25 of the Best Day Hikes in the United States
Angel’s Landing
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 article, 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 article 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 of 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!
Angels Landing is the world-renowned must-do hike in Zion National Park. This trail routinely graces lists of the “most beautiful” and “most dangerous” hikes around the world, and its fame has made it ultra-popular.
Angel’s Landing is “notorious for ‘the chains’ that guard the final overlook,” writes outdoor journalist Jesse Weber. “The chains are an upward traverse of an exposed ridgeline that drops away sheerly for hundreds of feet. In the steepest parts, steps are cut in the rock, and chains are anchored for support, but a slip can certainly be fatal. The difficulty is mostly mental, however, and anyone of average physical fitness who is not afraid of heights can make the trek. Conquering your fear is well worth it for the view at the end—a panorama up and down Zion Canyon, in the middle of this great gorge, with the river far below and rim high above.”
Photo: Scott Anderson
This quintessential desert sandstone arch has become famous around the world. Delicate Arch is now the de facto icon for the state of Utah, thanks to appearing on the state’s license plates.
This incredible beauty and the relatively short hike to reach it make Delicate Arch easily the most popular hike in Arches National Park. While you’ll have to contend with the crowds, the effort to see this incredible view in person is undoubtedly worth it!
“A truly spectacular peak, Half Dome is rightly revered as one Yosemite's great landmarks,” writes Charlie Boscoe, Head of Winter Editorial for FATMAP. This tough hike to the top of the exposed granite dome isn‘t to be taken lightly: it covers 15 miles and 5,600 vertical feet of climbing round-trip, taking most hikers 10-12 hours. The most famous section of the hike is the final pitch to the summit, which requires hikers to climb a set of exposed metal cables hung from the granite. If you can overcome these challenges, the summit will greet you with one of the most incredible views on planet Earth!
“At 14,505 feet above sea level, the top of Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States,” writes Jesse Weber. “In the Sierra Nevada, the chain of huge granitic peaks stretching through California, Whitney happens to be the tallest, but it's not actually that formidable to summit. Though technical climbing routes do exist, the Mount Whitney Trail allows passage for fit hikers of average ability. The steepness and altitude ensure this hike isn't easy endeavor, but it is reasonable with a bit of training and planning.”
Mount Whitney is one of those hikes that is possible in a single day, but stretches that boundary to the limit. To tackle Whitney in one go, you’ll have to hike about 22 miles round-trip and gain (and lose) over 6,000 vertical feet in elevation.
“Bright Angel is the most popular trail below the rim in Grand Canyon National Park,” writes Jesse Weber. “It is the only trail from the South Rim that has water stops and a campground along the way.”
“Bright Angel Trail is also shadier and generally less exposed to the elements,” he continues, “thus it is the rim-to-river route favored by most, especially during the warmer months.”
Simply hiking from the rim down into the canyon bottom almost 5,000 vertical feet below is in itself a feat, but the Bright Angel Trail also serves as one-half of the popular Rim-to-Rim route that crosses the entire Grand Canyon! For most people, however, Rim-to-Rim is more than a one-day endeavor.
Yes, the Grand Canyon is so spectacular that I've included not one, but two trails down into the canyon on this list! One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic landmarks on the planet. Measuring 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and up to 6,093 feet deep, the scale of the canyon is breathtaking to behold.
The South Kaibab Trail is "the most visually stunning trail on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim," according to Jesse Weber. "Following a ridgeline that juts toward the canyon center, it deals jaw-dropping views the entire way," he continues. "When compared to Bright Angel Trail, the other major route to the canyon floor, South Kaibab takes a more direct approach and deals a better 'bang for your buck' in scenery. It is more exposed to heat and wind, however, and has no water available except for the very beginning and end of the trail."
"If you can only do one summer full-day hike in Washington, the hike to Summerland in [Mount] Rainier National Park is your best bet,” writes SwitchbackTravel.com. “Summerland,” the destination of your hike, is a beautiful alpine meadow filled with stunning wildflowers. Named by famous climber and explorer E. S. Ingraham, Summerland serves as a basecamp for climbers ascending Mount Rainier via its southern slopes. A backcountry camping area of the same name has been established near the meadow to serve both climbers and backpackers.
Photo: Jason Weiss
"The Highline Trail is one of the top hikes in the entire National Park System," writes photographer Jason Weiss. "In terms of effort to views ratio, it cannot be beat. It is quite popular, but its popularity is well-earned!"
For an extra dose of epicness, add on a dogleg to an overlook of the Grinnell Glacier. The crowds are much lighter on this section of trail, and you'll get to enjoy one of the most incredible views in Glacier National Park!
The Panorama Trail is a gorgeous point-to-point hike in Yosemite National Park, running from Glacier Point down to the valley floor. This 9-mile hike affords incredible views of Half Dome, mentioned earlier in this article, but it doesn't require nearly the same amount of effort as actually climbing that massive hunk of granite! At points, you'll also enjoy incredible vistas across Yosemite Valley, and can spot obvious landmarks like El Capitan and Yosemite Falls.
“Longs Peak is a true Colorado Icon,” writes Jesse Weber. “At 14,259 feet, it’s one of the state’s proudest 14ers, and the only one within Rocky Mountain National Park. It looks imposing from every side, but the ‘Keyhole’ notch allows passage to the summit.”
The Keyhole Route is one of the most popular 14er routes in Colorado, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Longs Peak is one of the deadliest 14ers in Colorado—approach this hike with caution and respect.
The Devil's Garden trail is the most difficult maintained trail in Arches National Park. Only Fiery Furnace—the unmarked, unsigned, and unmaintained scrambling area—is more difficult… until you get into full-on rock climbing and bouldering, that is. "Once you get past the early sections you'll be scrambling up and over long, narrow sandstone fins (future arches!), ducking under and crawling through existing arches, and trekking through ruggedly beautiful backcountry that few of the more casual tourists in Arches will ever get to see," writes Casey Schreiner on ModernHiker.com.
Photo: Jeff Pang, via Flickr Creative Commons
This epic section of the long-distance Appalachian Trail traverses the second-highest mountain range in New Hampshire, beginning from the renowned Franconia Notch and heading up onto Franconia Ridge. One popular way to turn this point-to-point section into a day hike consists of tagging the tallest peaks near Franconia Notch: Mount Liberty, Little Haystack Mountain, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Lafayette.
McAfee Knob is arguably the most iconic viewpoint on the entire Appalachian Trail! This rock outcropping juts away from the mountainside, out into free air, providing the perfect opportunity to take a photo that will make your mom freak out just a little bit.
“This unique rocky outcropping draws in countless visitors each year,” according to adventure travel writer Brendon Voelker. "Expect to spend some time enjoying the 270° views from the formation.”
Photo: Jason Weiss
North Fork Cascade Canyon is one way to finish the epic Teton Crest backpacking route, but it can also stand alone as a fantastic day hike. The hike begins from Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park, in and of itself renowned as one of the most beautiful views in the Rocky Mountains. And from there, it only gets better: the hike heads deep into the mountains, ascending in a narrow canyon with jagged peaks soaring high above!
The Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile point-to-point hike along Nā Pali Coast of the island of Kauai (Hawaii) from Keʻe Beach to the Kalalau Valley. “The scenery and terrain on the trail is staggering in both its quality and variety, with the wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean, sheer cliffs, waterfalls, streams, valleys and even stone walled terraces where early settlers lived and farmed taro (a type of vegetable),” writes Charlie Boscoe.
Zion is truly one of the most incredible national parks in the USA, and it makes a second appearance on this list with a one-of-a-kind hike: The Narrows.
“The experience is unparalleled: wading in a knee-deep stream less than fifty feet wide, with thousand-foot canyon walls soaring overhead,” writes Jesse Weber. “This is the Narrows, one of the most famous slot canyons in the world. Its full length is more than 10 miles, but the final four miles above its mouth in Zion Canyon are some of the narrowest and most dramatic, and this section is easily accessible. The only path through this tight gorge is the riverbed itself, and it flows year round. Rushing water and slippery rocks lead to many minor injuries, but with careful foot placement, the hike is not difficult.”
Avalanche Peak is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful peak climbs in venerable Yellowstone National Park. You’ll quickly break out of the treeline and spend several miles climbing well into the alpine to reach the 10,566-foot summit. From here, you’ll enjoy incredible 360-degree vistas of some of the most expansive wilderness in the United States!
Photo: Scott Anderson
On this gorgeous hike, you’ll hike through a historic tunnel high in the mountains of Glacier National Park, and on the other side, be greeted with an unbelievable view of Ptarmigan Lake! This is a rare treat: this hike combines history, human ingenuity, and incredible natural beauty of the surrounding wilderness.
This aesthetically-stunning loop hike summits three or four 14ers, depending on how you count them, in a mere 7 miles! It’s an objective so attractive that few hikers or mountaineers can resist it! And with only about 3,400 feet of elevation gain, this hike is easier than many attempts on a single 14er. Thanks to the high number of summits that hikers can check off their list in a single go, the DeCaLiBron receives even more traffic than the average 14er.
Druid Arch is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. The Arch "stands high above the far upstream end of Elephant Canyon, surrounded by slickrock benches and multicolored pinnacles," according to AmericanSouthwest.net. "The isolated, freestanding arch projects outwards at right angles from the Cedar Mesa sandstone cliffs and is notable both for its height (450 feet) and shape - sharply angular, with two main openings and one smaller," the writer continues. "The formation is named because of the resemblance to Stonehenge in England, a place long associated with druids."
"The Precipice Trail is the most challenging and well-known hiking trail in Acadia National Park with an exposed and almost vertical 1,000-foot climb,” according to Acadia.ws. "It is designated as ‘strenuous' and is only recommended for physically fit and experienced hikers who have no fear of heights,” the writer continues.
During this hike, you’ll traverse exposed slabs along rock cliffs protected by cables anchored in the rocks, enjoying airy views over the National Park all along the way! Some sections of the route even require hikers to clamber up metal ladder rungs anchored in the rock, almost via ferrata-style.
Even though the Mount Healy Overlook Trail is accessible directly from the visitor center just inside the entrance to Denali National Park, it's widely regarded as one of the very best day hikes in Alaska!
This short climb busts 2.7 miles straight up the mountainside, gaining over 1,800 vertical feet to reach the overlook. The final destination is a stunning rock outcropping providing breathtaking views of Denali National Park! Plan to spend some time sitting on this rock and enjoying the views of some of the most spectacular mountains in the world!
Only in Alaska does the main street of a small town naturally transform into a hiking trail… and not just any hiking trail, but one of the most majestic hikes in the United States! The Root Glacier Trail provides stupendous views of the Kennicott and Root Glaciers, with sweeping vistas of the Wrangell Mountains that surround the valley.
While the views from the hike are second to none, the terrain that you’ll traverse—as long as you stay on the trail itself—is quite easy. The trail is gravelly and quite mellow, only gaining a bit over 2,000 feet in elevation over the course of 9.5 miles. Despite some loose gravel and dirt, you won’t have any serious obstacles to overcome. The most formidable obstacles are the occasional creek crossing, but most hikers will be able to navigate those without a problem.
The Wave is one of the most famous photographic destinations in the Desert Southwest! Merely glimpsing the flowing lines of sandstone evokes a sense of mystery and awe at the wonders of nature!
Popularized by the wallpaper released with the Windows 7 operating system, seemingly every traveler and outdoor photographer now has to check the Wave off their todo list. But despite the destination's relatively newfound popularity, the hike to reach it isn't manicured or easy. Covering 6.5 miles round-trip with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain and loss, most hikers can expect to dedicate at least half a day to trekking to the Wave and back.
The "Lakes Trail" moniker belies the grandeur of this 12-mile hike in Sequoia National Park! It routinely tops lists of not only the best hiking trails in California, but even the absolute best hikes in the entire nation!
This "popular route leads to a quartet of subalpine lakes situated in the upper reaches of Tokopah Valley," according to ModernHiker.com. "The four lakes in question – Heather, Aster, Emerald, and Pear – provide excellent frontcountry backpacking options with the kind of scenery that usually requires a lot more effort to reach on the western side of the range," they continue.