Experience the state’s longest path—rich in beauty, history, and a strong hiking community, with events and trail magic along the way

Whatever your group size or experience level, these insider suggestions will help you plan the best Minnesota hiking adventure

There are so many amazing hikes to choose from in the Green Mountain State. Here are our favorites—ranging from quick dayhikes to multi-week backpacking trips.

There's no better time than the summer to embark on this classic Californian road trip.

I backpacked a segment of New Mexico’s in-the-works Rio Grande Trail. Here’s what it was like.

Hike Cathedral Rock Trail in Sedona for epic views and steep scrambles. Learn what to bring, which route to take, and how to navigate the shuttle system.

Even after preparing and training for months, I made mistakes. Here's what I'll do differently on my next Mt. Whitney summit.

Hike the Lost Coast Trail safely with this complete guide to permits, tides, gear, and a three-day itinerary through coastal wilderness.

Montaña de Oro is one of California’s biggest state parks, but it receives a fraction of Yosemite National Park’s visitation.

Sometimes you travel without a rental car, and sometimes trailhead parking lots fill up quick. Whatever the reason, you can access these trails via local public transit.

Established last year, North Dakota’s Three Affiliated Tribes National Park blends culture with history and geographical beauty—and when it comes to hiking, its caretakers have big plans.

Feel like your hikes have gotten too focused on end goals and not enough on enjoying the journey? Montana's vast American Prairie says it has the solution.

Start planning your getaway to the Ventura County coast and the Channel Islands with help from a local naturalist and adventure guide

The Northern Colorado Trail stretches 292 miles from Estes Park to Glenwood Springs.

For a veteran thru-hiker, 1,200 miles across, down, and up Wisconsin sounded simple. Suffice it to say, there were unexpected obstacles.

It has cypress swamps, shorelines, and an offbeat character all its own. What the Florida Trail doesn't have is crowds, or many thru-hikers at all. Could it be the winter adventure for you?

Get your fill of “Awe and then Some”

An autumnal section hike of the 4,800-mile North Country Trail brought our writer closer to his ancestry, his home state, and himself. Here's how to hike it yourself.

The xTx trail will cover 1,500 miles in the Lone Star State.

The Lakeshore Trail offers 4 days of stunning views along Lake Superior.

Two born-and-raised Alaskans think the Bomber Traverse might be one of the best wilderness backpacking trips in the U.S. However, even experienced backpackers must be prepared for challenging conditions, including glacier travel, scrambling through boulder fields, and even midsummer snowfall.

Lake Tahoe—the largest alpine lake in North America—has hundreds of miles to hike. Here are the best of them for the whole family.

Want in on one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets for urban hiking? Head to Minneapolis.

Only have a couple days to explore in Alaska? These frontcountry campgrounds offer backcountry views—but without the long hike in.

The midwestern states are some of the most geographically diverse landscapes in America. Shaped by ancient glaciers, rivers and lakes are abundant among deep forests and rolling hills. Here are some of the best hikes to explore this diverse region.

Need a verdant excursion from Portland? Got a day or two to spend in Hood River, Oregon? Take these trails for a spin.

Texas is way more than flat, barren land. Try these three hikes in Hill Country.

Here’s a little-known secret: the Cornhusker State is full of untapped adventure

A local expert shares her secrets on finding the state's best waterfalls—from easy walks to more adventurous tours deep in the mountains.

Local guidebook author Susan Joy Paul explores the best summit hikes in and around Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Slot canyons, auburn cliffs, alpine lakes, and more: You can experience the best Utah has to offer on this 10-day road trip just for hikers.

Pacific Northwest hiking expert Matt Wastradowski explores the best hiking in Washington's three national parks.

Oregon guidebook author Matt Wastradowski explores the best hiking and backpacking in Oregon’s national parks and national monuments.

These treeless summits have expansive views of some of America's most beautiful terrain. Here are 6 of the best to start with.

At a modest 6,288 feet, Mount Washington seems like an unlikely candidate for one of America’s deadliest mountains. But with more than 150 known fatalities, it can be a hazardous hike. Here’s what beginners need to know before hitting the trail.

After 25 years of hiking in his hometown of Boulder, guidebook author James Dziezynski reveals his all-time favorite treks in the area. Plus, he’s included downloadable GPX files, parking intel, trail beta, gear and weather tips, and more.

If you’re after an experience that feels like a real adventure, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than South Dakota

Longs Peak can be a sufferfest if you're not prepared for what this imposing 14er can throw at you. Here are 14 tips to increase your odds of reaching the summit.

From a 41-mile day to thigh-busting climbs to exposed, high-mountain ridges, hiking doesn't get harder than this.

Ready to hike to the highest point in Hawaii? Ascend Mauna Kea's volcanic slopes to a summit high above the clouds. This challenging day hike is among the most spectacular on the planet.

On a winter thru-hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail, Jeff Garmire contended with snowstorms, swam a river, and bushwhacked paths overgrown with bramble—and discovered the rugged heart of one of America’s lesser-known long trails.

Since its peak in the early 20th century, the Salton Sea has suffered from increasing salinity, fish die-offs, and general neglect. But on a pair of kayak camping trips, one paddler found surprising beauty there

This short shuttle hike explores the southernmost section of the Benton MacKaye Trail, which links the Georgia backcountry to the northern reaches of the Great Smoky Mountains.

The Green Mountain State delivers when it comes to year-round outdoor recreation and adventures with a uniquely Vermont spin

Got a few days off, a pair of healthy feet, and a pain threshold higher than Dean Karnazes? You can (possibly) blaze the length of America's Most Beautiful Trail

From dense, moss-draped rainforest to misty, cliff-guarded beaches, the Oregon Coast Trail is 425 miles of pure Pacific beauty with a complicated story behind it.

Located off the coast of the Everglades, the Sandfly Island Loop is an intro to sea kayaking that even beginners can do.

Explore mossy gorge trails, ancient sandstone caves, and morel-filled forests in this unexpected hiking paradise.

This is the best way to view the North Cascades.

How one hiking photographer got the perfect shot in Florida's Gulf Islands.

On a rafting trip down the Kongakut River, a photographer experiences a landscape that's as spectacular as it is endangered.

In California's Big Pine Lakes basin, you can find the southernmost glacier in North America, for now.

From local favorites to tourist must-dos, these trails are the best of America's Finest City.

Get a different perspective on Lake Tahoe (and fewer crowds, too!) when you head into the mountains surrounding North Lake Tahoe

Escape the dog days with these deliciously cool trails.

One mountain, five great hiking routes. Even if you’ve already climbed the peak, alternate ascent lines can make your adventure feel like a brand new mountain. 

From rolling road rides and family-friendly singletrack to downhill bike parks, Vermont has world-class routes for cyclists of every kind

Lace up your boots for a hiking destination that includes Rocky Mountain vistas, alpine lakes, wind-swept sand dunes, and memorable urban parks.

Whether you have a day, a weekend, or a whole week, there's a hike for you in Glacier National Park.

Take a walk on the wild side in the Pacific Northwest, exploring endless dayhikes and backpacking trips across Oregon.

The remote Crazies are a playground for more than just humans.

At these dark-sky destinations, the stars are out of this world.

Colorado Springs makes for an unforgettable gateway into the Rocky Mountains’ Front Range.

Whether you’re new to the area, just visiting, or a lifelong resident here, there’s always new trails to explore!

The pain I experience while thru-hiking draws me back to the present and makes me more aware of my privilege

This hidden gem of a thru-hike shows off all the Ozarks have to offer.

With several dozen waterfalls, old growth forest, and mossy grottos carved right out of the wall of Columbia River Gorge, this trail is a hiker's paradise.

From summit scrambles to lowland rainforest, there's a hike on O'ahu for every hiker.

This sandstone arch outside Sedona, AZ has top-notch views and a fun bit of scrambling.

At these creekside, shorefront, and mountaintop spots, the views are so gorgeous that you may never want to go to sleep.

There's a whole wilderness of green valleys, rocky mountaintops, and hidden waterfalls ready to explore in West Virginia's Dolly Sods. Here are our favorite ways to enjoy it.

Over a 30-mile hike through the High Sierra, a father and son reflect on belonging in the wilderness.

Rainforest, volcanic summits, and lush bamboo groves; this island has everything a hiker could want.

Find the best of Maine's unbeatable seashore on these hikes through Acadia National Park.

Hit up one of these 7 hikes for a late-season color show.

Whether it’s big elevation changes, big miles, or big moves, these 23 routes prove that the best hikes are often the hardest. There’s a world of adventure out there—if you’re strong enough to seize it.

Get on a high ledge, a crumbly cliff, or a knife-edge ridge and your body will recognize the feeling before your brain catches on.

No one likes hiking in a crowd. Get all of the scenery and less of the lines with these alternatives to the big parks.