The best National Parks for hiking will keep you on your toes with unforgettable adventures spanning from rainforest to desert and from glacier to volcano. Use our guide to discover the ten best national parks for hiking.
Yellowstone National Park
Set on 2.2 million acres of land mostly in Wyoming, Yellowstone is massive (bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined), rugged and remote. It is widely considered to be the first National Park in the world and is famous for its unique hydrothermal and geologic wonders, including 500 or so geysers (erupting hot springs).
Hiking on Yellowstone 1,000 miles of trails provides you with a chance to see it’s astonishing geysers and hotsprings,it’s 290 waterfalls, the largest high elevation lake in North America and the possibility of viewing it’s wildlife such as bears, wolves , and moose. The park is open year- round but the best time to visit is spring and fall.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Let’s face it, when you think of hiking, you think of the dramatic rocky mountains, pine forests and high alpine lakes. Colorado’s crown jewel, Rocky Mountain National Park, is the quintessential Rocky Mountain hiking destination. The Park sits near the scenic resort town of Estes Park in northern Colorado and its 415 square miles of stunning wilderness that attracts millions of visitors every year for good reason. It is home to more than 100 peaks over 11,000ft and only an hour and a half drive from Denver.
Redwood National Park
While we love the big, showy vistas of parks like Yosemite and Rocky Mountain National Park, there’s nothing to really beat the quiet and solitude of a stroll through Redwoods National Park. Redwood National Park is located in northern California, close to the border with Oregon, and sees far fewer visitors than many other Parks – about 500,000 in 2019 compared to Yosemite’s whopping four million – as it is miles from any metropolitan area. It is part of a partnership with four state parks which encompasses about 139,000 acres and protects almost half of all remaining old-growth coastal redwoods.
Glacier National Park
With 700 miles of hiking trails, Glacier National Park is a true paradise for anyone seeking solitude in the wilderness. Set in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park covers over 1500 square miles and hiking there takes you through glacier carved valleys and rugged peaks.
Zion National Park
In the west corner of Utah lies another treasure trove of geological phenomena in Zion National Park. This famous Park centers around Zion Canyon, which frankly should be on everyone’s bucket list. The Virgin River cut this 15 mile long canyon up to 2,640ft deep into the earth leaving high red sandstone walls, sparkling waterfalls, emerald rock pools and hanging gardens, creating a unique setting of red rock desert, and lush flora and fauna.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park protects areas of coastal Maine, including 19 of its outlying islands. Southwest of Bar Harbor, the Park boasts rocky Atlantic headland and rugged beaches as well as lush forests and the highest mountain on the East Coast, Cadillac Mountain. It is one of the most-visited National Parks in the country and its 158 miles of hiking trails take you from sea level to summits while breathing the salty air. Fall is the best time to visit – however, if you love winter sports you might enjoy it in the cold months too.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is on Washington State’s beautiful Olympic Peninsula. This sprawling park covers several diverse ecosystems, from glacial peaks to over 70 miles of rugged coastline with old growth forests in between. Hiking in Olympic National Parks is a true wilderness experience, whether you’re walking down to the beach to see the famous sea stacks or hiking up to rocky peaks. Spring is the best time to visit when the scenery is at its most lush.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite’s place as one of the most famous National Parks in the world is rightfully earned. The Park is located near Fresno, California and centers around Yosemite Valley, which was carved by glaciers and cuts 3,500ft deep into the earth and is walled by massive granite summits like El Capitan and Half Dome. The valley creates some of the longest and most stunning waterfalls you will ever see cascading over the edge of steep granite cliffs. The Park’s 1200 acres are also home to pine trees, tranquil lakes, colorful wildflower meadows and sun-dappled giant sequoia groves, all of which you can explore on foot on its 37 well-maintained hiking paths that range from easy to strenuous.
Grand Canyon National Park
As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, it’s clear that Grand Canyon National Park is worth a visit. Located in Arizona, about a three-and-a-half hour drive from Phoenix, this massive canyon was carved by the Colorado River on its journey from the Rockies to the Gulf of California. The canyon is 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide, making it one of the biggest canyons in the world. The Grand Canyon is home to the Hualapai, Hopi and Havasupai tribes, the latter of which live in the canyon’s only town, Supai Village, an eight-mile hike from the canyon’s rim.
Shenandoah National Park
As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, it’s clear that Grand Canyon National Park is worth a visit. Located in Arizona, about a three-and-a-half hour drive from Phoenix, this massive canyon was carved by the Colorado River on its journey from the Rockies to the Gulf of California. The canyon is 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide, making it one of the biggest canyons in the world. The Grand Canyon is home to the Hualapai, Hopi and Havasupai tribes, the latter of which live in the canyon’s only town, Supai Village, an eight-mile hike from the canyon’s rim.
Arches National Park
Located just outside the town of Moab in eastern Utah, Arches is famous for having over 2,000 natural sandstone rock arches as well as hundreds of other spectacular rock formations like pinnacles, fins and balanced rocks.
Hiking in Arches provides little in the way of shade as you travel on slickrock trails that range from short strolls to day-long primitive adventures that will take you up close and personal with 65 million years of geological evolution. The bes
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