The United States is a beast of a landmass. With nearly three million square miles of land in the lower 48, and over 3.7 million counting Alaska and Hawaii, that puts America fourth for total area on the world’s largest country list. Third, if you’re looking at land area only. But rankings aside, one thing’s certain: America is fricken’ huge. Due to its hulkish size, we’ve got some of the world’s most varied terrain, which (lucky us) leads to hundreds of miles of hikeable trails.
From the eastern 2,184-mile Appalachian Trail to the western Rocky Mountain 14-er peaks, and from Hawaii’s active volcanoes to the Mighty Mississippi that slices the lower 48 top to bottom, choosing where to hike can be overwhelming. So Men’s Fitness scouted out the nation’s best hiking trails for you. These 10 trails top our chart for challenge, distance, and most of all, location. We’re talking hikes under waterfalls, through tropical rainforest, mile-long canyon descents, and along hair-raising Great Lake cliff edge. With a mix like this, you’ll never get bored.
Best Volcano Hike
Kilauea Iki Trail—Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Located on Hawaii’s island Kauai, Kilauea Volcano sits over 4,000 feet above water. Head out on the Kilauea Iki trail, a four-mile, three-hour hike that descends 400 feet through native rainforest into a volcanic crater. The volcano’s name “Kilauea” literally translates to “spewing” in Hawaiian. And true to its name, you’ll cross lava flows on the Kilauea Iki trail that still steam from its ongoing eruptions since 1983. Pick up the trailhead from Kilauea Iki parking lot on Crater Rim Drive two miles from the National Park Service Visitor Center. Don’t forget your raingear and expect windy, wet weather as you navigate the volcanic rock.
Best Thru-Hike
Pacific Crest Trail—California, Oregon, Washington
As the west coast’s answer to the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail is about 500 miles longer in distance. If you a thru-hike falls on your bucket list, the PCT is a good way to go. At 2,650 miles long, the PCT takes you from Mexico to Canada—the U.S. portion winds through the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges in California, Oregon and Washington. If you hike the entire PCT, plan on blocking off five months of your life. You’ll hike through seven national parks, 24 national forests, and descend into 19 major canyons. Sure, thru hiking is running’s equivalent of a dozen ultra-marathons, but with preparation, its well worth the commitment for those on a career-sabbatical.
Best Canyon Hike
Bright Angel Trail—Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Created by the Colorado River, Arizona’s Grand Canyon is one of the world’s seven natural wonders. It snakes over 277 miles through Arizona and standing over a mile deep. If you’ve never been to see a Grand Canyon sunrise or sunset this is a hiking-must. Take Bright Angle Trail located on the canyon’s South Rim. At a 9.2-mile round trip, the trail is doable in a day, but wake up early and turn around at the three-mile rest house if you feel exhausted from hiking in the desert temps. The entire Bright Angel Trail starts with a deep descent and ends with a 3,000 climb at Indian Garden. Carry water with you, and fill up at the seasonal and year-round water points during the day. Pick up the trailhead slightly west of Bright Angel Lodge near the mule corral.
Best Glacier Hike
Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail—Glacier National Park, Montana
Montana’s Glacier National Park has over 700 miles of trails that wind through alpine meadows, across rugged mountains, and if you’re willing to climb high, access to the world’s fast-melting glaciers. From Logan Pass in Glacier National Park, the Highline trail to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail starts with a moderate seven miles of hiking. You’ll reach a junction with a sign for the Grinnell Glacier Overlook trail where you’ll start a steep climb (over 1,000 feet) that leads to a rock outcropping with views of Upper Grinnell Lake and the glacier itself. If you’re feeling ambitious, continue to scramble slightly higher up for literally bird’s eye views of the glacier.
Best Section Multi-Day Hike
Appalachian Trail—Shenendoah National Park, Virginia
If you want to do the 2,184 Appalachian Trail but can’t take off work for the entire five or six months it takes to finish, pick up a multi-day section hike to satiate your appetite. In Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park—host to 101 miles of the AT—experienced hikers can move 27 miles in two nights/three days from the Compton Gap Boundary on Route #610 to Thornton Gap. Pick up the trailhead at Chester Gap and hike 0.5 miles up the Compton Gap Trail to reach the AT. Shuttle a car or make plans to have someone pick you up where you exit the Appalachian Trail at Thornton Gap on U.S. Highway 211. Word of caution: don’t get caught without a backcountry permit or the National Park Service will spank you with fines. Pick up a permit at the self-register station just off of the junction of Compton Trail Gap and the AT.
Best Tropical Hike
Snake Bight Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida
It’s the only subtropical national park in the United States and the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi. Everglades National Park sustains temps above 77 degrees year-round and receives 50 inches of annual rainfall—prime grounds for mangrove growth, flamingo birds, and mahogany. The best part? No passport needed for your tropical-weather fix. Though only 3.2 miles, the Snake Bight Trail has a boardwalk at the end where you can do some of Florida’s best bird watching. Don’t let the name freak you out. Snake Bight Trail isn’t dubbed after biting snakes, but after a smaller bay in the larger Florida Bay area. Pick up the trailhead four miles north of Flamingo Visitor Center (38 miles south of the main park entrance). Bring bug spray.
Best Mountain Hike
Mount Whitney—Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California
Mount Whitney stands at 14,494 feet and if you’re shooting for the summit, you’ll have to brave slight altitude sickness if you haven’t trained at altitudes. It’s worth the queasiness and short of breath, though, because at the top of the 10.7-mile trail from Whitney Portal (13 miles west of the town of Lone Pine) you’ll literally be on top of the lower 48 states. As the highest peak in the lower 48 states, it’s the most climbed in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, and the National Park Service and National Forest Service heavily regulate the trails with permits to reduce day-hiker-impact. Technical climbing equipment isn’t needed between mid-July and October so if you’re not comfortable hiking with crampons and ice axes, plan your trip for summer/early fall.
Best Untamed Hike
Savage River Canyon Trail—Denali National Park, Alaska
Denali National Park isn’t like other U.S. National Parks. This untamed portion of Alaska literally beats the nation’s more-traversed (and unfortunately touristy) park trails. Denali’s best trails, if you’re willing to branch out, exist deeper into the park beyond the first three miles of Park Road. Either drive to Savage River, located at miles 13-15 on Park Road, or board a shuttle bus that’ll take you back (available from any park visitor’s entrance). The easy Savage River Canyon Trail hugs the Savage River as it cuts through mountains north of Park Road and heads a mile into the canyon before crossing a footbridge and winding back to Park Road. In good weather, you’ll be able to see Mount McKinley’s summit at 20,327 feet—the highest point in the entire U.S.
Best Waterfall Hike
Mist Trail—Yosemite National Park, California
Most famous for its waterfalls, California’s Yosemite National Park is home to the seven-mile Mist Trail. True to its name, the trail takes you past Vernal Falls, where you will get wet, and on to Nevada Falls before looping back on the part of the John Muir Trail where you can see Liberty Cap and the famous granite Half Dome. Pick up the trailhead from Happy Isles, a group of small islands in the Merced River. Though it’s not the highest U.S. waterfall (Upper Yosemite Falls holds that title) Vernal Falls drops an impressive 317-feet and is more accessible, ideal for less intense hikers.
Best Island Hike
Greenstone Ridge Trail, Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
Hugging the ridgeline above Lake Superior’s forested Isle Royal (technically part of Michigan), the 40-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail runs down the spine of the skinny 9-mile wide island. It’s the Midwest’s version of an exotic island hike, but with scenic views of Lake Superior—the biggest lake in the world—not to mention moose and deer on its heavily forested trail, its about as rustic as island hikes can get. For a moderate 3-night/4-day trip, pick up the trailhead at Windigo Visitor Center in the southeast and simply stick to the trail until you reach Rock Harbor Visitor Center in the northwest. The modest (but rewarding) 1,394-foot climb up Mount Desor with views of Isle Royal’s surrounding islets makes you feel like you’re the only person in the world.