Wander through arid deserts, over rugged mountains, and through old growth forests to see just some of the wonderful landscapes in this country! Explore challenges like Angels Landing or easy strolls in National Parks. Get your complete guide to the 15 bucket list hikes in the USA.
I’ve been to all 50 states and throughout my travels I’ve been on over 200 hikes throughout the US. 🚗 We’ve done some of the most iconic and also plenty of hidden gems. Along the way, we’ve wandered through forest, trudged through deep sand, and climbed mountains.
Now, I’ve created the ultimate USA hiking bucket list that you must do! These trails are in a variety of different ecosystems, but the one thing they all have in common is that they are mesmerizing. 🤩 There are challenging, moderate, and easy hikes to choose from. So, get ready for an incredible adventure!
Please remember to Leave No Trace, follow all regulations, and be a respectful visitor on these trails!
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Table of Contents
Bucket List Hikes in the USA
Read this post to find out a great list of trails to add to your explorations of the US! This post includes details like trail length, difficulty, and great tips for your visit. Make sure to bookmark this post for later.
Challenging Bucket List USA Hikes
Are you up for a tough trek? 💪🏻 These trails are on some of the most challenging hikes in the USA. They are on this list because they are tough. Either they gain a lot of elevation, they have various obstacles, or they are a long distance. But, the one thing they have in common is that they are all worth the difficulty in completing them!
1) Half Dome- Yosemite, CA
Half Dome is one of the most iconic hikes in the US. In order to reach the top of this famous granite rock, you’ll need to climb up 5000 feet, use chains, and walk at a 45 degree angle to the top! 😮 Along the way you’ll pass gushing waterfalls and some of the prettiest views over Yosemite valley.
Walking up the chains is not for the faint of heart or for people who have a fear of heights. ⚠️ My husband and friend did not make it to the top. But, I have never felt as proud of myself as I did getting to the top of Half Dome! I sat at the top and just took in the views for a while.
In order to hike Half Dome, you will need to win permits to do the chains section. Apply here!
Half Dome Hike Info:
Distance: 16.5-18 miles
Elevation: 5300 Feet
Type: Out and Back or Loop
Length: 12-15 hours
2) Enchantments- Leavenworth, WA
Hiking the Enchantments may be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was so worth it! This trail traverses up 5000 feet into the mountains in Washington. But, once you get to this point you’ll get to explore the Core Enchantments Zone, which is known for having a plethora of stunning alpine lakes. 💙
Some of the most challenging parts include hiking 2000 feet up in just three quarters of a mile on Asgaard Pass 🥵 or descending down 7000 feet! It’s quite a feat to explore this insanely beautiful area in Washington.
This hike is a point to point trail, so you’ll need to use two cars or get a shuttle ticket!
Enchantments Hike Info:
Distance: 18-20 miles
Elevation: 4900 Feet and 7000 feet decline
Type: Point to Point
Length: 13-17 hours
3) Angels Landing- Zion, UT
Although it’s nice to find a hidden gem, many of the best hikes are talked about for a reason. Angels Landing is no exception. 😇 You’ll start this hike down in Zion’s canyon, continuing over relentless switchbacks known as Walter Wiggles, and then use chains over narrow cliffs to reach the top. But, at the end you’ll have spectacular views over Zion!
I have done this trail three times now and I would do it again. Although it can be scary at points, if you take your time and focus on your footing, you will be fine. It’s one of those hikes that you will be so glad you completed!
Permits are required to hike the chain section, but if you don’t get them you can still make it to Scout Overlook!
Angels Landing Hike Info
Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation: 1800 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 2.5-4 hours
4) Old Rag- Shenandoah, VA
I completed Old Rag for the first time in the seventh grade and ever since then it has had a special place in my heart. 💕 But, I have gone back multiple times in recent years and I would love to do this trail every year. This hike in Virginia will surely win your heart.
You’ll climb up into the Shenandoah mountains, climbing over boulders, and over rock scrambles until you get to gorgeous panoramic views over Shenandoah Valley. It’s one of those tough treks that is also so fun! It’s going to win you over for sure.
You need day use permits to hike Old Rag, you can apply for them here.
Old Rag Hike Info
Distance: 9.5-12 miles
Elevation: 2600 Feet
Type: Loop
Length: 6-10 hours
5) Harding Icefield- Kenai Fjords, AK
Climb up until you’re standing over the largest icefield in the US! This trail in Kenai Fjords National Park is one that you cannot miss on your trip to Alaska. As you traverse this mountain you’ll pass by Exit Glacier and continue on until you are just steps away from this vast area of glaciers and ice.
Luckily, if you don’t want to complete the entire trail, you can stop early. There are a bunch of fantastic views throughout that make for good turnaround spots including Top of the Cliffs and Marmot Meadows. 📸 You’ll still be wowed by this unbelievable landscape.
Harding Icefield Hike Info
Distance: 8.5 miles
Elevation: 3200 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 4-7 hours
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Moderate Bucket List USA Hikes
If you’re someone that isn’t looking for something horribly difficult, but you also want to do something more than an easy stroll, I’ve got you covered. All of these trails are 6 miles or less and climb up less than 1000 feet. So, these are great options for family vacations or just a weekend adventure!
1) Avalanche Lake- Glacier, MT
Many of the hikes in Glacier are stunning, but incredibly difficult. Luckily, Avalanche Lake is much more accessible and it’s still one of the prettiest lakes I’ve ever seen. This trail follows the forest until it opens up to this clear lake with fantastic reflections of the mountains above! 🏔
This is one of the areas of the park that opens first in the late spring, which means it’s more accessible. Plus, If you’re lucky, you might even see a bear on your journey from a far enough distance. 🐻
Timed Entry permits are required for the Going to the Sun Road in the summer!
Avalanche Lake Hike Info
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation: 760 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 2-4 hours
2) Beehive Loop- Acadia, ME
Beehive Loop is one of the most incredible and memorable trails in the country. Although it’s fairly short, you will have to use rungs to climb up the mountains in Acadia. Once you get to the top, you’ll feel like you can see over all of Mount Desert Island.
If you are afraid of heights, you might want to avoid this trail!
This hike is on my list, both because of the uniqueness and the incredible vistas. We completed this trail after work during our first week of living in a van. It felt like we had finally made it! 🤗
Beehive Loop Hike Info
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation: 500 Feet
Type: Loop
Length: 2-3 hours
3) Hurricane Hill- Olympic, WA
Hurricane Hill is a fabulous hike in the Hurricane Ridge area of Olympic National Park. You’ll walk up a paved pathway until you get to incredible 360 degree views over the mountains, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and over to Canada! 🇨🇦
I love this trail because while it’s very family friendly, it also still feels like a challenge to reach the top! But, there’s nothing better than having an incredible payoff at the summit. It’s worth adding to your Olympic itinerary for sure.
If you want another challenge you can also try the Mount Storm King hike!
Hurricane Hill Hike Info
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation: 825 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 2-4 hours
4) Emerald Lake- Rocky Mountain, CO
Is there anything better than seeing a gorgeous alpine lake in the mountains? How about getting to see four gorgeous hikes in just under 3 miles! If that sounds ideal to you, than you need to add the Emerald Lake trail to your next vacation to Rocky Mountain National Park.
You will need a timed entry permit to Rocky Mountain National Park if you plan on visiting in the summer!
Although this hike is one of the most popular in Rocky Mountain, it’s still worth it! I highly recommend getting to this trail early so that you have it to yourself or visiting in the shoulder season. We did it in April and loved walking over the frozen lakes. 🧊
Emerald Lake Hike Info
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation: 725 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 1.5-3 hours
5) Navajo Loop & Queens Garden – Bryce, UT
If you only have time for one hike in Bryce, then make it this one! You’ll travel down into the hoodoos until they’re rising up on either side of you. But, one of the very best views is down into the switchbacks. There’s something captivating about the contrast between the orange rocks and the blue sky!
Watch the sunrise at Sunset Point and then venture down onto this trail!
I love how this trail is even accessible in the winter time! We did it in February and the snow on the hoodoos just added to the magic. ❄️ You’ll fall in love with this wonderful area of Utah.
Navajo Loop & Queens Garden Hike Info
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation: 650 Feet
Type: Loop
Length: 1.5-3 hours
Easy Hikes in the US
Despite loving a challenge, I am also a huge fan of a trail that’s an easy stroll for a fantastic reward. The list below includes bucket list hikes in the USA that truly blew me away 🤯. All of these are less than 4 miles and gain less than 500 feet of elevation in total. They’re fantastic to add to any itinerary and are often family-friendly hikes.
1) Fire Wave- Valley of Fire, NV
Located just 90 minutes from Las Vegas is the incredible Valley of Fire State Park. When you drive through this park, you’ll feel like you were transported to Mars. 🪐 But, one thing you can’t miss is a short hike to the Fire Wave!
You can add the Fire Wave onto the Seven Wonders Trail or just do it on its own!
This trail takes you to an incredible rock formation that literally looks like a wave made out of red sandstone. Get to the top of it and you can take in a bunch of other wild areas throughout the park. It’s one of my favorite state parks in the country.
Fire Wave Hike Info
Distance: 1.3 miles
Elevation: 150 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 30 minutes – 1 hour
2) Congress Trail- Sequoia, CA
Walk among some of the tallest trees in the US and feel small. 🌳 Congress Trail begins at the tallest tree in the world, General Sherman, before continuing through a gorgeous forest of Sequoias.
Along this hike you’ll find various groves of Sequoias including the House, the Senate and the lone President. It’s so fun to compare these trees to people, but it’s even more enjoyable to just look up and gape at the towering giants. We’ve done this trail twice now and I love it!
Generals Highway closes during the winter sometimes, so check the park website for updates! ⚠️
Congress Trail Hike Info
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation: 480 Feet
Type: Loop
Length: 1.5-2.5 hours
3) Taggart Lake- Grand Tetons, WY
Taggart Lake is a stunning trail in the Tetons year round! This hike is a fantastic snow-shoeing adventure or a wonderful place to go for a dip during the summer. I’ve done this hike in both the summer and winter and I don’t even know which I enjoyed more, it’s simply wonderful!
Although this is a longer hike than many of the others, it is fairly flat the entire way to the lake and back. So, it’s a great place to go for a longer stroll. You may even get lucky and see a moose nearby as you hike! This is one of the best family-friendly trails in the US.
You can add Bradley Lake to make this a longer hike!
Taggart Lake Hike Info
Distance: 3.8 miles
Elevation: 425 Feet
Type: Loop
Length: 2-4 hours
4) Gorge Trail- Watkins Glen, NY
Walking through the Gorge Trail in Watkins Glen, New York truly feels like you’re starring in a fairytale. ✨ Water cascades over the cliff walls and creates a magnificent picture. It may be arguably one of the most beautiful places in the US to visit in the Fall!
Take the trail as it winds it’s way through the gorge and you are surrounded on both sides by the tall cliffs. It’s one of those places that you have to see in person to truly believe!
The Gorge Trail closes in the winter, so you will not be able to access it then.
Gorge Trail Hike Info
Distance: 2.2 miles
Elevation: 480 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 1.5-3 hours
5) Backcountry Trail- White Sands, NM
Walking over the gypsum sand fields in White Sands National Park will have you feeling like you’re on a different planet. The Backcountry Trail is a fantastic way to see these gorgeous dunes without trekking deep into the dunes. ⏳
White Sands gets incredibly hot, so wear sun protection and bring plenty of water!
The Backcountry Trail is a great short hike to do with friends, practice your photography, or just take in the wild landscape that surrounds you. Another plus is that White Sands is dog friendly and they will love running around these dunes!
Backcountry Trail Hike Info
Distance: 1.7 miles
Elevation: 6 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 1-2 hours
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this incredible list of some of the most scenic hikes in the USA! It’s truly a joy to travel and experience this gorgeous country. Let this post inspire you to get out and see more of the wonderful landscapes throughout it! 🇺🇸
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this guide!
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