Portland: Tryon Creek Loop
Don't miss the wildflower show--it's easy to catch a city bus to the start of a 4.2-mile stroll in Tryon Creek State Park.
Got the itch to go hiking? Whether it’s prepping for the trip of a lifetime or finding local hikes, these picks from the editors of Backpacker will help you get out more. Find day hikes, multi-day trips, and more.
Got the itch to go hiking? Whether it’s prepping for the trip of a lifetime or finding local hikes, these picks from the editors of Backpacker will help you get out more. Find day hikes, multi-day trips, and more.
Don't miss the wildflower show--it's easy to catch a city bus to the start of a 4.2-mile stroll in Tryon Creek State Park.
This mostly forested loop climbs 1,250 feet to three misty waterfalls and dynamite views of the Olympic Mountains.
This multiday paddle tours a small island, scenic coves, and tops things off with a 4.8-mile hike to a lake in Larrabee State Park.
Your choice: Hike or paddle through a giant wetland refuge with two lakes, more than 100 bird species, and a host of native trees, including century-old Oregon ashes.
Wooded lakeshores. Civil War hotspots. A giant granite mountain. This 7.4-mile hike tops out with peerless views of rolling green Piedmont from the summit of an open dome east of Atlanta.
Ride a bus to a 2.3-mile tour of Guilford Courthouse, scene of a turning-point battle in the American Revolution.
Need an after-work escape? Minutes from the capital are 5.7 miles of tranquil trails along the Potomac River and C&O Canal.
This figure-8 connects two parks on its 3.7-mile course under hardwood canopies and past a mini-wetland teeming with life.
Waterfalls, swimming holes, and shady lunch spots highlight this 10.4-miler, just a short bus ride from downtown.
Take a bus to the start of this 6.2-mile stroll through Fort Harrison State Park's secluded woods and creek-split hills.
Catch the light rail to this loop to see the confluence of two rivers and circle a lush island in the heart of the Twin Cities.
Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area features a best-in-class overlook of the bustling city and the Arkansas River.
Ride the bus to the rugged hills of Mission Trails Park and bag the city's high point on a 3-mile out-and-back.
Introduce the kids to mass transit, then hike to President Grant's Farm (zebras, horses) on this gentle 6.4-miler.
Take the Metro to this 4.8-mile loop, then soak up sunny ocean views from the foothills of Will Rogers State Park.
Set a weekend aside for this challenging 19.7-mile lasso loop (with numerous campsites) that connects two pinched gorges with suspended bridges.
The views on this 5.9-miler are so grand that this parkland was once proposed as the summer grounds for a second presidential White House.
You'll climb nearly 1,300 feet and bag two neighboring peaks by the end of this 7.1-mile lasso loop in Phoenix Mountains Preserve.
Travel the rugged spines of Franconia and Kinsman Ridges on this 13.8-miler that offers five summits, numerous campsites, and unrivaled views.
Pack your swimsuit for this 5.4-mile round-trip canyon hike leading to a series of steaming, turquoise-blue hot pools and a cascading waterfall.
Check off two 4,000-footers and walk the nation's oldest continuously maintained trail on this 7.4-mile horseshoe route in the rugged Presidential Range.
Brilliant fall colors, sparkling waterfalls, and a mountaintop lookout tower highlight this scenic 5.2-mile dayhike in Ascutney State Park.
This 11.6-miler crosses the Snake River, then heads downstream through a magnificent desert canyon known for its raptors and hidden rock art.
Loop under old-growth firs, by widespread vistas above the Columbia River, and past several photoworthy waterfalls on this exciting 2.1-mile dayhike.
Pack light: This strenuous dayhike gains 3,000 feet in less than 3 miles, and offers in-your-face mountain views in Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
This 8.6-mile out-and-back is packed with attractions: roaring waterfalls, an alpine lake, and mountain views so awesome you'll go trigger-happy with the camera.
The views over SoCal and the Pacific keep getting better and better during this 2,000-foot climb to the Main Divide of the Santa Ana Mountains.
On this 7.5-miler, you'll roam the geologically rich Red Rock Canyon, where bighorn sheep wander through desert gardens and piñon-juniper forests.
A lakeside campsite awaits at the end of this 4.2-miler that passes old-growth cedars, a mining camp, and meadows splashed with wildflowers.
Jack up your heart rate on this 6.4-mile out-and-back past giant boulders to a sun-baked peak with incredible ocean-to-mountain views.
Explore the hilly side of southeast Wisconsin on this 4.4-mile loop through the pines and hardwoods of Kettle Moraine State Forest.
On this easy 6-mile loop, you'll cross Eagle Creek Reservoir on a scenic causeway, wander lovely woods, and catch views from a waterfront lookout.
Start from a tilted sandstone cliff on a mostly forested and lesser-traveled 9.9-mile loop in Beech Creek National Scenic and Botanical Area.
Explore ridges, evergreen forests, and odd rock formations on this 4.3-mile dayhike through the smallest wilderness in Shawnee National Forest.
This 4.6-mile loop gets two thumbs up for its rushing cascades, sweet campsites, and two fine viewpoints overlooking Pisgah National Forest.
Head to the dark hills of Black Rock Mountain State Park for a 6.3-mile loop along soothing mountain streams to lookouts with classic Appalachian views.
Float under a peregrine falcon nest and paddle past several islands to the Tennessee River on this 4.5-mile trip through the heart of downtown.
Twist through a sandstone gorge with a handful of waterfalls on this 7.8-miler topping out at a tabletop overlook above Jefferson National Forest.
Tackle the highest point in Arkansas on this 20-mile out-and-back that draws all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts—hikers, climbers, even hang gliders.
This popular 10.6-mile hike begins gently in aspen groves, then crescendos with a climb up Arizona's tallest peak.
This 14.6-mile dayhike serves up two Wasatch summits, some off-trail scrambles above an emerald-colored lake, and top-notch views.
The snow-draped Enchanted Forest is the backdrop for this 5.3-mile ski or snowshoe trip that offers several overlooks and route options outside Taos.
A nearly 2,000-foot climb leads through verdant forest to a rocky Adirondack summit on this 4.4-mile out-and-back in the High Peaks region.
This 7.9-mile stretch of Pennsylvania's historic 140-mile Horse-Shoe Trail boasts lookout-tower views, isolated terrain, and plenty of wildlife.
This 5.8-miler in Allegheny County's sprawling North Park visits maple and oak forests, babbling creeks, and a scenic overlook.
This 9.4-mile summit climb hooks around wooded slopes, past a cascading brook to a summit with fine views of the White Mountains.
Hit the shorelines of two mountain ponds on this not-so-tough 4.9-mile loop in New England's White Mountains.
Catch killer views of Big Bear Lake and hike a short leg of the Pacific Crest Trail on this 7.8-mile out-and-back to an 8,200-foot peak.
Lasso together the Pacific Ocean, two deep canyons, and an unnamed high point on this 11.9-mile loop in the Santa Monica Mountains.
You won't find gold on this 3.5-mile loop, but the hilly hemlock forests, the singing swans, and the sunbathing turtles at Bull Sluice Lake are priceless.
Grab a quick overnight on this 8.8-miler past two lakes, where bald eagles soar the blue skies and dive for fish in Eldorado National Forest.
This storied trail used to be all work; now it's all play for hikers and bikers interested in historic buildings and DC's most famous waterfall.
The stunning views on this windy point connect the deep blues of the Columbia Gorge to snowy volcanic cones of Mounts Hood and Adams.
Follow the bends of the great Tennessee River through a wildlife sanctuary on this 8.6-mile trip in the city's most-scenic green space.
This kid-friendly paddle explores the narrow waterways of the Columbia Slough where heaps of birds and wildlife hide along the brushy banks.
Dip into a remote high desert canyon punctuated by cliff walls and volcanic rock pillars to a scenicplateau with 360-degree views of southeast Idaho.
Hike 9.6 miles over a panoramic ridgeline serving up big views of Glacier Peak, and across wildflower meadows to a lookout tower.
This 6.6-miler goes high (scenic bluffs) and low to a horseshoe bend of Mountain Fork River (streamside fishing) in Beavers Bend Resort Park.
See the boyhood haunts of Abraham Lincoln on this 8.2-mile loop among rolling hills and past two ponds and a lake in Lincoln State Park.
This dayhike quickly gains 3,000 feet in 2.5 miles and ends on top of a summit where mountain views extend in every direction.
Tough day at work? Reenergize yourself on this quick but steep 2.5-mile hike or trail run to the top of the city's landmark peak.
This 3.4-mile out-and-back in the heart of Missouri's Little Dixie region travels the wavy, wooded banks of a 205-acre lake.
Jump onto the Ozark Highlands Trail for a quiet 7.4-mile route that serves up mountain hollows,lush hardwoods, and a glimpse into settlers' lives.
Try a stunning new hike in the Colorado Rockies' top spot for big backpacking adventures.
This 6-mile dayhike in the Superstition Mountains is a photographer's delight: rocky spires, hoodoos, a desert cave, and sunset light on Weavers Needle.
This 5.7-mile loop features golden hills rimmed by crimson mesas, abundant rock formations, and revealing views into Colorado National Monument.
Snowshoe or ski into a winter paradise on this 4.7-miler that loops past a mountain spring and finishes with a downhill sprint.
Take in Olympic history, a marsh, and views of Saranac Lakes on the 3.7 miles to this weathered High Peaks summit.
This classic dayhike runs up a narrow canyon then along a formidable knife-edge ridge to a giant monolith with mind-boggling redrock views.
Climb to the top of a rocky summit above island-dotted Lake Winnipesaukee on this popular 3.8-mile loop in the Belknap Mountains.
Avoid the crowds on this 3-miler that explores less-traveled trails and an old Confederate headquarters in Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Test your map skills on this moderate 4.7-mile hike into the woodland maze along the Ventura River in El Nido Preserve.
This 8.4-mile out-and-back gains 2,500 feet to unbeatable desert-to-ocean views over the San Jacinto Mountains.
Earmark a long weekend for this 31-miler linking tree-shaded lowlands, old mining homesteads, waterfalls, and a beautiful alpine lake.
Loop 8.3 miles through coastal sage and eucalyptus to views of mountain-ringed beaches and the Pacific Ocean.
String together two loops on this 8.3-miler along the streams and young woodlands near Caesar Creek Lake--a 2,830-acre reservoir.
Parallel the Blue Ridge Parkway on this 12.5-mile one-way hike with picturesque overlooks and streams cascading through towering hardwoods.
Trail run or hike on this 3.8-mile woodland loop past granite outcrops and small cascades to the floodplain of the Ocmulgee River.
Trace an old Native American trail, climb hills, and explore rich stands of cedar and oak on this scenic loop just 15 miles from downtown.
This figure-eight loop connects 9.6 miles of pristine forest and wooded marshes in Wakulla Springs State Park.