Top Things to do in United States
Top 10 Hiking Trails in United States, United States
Spanning 2,800 miles (4,506 kilometers) from east to west, the US is a vast patchwork of landscapes and metropolises. From Arizona’s red-rocked canyons and California’s coastal beaches to New York’s big city and Virginia’s storied past, it covers any topic any traveler could want or need.
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1. Kalalau Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,655 reviews
This place is temporarily closed. Kauai's hiking trail along the Na Pali coast.
Reviewed By wolverineJACK21 - Midland, United States
My family just got back from Kauai. We stayed near the NaPali coast. We had anyone from age 29-64 with us. There is a new rule now where you MUST have a park pass weeks ahead of time before being able to hike the Kalalau trail. We made this mistake and got sent away the first time. If you can’t get a pass, the best way to get access to the park is via the shuttle. The shuttle pass comes with entry to the park which is nice. The shuttle system is actually pretty efficient too. We took our shuttle from Princeville. After arriving, you have a 0.5 mile easy hike to the trailhead. There are bathrooms and a beach with a lifeguard here. If you want to hike, the trail itself is well marked and reasonably safe for the first two miles. It is mainly rocks but is wide and easily hike-able for people of all ages. There are tiny streams that you may have to step over but nothing too crazy. At the end, you hike down to a river. We went during the winter and the river was too high and too fast to cross. I recommend bring water shoes in a backpack to cross the river so that your hiking shoes aren’t soaked. It was at least waist high when we went. There is a small beach that you can hike down to which is nice. Overall, this trail is beautiful. I’m bummed we couldn’t make it to the waterfall on the other side of the river but highly recommend this.
2. The Narrows
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,489 reviews
Zion's most popular hiking trail is also its most dangerous due to occasional flash floods.
Reviewed By erinmarina - Sioux Falls, United States
Awesome hike!!! Definitely spend the extra $25 to rent the wooden hiking stick and water shoes/neoprene socks from Zion Outfitters (located right outside the pedestrian entrance to the park). The stick actually provided a lot of stability when hiking through the water and the water shoes were NOT waterproof by any means, but helped support my ankles and give me better grip than my hiking shoes or tennis shoes would have. We went on October 1st, VERY EARLY in the day and we didn't encounter many people until our way back around 11. We hiked through Wall Street and then returned, Definitely recommend this hike!!
3. Hurricane Ridge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,790 reviews
A 17-mile stretch of winding road through dense forests and alpine ice-covered peaks.
Reviewed By Panda_Bear_Will
My wife and I visited Olympic National Park six years ago on a single day excursion from Seattle; we were able to see Lake Crescent and the Hoh Rain Forest briefly on that trip and I knew I needed to return one day to explore the park more fully. The Hurricane Ridge Road was closed on that previous visit, so returning to see it and hike the entire Hoh River Trail to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus became bucket-list items shortly thereafter. I was able to return to Olympic and spend six full days exploring it as fully as possible. This review will really cover the park as a whole rather than Hurricane Ridge, but the 17 mile road which is easily accessible from Port Angeles is definitely a must-see for any visitor. Olympic is really divided into 3 distinct ecosystems: the mountains, surrounding rain forests, and coastal beaches. In order to get the true Olympic experience, a person should make it a point to dedicate at least a full day to each region. The sheer size of the park requires a good deal of driving to hit each individual region; one will mostly traverse the perimeter the park on Highway 101 and several roads leading deeper into the interior will allow access to areas such as Hoh, Quinault, So Duc, etc. Port Angeles to the north of the park provides the most choices when it comes to food and lodging; the western part of the park is serviced by the small town of Forks and to the extreme southwest, Aberdeen. The eastern edge of the park doesn't have much in the way of points of interest within the park besides some lesser-used trails, but it is a pleasant drive with occasional small towns like Hoodsport worth exploring for a bit. Distances between these points of interest are considerable as you're looking at a several hour drive between them. There are enough gas stations and other services that you're never quite "off the grid" for that long, but having a good idea of the layout of the park will save unneeded driving (though the scenery is usually so lush and inviting that the miles kind of melt after awhile). With that said, the following provides the highlights of the park, IMO, while doing so in a logical counter-clockwise fashion for people driving in from Seattle: 1) Hurricane Ridge. On a clear day, the views of the Olympic Mountain range are pretty amazing from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The key word is "clear". Olympic is famous for its considerable rainfall and chances are you will encounter rain at several points throughout the day even during the summer. I recommend following the weather forecast and allowing for a possible return trip to Hurricane Ridge, if necessary. The first day I visited, clouds and rainfall offered tantalizing glimpses of the mountains beyond but nothing more. I return the next day and was treated to glacier-covered mountains and a lush alpine scene that was delightful to hike just around the parking lot (managed to see a hare, deer, and marmot within 10 minutes of the short hikes adjacent to the parking lot). Unfortunately, the Hurricane Hill trail further beyond the visitor center was closed for restoration. This area is the highlight of Olympic for me. 2) Lake Crescent. Returning to Highway 101 and heading west, the highway will eventually hug the shores of this large lake with mountains surrounding it. A popular short but very steep hike up Mt. Storm King will challenge even the more fit hikers (to reach its true summit, one must use several ropes for assistance). The highest waterfall within the park, Marymere Falls is also a short walk from the lake parking lot. 3) Rialto Beach. With its mountain ranges and lush rain forests, its easy to overlook the third aspect of Olympic NP which is actually very unique within the National Park system: the extended coastline of undeveloped wilderness. There are actually three areas of such coast line which are part of the park: the far northwestern reaches of Washington state which will include Lake Ozette, Rialto Beach which is west of the town of Forks, and the beaches running along Highway 101 in the southwestern portion of the park. I visited Rialto Beach and was treated to a leisurely hike along a beach trail leading to a rock arch (called "Hole in the Wall"), various other rock formations, and tide pools. This is some of the last extended undeveloped wild coast line within the US and is definitely worth a visit for anybody with several days to visit the park. 4) Hoh River Rain Forest: Upon my visit several years ago, I was most bummed to only spend about 30 minutes in this legendary forest which is often described as "enchanted" and "fairy-tale like". The Hoh River Trail extends for 17 miles (actually closer to 20 per several apps and devices I used to judge the distance) to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus. For years, I dreamed of not only returning to the forest, but backpacking the trail all the way to the end. I was able to do so and while it was a very rewarding experience, I can say that the rain forest scenery and vibe does become a bit redundant after several miles. Most visitors will likely go no more than to 5 Mile Island for a day hike (the trail is very flat, so covering such distance is not much of a chore) and I believe that's sufficient. For those looking to backpack beyond, the trail remains flat to the 12.4 mile marker before climbing in elevation to Elk Lake. Beyond that, Glacier Meadows campsite beckons, but not before climbing down an unnerving ladder required to navigate a rock slide which wiped out the old trail. The climb to the Glacier itself is considerable and the distance (especially with a full backpack) makes this quite the workout. However, it was a lifetime experience that I'll cherish forever. For non-backpackers, the Hoh Forest is one of the more easily accessible rain forests within the park, but the scenery is pretty similar for most of them: lots of lush vegetation. 5) Lake Quinault. A scenic lake with some of the few actual lodgings within the park boundaries. This area also provides access to several more trails, both short and long distance, that seemed very enticing. In conclusion, Olympic may not get the headlines of more noted parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, but its lush surroundings and highly varied landscapes makes this one of the best parks in America.
4. Stowe Recreation Path
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,432 reviews
Between the West Branch River and Route 108 is a biking trail full of scenic vistas and small town atmosphere.
Reviewed By Turkish340
Rent some good bikes and do it. Did it with family, youngest is 10. No probkem at all as the entire path is pretty much flat and paved so it is really easy to ride. Beautiful scenery all the way through, and some really magical spots to stop and admire the area.
5. Boise River Greenbelt
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,436 reviews
Flows through Boise and provides more than 25 miles of scenic paths for biking, hiking and jogging.
Reviewed By marmot3 - Boise, United States
The beautiful Boise River flows through the heart of the city. Flanking the river on one side or the other or sometimes both, is the gently winding Boise River Greenbelt, a paved path that runs for 25 miles, from Lucky Peak Dam upriver to the town of Eagle downriver. Along the way, there are many entrances and exits, so you can make your Greenbelt experience as long or short as you wish. Previously, it was totally non-motorized, though recently e-bikes became admissible--with a speed limit. When my family gathered for a reunion in Boise in June, we loved our "bike hike" on the Greenbelt. Some people had brought their own bikes; others rented from bike shops downtown. One family rented a bike trailer/carrier for their little kids. Off we all went, our ride taking us through four leafy city parks, past the zoo, the Anne Frank Memorial, the Fallen Firefighters Memorial, Quinn's Pond and the Whitewater Park and beyond. On the return we stopped off for play time in one of Ann Morrison Park's playgrounds. Many cities are built on rivers, and many cities capitalize on these fortunate features. But I know of no other city that has been as successful as Boise in incorporating their river into the life of the city while preserving its natural beauty. Boise River Greenbelt is an extraordinary gift for the people of Boise and the Treasure Valley, as well as visitors. Just a word of caution: The Greenbelt is extremely popular for recreation, exercise, bike commuting, fun runs, photo shoots, etc. It's busy! The posted "rules" for use state that pedestrians always have the right of way, but many people are oblivious or careless. The yellow stripe down the middle of the path is there for a reason. Treat the path as a highway and stay on the right unless passing. Watch for children or the ubiquitous geese and squirrels straying into your path. Be reasonably careful, share the path, and enjoy this Boise treasure!
6. Hanging Lake Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,186 reviews
Reviewed By debsA9982ZB
This is a very pleasant surprise when staying in Glenwood Springs CO. The location is an environmental protected area, allowing only specific numbers of visitors. Reservations are needed as bus takes you to the trailhead and from there your adventure begins. The trail winds and switchbacks up the cavern walls, the views are amazing and the quiet is covered by the running brook you criss cross over by small bridges as you ascend. The hike is strenuous at times, recommendation to take your time and breath in experience. Hanging Lake is peaceful, a place to reflect, the short detour to Sprouting Rock is well worth the effort brings a smile and gives a needed cooling spray.
7. Flatirons
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,107 reviews
Reviewed By kelshutch - Baltimore, United States
Beautiful area, great for walking. It's a big far/steep for toddler legs, so be prepared to carry little ones. But even if you don't get very far before turning around, the trip to see the park is worthwhile. Great couple of hours of sunshine, fresh air, and hiking for our family.
8. Hilton Head Island Bike Trails
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,141 reviews
Reviewed By JoniSBrown - Charlotte, United States
My favorite thing to do in Sea Pines, where is do vacation rentals, is to ride bikes, walk or run the trail system. They are well maintained, well marked and long enough to satisfy any level of exercise ability. A great way to spend time with friends and family.
9. Arches National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10,354 reviews
Reviewed By WC-Travelers-75
We had a great day in Arches driving our 23 ft. RV. We got to the entrance before opening and the double line each was about 50 to 75 vehicles ahead of us. Hint: If in an RV, Get to the Devils Garden Parking Area immediately and claim an RV space. Our experience was that all the spaces went to cars and trucks that double parked in the RV spaces. We tried to park there twice during the day - late morning and mid-afternoon and were shut out both times. If you are staying at Devils Garden campground, this is not an issue for you. Nonetheless, we had a fabulous day touring the viewpoints and hiking.We did all the hikes in the Windows section, the Delicate Arch Trail (difficult) , both Delicate Arch viewpoint, Sand Dune Arch and Skyline Arch. We also hiked the Broken Arch/ Tapestry Arch loop in a clock-wise direction leaving from the Sand Dune Arch Parking Area. We went partway to the Tapestry Arch but stopped because it became difficult. It definitely was more than moderate scrambling for us. The section from the hike from the Campground to the Sand Dune Parking Area had some sections with more than moderate scrambling. In a day, we saw a large section of the NP. Only the Pine Tree and Tunnel Arches escaped us.
10. Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 244 reviews
Reviewed By DisneyDarwin - Spring, United States
The folks who imagined this place were true visionaries --- birds, birds and more birds. So many species and so many individual birds. The layout makes it easy, just drive and take your time and enjoy the wildlife. We saw mostly shore and water birds, but there were a couple of elevated spots that were fully of warblers, wrens, sparrows and such. This is a most worthy destination.
