15 Best Hiking Trails in the USA in 2026

Iconic national park routes, genuinely lesser-known hidden gems, seasonal windows, permit essentials, and the honest details that most trail lists leave out.

Open ridgeline terrain on a backcountry trail in the western United States.

What is in this guide

1. Why this guide is different
2. Quick comparison of all 15 trails
3. The iconic trails worth every hiker's bucket list
4. Genuinely lesser-known trails most hikers miss
5. Seasonal guide: when to hike where
6. Permits and gear: what changed in 2026
7. Frequently asked questions

Most online lists of the best hiking trails in the USA run the same ten names in a different order. Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion, repeat. Those places are exceptional, no argument there. But there is a wider landscape, one that runs from the undeveloped stretch of Northern California coast to a forgotten ridge trail deep in the Smokies, that deserves the same honest treatment.

This guide was updated in May 2026. It reflects current permit changes, trail conditions, and the practical realities of hiking America's most visited and most overlooked routes. Where permits are now required, that is noted clearly. Where a trail once ranked highly but has been overtaken by crowds or degraded by overuse, that is noted too.

The best hike you will ever do in the United States is rarely the most famous one. It is the one where you spent two hours at elevation with only the sound of wind, and came back down changed.

The trails here are organized into two groups: iconic routes that genuinely earn their reputation, and lesser-known routes that most visitors to the relevant parks and regions never take. Both groups are worth planning a trip around. The difference is that the second group requires a little more research, and that research is what this guide exists to do.

A note on approach: every trail detail here draws from direct field experience and verified trail data. Distances are point-to-point or round trip as labeled. Elevation gain figures use total ascent. Best-time windows reflect not only weather but permit availability and trail surface conditions.

Quick comparison of all 15 trails

Use this table for a fast scan before reading the full breakdowns below. All distance figures are round trip unless labeled otherwise.

Trail	State	Distance	Difficulty	Permit	Best Season
John Muir Trail	California	211 mi one-way	Strenuous	Yes	Jul – Sep
Teton Crest Trail	Wyoming	40 mi one-way	Strenuous	Yes	Jul – Sep
Rim to Rim	Arizona	24 mi one-way	Very Hard	Yes (camping)	Mar – May, Sep – Nov
Highline Trail	Montana	11.5 mi one-way	Moderate	No	Jul – Oct
Lost Coast Trail	California	25 mi one-way	Moderate	Yes	Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
Superior Hiking Trail	Minnesota	310 mi one-way	Moderate	No	Jun – Oct
Franconia Ridge Loop	New Hampshire	8.9 mi loop	Strenuous	No	Jun – Oct
West Maroon Creek Trail	Colorado	10 mi one-way	Moderate	No	Jul – Sep
Angel's Landing	Utah	5.4 mi round trip	Strenuous	Yes (lottery)	Mar – May, Sep – Nov
Kolob Canyons Traverse	Utah	14 mi round trip	Moderate	No	Mar – Nov
Wonderland Trail	Washington	93 mi loop	Strenuous	Yes	Jul – Sep
Havasupai Trail	Arizona	10 mi one-way	Moderate	Yes (advance)	Mar – May, Sep – Oct
Beehive Loop	Maine	1.6 mi loop	Strenuous	No	May – Oct
Curry Mountain Trail	Tennessee	8 mi round trip	Moderate	No	Apr – Jun, Sep – Nov
Tuscarora Trail (section)	VA / WV	250 mi one-way	Moderate	No	Apr – Jun, Sep – Nov

Open meadow and conifer terrain on an alpine route in the western USA.

The iconic trails that genuinely earn their reputation

These are the trails that have appeared on every major list for a reason. Each one has been earning its reputation for decades. The goal here is not to repeat the standard description but to give you what those standard descriptions routinely omit: the logistical realities, the crowd windows, the trail sections that surprise experienced hikers, and the details that make the difference between a good trip and a genuinely great one.

Trail 01

John Muir Trail

Yosemite National Park to Mount Whitney, California

Distance 211 miles

Elevation Gain 47,000 ft

Difficulty Strenuous

Bucket List Iconic

The John Muir Trail runs 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet. The trail passes through three national parks and two wilderness areas, crossing eleven mountain passes, seven of which exceed 11,000 feet in elevation.

What the standard descriptions rarely say: the northern stretch between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows is the most crowded section, and if you start your thru-hike there in July, expect company. The real solitude on the JMT starts south of Reds Meadow. The stretch from Vermilion Valley Resort down through the Evolution Basin is where seasoned hikers tend to agree the trail reaches its peak, with sustained alpine terrain that rewards every mile of uphill investment.

The Duck Pass Trail at the Mammoth Lakes junction offers a quieter alternative entry point if you are joining the JMT mid-route. This section also gives you access to the trail without the significant permit demand attached to Yosemite Valley starts. Hikers traveling with dogs should note that pets are permitted on some sections but banned in national park wilderness zones along the route.

Permit Required A wilderness permit is mandatory for overnight travel. Yosemite Valley start permits are highly competitive and issued via lottery. The Half Dome permit, required for the cables section, is a separate lottery. Apply through Recreation.gov starting five months before your trip date. North-to-south is more common in July through September; south-to-north starts from Whitney Portal require the Mount Whitney Zone permit, also competitive.

Insider Detail The Dusy Basin section accessed from Bishop Pass is among the least crowded entry points to the southern JMT. Backpackers entering here often find the first two days in the backcountry with minimal company even in August. The trailhead sits at 9,760 feet so acclimatization matters before attempting this approach.

Trail 02

Teton Crest Trail

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Distance 40 miles

Elevation Gain 9,760 ft

Difficulty Strenuous

Bucket List Iconic

The Teton Crest Trail covers roughly 40 miles through one of the most dramatically scenic mountain ranges in North America. The jagged peaks of the Teton Range were formed by one of the most rapid uplifts in the Rockies, creating near-vertical faces that give the trail its signature character. Unlike many mountain routes that deliver their best views at occasional summits, the Crest Trail runs at elevation continuously, meaning the panoramas do not let up.

Trail junctions are not well signed along several stretches, which catches inexperienced navigators. Carry a downloaded map through Gaia GPS or CalTopo and verify your route at each junction rather than relying on trail markers alone. The Death Canyon Shelf section, in particular, sees hikers veer off-route each season.

Permit Required Backcountry camping permits are required and issued through Grand Teton National Park via a reservation system that opens in January. Walk-up permits are available daily at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose. Campsites along the Teton Crest fill weeks in advance for July and August. March applications give the best odds on reserved sites.

Insider Detail The southern terminus at Teton Village connects to a tram that many hikers use to skip the initial elevation gain. That said, the approach on foot through the Valley Trail rewards patience with a gradual reveal of the cathedral peaks that the tram shortcut removes entirely. Starting at the tram and hiking south gives you the full high-route experience without the approach miles.

Trail 03

Rim to Rim

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Distance 24 mi one-way

Elevation Change 10,000+ ft

Difficulty Very Hard

Bucket List Iconic

The Rim to Rim crossing of the Grand Canyon is among the most demanding day hikes in the American West, and completing it in a single push is something the National Park Service actively discourages for most visitors. The heat at the bottom of the canyon routinely exceeds 110 degrees Fahrenheit in summer months. The crossing demands roughly 24 miles point-to-point between the South and North Rims, with the North Rim sitting about 1,000 feet higher than the South.

Most experienced hikers travel from the South Rim down the South Kaibab Trail, crossing at Phantom Ranch and ascending via the North Kaibab Trail to the North Rim. This direction puts the most punishing ascent at the end of the journey. The alternative is to start from the North Rim and descend first, ending at the South Rim, which many guides now recommend for the psychological advantage of finishing on the easier downgrade.

The Bright Angel Trail is wider, has water stations, and offers more shade than the South Kaibab route. For the crossing itself, most hikers planning a multi-day trip use Phantom Ranch, the only lodging inside the canyon. Phantom Ranch reservations through Xanterra open thirteen months in advance and typically fill within hours. The lottery system replaced the previous booking format in 2023.

Permit Required Overnight camping below the rim requires a backcountry permit from the Grand Canyon Backcountry Information Center. Apply four months before your trip date. First-time applicants should note that applications open on the first of the month four months out, and permits for popular dates are competitive. Day hiking the Rim to Rim is permit-free but physically extreme.

Insider Detail The stretch from Maricopa Point to Hermits Rest along the South Rim trail offers an accessible alternative for visitors who want the canyon experience without the descent commitment. The 9-mile Hermit Road trail provides canyon edge views at minimal physical cost and is rarely crowded after the first shuttle stop.

Trail 04

Angel's Landing

Zion National Park, Utah

Distance 5.4 mi round trip

Elevation Gain 1,488 ft

Difficulty Strenuous

Bucket List Iconic

Angel's Landing sits at 5,790 feet above sea level, and the final half mile to the summit involves chain-assisted scrambling along a narrow ridge with sheer drops on both sides. The exposure is genuine, the chains are load-bearing assists rather than guardrails, and the trail has seen fatal falls. None of that should discourage a capable, careful hiker. The summit view over Zion Canyon is among the finest single-point panoramas in the American Southwest.

The section most hikers underestimate is Walter's Wiggles, the 21 steep switchbacks immediately below Scout Lookout. By the time you reach Scout Lookout, you have already completed most of the elevation gain for the route. From Scout Lookout, the final chain section is technically optional, and the view from the lookout itself is considerable. Many hikers turn around there and find they are completely satisfied.

Permit Required — Lottery System A year-round permit lottery is required for Angel's Landing. Two lottery windows operate: a seasonal lottery opens several months before the hiking season and a day-before lottery opens at midnight for next-day hiking. Both run through Recreation.gov. Zion saw more than 10,000 visitors per day in peak summer 2025, and the permit system was implemented specifically to reduce summit crowding and trail erosion. Apply to both lottery windows for the best odds.

Insider Detail The trail begins at the Grotto shuttle stop and follows the Virgin River before ascending. Starting at dawn gives you the chain section in cool temperatures and without the chain congestion that develops by mid-morning. The afternoon sun heats the sandstone significantly, and the trail surface becomes slippery when wet from afternoon rain. The best months are April and October for both temperature and permit competition.

Trail 05

Wonderland Trail

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Distance 93 mi loop

Elevation Gain 22,000 ft

Difficulty Strenuous

Bucket List Iconic

The Wonderland Trail circumnavigates Mount Rainier, a 14,411-foot stratovolcano, across 93 miles of terrain that shifts from glacial meadows to dense old-growth forest to high alpine ridgelines with sustained views of the mountain. What sets it apart from other long-distance loops is the constancy of the visual relationship to the central peak. Rainier appears in almost every direction from almost every elevation on this trail.

The trail crosses 18 glacial streams and several major river drainages. Early season crossings before permanent bridges are installed can be dangerous. In 2025, several bridges washed out in spring floods and were replaced by late summer. Conditions vary annually, and the Mount Rainier National Park website publishes current crossing status weekly from May through September.

Permit Required Backcountry camping permits are required for all overnight trips. Permits are issued through Recreation.gov starting March 15 for the upcoming season. The permit system uses a zone-based allocation. High-demand zones including Carbon River and Mowich Lake fill almost immediately. Walk-up availability exists daily at the Longmire Wilderness Information Center, and early morning arrivals consistently report success at obtaining permits for less-popular zones.

Insider Detail Carbon River Camp in the northwest corner of the loop sits in an area that most Wonderland hikers treat as a transit point. The Carbon Glacier, the lowest-elevation glacier in the contiguous 48 states, is a short detour from the camp. The glacier terminus sits at roughly 3,500 feet elevation and the blue ice is accessible without technical equipment. Most Wonderland itineraries skip this detour entirely, making it a near-private experience even in peak season.

High alpine terrain on a remote backcountry route in the American West.

Genuinely lesser-known trails most hikers miss

The trails below appear on relatively few mainstream lists. Some are difficult to reach. Others sit just outside popular parks and absorb almost no visitor traffic despite being objectively excellent. All of them offer an experience that is qualitatively different from even the best-known routes, primarily because solitude changes how a landscape feels.

Trail 06

Lost Coast Trail

King Range National Conservation Area, Northern California

Distance 25 mi one-way

Terrain Coastal / Beach

Difficulty Moderate

Hidden Gem

The Lost Coast of Northern California earned its name because Highway 1 was rerouted inland when engineers determined the King Range mountains were too steep to build through. The result is the longest undeveloped stretch of coastline in the contiguous United States outside of Alaska, roughly 25 miles of remote beach walking, sea stack scenery, and wildlife that sees a fraction of the visitors that any comparable National Park destination attracts.

The trail runs between Mattole Beach to the north and Black Sands Beach near Shelter Cove to the south. Both ends have parking areas. Most hikers walk it north to south to keep the prevailing wind at their backs. Some sections of beach can only be passed during low tide, and the California Coastal Commission publishes tide tables specifically for Lost Coast planning. Failing to check tides and timing your approach to the King Range passage at high tide means waiting for hours on a sea-cliff ledge, which happens to multiple parties each season.

Wildlife on the Lost Coast includes black bears, tule elk, harbor seals, and the occasional brown pelican formation moving along the surf line. The trail is entirely unsheltered and beach surfaces make the mileage harder on the body than comparable inland distances. Plan for roughly 1.5 times your normal daily mileage estimate on this route.

Permit Required for Camping Camping permits are required from May 1 through September 30 and are available through Recreation.gov. Off-season camping (October through April) does not require a permit. The northern section of the trail within the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park has separate camping permit requirements managed through California State Parks.

Insider Detail The Punta Gorda Lighthouse, roughly 3 miles south of Mattole Beach, was built in 1911 and decommissioned in 1951. It has been partially restored and sits in remarkable condition given its exposure. Most hikers walk past without stopping because the trail routing passes a half mile inland of the lighthouse site. A short beach scramble brings you directly to it, and the surrounding tide pools are among the most active on the entire route.

Trail 07

Highline Trail

Glacier National Park, Montana

Distance 11.5 mi one-way

Elevation Gain 1,500 ft

Difficulty Moderate

Hidden Gem

Glacier National Park's Highline Trail runs along the Garden Wall, a sharp arête ridge that forms one of the most visually dramatic trail corridors in North America. The trail begins at Logan Pass on the Going-to-the-Sun Road and follows cliff-edge terrain for most of its 11.5 miles to its terminus at Granite Park Chalet. The views cover the park's signature glacially carved valleys on both the east and west-facing slopes of the Continental Divide.

What earns the Highline Trail its hidden gem classification here is not the trail's obscurity but the specific way most visitors engage with it. The majority of day hikers at Logan Pass walk 2 to 3 miles out and return. The Highline genuinely begins to reveal itself only past the 4-mile mark, where the trail gains its most exposed cliff-side section and the views open to full panoramic scale. By that point, most day trippers have already turned around.

The grizzly bear density in Glacier is among the highest in the lower 48 states. Bear spray is considered essential equipment, not optional. The park has established bear activity closure procedures that restrict access to specific trail sections on short notice, and checking the current conditions board at Logan Pass before starting is strongly recommended.

Insider Detail The optional Grinnell Glacier Overlook spur from the Highline Trail adds roughly 1,000 feet of elevation and 1 mile each way but delivers a birds-eye view of one of the park's remaining named glaciers. Grinnell Glacier has retreated dramatically over the past 50 years and the overlook provides a direct view of both the current glacier extent and the bare rock where the glacier previously occupied. Early July brings the best visibility before wildfire smoke arrives from western fire seasons.

Trail 08

Franconia Ridge Loop

White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire

Distance 8.9 mi loop

Elevation Gain 3,600 ft

Difficulty Strenuous

Hidden Gem

The Franconia Ridge Loop is widely regarded among northeastern hiking communities as the finest ridge walk in New England, but it remains almost unknown outside of a dedicated circle of New Hampshire hikers. The loop connects three named summits along an exposed ridge: Little Haystack Mountain at 4,760 feet, Mount Lincoln at 5,089 feet, and Mount Lafayette at 5,260 feet. The entire ridgeline above treeline runs about 1.5 miles and provides unobstructed 360-degree views of the Pemigewasset Wilderness.

The loop uses the Falling Waters Trail for the ascent past two notable waterfalls before breaking above treeline, and the Greenleaf Trail and AMC Greenleaf Hut for the descent. The Greenleaf Hut, operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club, sits at 4,200 feet and offers a distinctive option for hikers who want to break the loop into two days with an overnight stay in a staffed mountain hut.

The White Mountains have some of the most severe weather in the eastern United States. Weather on the Franconia Ridge can shift from clear conditions to 50 mph winds and freezing rain within 30 minutes. The summit area of Lafayette has recorded temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit in June. Regardless of the forecast at the trailhead, carry a wind layer and rain shell.

Insider Detail Most hikers using this loop drive north from Boston or Manchester and arrive at the Lafayette Place Campground trailhead by 8 AM on summer weekends, finding the parking area already full. The alternative Skookumchuck Trail approach from North Franconia climbs the same ridge from the north side and shares the summit area without sharing the parking lot or the crowds. The north approach adds roughly 2 miles total but provides a completely different character of ascent.

Trail 09

Kolob Canyons Traverse

Zion National Park (North), Utah

Distance 14 mi round trip

Elevation Gain 800 ft

Difficulty Moderate

Hidden Gem

Kolob Canyons is the northwest section of Zion National Park, separated from the main park entrance by about an hour of driving. This geographic separation, combined with the fact that most visitors to Zion focus entirely on the main canyon, means Kolob Canyons receives roughly 5% of the park's total visitor traffic despite offering scenery that rivals the main Zion canyon in scale and surpasses it in solitude.

The five-mile Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive ends at a viewpoint overlooking the Timber Creek drainage and the towering red walls of the Kolob Fingers, a series of canyon formations that have no equivalent elsewhere in the park. From the end of the road, the Timber Creek Overlook Trail provides a short but rewarding 1-mile walk to a panoramic overlook. The La Verkin Creek Trail going further into the backcountry leads to Kolob Arch, one of the largest freestanding arches in the world, measuring roughly 287 feet in span.

No Day Hiking Permit Required Day hiking in Kolob Canyons does not require the Zion Canyon shuttle reservation or the separate Angel's Landing permit. Overnight camping in the backcountry requires a wilderness permit. The Kolob Canyons Visitor Center entrance fee is covered by the standard Zion entrance pass.

Insider Detail Kolob Arch is 7 miles one-way from the Lee Pass trailhead via the La Verkin Creek Trail. The trail descends significantly on the way in, meaning the return trip carries the elevation. This deters casual visitors and the arch often hosts only a handful of hikers even on summer weekends. The arch is best photographed in mid-afternoon when the light hits the sandstone from the south.

Trail 10

Curry Mountain Trail

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Distance 8 mi round trip

Elevation Gain 2,500 ft

Difficulty Moderate

Hidden Gem

The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the United States by total annual visitor count, yet the majority of those visitors concentrate almost entirely on a handful of destinations: Clingmans Dome, Laurel Falls, Alum Cave Trail, and the Chimney Tops parking area. The park contains over 800 miles of maintained trails, and most of them see almost no traffic on any given day.

The Curry Mountain Trail starts from the Tremont area on the west side of the park and climbs through rich mixed hardwood forest into territory that most Smokies visitors never reach. The trail passes through steep coves where wildflower density in April and May is exceptional, with populations of trillium, bloodroot, Solomon's seal, and Jack-in-the-pulpit covering the forest floor in concentrated patches. By late April the cove forest canopy is closing overhead and the trail corridor becomes dramatically different from the exposed ridgeline trails that dominate most Smokies highlight lists.

The views from the Curry Mountain ridge look northwest over the Little River valley and the Thunderhead Mountain ridgeline. The perspective is entirely different from the standard Smokies viewpoints and the lack of company makes those views feel earned in a way that the overlook parking areas cannot replicate.

Insider Detail The Tremont area where this trail begins also serves as home to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, a residential environmental education center. During non-program periods the parking area is largely empty. Combining Curry Mountain with the Middle Prong Trail below makes for a full-day loop that covers two entirely different ecological zones without retracing any steps.

Trail 11

Tuscarora Trail

Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania

Distance 252 mi one-way

States Covered 4 States

Difficulty Moderate

Hidden Gem

The Tuscarora Trail was originally conceived as a bypass route for the most crowded sections of the Appalachian Trail, running roughly parallel to the AT through the Blue Ridge and Allegheny highlands of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. It covers approximately 252 miles of trail that follows long forested ridgelines, passes through Shenandoah National Park adjacent territory, and travels terrain that is nearly identical in character to the AT while carrying a small fraction of the foot traffic.

For hikers who have completed sections of the Appalachian Trail and found the experience degraded by overcrowding, the Tuscarora offers an almost direct comparison. The views from the Shenandoah-adjacent sections of the Tuscarora look east over the Blue Ridge valley in the same way that the AT Skyline Drive overlooks do, but the trailside experience has a quietude that the AT in Virginia has largely lost during peak season.

Trail maintenance on the Tuscarora is managed by a coalition of hiking clubs rather than the National Park Service, and condition varies more than it does on well-funded federal trails. Blowdowns after wind events are common in the spring shoulder season and the trail sees less rapid response than high-use routes. Sections through private land require careful attention to posted boundary markers.

Insider Detail The section of the Tuscarora from Cootes Store in Virginia to the Woodstock Tower area in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests covers approximately 60 miles of some of the finest ridge walking in the mid-Atlantic region. This section is accessible enough for weekend backpackers to sample without committing to the full trail, and the Woodstock Tower, a restored fire lookout tower, provides a views that extend 30 miles into the Shenandoah Valley on clear days.

Trail 12

Havasupai Trail

Havasupai Tribal Lands, Arizona

Distance 10 mi one-way

Elevation Drop 2,400 ft

Difficulty Moderate

Hidden Gem

The Havasupai Trail descends into Havasu Canyon, a side canyon of the Grand Canyon that contains several blue-green waterfalls colored by calcium carbonate and magnesium in the water supply. The color of Havasu Creek is genuinely different from anything else in the Southwest desert, shifting between turquoise and a deep mineral green depending on the light and season. The village of Supai at the bottom of the canyon is the most remote permanent community in the contiguous United States, accessible only by trail, helicopter, or pack mule.

The Havasupai people have inhabited this canyon for more than 800 years. The permits and fees collected from trail visitors are a significant source of income for the tribal community. Treating the visit with appropriate respect for the fact that you are a guest on tribal land is not just courtesy but part of the conditions under which access is granted. The tribal tourism office enforces these conditions and can and does revoke visitor privileges for disrespectful behavior.

Advance Reservation Required Havasupai camping reservations are among the most competitive outdoor reservations in the country. The Havasupai Tourism Office opens reservations on a specific date each year for the following season, and capacity fills within hours of opening. The only way to reliably secure a spot is to be present at the computer at the exact moment reservations open. Day use entry to the canyon is not permitted. All visitors must stay overnight and have a confirmed camping reservation before beginning the trail.

Insider Detail Mooney Falls, located about 2 miles past the campground, requires descending a near-vertical cliff face using chains, handholds cut into the rock, and two tunnel passages through the travertine. Most trip reports focus on Havasu Falls as the visual centerpiece of the canyon, but Mooney Falls is taller, louder, more dramatic, and far less photographed. The approach to Mooney is too intimidating for many visitors, which means the pool at its base often holds only a handful of people even when the campground is at capacity.

Seasonal guide: when to hike where

Choosing the wrong season for the right trail is one of the most common planning mistakes. Snow closes high-elevation routes through June in a heavy winter year. Desert trails become genuinely dangerous in July and August heat. The windows below reflect typical conditions rather than worst-case scenarios. Always verify current conditions with the relevant land management agency before finalizing plans.

Spring (March to May)

Prime season for desert Southwest destinations including Grand Canyon, Zion, and Havasupai. Wildflower bloom in the Smokies peaks in April. High-elevation routes in the Rockies, Sierra, and Cascades remain snowbound through May and into June in heavy years. Lost Coast Trail accessible from April with tide planning.

Summer (June to August)

The primary season for high-altitude routes: John Muir Trail, Teton Crest, Wonderland Trail, and Highline Trail. Desert Southwest is extreme heat territory with Grand Canyon rim-to-river crossings strongly discouraged. Franconia Ridge and White Mountain trails at peak condition. Permit competition highest for all popular routes.

Fall (September to November)

Arguably the best overall season for variety. High routes remain accessible through September and often into October before first snowfall. Crowds drop significantly after Labor Day on all national park trails. West Maroon Creek Trail wildflowers give way to aspen color in Colorado, peaking late September. Superior Hiking Trail maple color peaks in October.

Winter (December to February)

Desert Southwest at its most comfortable temperature-wise but with shorter daylight hours. Rim Trail at the Grand Canyon accessible year-round. Ocean Path in Acadia open in winter for coastal walking. White Mountain and Appalachian Trail ridgelines require full winter mountaineering gear and experience. Most Cascades and Sierra Nevada routes inaccessible without snowshoes or ski touring equipment.

Permits and gear in 2026: what has changed

The permit landscape for popular American hiking destinations shifted significantly in 2022 through 2025 and continues to evolve. What used to be walk-up accessible trailheads now commonly require advance reservation or lottery entry. The following represents the current state for the trails covered in this guide.

Several parks moved to timed-entry reservations at the parking area level rather than the trail level. Grand Teton introduced a timed-entry reservation for the main park corridors in 2024. Yosemite Valley has operated a day-use reservation system since 2022 and continues it. Both systems require a separate reservation from any backcountry permit you may hold. Check Recreation.gov for both layers of required reservations when planning any visit to these parks.

On gear, one change worth noting is the widespread adoption of GPS satellite messenger devices such as Garmin inReach as near-standard equipment for backcountry travel. Cellular coverage does not exist on most of the trails in this guide. The cost of emergency helicopter evacuations in national parks is not covered by standard travel insurance unless riders are specifically purchased for backcountry evacuation. The annual membership fee for organizations like the American Alpine Club covers search and rescue in many cases and is worth considering for serious hikers.

Bear canister requirements have expanded. The Sierra Nevada east of the range crest now has mandatory canister requirements for all overnight travel between May 1 and November 1. Grand Teton, Glacier, and Yellowstone all require either a canister or agency-provided bear box for any food storage in the backcountry. Most Appalachian Trail shelters in national park zones have moved away from cable systems toward food lockers and canisters following increased bear habituation incidents since 2022.

Leave No Trace principles have specific applications for high-use trails. On the Lost Coast Trail, the Bureau of Land Management requires trowel burial of human waste at least 200 feet from the waterline and at least 6 inches deep. On the John Muir Trail, all sites within 100 feet of any water source are restricted for camping. These requirements are enforced and violation citations have increased since 2023 as ranger presence on popular backcountry routes has grown.

Frequently asked questions about hiking in the USA

What is the most famous hiking trail in the USA?

The Appalachian Trail is the most famous long-distance trail in the country, running approximately 2,190 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine. Among single-route iconic trails, the Half Dome cables route in Yosemite and Angel's Landing in Zion are probably the two most discussed and photographed. For coastal hiking, the Lost Coast Trail in Northern California has developed a strong cult following among serious outdoor travelers.

Which state has the best hiking trails in the USA?

California, Colorado, Utah, and Montana are the most consistent answers among experienced hikers. California has unmatched diversity: Sierra Nevada high routes, coastal redwood trails, and volcanic terrain in the Cascades. Utah concentrates five major national parks in a geographically compact area. Montana offers Glacier National Park alongside the Beartooth Wilderness and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Colorado has the most fourteeners (peaks above 14,000 feet) of any state. New Hampshire punches significantly above its geographic size in the White Mountains.

What are the best hiking trails in the USA for beginners?

The Ocean Path in Acadia National Park in Maine is 4.4 miles round trip along the Atlantic coastline and flat enough for most fitness levels. The Riverside Walk in Zion National Park follows the Virgin River for 2.2 miles on a paved surface. The Mirror Lake Loop in Yosemite Valley covers 5 miles around a reflective mountain lake. All three provide dramatic scenery with minimal technical difficulty and good infrastructure. The Beehive Loop in Acadia, despite appearing on this list as strenuous, is also short enough at 1.6 miles for fit beginners willing to deal with iron rungs on the ascent.

Do I need a permit to hike in US national parks?

Day hiking in most national parks does not require a separate trail permit beyond the park entrance fee. Overnight backcountry camping requires a wilderness permit in virtually all national parks, and those permits are often competitive. In addition, several specific day hike destinations now require a separate hiking permit obtained through lottery, including Angel's Landing in Zion, the Half Dome cables in Yosemite, and certain hikes in Arches National Park. Always verify specific permit requirements directly with the park at least six months before your planned visit, as requirements continue to change.

What is the hardest hiking trail in the USA?

Difficulty depends heavily on what you measure. The Rim to Rim crossing of the Grand Canyon in a single day, combining roughly 24 miles of terrain with extreme heat, is often cited as among the most physiologically punishing day hikes in the country. The Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire, covering 23 miles and nine named summits of the Presidential Range in a single push, is equally demanding in terms of technical exposure and weather risk. For multi-day routes, the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier with 22,000 feet of total elevation gain over 93 miles is consistently mentioned. The southern approach to Mount Whitney from the trailhead at Whitney Portal is the most climbed route to the highest peak in the lower 48 states and is demanding primarily due to altitude.

Are there hiking trails in the USA with no crowds?

Yes, and finding them requires going slightly beyond the standard top-ten lists. The Tuscarora Trail in the mid-Atlantic region, the Curry Mountain Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains, the Cohos Trail in northern New Hampshire, and the Bechler Region trails in Yellowstone National Park all offer significant solitude even during peak season. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in Montana, accessible from several trailheads west of the Continental Divide, is one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48 states and sees relatively few visitors given its scale. The key is that solitude typically requires either going farther from trailheads, choosing less photogenic terrain, or visiting during shoulder seasons in late September and October.

Trail conditions, permit requirements, and access information change frequently. Always verify current status with the relevant land management agency before travel.