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The Top 10 Hiking Trails in the United States
Americans have always been fond of hiking and it is one activity that never loses its beauty and merit in the USA. Whether you are a tourist or a resident, you should be excited to explore the different hiking areas here. Residents might know of the best hiking areas but tourists are often confused about where to start the adventure from. You might find a lot of travel and hiking related books but they will never tell you about the top hiking places you should visit.
- Glacier National Park:
Not only a must visit in the United States, but the Glacier National Park is one of the best hiking areas of the world. Forests, lakes, alpine meadows, etc. are all a part of this beautiful park. You can find many different species of animals and birds in the park. It is quite astonishing to see that more than 250 species of birds make their home in Glacier National Park. There is a 700 mile hiking amazing hiking trail in the midst of all this giving it some awe inspiring scenes. It sure is an unforgettable experience at the Glacier National Park.
- The Appalachian Trail:
With a hiking trail of 2175 miles, the Appalachian Trail is recognized as one of the longest hiking trails of the world. The trail will take you through Maryland, Tennessee, New York, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, and New Jersey. Enjoy the beauty of the States in a way you never have before!
- Zion National Park: It might not be a very long hiking trail but to be sure it is a beautiful and adventure filled one! The Zion National Park covers an area of around 230 square miles. A fun fact for this park is that the Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin meet here. There are canyons and tall cliffs here as well so you can do some good photography.
- Grand Canyon National Park: This is a name you will find nearly everywhere when they talk about the hiking trails in the USA. It is situated in the Colorado Plateau Park and is considered as one of the most beautiful trails of the world.
- Yosemite National Park:
Again a very stunning trail! The trails of the Yosemite National Park are known for the magnificent views they offer. It is situated in Sierra Nevada consisting of a lot of waterfalls, forests, meadows, etc.
- North Country National Scenic Trail:
The perfect spot for hikers is the North Country National Scenic Trail. It embraces all the factors that will make your journey memorable. It also has a place amongst the longest trails in the world and sprawls more than 4000 miles.
- Pacific Crest Trail: The Pacific Crest Trail is a treat for hikers as it covers over 2650 miles and takes you through the three major states: Oregon, Washington and California. It is amongst the most popular trails of the world.
- Continental Divide Trail: This hiking trail goes from Mexico to Canada, and is a very unique one that can offer you some much diversified sceneries and cultures. The length of this trail is around 3000 miles and it also touches Colorado, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico and Wyoming.
- Denali National Park:
Located in Alaska, the Denali National Park is a treat for summer hiking lovers. In summer, the park gets nearly 12 hours of sunlight.
- Kalalau Trail:
Last but not the least; the Kalalau Trail is located in Kauai Hawaii. It is a hiking trail for people looking for some true adventure. The best part is that the trail ends on a Kalalau Beach so bring your bathing suit!
- Glacier National Park:
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Three Types of Extreme Hiking
If I ask you to associate a word with “hiking,” what immediately pops to mind? Probably calm words like “serene,” “peaceful,” or “nature.” But the world of exploring nature and crossing different terrain isn’t only about moving quietly up hiking trails in secluded national parks. There are different types of hiking – more extreme levels of hiking – that many of us don’t even think about.
Mountaineering – If you thought climbing up a hill was tough, mountaineering would be like running a marathon. It takes hiking to another level – a vertical level, as it turns out – moving up steeper slopes and more treacherous terrain in order to get a thrill. It’s not always safe, which is why you’ll see more people hiking up the more peaceful terrain than you will mountaineers. For the mountaineers themselves, experience and a good knowledge of safety precautions can help them live a long life even while risking death.
Canyoneering – It’s probably not to difficult to imagine where a “canyoneer” might venture. As opposed to a mountaineer – who travels up – the canyoneer descends, descends, and descends around canyons and crevasses. It’s a dangerous world of steep cliffs and fast rivers. You might see a canyoneer use skills like working with rope, swimming, and rock climbing in order to make his way around a canyon.There are calmer ways of becoming a canyoneer. If you ever find yourself near a spot like the Grand Canyon, you can take more heavily-trafficked hiking trails that are well-mapped out. Just be sure to proceed with caution.
Coasteering – If a canyoneer climbs across canyons, a “Coasteer” works on the coast. If you associate moving up and down a coast with walking on soft white sand, you haven’t seen it all. Coasteering can see a lot of different challenges and outright challenges to basic safety, including rock cliffs and laggoons. The ocean is always a powerful factor that can’t be ignored; tides are powerful and waves can be angry. A coasteer will get pletny of spectacular views, but sometimes it comes with a great risk to their safety.
If you’ve only been a “Hilleer,” scaling small hills in serene forests, this article has probably opened up a whole new world for you. You don’t have to go and risk life and limb in order to have a better time hiking, but you should know that there’s a lot of different terrain to be explored. If you do decide to tackle tougher terrain, make sure to hire a guide and instructor; you can’t simply waltz into it.
Photo Credits: Chewonki Semester School
