5 Best Places For An Unforgettable Hiking Experience

For those who love getting out in the fresh air and exploring the great outdoors, hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy truly nature while taking care of your body and mind. It not only provides great health benefits, but also is proven to reduce stress, calm anxiety, and lower the risk of depression. 

This list contains 5 of the best places to hike in North America, providing a diverse selection of landscapes so you can explore a wide range of conditions and scenery. Before you set out, make sure to take a look at our list of the top hiking essentials to take along so you can be prepared and stay safe. 

1. Yosemite National Park, California

This is one of my personal favorite places I’ve been to! With over 800 miles of trails in this 750,000-acre park, you’ll have plenty of area to roam and explore the views and flora.

The scenic path to the famous Half Dome offers incredible vistas for those up to the challenge. It’s a 14 to 16 mile round trip with over 4,800 feet in elevation gain that takes about 10 to 12 hours to complete. One of its most infamous features is the 400 foot cable ascent that allows hikers to summit without rock climbing equipment. 

If you’re looking for less challenging trails, you can check out Four Mile Trail with spectacular views of El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome. The Swinging Bridge Trail is another great place to enjoy views of Yosemite Falls as it reflects in the Merced River. 

2. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

With it’s unique thermal attractions, Yellowstone is an excellent place to hike and explore the over 1,000 miles of trails. You can walk along the 15 mile boardwalk to reach the parks most well known attractions like the Old Faithful geyser or Mammoth Hot Springs. 

For a more secluded hike, you can traverse the backcountry trails that offer expansive views of the surrounding lakes and mountains. Just be careful of your wildlife interactions as you could encounter creatures like moose, wolves or grizzly bears. 

3. Arches National Park, Utah

With more than 2,000 unique rock formations that have been shaped and sculpted over 65 million years, Arches National Park is a desert wonder you must see to fully appreciate. 

The park has many hiking trails that range from beginner to advanced so anyone at any skill level can go out and explore. Trails like Balanced Rock and The Window are great for the less experienced while the challenging Fiery Furnace takes you to a labyrinth of narrow sandstones that you’ll need to squeeze through.  

Just be sure to bring plenty of water and provisions as the desert environment can be unforgiving for the unprepared. 

4. Grand Canyon, Arizona 

One of Americas natural icons, the Grand Canyon provides spectacular panoramic views of the incredible red rock formations and imposing depth. This location is also a great place for any skill leveled hiker with varying degrees of difficulty. 

Some of the most popular trails include the Rim Trail along the canyons Southern Rim and the Bright Angel Trail which lets hikers walk in the footsteps of Native Americans, pioneers, and miners. These paths offer different loops for visitors to explore and range from easier too difficult. However, the park service warns you that there are no easy trails when you’re walking in or out of the canyon. 

If you’re looking for an even more challenging hike, you can take the Rim-to-Rim trail which, as its name suggests, takes you from the North Rim to the South Rim of the canyon. It’s a strenuous 44 mile trip that takes 5-7 days to complete that takes you 6,000 feet to the bottom of the canyon and 4,500 feet back up. 

5. Great Smokey Mountains, North Carolina 

This East Coast mountain range boasts scenic hiking routes and is connected to 71 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail. There are many paths to choose from that take you to beautiful natural formations and historic preserved structures.

Some of these great natural attractions include the numerous waterfalls throughout the park. You can hike to Mingo Falls which is the tallest waterfall in the southern Appalachians. Indian Creek Falls, Juney Whank Falls, Tom Branch Falls and Chasteen Creek Falls are also great spots to hike to just to name a few.