25 of the Most Incredible Day Hikes in the United States

Experience the most beautiful landscapes in America on the nation's 25 best day hikes!

Greg Heil

Images

8586599892_15b699381e_k.jpg
Angels Landing 1 Flickr Creative Commons

by tsaiproject

Creative Commons: Attribution
conradwahlen_flickr_1.jpg
Angels Landing 2 Flickr Creative Commons

by Conrad Wahlen

Creative Commons: Attribution
zionnationalpark_flickr_1.jpg
Angels Landing 3 Flickr Creative Commons

by Caitlin Ceci

Creative Commons: Attribution
stevennewton_flickr_1.jpg
Angles Landing 4 Flickr Creative Commons

by Steve Newton

Creative Commons: Attribution
2014_10_22_0251.jpg
Delicate Arch

by Scott Anderson

2014_10_22_0266.jpg
Lots of rock formations to view along the way.

by Scott Anderson

2014_10_22_0259.jpg
Sun setting on Delicate Arch

by Scott Anderson

2014_10_22_0289.jpg
A nice benchcut trail along the way.

by Scott Anderson

34967726584_3324a1ffb8_o (1).jpg
8021442605_ed7fe57f5f_o (1).jpg
15369734147_0466777a5b_o.jpg
2945022982_213db824b2_o.jpg
2944160233_5019f954a9_o.jpg
KenLund5.jpg
Mount Whitney Trail Flickr Creative Commons

by Ken Lund

Creative Commons: Attribution
KenLund4.jpg
Alpine Forest Flickr Creative Commons

by Ken Lund

Creative Commons: Attribution
KenLund2.jpg
Trail Camp Flickr Creative Commons

by Ken Lund

Creative Commons: Attribution
KenLund3.jpg
Hitchcock Lakes Flickr Creative Commons

by Ken Lund

Creative Commons: Attribution
KenLund6.jpg
Whitney Summit Flickr Creative Commons

by Ken Lund

Creative Commons: Attribution
KenLund1.jpg
Consultation Lake Flickr Creative Commons

by Ken Lund

Creative Commons: Attribution
4441721819_dcebd9232c_o (1).jpg
6183481656_f4ba80289a_o.jpg
36224312831_6e9476db92_o.jpg
KarlisDambrans_1.jpg
Bright Angel 1 Flickr Creative Commons

by Karlis Dambrans

Creative Commons: Attribution
MichaelQuinn_1.jpg
Bright Angel 2 Flickr Creative Commons

by Michael Quinn

Creative Commons: Attribution
KarlisDambrans_2.jpg
Bright Angel 3 Flickr Creative Commons

by Karlis Dambrans

Creative Commons: Attribution
Rosino_1.jpg
Bright Angel 4 Flickr Creative Commons

by Rosino.

Creative Commons: Attribution
MichaelAnderson_1.jpg
MichaelQuinn_3.jpg
24012126695_7b134eda5a_o.jpg
23986038606_a171cb5cf6_o.jpg
24028267545_280942700d_o.jpg
23401506193_7d1b24dd07_o.jpg
24002175306_f6ca7b96e6_o.jpg
MichealQuinn_1.jpg
MichaelQuinn_2.jpg
BhavishyaGoel_1.jpg
46026482_9ed380f2ea_o.jpg
21443482196_41cac36390_k.jpg
3849608873_2de6b83a29_k.jpg
7779911114_e10efe8708_k.jpg
14575637099_5744a6316f_k.jpg
14575555218_ad7e6cb955_k.jpg
3782656514_50b6bba3c9_k.jpg
Highline first.jpg

Highline 2.jpg

Highline 4.jpg

Highline 3.jpg

Highline 1.JPG

DaroldMassaro1.jpg
FabioAchilli2.jpg
FabioAchilli3.jpg
FabioAchilli1.jpg
LongsPeak5_DavidWilson.jpg
LongsPeak1_DavidWilson.jpg
LongsPeak2_DavidWilson.jpg
LongsPeak6_CLBaker.jpg
LongsPeak3_DavidWilson.jpg
LongsPeak4_DavidWilson.jpg
6269445912_dac29d2b2a_o.jpg
8611917872_de97a7376a_k.jpg
4532418284_69a29f7a63_o.jpg
Mt._Lafayette_from_Franconia_Ridge.JPG
Greenleaf_Mountain_Hut.jpg
Greenleaf Mountain Hut

by Ken Gallager

Licence Free

Franconia_Ridge.jpg
Cascade Canyon 2.jpg
Towering Peaks Self

by Self

Licence Free

Cascade Canyon 3.jpg
Through the Trees Self

by Self

Cascade Canyon 1.jpg
Jagged Peaks Self

by Self

Licence Free

Cascade Canyon 4.jpg
Near Campsite Self

by Self

Licence Free

29770781315_bd45fcf212_o.jpg
16386672781_cd39544474_o.jpg
5156408128_5dee709d3e_o.jpg
10357770693_7cce651d62_o.jpg
5820866907_ccde601622_o.jpg
3796648789_40c99b7491_o.jpg
Steve Lee 1.jpg
GPS 1.jpg
In many places the Virgin River stretches from canyon all to canyon wall in The Narrows.

by GPS

Thegrekle 1.jpg
Views like this are common while hiking The Narrows

by Thegrekle

9622297699_0f48d1a4f9_k.jpg
5289379383_609f82ca67_k.jpg
28179007263_5b60df3699_k.jpg
2019_09_11_0292.jpg
Looking through the tunnel.

by Scott Anderson

2019_09_11_0329.jpg
Looking out the south end of the tunnel.

by Scott Anderson

2019_09_11_0330.jpg
Ptarmigan Lake.

by Scott Anderson

2019_09_11_0226.jpg
Beautiful red rock trail.

by Scott Anderson

2019_09_11_0296-Pano.jpg
Elizabeth Lake seen from the north end of the tunnel.

by Scott Anderson

2019_09_11_0321.jpg
Snow capped peak and colorful ridges await you on the far side of the tunnel.

by Scott Anderson

19468269935_31af735dbf_o.jpeg
44525803821_5f94941e0a_o.jpg
43672640432_c5771063a7_o.jpg
41063729361_f0ee94ac63_o.jpg
26192824487_9741d10173_5k.jpg
41063733811_6574bd289c_5k.jpg
18010016808_6f61eb18cd_o.jpg
21155273352_701caa44c9_k.jpg
5604597977_846c341c5d_k.jpg
26825273190_c67c91fe3a_k.jpg
14920709564_8398c6e9e9_k.jpg
15406182825_b271922151_k.jpg
15219554090_3a40a18a3a_k.jpg
6154095452_7caaf9ac14_k.jpg
15335966547_3acf67eaaa_k.jpg
1201102594_5dbaaa3d28_k.jpg
1201105184_9c4f55beff_k.jpg
1201101068_df1a278847_k.jpg
11879015185_d673205a85_o.jpg
11879773286_081a56d5d3_k.jpg
Root Glacier Trail in the Fall

by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve

Creative Commons: Share Alike
11879276923_96813e4b50_k.jpg
19468269935_31af735dbf_o.jpeg
12686209674_b978f66ab2_o.jpg
30435090862_9154317aa2_o.jpg
36318444635_e3ad3b0d92_4k.jpg
7265249608_6570637330_o.jpg
43197245012_95fa847d6e_4k.jpg
4097245437_094fdc788c_o.jpg
9656121036_ab78d4a163_5k.jpg
2939717945_2c05f21ef2_o.jpg
9652855391_896d0a795f_5k.jpg
cf3cfe84-5244-4216-bbbe-d7e9ff8387de (2).jpeg
Angels Landing

by Caitlin Ceci

Creative Commons: Attribution
45522043751_a116c40b45_6k.jpg
15520261079_4e7c913bd3_k.jpg
11613284164_a9a0c7b64f_k.jpg
5901018374_b91105e032_k.jpg
45887927192_bfee2b6306_o.jpg
shutterstock_710753908 (2).jpeg
Angels Landing

by Shutterstock

Creative Commons: Attribution

Description

The United States of America stretches from sea to shining sea (and beyond) with a landscape so incredibly diverse, it could take years of exploration before you even begin to wrap your mind around it. Residents of the US tend to take this diversity for granted, but if you compare the landscapes of the US to most other countries in the world… the variety is unparalleled.

Without leaving the nation's borders, you can enjoy ecosystems as stunning and unique as the Desert Southwest with its wide-open expanses of sagebrush and sand, towering rock formations, and deep canyons. You'll also find the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains, scraping the sky at over 14,000 feet. Head to the Northwest, and deep, dark rainforests teeming with life will make your head spin after the dry desert and harsh alpine environment. The Southeast is also home to a mountainous rainforest, but of an entirely different sort. In fact, the entire expanse of the Appalachian Mountains is a completely underrated region of the country, and one of the oldest mountain ranges on planet Earth. The coasts of California, the never-ending forests in the Great Lakes region, the glaciers of Alaska, the volcanoes and surf of Hawaii… it goes on and on and on. If you think you've seen it all, well… you haven't. It would take many, many lifetimes to lay your eyes on all of the natural wonders that the United States has to offer!

In this guidebook, I've attempted to round up 25 of the most incredible day hikes across the entire breadth of the United States. While you will undoubtedly notice that most of the selections are found in the Western USA, I took great pains to represent the East Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii as well. These hikes are spread all across the Union, meaning that you can likely find one without having to travel too far!

To truly slow down and soak in the beauty of the USA it would be best hike one (or all three) of its premiere long-distance trails: the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Continental Divide Trail. But in reality, few people can commit the time to complete a months-long thru-hike. So instead of rehashing all of the best backpacking routes in the country, each of the hikes detailed in this guidebook can be completed in a single day. Sure, some of these hikes would be very long days with little sleep, but others can be tackled end-to-end in just a couple hours.

Read through this list of the nation's very best hikes, and allow your mind to run wild. Let yourself dream. But once you've spent some time dreaming, get down to planning and make those dreams a reality!

Adventures

Angels Landing

Zion National Park's iconic vertigo-inducing hike to a heavenly view.

Half Dome Day Hike

An exciting hike to the summit of one of North America's most iconic peaks.

South Kaibab Trail

A jaw-dropping journey into the Grand Canyon, and the most direct route from rim to river.

Panorama Trail

Hike at the brink of a huge waterfall and along the precipitous rim of Yosemite Valley.

Devil's Garden

The most difficult maintained trail in Arches National Park.

McAfee Knob

Arguably the most iconic viewpoint on the Appalachian Trail!

Kalalau Trail

The Kalalau Trail is an 11 mile (18 kilometre) trail along Nā Pali Coast of the island of Kauai (Hawaii) from Keʻe Beach to the Kalalau Valley. It is considered to be incredibly beautiful but also not without danger and should not be underestimated.

The Narrows

One-of-a-kind hike through a flowing stream, between soaring sandstone walls, in one of the world's most dramatic slot canyons

Avalanche Peak

A strenuous climb with magnificent views across Yellowstone National Park.

Ptarmigan Tunnel

Hike through a historic tunnel at the top of the Ptarmigan Wall.

Druid Arch

One of the most popular hiking destinations in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.

Precipice Trail Loop

Climb up metal ladders in cliffsides and skirt along exposed rock ledges on this death-defying hike!

The Wave

Hike to the Desert Southwest's most famous photographic destination!

Lakes Trail

Widely regarded as one of the most incredible day hikes in the USA!