Top 5 Must-Visit U.S. Adventure Destinations For Hiking Enthusiasts

Looking for your next outdoor adventure? The U.S. has some of the best hiking destinations with a wide range of trails for every experience level. From famous national parks to lesser-known paths, there are amazing places you can explore nationwide.

These hikes offer big views and quiet trails. You’ll see mountains, forests, and places unlike any other. Planning a trip? Or just need a new trail? This blog post shares some of the best hikes in the U.S.

Key Takeaways

• Discover top hiking destinations nationwide.

• Learn about famous and hidden trails.

• Find hiking spots for every region and season.

Top National Parks To Hike

National parks have some of the best hikes in the U.S. Each offers stunning scenery, paths for all skill levels, and the chance to see wildlife while traveling.

The National Park Of Yosemite

Hikers love Yosemite for reasons other than just its reputation as a strenuous workout. Each trail looks like a postcard, with towering granite cliffs and powerful waterfalls.

Hike the Mist Trail or the Yosemite Falls Trail if you're feeling daring. Both of them will get you quite near to stunning waterfalls and expansive vistas of the valley. A legendary thing? Half Dome is one of Yosemite’s most famous hikes. You’ll need a permit to climb it, but the trek to the top is something you won’t forget. It’s challenging, but worth every step.

Not all hikes need to be challenging. However mirror Lake Trail is a quiet, easy stroll with serene water vistas. Most trails are shaded, so they're perfect for hot weather.

In addition, Yosemite has more tourist facilities like clean bathrooms, water fill stations, and helpful park maps. In order to see the waterfalls in full anger, spring and early summer are the best time to go.

Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is one of those sites that never appears real — it's too big, too colorful, and too dramatic for pictures to capture it.

If you're prepared for some serious exercise, Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail lead down into the canyon. You'll get to walk past ancient rock layers filled with stories a million years old.

Beware: there is little shade and the sun can be ferocious, particularly during summer. Bring more water than you suspect you'll drink.

Want something less challenging? The Rim Trail gives you flat terrain and plenty of overlooks. It's a great option if you want to experience the view without having to descend into the canyon. You can also do a short ranger-guided hike to gain more insight into the geology and history of the region.

Zion National Park

Zion stands out with its red cliffs, high and skinny slot canyons that look like another world.

The most famous hike in the park is Angels Landing. It’s a tough trail with steep drop-offs and stunning views. It’s not for the faint of heart. But if you’re not afraid of heights, it’s one of the best hikes in the country.

During the summer, the river walk is cool. Be sure to look at the weather for flash floods.

You can also have shorter walks like the Emerald Pools Trail. They are ideal for people who would like to have an easier trail.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

There are several trails with different difficulty levels to hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are rolling green hills, wildflowers, and historic cabins that comprise the park.

Alum Cave Trail is popular. You hike through stands of old-growth forest, brooks, and to rock outcroppings with great vistas. Deer or wild turkeys are observed on the trail.

You'll see brightly colored blooms on the paths during spring and summer. Clingmans Dome Trail takes you to the park's summit, where you get to view mountains for miles.

Iconic Scenic Trails Of The U.S.

Some of the best hikes in the U.S. come with amazing views and challenging paths. They bring a true sense of adventure. People love them for their landscapes, rich history, and the variety of plants and animals along the way.

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is more than 2,190 miles long and runs from Maine to Georgia. It crosses mountains, forests, and tiny settlements. You can choose the portions of the path that best suit your hiking needs and abilities, even if very few people attempt to hike the whole thing in a single journey.

Ahead are camps and shelters. The path passes via famous mountains with breathtaking views, like Mount Katahdin in Maine and Clingman Dome in Tennessee. It's common to see deer, black bears, and a variety of birds.

Weather can turn in a moment, so be prepared for rain or unexpected cold. Late spring and early fall are ideal when not too hot and with open sightlines. In order to have a quiet hike, hike early morning or take less popular stretches.

Key highlights

• Length: About 2,190 miles

• States crossed: 14

• Famous spots: Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Park

The Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail connects Canada and Mexico via California. It travels roughly 2,650 miles over mountain ranges, woods, and deserts. The Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range, which is renowned for its high, snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes, will be visible to you.

Some trek only their favorite parts, such the Washington Cascades or the John Muir stretch. Steep ascents and traverses of snowy passes await you, particularly in early summer.

Bring plenty of water and know cell service is usually weak or unavailable. Most hikers travel northbound from spring to late summer. This way, snow melts from the high passes, and temperatures are less extreme.

Key Points

• Length: About 2,650 miles

• States crossed: California, Oregon, Washington

• Terrain: Desert, mountains, forests

The John Muir Trail

The John Muir Trail runs along California's Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is about 211 kilometers long from Yosemite National Park to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states.

The trail boasts its rugged mountain passes, huge granite walls, and clean, glinting rivers. The trek also passes through Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Late summer is the most suitable time for a hike. By then, most of the snow has melted, and the weather is more stable.

Numerous camps, yet no amenities like food markets, so plan ahead to carry stock or organize stock points. Altitude results in cool nights year-round and viewing wildlife such as marmots and mule deer.

Trail Facts

• Length: 211 miles

• Highlights: Yosemite Valley, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Mount Whitney

• Permits required: Yes, for full trail

Hidden Gem Hiking Spots

Some of the nation's finest hikes are off the beaten path. These less-traveled locations offer stunning views, unique landscape, and memories to last for hikers of all skill levels.

White Mountains, New Hampshire

Northern New Hampshire is home to the White Mountains. The region is renowned for its thick forests and rocky mountains. This is where a portion of the well-known Appalachian Trail passes. The Northeast's highest peak, Mount Washington, draws tourists.

For newbies, attempt the Franconia Ridge Loop. It provides panoramic views of the Presidential Range and fields of wildflowers in the summer. The trails are well-marked and well-maintained, but the weather here can turn quickly, particularly above the treeline.

The White Mountains provide a number of hiker huts operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club. These are perfect for through-hiking. Common wildlife viewing includes moose, black bears, and red foxes. The fall foliage provides vivid reds and oranges that draw hikers and photographers.

Ozark Highlands, Arkansas

The Ozark Highlands Trail is 165 miles long in northern Arkansas. It winds along dense forests, serene waterfalls, and rocky bluffs. You don't have to hike it all in one day. The trail is broken into smaller sections, so you can explore at your own leisure.

Key highlights

• Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area with deep valleys and clear streams

• White Rock Mountain Loop with panoramic views

• You can also find bald eagles and wild turkeys.

It is permissible to camp along the trail, and thus it suits backpackers quite well. Ozarks are not as populated as other well-known parks. It remains temperate in spring and autumn in this area, providing good walking weather.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Texas

Enchanted Rock is a large pink granite dome located near Fredericksburg, Texas. It has a combination of easy and moderate trails in this area. The Summit Trail is the attraction, leading right up the dome for an unobstructed view of Hill Country.

You will observe peculiar rock formations, caves, and wildflowers that are not easily found elsewhere. The park has clean clear night skies, perfect for daytime hikes and night sky observing.

Wildlife consists of armadillos, lizards, and numerous bird species. The park also has picnic and camp sites in case you want to spend the night there. Since it is less popular than Texas national parks, the trails are less crowded, particularly during weekdays.

Western United States

Hiking in the western United States offers gateway to some of the country's most celebrated national parks. Up-close glacial views and sometimes wildlife like marmots are what you get to see on the Skyline Trail.

Northeast Trails

The Northeast has forests of leaves and mountain roads, particularly in the fall. The Appalachian Trail begins in Georgia but passes through numerous Northeastern states, such as Vermont and New Hampshire. The New Hampshire White Mountains are famous for their dramatic scenery.

Acadia National Park in Maine permits one to hike along the Atlantic shoreline. Precipice Trail is inclining with ocean views, while Jordan Pond Path is flat and straightforward.

Adirondack Park in New York offers over 2,000 miles of trails. State high point Mount Marcy treats hikers with a strenuous but worth-it hike with far-reaching views.

Southern Mountain Ranges

South climbing offers you rolling hills and dense forest. Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains more than 800 miles of trails. It straddles the North Carolina and Tennessee border. Clingmans Dome and Alum Cave Trail are popular. They offer beautiful views and scenery.

The Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina are stunning. In spring, the trails are lined with wildflowers. The Blue Ridge Parkway has scenic overlooks. There are short and long trails, perfect for a photo stop.

Stay Safe On The Trail: Our Top Hiking Shirt For Outdoor Adventures

When you are hiking in some of the United States' finest hiking spots, your attire does more than cover you—it shields, stabilizes, and enables you to move easily across shifting ground and weather.

That's where the Sun Protection UV Performance Shirt UPF 50+ really shines. Designed for long days in the sun, this shirt shields you from 98% of damaging UV rays, keeping you protected under intense sun exposure in destinations such as Zion or Sedona. The light, airy material draws sweat away quickly, so you're not trudging around in wet clothing on steamy forest paths in the Smoky Mountains or Olympic National Park.

It's also resistant to odors and performs well on multi-day treks where fresh changes are scarce. With its relaxed fit and silky texture, it dispenses with the common issues of skin irritation and chafing. Whether you're hiking rivers, scaling cliffs, or just strolling forest trails, this shirt is one less to worry about—so you can focus entirely on the trail ahead.