The 50 Best Hikes in the National Parks

Published September 11, 2025 03:47PM

The best part of visiting a new-to-you national park? Lacing up your hiking boots and setting out on an epic hiking trail, of course. America’s public lands are havens for nearly every kind of ecosystem, places where desert wanderers and forest bathers alike can find solace. But with 63 different Congressionally-designated national parks, picking your next big trek can be a challenging feat.

Western Parks

Panorama Trail to Little Yosemite Valley

When first-time visitors to Yosemite ask me about the best bang-for-your-buck backpacking trip, I point them in the direction of this lesser-known gem that leaves from Glacier Point. It showcases so much of what makes this national park special, in a relatively uncrowded overnight trek that goes hard on views. Beginning with a mellow descent to thundering Illilhouette Falls, the trail showcases vistas of Half Dome, North Dome, and Stoneman Meadow, all before crossing the footbridge at roaring Nevada Falls. The hike can also be amended to an 8-mile point-to-point that ends in Yosemite Valley, but I think this out-and-back to the infamous Little Yosemite Valley, right under Half Dome, is well worth the effort (plus you won’t have to shuttle cars).

Grand Wash Trail

My first trip to Capitol Reef blew my mind because of the incredible quality of trails on offer, nearly all of which lacked the crowds of Utah’s Arches and Zion. Grand Wash is a great family-friendly option within the park, showcasing enormous striated sandstone cliffs as hikers navigate a gravelly ravine. Tack on a side quest to Cassidy Arch if you’d prefer some extra miles.

Harding Icefield Trail

Many of Alaska’s storied national parks require travelers to navigate complicated terrain entirely off-trail, but this heart-pumping 8-mile journey along the Exit Glacier is a rare exception. Keep your eyes peeled for curious marmots and mountain goats as you ascend over 3,500 feet to the frigid white expanse of the Harding Icefield.

Hall of Mosses Trail

Sure, it’s one of the most popular trails in the park, but this quick 1-mile loop gets visitors into the heart of the spellbinding Hoh Rainforest, one of the only temperate rainforests on the planet. Take your time strolling amongst the ancient moss-covered maples as you traverse the short but sweet trail and try to spot a banana slug. Pro tip: Extend your Hoh Rainforest journey on the less-traveled Hoh River Trail, which showcases the same, verdant forest and far fewer crowds.

Mosaic Canyon

Once you’ve braved the bumpy 2.5-mile road to get to the trailhead (don’t worry; 2WD cars are fine), get ready for an arid slot canyon adventure. Mosaic Canyon is named for the colorful volcanic breccia which makes up its rocky cliffs, and hikers here will have a blast navigating a series of tight washes and dry falls for 2 miles before it’s time to turn around.

Grinnell Lake Trail

The typically 8-mile trek up to Grinnell Lake is a Glacier National Park classic, and you can shorten it to a 3-mile hike by taking two boat shuttles across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine, respectively. The cascading Grinnell Falls, Salamander Glacier, and massive 8,851-foot Mt. Grinnell all frame this glittering alpine lake.

Sliding Sands Trail

Hike straight into a Technicolor volcanic crater on this overnight trek across Haleakalā. Most people make it a point-to-point journey, beginning at the higher-elevation Keonehe‘ehe‘e trailhead and strolling for 11 miles to Halemau’u, where they shuttle a car or hitchhike back up to the starting point. Want to make it an out-and-back overnight? Set up camp at Palikū, a primitive campground only accessible by trail. Along the way, you can witness endangered silversword plants and brilliant splotches of color at Pele’s Paint Pot.

Mills Lake and Glacier Gorge

You’ll have to nab a coveted wilderness permit to trek this incredible high-altitude trail out to Mills Lake and Glacier Gorge, but the extra effort grants you a stunning corner of the Rocky Mountains. Less than 1 mile into the trek, find incredible views of powerful Alberta Falls. Before setting up camp, plan to hang at Mills Lake for a bit, savoring the phenomenal views of Longs Peak and its mesmerizing Keyboard of the Winds rock formation. A little over a mile past the lake sits a single, reservable backcountry campsite called Glacier Gorge. Pro tip: Set an alarm to wake up early on March 1, the date Rocky Mountain’s backcountry permits go on sale.

Blue Mesa Trail

Most of the painted desert of the American Southwest has rust and crimson hues, but not so with the Blue Mesa Trail, which showcases a rare example of blue and purple badlands hills. Made up of bluish bentonite clay, which is made of ancient mudstone deposits, these striking mounds also come with colorful petrified wood formations.

Oolah Valley High Route

Truly intrepid backpackers who love a challenge and hate crowds should make a beeline for Gates of the Arctic. One of the least-visited national parks in the nation, this mountainous expanse of rivers and tundra sits entirely above the Arctic Circle. Alaska Alpine Adventures is one of the few companies that dares to guide this week-long trek that journeys from Summit Lake to Oolah Lake, meandering through some of the most expansive (but marshy) scenery on the planet along the way.

Bristlecone Trail

Some trails are mountain-centric while others are more tree-centric. The Bristlecone Trail is a special example of a path that fully embraces both, beginning at the high-elevation Bristlecone Trailhead. Along the way, hikers will glean better and better views of 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, ultimately landing at the aptly-named Wheeler Bristlecone Grove. This alpine forest contains some of the oldest living beings on Earth, so be sure to slow down and enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of craning your neck up at a 3,000-year-old conifer.

Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop

There’s nothing better than getting up-close-and-personal with the tangerine-tinted hoodoos at Bryce Canyon. See why the park’s namesake farmer, Ebenezer Bryce, called the area “a hell of a place to lose a cow” on this 3-mile trip around its quirky sandstone formations, which can resemble colorful jellyfish and melting ice cream cones.

Fairy Falls to Imperial Geyser

Few visitors to the world’s first national park do more that hop out of their cars to snap photos at famous viewpoints, but if you’re willing to strap on your bear spray and go for a hike, this 8.8-mile trip won’t disappoint. Just over 2.5 miles into the trip, hikers will hear the sky-high cascade of 200-foot-high Fairy Falls. Turn around here or continue strolling through lodgepole pines until you reach Imperial Geyser and its bubbling mudpots.

Grand View Point Trail

Skip the crowds of Arches and explore the path less traveled at Canyonland’s Grand View Point, which sits in the Island in the Sky district. This easy out-and-back trail showcases dramatic drop-offs and rust-red cliffs as it meanders through colorful sandstone, all the way to a panoramic viewpoint (hence the trail’s name). There, you can see expanses of corrugated canyon, plus glimpses of the park’s most famous features, including the Needles district and the White Rim Road.

John Muir Trail

You’ll need to plan ahead a book a permit to hike the notorious John Muir Trail (JMT), but I can personally attest that taking time off to attempt the entire trek is a life-changing experience. Tucked away in the prettiest section of California’s Sierra Nevada, this path winds up and down the Great Western Divide, passing countless 14ers and turquoise alpine lakes along the way. Don’t want to go it alone? Fan-favorite tour company Wildland Trekking just started guiding the full length of the JMT.

Savage Alpine Trail

Sure, you can see a fair chunk of Denali’s sprawling wilderness from a transit bus, but when you’re ready to stretch your legs and get your heart rate up, head to the Savage Alpine Trail, which can be completed as an out-and-back or a point-to-point that uses the national park’s shuttle buses to return trekkers to their cars. For those completing the hike as a one way journey, start at Mountain Vista and ending at Savage River, so you’re faced with fewer steeps. Be sure to bring your bear spray, as this stunning wilderness trail meanders through rocky tundra and a few brushy areas, and grizzlies have been spotted here.

Bright Angel Trail to Bright Angel Campground

For serious hikers who want to go hard in the Grand Canyon on an overnight backpacking excursion, the Bright Angel Trail to Bright Angel Campground checks all the right boxes. You’ll start on a historic stock trail and descend roughly 3,200 feet to Havasupai Garden (formerly Indian Garden), passing immense sandstone walls the color of ripe tangerines. From there, the path continues its staggering descent to the Colorado River, crossing the historic Silver Bridge before arriving at Phantom Ranch. Be forewarned, though, this exceedingly popular trek fills up early, so try to nab a wilderness permit 4 to 6 months in advance.

Tall Trees Trail

You’ll need to apply online for a free reservation to hike this epic 3.5-mile lollipop loop through old growth forest, but the extra effort is well worth it to saunter through the tallest trees on the planet. Descend 800 feet downhill to Redwood Creek, where enormous sempervirens (that’s a fancy word for coast redwoods) and mossy stumps await. Be sure to have plenty of water with you—the return journey is almost entirely uphill. Want to extend this trip into an overnight? Continue onto Tall Trees Access Road (a hiking and mountain biking trail) for zero-crowd backpacking, just you and the trees.

Devils Garden Trail

In my experience, the shorter hikes to stone bridges in Arches National Park can be surprisingly crowded, and the best way to escape the throngs is on an all-day jaunt around Devils Garden. This 7.9-mile hike passes Instagram-famous arches like Double O and Landscape and offers incredible views of the La Sal Mountains.

Step House Trail

Travel back in time on the Step House Trail, the only self-guided cliff dwelling trek in Mesa Verde that doesn’t require a ticket. This Ancestral Puebloan feat of architecture was most recently lived in around 1200 AD, and history buffs will love having the chance to peruse its Basketmaker pithouses and large masonry pueblo at their own pace. The only catch? This path is only open when staffed by a supervisory ranger, typically from 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., between May 22 to October 22.

Wasson Peak via Kings Canyon

For a loop hike that features nearly all of Saguaro’s top sights and sounds, check out this big loop around (and to the top of) Wasson Peak. Along the way, travelers will encounter century-old giant cacti, petroglyphs, abandoned mine shafts and, of course, incredible views of the Tucson Valley.

Watchman Trail

When people ask me what should be their first stop when they visit Crater Lake, I undoubtedly exclaim, “The Watchman Trail!” This short but sweet trek shows off some of the park’s best summer wildflowers and incredible views of Wizard Island. At the top of the hike, a circa-1933 lookout tower serves as a great snack break point.

Lost Horse Mine Trail

Wild west history, abandoned gold mines, and thousands of spiky Joshua trees can all be found on this half-day romp with 550 feet of elevation gain. Looking for a longer adventure? The 6.2-mile Lost Horse Mine Loop also begins and ends at Keys View Road, but features significantly more elevation gain and some seriously striking views of the vast Mojave Desert.

Bumpass Hell Loop

If you’re itching to check out steamy hydrothermal features, like mudpots and fumaroles, but can’t make it all the way over to Yellowstone, check out the Bumpass Hell Loop at Lassen Volcanic. This family-friendly hike boasts gorgeous lupines, epic views of volcanic peaks, and the chance to witness bubbling hot springs at the turnaround point. Cool off after the hike by jumping into Lake Helen, which sits just across the road from the trailhead.

High Dune on First Ridge

It’s rare that I feel called to label a 2.5-mile trail as challenging, but these high altitude dunes truly epitomize the “two steps forward, one step back” reality of trekking up loose sand. Beginning at about 8,200 feet above sea level, this sandy stroll crosses Medano Creek before undulating up and down until hitting the highest visible dune summit.

Congress Trail

After paying a visit to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree by volume on earth, escape the tourist crowds on this 3 mile path through some of the park’s best old growth sequoia groves. Saunter through dappled light and take in the majesty of 2,000 to 3,000-year-old conifers as you loop around the park’s Giant Forest area.

Taggart Lake, Bradley Lake Loop

Bring your bear spray and score sky-high views of The Grand and its craggy neighboring peaks on this fabulous dayhike that’s less than 30 minutes from Jackson Hole. Along the way, hikers can splash in a pristine duo of alpine lakes and, in fall, photograph glowing aspens. Worried about grizzlies? Jackson Hole Eco Tours has an amazing team of guides for those who’d prefer to have an expert naturalist tag along.

Kīlauea Iki Trail

It’s rare to get an up-close look at pioneer plants going to work on a solidified lava field, but the Kīlauea Iki Trail offers hikers a chance to experience the dynamic landscape of Hawaii first hand. Snap selfies with the frilly red blooms of native ohia lehua trees and wander across a deep black basin of porous lava rock. Finish off the loop with a steep climb into the jungle and listen for the call of the koa’e kea.

Pelican Bay Trail

Only accessible to Island Packers passengers with either a guide or designated naturalist, this trail begins at Prisoner’s Harbor and ventures deep into the Nature Conservancy’s land within Channel Islands. On the way to the path’s namesake rocky beach, keep your eyes peeled for tiny island foxes who like to meander through tall grass.

Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail

Pro tip: you don’t have to score a competitive permit for Angels Landing to trek up the first chunk of the hair-raising hike. Take one of Zion’s free shuttles to The Grotto and hop onto the West Rim Trail to switchback between gigantic rust-red cliffs and scraggly pinyon pines. At the turnaround point, you’ll glean stellar views of Zion Canyon and the chance to watch brave hikers attempt the notorious, permitted summit hike up Angels Landing proper.

Midwestern Parks

Painted Canyon Nature Trail

Sure, I almost stepped on a rattlesnake that was laying in the middle of the path when I hiked this trail back in 2020, but it was still my favorite trek in Theodore Roosevelt. Stroll past striated badlands in a variety of vivid oranges and pinks and you’ll begin to understand why this landscape directly inspired “the conservation president” to bolster the NPS.

Scoville Point / Stoll Memorial Trail

Fans of boreal forest and sweeping, rocky coastlines should skip the Windigo port and make a beeline for Isle Royale’s Rock Harbor. Not only are there lakeside campsites and an adorable historic inn, but there’s also the opportunity to hike out to Scoville Point on the Stoll Memorial Trail. Intrepid wanderers on this path will feel like they’re standing at the edge of the earth as the deep blue water of Lake Superior churns all around them.

Brandywine Gorge Loop

Fall visitors to Cuyahoga Valley won’t want to miss this easy dayhike featuring the park’s most famous waterfall. Amble through a gorge of Berea sandstone and shale, rare in otherwise flat Ohio, and take in colorful maples and black locust trees on this kid-friendly trek.

Notch Trail

You can gain the best views of South Dakota’s Badlands by hoofing it uphill for only a few dozen feet. The Notch Trail offers the opportunity to climb a rustic log ladder to take in the sheer enormity of the park’s colorful hills. Go at sunrise for cooler temperatures and a dreamy, lit-up canyon.

Ellsworth Rock Gardens

Voyageurs is more famous for its sapphire lakes and conifers topped with shrewd bald eagles than it is for its hiking trails, but this half-mile loop around the historic Ellsworth Rock Gardens is not to be missed. Explore the life’s work of self-taught artist Jack Ellsworth at this handmade expanse of flower beds and stone sculptures that was built in the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. Since the death of its namesake artist in 1974, the Park Service has helped maintain this special nook for future generations.

Lookout Point and Centennial Trail Loop

Be prepared to witness enormous bison ambling across the Great Plains on this half-day loop around Wind Cave’s grassy prairie. Though the park is most famous for its namesake cavern, from which the Lakota people believe all life emerged, it’s also one of the best-preserved examples of a mixed grass prairie ecosystem that our country has left. Keep your eyes peeled for pronghorn antelope and playful prairie dogs as you make your way around the gently rolling hills of this hike.

Cowles Bog Trail

Plant peepers, take note. The Cowles Bog Trail is so revered for its plant diversity that it was named a National Natural Landmark in 1965. It’s one of the best places in Indiana Dunes to check out the park’s incredible biodiversity, ranging from marshes and swamps to black oak savannas and sandy freshwater beaches. Be sure to bring your swimsuit on this hike—the highlight is Lake Michigan’s gorgeous shoreline in the middle of the journey.

Eastern Parks

Precipice Loop

This cliff’s edge “hike” in Acadia National Park is not for the faint of heart. More challenging than its sister trek, the Beehive Loop, Precipice ascends over 1,000 feet in just 0.9 miles. Along the way, adventurers will encounter rock scrambling and iron rungs drilled directly into the rock face, gleaning better and better views as they climb. From the top of Champlain Mountain, hikers get second-to-none views of Frenchman Bay and the powerful Atlantic Ocean.

Old Rag Mountain

Nab a day use permit and hit the parking lot at sunrise (it tends to fill up) for this strenuous hike to the summit of bald-topped Old Rag Mountain. Known for its tremendous fall colors and heart-pumping rock scrambling, the full Old Rag Circuit showcases fantastic vistas of Virginia’s verdant farmlands and deciduous forests.

Long Point Trail

When you aren’t clipping in for an adrenaline-boosting rock climb or descending a series of gnarly rapids in the New River, head to the Long Point Trail to stretch your legs and take in the incredible engineering of the New River Bridge. This rainbow-shaped marvel is the longest steel span bridge in the western hemisphere, and after meandering through hemlock and oak forests, this trail opens up to one of the best bridge photo opportunities in the entire park.

Bubbles Divide Trail

Beginning and ending at the Bubbles Divide parking lot, this trek features some of the best views of historic Jordan Pond. Though the trail is simply stunning year-round, we’d recommend hiking to the summits of North and South Bubble during September or October, when autumn colors paint the park in a frenzy of electric crimson and marigold.

Dark Hollow Falls

For those visiting Shenandoah who don’t want to strain their legs on a summit hike, there are loads of scenic waterfalls to enjoy. Dark Hollow Falls is an impressive, 70-foot-tall cascade that tumbles over dark metamorphic rock. Visitors here can explore the falls via a quick out-and-back or extend the trip on an all-day loop around the Big Meadows area.

Southern Parks

Guadalupe Peak

Climb to the “top of Texas” on this rewarding journey up to the state’s high point. What was once an ancient coral reef set deep within the Permian Basin is now one of the most famous summits in the south, and peakbaggers can watch the Chihuahuan Desert expand below them as they ascend this all-day hike. Care to spend the night under the stars and break up all that elevation gain? Book a site at the Guadalupe Peak Wilderness Campground, just a mere mile under the summit.

Lind Point to Salomon Beach

Who says that hiking and beach lounging can’t go hand-in-hand? This short trail to Salomon Beach begins and ends at the Virgin Islands Visitor Center and is a great way to escape the in-town crowds. After ascending through tropical dry rainforest, maroon yourself with a good book on a private, sandy beach.

Discovery Self-Guided Cave Walk

Though you’ll need to nab a timed-entry ticket for it, this 1-mile underground journey is entirely self-guided. That means you’ll be able to traverse the wide tunnels and unique rock formations of the world’s longest known cave system at your own pace. Search for bats sleeping amidst the limestone caverns, and don’t miss the park’s spooky, abandoned tuberculosis ward.

Alum Cave Trail to Mt. LeConte

One of the top ways to avoid crowds in Great Smoky Mountains is to rise early and go on a long, tough hike. This 10-mile out-and-back to the top of Mt. LeConte boasts over 2,700 feet of elevation gain and amazing views of the park’s namesake hazy hillsides and high spruce-fir forests. Only interested in an out-and-back to the famous cave? It’s just 4.6 miles roundtrip to relax under the Alum Cave Bluffs.

Anhinga Trail

Though Everglades is revered for its peaceful drives, phenomenal birding, and remote boating opportunities, the Anhinga Trail gives active travelers a chance to stretch out and spot wildlife while enjoying the park’s sawgrass marsh. Bring your favorite set of binoculars and scan for alligators, turtles, and egrets, which are easiest to spot during the winter months when the water is low. Want to see more? Tack on the half-mile, jungle-centric Gumbo Limbo Trail, which begins and ends at the same parking lot.

Boardwalk Loop

Follow a wooden boardwalk around the largest remaining old-growth bottomland hardwood forest (try saying that three times fast) in Congaree. This park is a must-see for tree huggers, boasting the highest concentration of champion trees (the largest of their species) in North America. Scan the mellow marsh for knobby-kneed cypress trees and swamp tupelos as you wind around this easy, wheelchair-friendly loop.

Kuwohi Observation Tower

Some of the most majestic views in Great Smoky Mountains can be found along Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingman’s Dome Road). This easy, paved path from the busy parking lot at the top of the road ascends to a retrofuturistic lookout tower with jaw-dropping vistas of the park’s famous misty mountains.

Chisos Basin to South Rim Loop

Set in the surprisingly green Chisos Mountains, this overnight backpacking loop offers awe-inspiring views of towering pinnacles and the arid Chihuahuan Desert. The trail starts at a lofty 5,400 feet, steadily climbing through scrubby trees and rocky spires until it reaches the South Rim and opens up into a commanding view. If you can, try to nab one of the campsites that sit right on the plateau’s rim (we like ER9 and SR3) for a top-notch stargazing experience.

The Best 50 Dayhikes, Backpacking Trips, and Thru-Hikes in the National Parks