonscape in the (much-reduced) shadows of Mount St. Helens on this 10-mile out-and-back.

A bit of rain will only enhance your 6.1-mile out-and-back trek to foggy forests, misty waterfalls, and a nearly 6,000-foot peak in Mt. Rainier National Park.

You can thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ big dam idea for the views on this scenic 7.6-miler above the shores of 3,500-acre Detroit Lake.

Test your legs and lungs on this 5.4-mile out-and-back through alpine meadows to a 5,000-foot peak with glorious views in Gifford National Forest.

Waterfalls, lush forests, and magnificent creekside views make this 5-mile out-and-back through Cliff Falls Wilderness a superb dayhike in northern Georgia.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Venture into mosaic of woodlands, prairies, and glacial moraines on this 4-mile trek through a local forest preserve.

Escape Yosemite Valley crowds on this 21.2-mile, multiday trek to glacial cirques and turquoise lakes deep in the wilds of the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

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.

This strenuous 54.8-mile, 6-day loop follows a historic abandoned trail across the true crown of the continent.

Knock off two thrilling 14ers on this strenuous 11.2-mile, out-and-back adventure in Colorado's rugged Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. Also makes a great overnight.

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.

This lovely 5.4-mile loop shaded by oaks, pines, and birches leads to the rushing headwaters of Flat Creek in Chattahoochee National Forest.

Stand on top of the Peach State on this 13-mile out-and-back under mixed second-growth forest to the bare high point of Brasstown Bald.

Climb knobby ridges to the white quartz cap of Shining Rock, then follow a pristine stream back to your car on this arduous 7.8-mile loop.

This 5.7-mile loop visits SoCal's last wild river in Santa Margarita Canyon, a refuge hosting numerous species of endangered birds and plants.

Wander through a remote paradise of high-altitude lakes in the lightly visited Trinity Alps on this 27.2-mile, long-weekend trip in Klamath National Forest.

Venture into cowboy country on a faded cattle trail that visits desolate buttes, colorful meadows, and quiet vistas in 6 rolling miles (each way).

Don't let the 2,000-foot gain on this 5-mile out-and-back in the Soda Range stop you the long, crowd-free summit views are well worth the effort.

Trek 14.4 miles on less-traveled trails to a 10,000-foot summit over the Valles Caldera, a giant volcanic bowl in the shadow of the Jemez Mountains.

Watch the Little Miami River transform from calm to violent in a deep limestone chasm on this 5.2-mile dayhike in John Bryan State Park.

This is literally one for the birds. Take a hike along a waterfowl-rich marsh on this 8-miler through Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge.

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.

Seeking solitude? Test your compass skills as you venture 9.4 miles into a canyon of recovering burn zones and trickling springs in the San Mateo Mountains.

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.

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.

This 10.3-miler outside Vail is a leg- and lung-buster, but at the end of the day you'll touch the sky on the summit of one of Colorado's fabled Fourteeners.

On this 6-mile loop in Blue Hills Reservation, you'll see dense hardwoods, meadows, ponds, glacial leftovers, rocky hills, and sweeping views of Boston.

March 4.2 miles back in time to July 21, 1861, where General Stonewall Jackson led an epic battle on this ground at Manassas National Battlefield Park.

This hike explores a network of canyon forks anchored by scenic and isolated camping and reliable water sources in central Ticaboo Creek.

This 5.1-mile route leads to a majestic set of granite domes, crags, pinnacles, and chimneys shaped by constant winds from the Medicine Bow Range.

Hike 6.1 miles into a redrock paradise full of wind-and-water sculptures that seem to defy gravity. You'll see seven amazing arches on this route.

In just a weekend, you can travel from wooded ridges to gentle peaks to quiet hollows on this 16.5-mile lasso in George Washington National Forest.

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.

Go from lush mountains to high desert via a red rock canyon on this 16.3-mile, mostly off-trail trek into Grand Staircase-Escalante. Go in spring or fall; pack extra water.

This 4.4-miler mixes prairie with rolling wooded hills, scenic bluffs, and sandstone hoodoos in Kanopolis State Park, the first state park in Kansas.

Hike or bike 11.6 out-and-back miles on an old mule path to views of the Potomac and historical relics. A flat profile makes this trip suitable for young hikers.

Connect a string of sparkling alpine lakes on this 25.2-mile long weekend under the ragged 12,000-foot spires and peaks of the Wind River Range.

Run, bike, or hike 10.4 miles out and back along a 14,000-year-old lake shoreline to fresh air and broad vistas in Provo Canyon.

Hike into the core of Indian Peaks Wilderness on this 13.6-mile overnight, which leads past waterfalls to a sunbleached valley and a sweet lakeside campsite.

Hike through shady sweet-gum forest and rolling grasslands on this 6.5-miler along the premier canopy road of the Red Hills region.

No time to hike the whole PCT? This 7.4-mile section in Mt. Hood National Forest offers some of the best done-in-a-day views in the long path's northern half.

On this 7.8-mile hike-and-scramble in Camden Hills State Park, you'll bag two peaks and earn million-dollar views of Penobscot Bay's craggy coastline.

Don't be fooled by the name: You'll climb 3,000 feet in 2 miles to a summit with spectacular views of rivers, mountains, and ocean.

This 5.8-miler loops in-and-around secluded islands of rare trees, diverse bird sanctuaries, and tranquil butterfly gardens in Hammonasset Beach State Park.

Visit Georgia's Little Grand Canyon on this 6.7-mile loop to backcountry shelters and geologic wonders in Providence Canyon State Park.

This 13.2-mile PCT out-and-back is resplendent with mountain scenery, including big panoramas, heaps of wildlife, and a blissfully blue alpine lake.

On this easy 5.4-mile out-and-back, you'll follow the mighty Lewis River through a mossy old-growth canyon that harbors three photogenic waterfalls.

Enjoy a soundtrack of whistling winds on this rolling 7-mile hike through virgin forestland to a large alpine lake in William O. Douglas Wilderness.

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.

This lightly traveled 9.5-mile trail strings together sawgrass marshlands, sandhill flats, and thick forests on its way to sweeping views overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

This 5.6-mile lasso loop departs the popular Big Devils Stairs hike, scramble upstream to waterfalls and connecting with a forgotten trail free of crowds.

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.