There’s no better way to see the natural wonders of North America’s national parks than on foot. From easy rambles through Southern forests to hair-raising scrambles across narrow rock faces thousands of feet in the air, getting out of the car allows you to make memories on these one-of-a-kind day hikes.
Grand Canyon National Park
Bright Angel Trail – Short
-
Start/Finish: Bright Angel Trailhead
-
Duration: Mile-and-a-half resthouse – 2-3 hours; Three-mile resthouse – 4-5 hours; Distance: 3 miles/ 6 miles; Difficulty: Moderate-difficult
If you have limited time in the Grand Canyon, this beautiful hike is hard to beat. The wide and well-maintained corridor trail offers shady rest-houses and stretches along a delightful creek. At the trailhead, the canyon beckons in all its glory. If you suffer vertigo, looking to the left initially may help, as the first five minutes are the toughest. Highlights include two tunnels, Native American pictographs, and the visually rewarding Tonto Platform.
Bright Angel Trail – Long
-
Start/Finish: Bright Angel Trailhead
-
Duration: Indian Garden, 5-7 hours; Plateau Point, 8-10 hours; Distance: 9.2 miles or 12.2 miles round-trip; Difficulty: Difficult
Continuing down the Bright Angel Trail introduces greater difficulty but leads to the shady oasis of Indian Garden. For those seeking an even more challenging and exposed hike to expansive views, cross the Tonto Platform along a spur trail to reach Plateau Point. It’s a popular destination for strong day hikers, although the long, exposed stretch can become very hot.
Parque Nacional Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl
-
Start/Finish: The park entrance
-
Duration: 6-8 hours Distance: 12.5 miles round trip; Difficulty: Difficult
The Paso de Cortes is the mountain saddle between the towering Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes – the second and third-highest mountains in Mexico. Along the way, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the surrounding peaks and plateaus. You can shorten the hike by starting at the La Joya trailhead instead of the park entrance.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Anthony Creek Trail
-
Start/End: Cades Cove picnic area
-
Duration: 2 hours; Distance: 2 miles to Anthony Creek Bridge; Difficulty: Easy
The most-visited national park offers a variety of rugged trails for experienced hikers that lead to stunning vistas. However, for an introduction to the creek-and-forest charms of Cades Cove (as well as the Great Smoky Mountains in general), this easy, kid-friendly trail is the way to go. With log bridges, burbling creeks, spring wildflowers, and towering trees, the backdrop for the trail feels like a page from a fantasy story – just watch out for the horse poop!
Alum Cave Bluffs
-
Start/End Alum Cave Bluffs parking area
-
Duration 2½ to 3½ hours round-trip; Distance 4.6 miles; Difficulty Hard
Alum Cave Bluffs is one of the ten most popular trails in the Smoky Mountains, often drawing a crowd. It’s an excellent walk that includes log bridges, old-growth forests, and scenic views. To truly enjoy the scenery without encountering crowds, it’s best to hit the trail before 9am.
Yosemite National Park
Cathedral Lakes
-
Start/Finish: Cathedral Lakes Trailhead
-
Duration: 4–7 hours; Distance: 8 miles (upper lake); Difficulty: Moderate
This hike is undoubtedly one of Yosemite’s most spectacular. The steady climb through mixed conifer forest rewards hikers with breathtaking views of Cathedral Peak from the shores of two shimmering alpine lakes. Cathedral Lake, the lower lake, lies within a breathtaking glacial cirque, which serves as a stunning amphitheater of granite. While the upper lake is less spectacular compared to the lower, it is still absolutely sublime in its own right.
Yellowstone National Park
Mt Washburn
-
Start/Finish: Dunraven Pass trailhead
-
Duration: 4 hours; Distance: 4 miles; Difficulty: Moderate
Renowned for its panoramic 360-degree views, Yellowstone’s most popular day hike allows hikers the opportunity to spot bighorn sheep and black bears. This enjoyable hike gradually climbs to the fire lookout tower atop Mt Washburn, offering some of the park’s best scenic vistas. Additionally, interpretive displays in the lookout enhance the experience by providing insight into the magnitude of the Yellowstone super-volcano.
Grand Teton National Park
Leigh & Bearpaw Lakes
-
Start/Finish: Leigh Lake Trailhead
-
Duration: 3½ hours; Distance: 4 miles; Difficulty: Easy-moderate
Although it can become crowded, the Central Tetons feature stunning scenery: lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, canyons, and scenic viewpoints. This hike encapsulates all these elements during a fun, flat family outing around clear swimming holes. Always keep an eye on your picnic food, as bears are frequently seen in the area. Along this trail, you’ll uncover mesmerizing vistas of Mt Moran and its Falling Ice and Skillet Glaciers.
Cascade Canyon to Lake Solitude
-
Start/Finish: Jenny Lake western boat dock
-
Duration: 6-7 hours; Distance: 14.4 miles; Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
This extremely popular hike leads to a stunning alpine lake via a gradual ascent. Commencing from the Jenny Lake western boat dock, it’s a 14.4-mile round-trip (or 18.4 miles without the boat shuttle across the lake) to the glimmering Lake Solitude. However, you can turn around earlier if you desire. The trail passes well-known landmarks like Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls before ascending Cascade Canyon to the Forks. Veer right at the fork for Lake Solitude (9035ft). Be cautious of moose and bears that frequent this area.
Acadia National Park
Beehive Loop
-
Start/End: Bowl Trailhead
-
Duration: 2 hours; Distance: 6 miles; Difficulty: Difficult
As the only national park in New England, Acadia offers a variety of hikes that might feel reminiscent of a European via ferrata, where sections of the trail require the assistance of iron, ladder-like rungs to climb. Individuals with a fear of heights may wish to avoid this endeavor. This trail ascends steeply up the mountain’s face, featuring narrow cliffs that can be quite exposed.
Banff National Park
Lake Agnes & The Beehives
-
Start/Finish: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
-
Duration: 4 hours; Distance: 6 miles; Difficulty: Moderate to Lake Agnes, moderate-difficult to Big Beehive
This scenic walk is a must for anyone visiting Banff National Park, especially Lake Louise. While it can be crowded, the breathtaking sights are unforgettable, as the route includes a historic teahouse, two mountain lakes, and a spectacular lookout at cloud-level. The trail encompasses forest paths, hidden lakes, and scenic vistas, although it is steep (particularly around the Big Beehive). The teahouse typically sees a lot of visitors, but it offers a vast assortment of exotic teas, soups, cakes, and sandwich platters.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Navajo Loop-Queen’s Garden Combination Trail
-
Start/Finish: Sunrise Point
-
Duration: 2–3 hours; Distance: 2.9 miles; Difficulty: Moderate
This trail combines Bryce Canyon National Park’s signature features within a relatively brief period. The Queen’s Garden Connecting Trail descends into a garden of spires and follows the canyon floor, where tall pines offer shade and a perspective on the massive hoodoos. Additional highlights include Wall Street, the Silent City, Thor’s Hammer, and an option for a detour to Sunrise Point for yet another view into the canyon.
Zion National Park
The Narrows
-
Start/Finish: Temple of Sinawava
-
Duration: up to 8 hours; Distance: 10 miles; Difficulty: Difficult
This remarkable Zion “trail” closely resembles a swim at times, as it primarily consists of the Virgin River. Expect to spend most of your time hiking upstream through this captivating canyon. If you embark on your journey from the bottom, you won’t require a permit to reach the narrow and striking section. The hike extends 5 miles to Big Springs (the farthest point for day hikers), but do not underestimate this journey, as it’s a long trek upstream!
Angels Landing
-
Start/Finish: Grotto shuttle stop
-
Duration: 3-4 hours; Distance: 4 miles; Difficulty: Difficult
Saved as one of the most thrilling and well-known of Zion’s canyon hikes, this trail concludes with a hair-raising traverse along a narrow edge and a chain-assisted scramble to the summit. Comfortable shoes are a necessity. This strenuous hike poses challenges both physically and mentally, particularly for those who may be afraid of heights. Adventure seekers will relish in the exposed scrambling and unparalleled 360-degree views of the magnificent canyon, ensuring that Angels Landing lives up to its reputation.
Glacier National Park
Iceberg Lake Trail
-
Start/Finish: Iceberg Lake Trailhead / Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
-
Duration: 4.5 hours; Distance: 9 miles; Difficulty: Moderate
This breathtaking hike takes you through meadows abundant with bear and moose sightings, leading to one of the most impressive glacial lakes in the Rockies where icebergs drift like cubes in a bright blue cocktail. Don’t forget to appreciate the views of Ptarmigan Falls along your route.
Bryce Canyon
The Rim Trail
-
Start/Finish: Fairyland Point, Bryce Point or any rim trailhead
-
Duration: 2-3 hours; Distance: 11 miles round trip; Difficulty: Easy to moderate
This trail is the easiest and most family-friendly hike in the national park, stretching 0.5 to 5.5 miles (one-way) along the Bryce Amphitheater from Fairyland Point to Bryce Point, offering spectacular views of hoodoos. Many sections are paved and wheelchair accessible, particularly the half-mile stretch between Sunrise and Sunset Points. Throughout the summer, it’s possible to take a shuttle to one point and return from another, eliminating backtracking.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Kilauea Iki Trail
-
Start/End: Kilauea Iki parking lot on Crater Rim Dr
-
Duration: 2-3 hours; Distance: 4.5 miles; Difficulty:
If you can only embark on one day hike, make it this one. This loop trail, when traversed counterclockwise, takes you through a captivating microcosm of the park, descending through enchanting ohia forests to a mile-wide, still-steaming lava lake, recently filled by an extraordinary fountain expelling 403 million gallons of lava per second. Aim to start your hike before 8am to avoid the crowds. The faint pathway across the crater floor is marked by ahu (stone cairns) to assist with navigation. It’s crucial to follow them, as the crust can be fragile in other areas.
