“Want to go for a hike this weekend?” It’s a question millions of Americans ask their friends and family every week. And the number is growing. According to The Outdoor Foundation, hiking is the fourth most-popular outdoor activity in the country.

The combination of endorphins and views make hiking incredibly addictive. You always want to level up and complete a more epic walk.

Are you part of the new generation of hikers looking for their next trip? Keep reading for some of the best hiking trails in the US.

1. Tonto Trail, Grand Canyon National Park

The Tonto Trail stretches over 95 miles of the Grand Canyon National Park, and it’s one of the most dramatic walks in the world. The trail is best for experienced walkers because it’s a rough walk on an unmaintained trail.

However, unlike other trails, the Tonto is perfect for breaking up into sections. Most hikers use it to explore the lay of the land via rim-to-river trails.

Your trip down the Tonto Trail might be one of the toughest walks you’ll ever try, but it will teach you what it means to survive and thrive in even the harshest conditions.

2. Mount Katahdin, Maine

Mount Katahdin isn’t an ordinary day out. Located in Baxter State Park, it is both the beginning and end of the epic 2,200-mile trail. It is an 8-12 hour walk depending on the path you choose and your fitness, but the energy of the hikers you meet either starting or ending their Appalachian journey is incredible.

Mount Katahdin is a well-traversed loop route, but it’s a strenuous hike no matter how experienced you are.

3. Ice Age Trail, Wisconsin

The US is home to some incredible outdoor adventures, but its long-distance trails are genuinely something to behold. The Ice Age Trail isn’t as well known as the Pacific Coast Trail or the Appalachian Trail, but it is the perfect introduction to the great American thru-hike. 

Walking the 1,200-mile trail brings you back in time to more than 12,000 years ago when glacial ice sculpted the area now known as Wisconsin.

The trail isn’t finished yet. There are only 600 miles of signposted trail with a further 500 miles of unmarked connection routes. But you can walk the whole thing or do what 1 million people a year do and explore some of the trail’s most scenic sections.

4. La Plata Peak, Colorado

If tough elevations are your calling, then make your pilgrimage to La Plata Peak.

La Plata Peak is 14,336 ft tall, which makes it the fifth tallest peak in the Rockies. The climb is a 9.02-mile there-and-back walk suitable for those acclimated to the elevation and who have a list of other peaks already under their belts.

5. Kalalau Trail, Hawai’i

Perhaps one of the most beautiful trails in the US, the Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile trail between Ke’e Beach and Kalalau Beach on Kauai.

You don’t have to hike the whole thing. Many people stick to a 4-mile round trip to Hanakāpīʻai Beach and back.

However, you do need to make your decision early. The state requires reservations for all visitors.

The Best Hiking Trails in the US Are Waiting for You

North America has an abundance of hiking trails, each one more spectacular than the last. But many of the best hiking trails in the US are still waiting to be discovered.

Are you looking for your next adventure? Check out our Interesting Places content for more inspiration.