The National Parks of the United States a broad range of environments and wide variety trails for those seeking adventure. Some hikes take you around desert cliffs while others take you to the top of stunning, glacier mountains. Some are short, venturing less than a mile from the trailhead. Others take days or weeks to complete, requiring well-planned expeditions. YouTuber Through My Lens ranked his 15 favorite national park hikes after visiting 50 total National Parks.
Through My Lens’ 15 Favorite National Park Hikes
The Mist Trail, Yosemite National Park
The Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park offers hikers with closeup views of stunning waterfalls. It accesses the Vernal and Nevada Falls after diverging with the diverging with the John Muir Trail. To the top of Nevada Falls and back to the trailhead, the Mist Trail is about 5.4 miles long.
Skyline Trail, Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park‘s Skyline Trail runs 5.5 miles and includes 1,700 feet of elevation gain. Throughout the hike, visitors can encounter stunning displays of subalpine wildflowers and a close-up view of Mount Rainier and the Nisqually Glacier.
Sliding Sands Trail, Haleakalā National Park
Haleakalā National Park‘s Sliding Sands Trail can be 11 miles if you do the full out and back, but that isn’t necessarily recommended. It takes hikers down into the Haleakalā crater and crosses the valley floor.
Angels Landing, Zion National Park
Angels Landing in Zion National Park is hugely popular despite its difficulty. The entire hike is 4.5 miles round-trip and provides stunning views of Zion Canyon. It does require a permit to hike.
Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon National Park
The Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park is easily the most popular hiking trail into the Grand Canyon, allowing hikers to walk in the footsteps of the canyon’s Indigenous peoples, miners, and early tourists. It features multiple turnaround points, though it stretches as much as 12 miles round trip.
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
Delicate Arch in Arches National Park is one of over 2,000 stone arches in the park, but it’s easily the most iconic. The hike is 3 miles round-trip, though it features no shade. It’s best to approach this hike early or late in the day.
Queens Garden Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park
The Queens Garden Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park is the least difficult route descending from the rim into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. Combined with the Navajo Loop, this trail creates a create a 2.9 mile round trip.
Lassen Peak Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park‘s hike to the peak is a short-but-challenging 5 mile round trip trail. At the summit, it offers stunning views of the surrounding volcanic landscape.
Cascade Canyon Trail, Grand Teton National Park
The Cascade Canyon Trail in Gran Teton National Park is a moderate but long hike, stretching about 10 miles round trip if you go all the way to the end. Accessing the hike requires a boat ride across Jenny Lake.
Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park’s Upper Geyser Basin trail system allows visitors to view the world’s largest concentration of geysers. Boardwalks take hikers around hydrothermal features, with the longest routes stretching up to a few miles.
Precipice Trail, Acadia National Park
The Precipice Trial of Acadia National Park rises over 1,000 feet in 0.9 miles. This incredibly steep route offers stunning views of the ocean and surrounding park, though it isn’t recommended for anyone who’s scared of heights.
Lost Mine Trail, Big Bend National Park
The Lost Mine Trail of Big Bend National Park rises 1,100 feet over 2.4 miles. The 4.8-mile round-trip offers some of the best views in the entire park, with the surrounding mountains and desert stretching out from the trail.
Rainbow Falls Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountain National Park‘s Rainbow Falls Trail takes visitors 5.6 miles roundtrip, offering views of one of the park’s popular waterfalls at the end.
Root Glacier Trail, Wrangell – St Elias National Park
The Root Glacier is the most accessible glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias, though it still requires a 1.5 mile from the town of Kennecott along the Root Glacier Trail to access.
Natural Entrance Trail, Carlsbad Caverns National Park
The Natural Entrance Trail in Carlsbad Caverns is an extremely steep, 1.25 mile trail. It takes visitors down about 750 feet Into the caverns, providing views of Devil’s Spring, the Whale’s Mouth, and Iceberg Rock.
