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21 Great Mountain Hikes in the U.S.

By Lauren Matison

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There are certain mountain hikes that stay with you forever. There's just something about mountain hiking, with the rush of adrenaline required to climb up—and, sometimes, serious altitude thrown into the mix. But whether you choose to explore the underappreciated peaks of the East Coast , the very top of Texas, or a hidden paradise in Hawaii , the best mountains hikes will reward your efforts with memorable views. 

Below, we share the best mountain hiking trails in the U.S. Some of these hikes are kid-friendly, while others will send you home with noodles for legs; most are day hikes, while a few offer the chance for an overnighter. But if nature is Earth’s love language, seldom will you feel more alive, or more connected to the planet, than when you’re walking atop these mountains. 

Before you head out, there are a few things to keep in mind. Whenever hiking mountains, you’ll want to plan accordingly, which means  packing the essentials , checking the weather forecast, and chatting with local park rangers for any trail changes and wildlife activity. As always, keep  Leave No Trace principles in mind, stick to the trail, and be respectful of other hikers.

Here are the 21 best mountain hiking trails to consider for your next adventure.

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The Maroon Bells in Aspen, Colorado

West Maroon Pass from Crested Butte to Aspen , Colorado

Featuring the most photographed peaks in the state, the Maroon Bells , this 11-mile hike is simply spectacular. If you plan it right to experience the best wildflower season in mid-June to late July, you’ll trek past towering stalks of green gentian amidst blue Columbine, magenta elephantella, and yellow sunflowers that burst into bloom along the switchbacking trails and across the hillsides for miles. As you gain 3,000 feet of elevation, topping out at 12,500 feet, there will be marmots, alpine lakes, waterfalls, snowfields, river crossings, and plenty of mountain panoramas. Once you get to Aspen , shuttle back to your starting point or spend the night and hike the magic all over again the next day.

The view of Ann Lake from Maple Pass Loop in Washington

Heather - Maple Pass Loop , Washington

Often overshadowed by Mt. Rainier’s Fremont Lookout, this 7.2-mile moderately difficult roundtrip hike is no consolation prize. In the North Cascades , in late September or early October, you’ll be treated to the season of golden larches, where brilliant yellow groves make it feel as though the trees are giving you a standing ovation for your progress. After hiking through old growth forests, around slim paths with rocky slopes, and on top of a ridge, you'll reach an elevation of 6,650 feet, where the views of Ann Lake and the surrounding Swiss Alps-y setting will send heart-is-full shock waves through your body.

Mount Marcy via Van Hoevenberg Trail , New York

The tallest mountain in the Adirondacks and the highest point in the Empire State, Mount Marcy is a character-building, bucket list-worthy hike, and a go-to adventure for those living in the ‘Dacks.’ Even if you wisely pick a shoulder season, this is a popular eight hour climb, so you’ll want to rise before dawn in nearby Lake Placid to get a head start. Throughout the 16.2-mile roundtrip hike with 3,166 feet of elevation gain, you’ll find narrow boardwalks, rocky passes, and gushing Indian Falls. When you reach the 5,344 foot summit, where Teddy Roosevelt stood in 1901, you'll look out over the High Peaks with a surefooted sense of accomplishment likely shared by the historical figure, who descended the mountain and went to Buffalo to be sworn in as the 26th president. If it’s a hot day, take a revivifying dip in Phelps Brook on the way down.

The Chimney Pond Trail in Baxter State Park, Maine

Chimney Pond Trail , Maine

Baxter State Park has more than 200 miles of hiking trails, like this 6.3-mile roundtrip hike favored by locals. Come summer, expect a colorful wilderness and amusing attractions, from boulder stairs and wooden planks to waterfalls and wading moose. Although this hike with roughly 1,500 feet of elevation gain doesn’t summit Mt. Katahdin, Maine's highest peak, some would argue that reaching Chimney Pond, ringed with mountains, is just as rewarding. 

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Hikers on Waihee Ridge Trail in Hawaii

Waihee Ridge Trail , Hawaii 

To experience these four miles in the West Maui Forest Reserve is to know the sheer unalloyed pleasure of true paradise. With 1,591 feet of elevation gain, this is no walk in the park, and rain can mean muddy, slippery trail conditions. But Maui’s grandeur is on full display at every turn, keeping you mesmerized despite tired legs. Taking in the expansive views of the island and surrounding Pacific Ocean, you might catch yourself whispering Mahalo nui, struck by an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the vast unspoiled wilderness.

Grandfather Mountain’s Profile Trail , North Carolina 

This eight-mile roundtrip trail is a waking dream of a hike. Traipsing along a cliff, which pioneers saw as the face of an old man, the Profile Trail steadily climbs 1,775 feet through startling terrain: one mile it’s a rolling pink pathway of rhododendron, the next turn there are coves and woods dense with ferns and firs, then a canopy of red spruce and mountain maples and a field of creatively arranged boulders. It’s a nonstop visual spectacle—there are also waterfalls and a mile-high swinging bridge —a welcome distraction during the strenuous steep ascents and dare-devilish ladder climbs. Atop 5,964-foot Calloway Peak, one of the tallest in the Blue Ridge Mountains , catch your breath in front of majestic long-range views of North Carolina High Country. 

The Mount Greylock Range in Massachusetts

Mount Greylock via Bellows Loop Trail , Massachusetts

The highest point in the state at 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock looms above the Berkshires , casting a spell over all who visit the region—including Herman Melville. While working from his study in Pittsfield in 1850-51, the author looked out at the snow-covered mountain and saw the shape of a white whale that would inspire “Moby Dick.” The 6.5-mile out-and-back hike up this National Natural Landmark (also on the National Registry of Historic Places), has an unrelenting incline up 2,260 feet towards the summit, where you’ll find views as far as 90 miles away, a delicious meal at seasonally operating Bascom Lodge, and the occasional black bear. After the hike, enjoy a well-deserved rest in the  Greylock Room at the Guest House at Field Farm, a 1948 Bauhaus-inspired home on 316 acres of conserved land featuring sculptures, four miles of trails, and front row views of Mount Greylock.

The drive down from Mount Washington in New Hampshire

Mount Washington via Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail , New Hampshire

The best kind of hikes leave you with a childlike sense of awe and wonder, and this 8.2-mile out-and-back hike does just that. Best done between May and October, the ‘Ammo Trail’ will push your limits even if you are a seasoned hiker. With over 3,812 feet of elevation gain, the path is a real calf burner. Beyond the sheer rock faces, there are several waterfalls and deep mysterious woods out of a fairy tale. People often break up the climb by camping at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s  Lake of the Clouds hut , which alone is worth the trip.

Lye Brook Falls Trail , Vermont

Located in the the Lye Brook Wilderness in Green Mountain National Forest , this 4.7 mile out-and-back hike near Manchester harbors one of the tallest waterfalls in Vermont . Following century-old logging roads, now resplendent with groves of birch, beech, and maple, and then a potentially muddy uphill slog, you’ll hear Lye Brook Falls. Come spring, the snow melt brings a phenomenal cascade that drops 125 feet over a twisting staircase of rocky tiers that you can see up close.

Mineral Ridge Trail in Idaho

Mineral Ridge Trail , Idaho 

For a minimal effort with big rewards, look to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, just outside the artsy celeb-studded town of Coeur d’Alene. Hikers will delight in this 3.3-mile family-friendly loop that has less than 1,000 feet of elevation gain and beautiful mountain hiking trails all the way up. After winding through a pine forest, you’ll be met with views of Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Coeur d’Alene mountains, northern Idaho’s answer to the fjords of Norway . This hike can be enjoyed year round (in heavy snow, bring snowshoes and poles).

Camelback Mountain in Arizona

Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon Trail , Arizona

Named for its resemblance to a kneeling camel, Camelback Mountain has become a cultural touchstone for local Phoenicians, fitness enthusiasts, and nature lovers alike. The 2.5 mile out-and-back Echo Canyon Trail in Phoenix Mountains Preserve has 1,420 ft of elevation gain, boulder scrambles, steep ascents, and handrails, and can take up to three hours to complete. Catch the sunrise over the Valley of the Sun, when the sky turns on the mountain’s shade of red sandstone. Avoid the sweltering heat by hiking during October through April, and keep your eyes peeled for diverse wildlife, including javelina, fox, bobcat, rabbit, American kestrels, and Gila woodpeckers clinging to Cholla cactus.

The Timpooneke trail in Utah

Mount Timpanogos via Timpooneke Trail , Utah

As you work your way up to the summit of Mount ‘Timp’ Timpanogos, the second-highest mountain in Utah's Wasatch Range, you’ll encounter a gradual incline that leads to steep and narrow rocky sections with loose scree. This 14.3-mile out-and-back trail in Northern Utah’s Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest reaches an altitude of 11,752 feet and is best experienced during peak wildflower season in late July to early August, when the path meanders through meadows covered in bluebells, yellow arnicas, violet larkspurs, and orange-red Indian Paintbrush. Expect to see deer, grouse, and mountain goats, and hear the howls of coyotes echoing off the exposed limestone and dolomite massif that dates back 300 million years. If you go early on a weekday morning, you'll have the summit and Utah Valley views to yourself.

Oberg Mountain Loop via Superior Trail , Minnesota

To experience autumn on the North Shore is to understand Minnesota’s nickname, l'étoile du nord or “the star of the north.” This 2.3-mile kid-friendly loop offers multiple overlooks with you-gotta-be-kidding-me views of Superior National Forest , Lake Superior , and Oberg Lake. The most challenging thing about the hike will be leaving the maple trees at their peak; the vibrant scenery here is like a record you want to play on repeat, flipping from blazing orange side A to dazzling yellow side B and back. 

Cascade Canyon Trail in Wyoming

Cascade Canyon Trail , Wyoming

This 9.1-mile hike in Grand Teton National Park packs a wallop with its dramatic mountain arena, ethereal forests, 200-foot waterfall, and frenzy of wildflowers like flamingo-hued penstemon, purplish monkshood, and the rare calypso orchid. Between June and October, you’ll spot plenty of wildlife, from picas and marmots to fox, black bears, and a casual moose basking in the sun. While this four hour climb with more than 1,000 feet of elevation gain is worth its challenges—there are large boulder fields, steep ascents, and eye-widening drop-offs—if you opt for the 12-minute electric shuttle ride across  Jenny Lake to the trailhead, you can reduce the hike by four miles. 

John Muir Trail in California

Half Dome via the John Muir Trail , California

It’s no wonder that John Muir was in Yosemite when he wrote, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” The crown jewel of Yosemite National Park, Half Dome bewitches hikers with its sheer granite face looming 5,193 feet over the valley. Also known as “Tis-sa-ack” in Ahwahnechee, this legendary landmark has an elevation of 8,844 feet, so be prepared for a full day of climbing— with a required permit . If you start this roughly 15-mile route before sun up, you’ll find few hikers and a sky full of stars , not to mention a spellbinding sunrise as you follow cliffside switchbacks and stony staircases next to tall waterfalls. After flatter woodsy stretches and rock scrambles, you’ll reach the final 400-foot section, where you’ll want grippy gloves as you move up the cables to the breathtaking summit. 

Eagle Creek Trail in Oregon

Tunnel Falls via Eagle Creek Trail , Oregon

In the Columbia River Gorge within Mount Hood National Forest , this 12.5 mile out-and-back hike with 2,000 feet of gentle elevation gain is a waterfall lover’s dream. Located in the foothills of the Cascade Range in the northernmost part of Oregon , this verdant hike is filled with photo opps between the numerous waterfalls, bridges, towering basalt walls, and swimming holes . After navigating some steep narrow ledges with cable handrails, you’ll reach Tunnel Falls, where a path completed in 1920 allows hikers to pass behind the 165-foot waterfall. Hike another 0.5 miles to see the striking 148-foot Twister falls. 

The view from Wheeler Peak in New Mexico

Wheeler Peak via Williams Lake Trail , New Mexico 

New Mexico has the wildest mix of terrain in the country, from its moonlike dunes of White Sands National Park to the Alien Throne hoodoos in the Valley of Dreams, to the fiery sandstone cliffs of Red Rocks Canyon. If you need any further proof, just go stand on top of 13,167-foot Wheeler Peak, the tallest point in New Mexico—although it feels more like Colorado . After ascending a wooded trail and skirting Williams Lake, you’ll enter single track in the open tundra, amid chirping pika and lounging bighorn sheep. As you near the summit, carefully treading loose scree and tiptoeing along the ridge, you’ll be enveloped by views of Taos Ski Valley , the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and Wheeler Peak Wilderness. Best relished between June and October, you’ll want to start this 8.5-mile out-and-back trail with roughly 3,000 feet of climbing early to avoid being caught on the ridge during one of the frequent afternoon thunderstorms.

The Highline Trail in Montana

Highline Trail , Montana

The most profound hiking experience to be had in Glacier, this 14.9 mile out-and-back trail hugs the cliffs for much of the way up 2,578 feet, topping out at 7,280 feet. Heart-clutching views of lush valleys and colossal snow-capped mountains invoke Patagonia , only with the added bonus of grizzlies, big horn sheep, and bucks. Get an early start in the summer and consider tacking on the glorious 1.5-mile side trip to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook to hover over the disappearing glaciers for one of the all-around best hikes in Glacier National Park . 

Angel Rocks Trail to Chena Hot Springs , Alaska

When you’re in Alaska , every hike is bound to be gorgeous. But this multifaceted 8.7-mile point-to-point trek blows even the Mendenhall Glacier out of the water. An hour northeast of Fairbanks , you’ll find switchbacks winding up 1,204 feet to a thrilling valley overlook. Keep an eye out for moose as you continue on through forested hillsides, above the timberline, then down through another peaceful forest to  Chena Hot Springs Resort , where you’ll soak in the healing mineral waters, visit the ice museum, and watch the dancing green bands of the Northern Lights —best viewed in August to October. 

The trail up Guadalupe Peak in Texas

Guadalupe Peak Trail , Texas

From the highest point in Texas , at a surreal 8,751 feet, you’ll look out over nothing but rocky mesas and desert plains. Located on Mescalero Apache ancestral land in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, this 8.4-mile out-and-back trail has an elevation gain of 2,952 feet and may take around six hours to complete. There are steep rocky switchbacks, five-foot-wide paths with jarring drop-offs, and a jaunt through a forest of pinyon pine, Douglas fir, and southwestern white pine. But before you even take a step, know that you’ll be hiking in the world’s most extensive ancient fossil reef; Guadalupe Mountains originated as a marine reef in the Permian Period about 280 to 250 million years ago. Although the temperatures are milder in the spring and fall, you’ll still want to get up early to make the most of the ascent and peak.

Bear Mountain Trail , Connecticut

While the tallest peak in the state offers ravishing views of the Berkshires in Massachusetts to the north and New York’s Catskills to the west, getting there is equally exhilarating. The 6.1 mile loop in Mount Riga State Park takes hikers up 1,683 feet, through narrow jungly paths filled with pink and white trillium flowers, wood anemone and violets, over steep and rocky sections, and onto two miles of the Appalachian Trail before reaching Bear Mountain’s 2,316 foot summit. Have a picnic while savoring the sights of verdant mountains, lakes, and a heavenly atrium.

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Make the Most of Summer With These 100 Epic Adventures

Hike, splash, paddle and stargaze your way to warm-weather bliss on these trips..

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Last updated June 2023

Don’t get us wrong—we love skiing in winter and spring, and watching the trees change in fall is always a thrill. But for hikers, summer is a time of almost endless possibilities. Late sunsets mean longer days on the trail , while balmy temperatures mean lighter packs. Is it any wonder that summertime trips all feel a little more epic? But like all good things, summer won’t last forever. Before you know it the mercury will drop along with the leaves.

Luckily, you still have time left to explore the best that the season has to offer . So stop putting off that trip you’ve been thinking about. We’ve rounded up 100 of our favorite hikes, paddling trips, backcountry lakes, waterfalls, berry-picking excursions and other warm-weather adventures on one interactive map. Start exploring below, and make the most of it.

A note of caution: The Covid closures may be over, but thank’s to this year’s record snowfall and ongoing fire season, some areas on our list face late openings or early closures. Double-check availability on the park or campground’s site before making your plans.

More Trips and Tips for Summer Hiking

Learn our best advice for setting up camp in the summer .

Cooling off in a backcountry lake or stream is one of our favorite parts of the season. Learn how to do it better with our guide to backcountry swimming holes .

Waterfalls are some of the most spectacular destinations to hike in the backcountry. We picked five of our favorites.

Heat can be dangerous— learn how to safely hike when it’s sweltering ou t.

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