It was impossible to narrow down a list of the 25 best hikes in the US because there are literally hundreds of thousands of hiking trails in America. If you are looking for an epic hike, look no further. The Broke Backpacker compiled a list of 25 of the best hikes. Here are the best hikes in the United States. North Carolina made the list. Two times!
We have to disclose, that we didn’t include the Appalachian Trail in our count of two. Our reason is that this hike is over 2,190 miles long and goes all the way from Georgia to Main. Check out the 25 best hikes in the United States below. When you see what North Carolina hikes made the list you might have even done them yourself.
25. Appalachian Trail, Georgia through Maine
Length: 2,190 miles (3,524 km)
Days: 4-6 months +
Best time to hike: March – October
Nearest Town: Hot Springs (you’ll pass lots of other towns on the way)24. Mt. Washington Summit via Tuckerman’s Ravine, New Hampshire
Length: 8.4 (17 km)
Days: 1 (8-10 hours)
Best time to hike: June – September
Nearest Town: Gorham23. Petrified Forest Loop, North Dakota
Length: 10.6 miles (17 km)
Days: 1 (7-9 hours)
Best time to hike: May – September
Nearest Town: Cripple Creek22. Mt. Mitchell Summit, North Carolina
Length: 11.4 miles (18.3 km)
Days: 1
Best time to hike: March-November (fall colors are best in October)
Nearest Town: Asheville21. The Long Trail, Vermont
Length: 272 (437 km)
Days: 20-39
Best time to hike: April – October
Nearest Town: Williamstown20. Smokey Mountain National Park Section of the Appalachian Trail, Tennessee
Length: 71 (114 km)
Days: 3-4
Best time to hike: April – October
Nearest Town: Hot Springs19. Red River Gorge Loop, Kentucky
Length: 36 miles (57.9 km)
Days: 2-3
Best time to hike: Fall
Nearest Town: Slade18. Mount Adams South Climb, Washington
Length: 11.2 miles (18 km)
Days: 1-2
Best time to hike: May – September
Nearest Town: Trout Lake17. Tomales Point Trail, Califonia
Length: 9.4 miles (15.1 km)
Days: 1
Best time to hike: All year!
Nearest Town: Point Reyes Station16. Art Loeb Trail, North Carolina
Length: 30.1 miles (48.4 km)
Days: 3
Best time to hike: Spring – Fall
Nearest Town: Brevard15. Kesugi Ridge Trail, Alaska (Denali State Park)
Length: 36.2 miles (58.3 km)
Days: 2-3
Best time to hike: July – August
Nearest Town: Anchorage14. John Muir Trail, California
Length: 211 miles (339 km)
Days: 15-21
Best time to hike: July-September
Nearest Town: Curry Village13. Titcomb Basin, Wyoming
Length: 28 miles (45 km)
Days: 2-3
Best time to hike: July-September
Nearest Town: Pinedale12. Half Dome, California (Yosemite National Park)
Length: 17 miles
Days: 1 (12 hours)
Best time to hike: May-September
Nearest Town: Curry village11. Grayson Highlands, Virginia
Length: 8.5 miles (13.6 km)
Days: 1 (5-8 hours)
Best time to hike: April-November
Nearest Town: Jefferson10. The Narrows, Utah (Zion National Park)
Length: 5-16 miles (depending on the route)
Days: 1 (5-10 hours)/2 days
Best time to hike: May-October
Nearest Town: Springdale9. Long’s Peak, Colorado
Length: 15 miles (24.1 km)
Days: 1 Day (12-14 hours)
Best time to hike: May – October
Nearest Town: Estes Park8. Mauna Loa Summit, Hawaii (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
Length: 17 miles (28 km)
Days: 1
Best time to hike: All year!
Nearest Town: Hilo7. Cracker Lake, Montana (Glacier National Park)
Length: 12.6 miles (20 km)
Days: 1-2 days
Best time to hike: Summer
Nearest Accommodation: Many Glacier Hotels6. The Wave, Arizona
Length: 5.2 miles (8.3km)
Days: 1 day (2-4 hours)
Best time to hike: All year
Nearest Town: Kanab5. Kalalau Trail /Napali Coast, Hawaii
Length: 22 miles (35.4 km)
Days: 2-3
Best time to hike: All year
Nearest Town: Hanaleihttps://www.instagram.com/p/CYDWGqKLpyQ/
4. Mount Katahdin, Maine
Length: 2.4-9 miles
Days: 1 (8-12 hours)
Best time to hike: Summer
Nearest Town: Millinocket3. Trans-Catalina Trail, California
Length: 38.7 miles (62km)
Days: 3-5
Best time to hike: All year, (Summer is HOT AF)
Nearest Town: Avalon2. Tonto Trail, Arizona (Grand Canyon National Park)
Length: 70 miles (113km)
Days: 4-6
Best time to hike: Spring, Fall, Winter (avoid July and August, you will melt.)
Nearest Town: Grand Canyon Village1. Lost Coast Trail, California
Length: 24.6 miles (39.6km)
Days: 3-4
Best time to hike: All year, Fall is best.
Nearest Town: Shelter Clove