Best states for hiking 2025

Hiking is America’s favorite outdoor activity, according to the Outdoor Foundation, with some 20% of the population hitting the trails each year. 

The states that consistently rank as best for hiking are exclusively on the West Coast and the Mountain West, but you can still find some solid elevations and dreamy vistas on the East Coast – and even the Deep South. 

Here are the best states for hiking in 2025, and where you can find the top-rated trails in each state. 

RELATED: These are the best camping spots in America in 2025

California

California boasts a whopping nine national parks – more than any other state in the country. The national parks in California are:

• Channel Islands National Park
• Death Valley National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Kings Canyon National Park
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Redwood National Park
• Pinnacles National Park
• Sequoia National Park
• Yosemite National Park

According to AllTrails, the popular hike planning app, these are the top-rated hikes in California: 

• Vernal and Nevada Falls Mist Trail – Yosemite National Park
• Upper Yosemite Falls Trail – Yosemite National Park
• Half Dome via the John Muir Trail – Yosemite National Park
• Lower Yosemite Falls Trail – Yosemite National Park
• Torrey Pines Beach Trail Loop – Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve near Del Mar, California
• Point Lobos Loop Trail – Point Lobos State Natural Reserve near Carmel-by-the-Sea
• Potato Chip Rock and Mt. Woodson Summit – San Diego County
• Eaton Canyon Trail – Pasadena (currently closed due to the Eaton Fire)
• Lands End Trail – Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco

Washington 

Washington has three national parks. They are: 

• North Cascades National Park
• Olympic National Park
• Mount Rainier National Park

According to AllTrails, these are the top-rated hikes in Washington: 

• Skyline Loop – Mount Rainier National Park
• Rattlesnake Ledge Trail – near North Bend
• Mount Storm King – Olympic National Park
• Snow Lake Trail – near Snoqualmie Pass
• Wallace Falls via Woody Trail – Wallace Falls State Park, Gold Bar
• Colchuck Lake Trail – Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area
• Bridal Veil Falls – near Gold Bar
• Mount Si Trail – near North Bend
• Chirico Trail to Poo-Poo Point – near Issaquah
• Maple Pass Trail – North Cascades near Winthrop

Utah

Utah is perhaps best known for "The Big 5" national parks: 

• Zion
• Bryce Canyon
• Capitol Reef
• Canyonlands
• Arches

Here are the top trails in Utah, according to AllTrails: 

• Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail – Bryce Canyon National Park near Bryce
• Angels Landing Trail - Zion National Park near Springdale
• Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail – Zion National Park near Springdale
• Delicate Arch Trail – Arches National Park near Moab
• Devil's Garden Trail – Arches National Park near Thompson
• The Watchman Trail – Zion National Park near Springdale
• Lake Blanche Trail – Twin Peaks Wilderness near Cottonwood Heights
• Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop Trail – Bryce Canyon National Park near Bryce
• Lower Falls via Bells Canyon Trail – Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest near Sandy
• Gloria Falls – Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest near Mounthaven

Colorado

Colorado is home to four national parks. They are: 

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Great Sand Dunes National Park
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Here are the top hikes in Colorado, according to AllTrails: 

• Emerald Lake Trail – Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park
• Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail – Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park
• Royal Arch Trail – City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks near Boulder
• Lake Haiyaha – Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park
• Saint Mary's Glacier – Arapaho National Forest near Idaho Springs
• Lost Lake via Hessie Trail – Roosevelt National Forest near Nederland
• Mount Bierstadt Trail – Mount Evans Wilderness near Guanella Pass
• The Manitou Incline – Pike National Forest near Manitou Springs
• Red Rocks Trading Post Trail – Red Rocks Park near Morrison
• Gem Lake Trail – Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park

Arizona

Arizona is home to three national parks. They are: 

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Petrified Forest National Park
• Saguaro National Park

Here are the top 10 hikes in Arizona, according to AllTrails: 

• Devil’s Bridge Trail – Sedona
• Cathedral Rock Trail – Sedona
• Camelback Mountain – Phoenix
• Boynton Canyon Trail – Sedona
• Seven Sacred Pools via Soldier Pass to Brins Mesa Loop – Sedona
• Piestewa Peak Summit Trail #300 – Phoenix
• West Fork of Oak Creek Trail #108 – Sedona
• South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point – Grand Canyon
• Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail – Apache Junction
• Tom's Thumb Trail – Rio Verde

The West Coast and Mountain West aren’t the only regions where you’ll find breathtaking hikes. The East Coast and even parts of the Great Lakes region offer some top-notch hiking destinations: 

Maine

Home to Acadia National Park, Maine is frequently a top destination for hikers on the East Coast. Here are the top hikes in Maine, according to AllTrails: 

• The Beehive Loop Trail – Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor
• Jordan Pond Path – Acadia National Park near Mount Desert
• Gorham Mountain Loop – Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor
• Ocean Path Trail – Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor
• Cadillac South Ridge Trail – Acadia National Park near Mount Desert

North Carolina

North Carolina is home to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which sits on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. 

Here are the top hikes in North Carolina, according to AllTrails: 

• Kuwohi Observation Tower Trail – Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• High Falls and Triple Falls Trail – DuPont State Recreational Forest, Hendersonville
• Rainbow Falls, Turtleback Falls, and Drift Falls – Gorges State Park near Sapphire
• Looking Glass Rock Trail – Pisgah National Forest near Pisgah
• Deep Creek Waterfall Loop – Great Smoky Mountains National Park

New Hampshire

The White Mountains in New Hampshire are a popular hiking destination in the Northeast. New Hampshire is also one of 14 states where the Appalachian Trail passes through, making it an attractive destination for nature-lovers and adventurists alike. 

Here are the top hikes in New Hampshire, according to AllTrails: 

• Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail Loop – White Mountains near Lincoln
• Mount Willard Trail – White Mountains near Bretton Woods
• Welch-Dickey Loop Trail – White Mountains near Thornton
• Mount Monadnock via White Dot and White Cross Trails – Monadnock State Park near Jeffrey
• Mount Major via Brook and Main Trail Loop – Major Mountain State Forest near Alton Bay

Georgia

There are no national parks in Georgia, but the state does boast more than 600 miles of hiking trails in its state parks. Here are the top hikes in Georgia, according to AllTrails: 

• Mount Yonah Trail – Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest near Cleveland
• East Palisades Trail and Bamboo Forest – Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area near Atlanta
• Cloudland Canyon West Rim Loop – Cloudland Canyon State Park near Rising Fawn
• Tallulah Gorge and North and South Rim Loop Trail – Tallulah Gorge State Park near Tallulah Falls
• Indian Seats Loop – Sawnee Mountain Preserve near Cumming

Michigan

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has some top-notch hikes along the shores of Lake Superior. Here are some of the Upper Peninsula’s best hikes, according to AllTrails:

• Mosquito Falls and Chapel Falls via Chapel Loop – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising
• Beaver Lake Loop – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Grand Marais
• Sugarloaf Mountain – Marquette
• Presque Isle Park Loop – Presque Isle Park near Marquette
• Hogback Mountain – Little Presque Isle Natural Area near Marquette

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