Unearth The Voyage
When it comes to exploring the great outdoors on foot, not all states are created equal. Some offer jaw-dropping mountain peaks, while others boast desert canyons or lush coastal trails. Experts have weighed in, considering everything from trail quality and natural beauty to air quality and wilderness access, to rank America’s absolute best hiking destinations.
Wyoming — Wilderness and Wide-Open Spaces
Wyoming earned top marks from experts with a score of 40.14 out of 50, thanks to its incredible natural attractions and trail infrastructure. Yellowstone National Park alone offers hundreds of miles of maintained paths through geothermal wonders, alpine meadows, and wildlife corridors. The state’s vast wilderness areas mean you can hike for days without seeing another soul.
Beyond Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons provide dramatic vertical relief and glacier-carved valleys that challenge even experienced trekkers. Air quality here ranks among the nation’s best, making every breath feel crisp and refreshing. Wyoming’s combination of accessibility, scenery, and solitude creates an unbeatable hiking experience that keeps adventurers coming back year after year.
Montana — Big Sky, Bigger Adventures
With a score of 33.90, Montana delivers outstanding trail networks and some of the cleanest air you’ll breathe anywhere in America. Glacier National Park’s famous Going-to-the-Sun Road provides access to alpine trails that wind past turquoise lakes and ancient glaciers. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex spans over a million acres of untouched backcountry.
Montana’s trail infrastructure impresses experts because paths are well-marked yet preserve that wild, remote feeling hikers crave. You might spot grizzlies, elk, or mountain goats along ridgelines that seem to stretch forever. Whether you’re tackling a day hike or a week-long backpacking trip, Montana offers terrain that tests your limits while rewarding you with views that photographs can never quite capture.
Alaska — Untamed Frontier Trails
Alaska scored 33.43 and earned a perfect rating for protected wilderness, offering hiking experiences you simply cannot find in the lower 48 states. Denali National Park’s backcountry requires navigation skills since many areas lack formal trails—you chart your own course across tundra and river valleys. This raw, unfiltered nature attracts hikers seeking genuine adventure.
The state’s immense size means trails range from coastal rainforest paths in the southeast to Arctic tundra walks in the north. Summer brings nearly endless daylight, allowing ambitious hikers to cover serious ground. Bears, moose, and caribou roam freely, reminding you that humans are visitors here. Alaska’s hiking isn’t always easy, but it rewards the bold with landscapes that feel prehistoric and untouched.
New Hampshire — Small State, Giant Heart
Ranking third with 36.07 points, New Hampshire achieved a perfect score in hiking engagement, meaning locals and visitors alike can’t get enough of its trails. The White Mountains pack serious elevation gain into a compact area, with the Presidential Range offering some of the East Coast’s most challenging alpine hiking. Mount Washington’s notorious weather adds an element of unpredictability that keeps things interesting.
Despite its small size, New Hampshire boasts the Appalachian Trail’s most rugged section and hundreds of additional paths through hardwood forests and granite peaks. Excellent air quality enhances every outing, whether you’re bagging a 4,000-footer or strolling beside a waterfall. The state’s passionate hiking community maintains trails meticulously, creating a welcoming environment for newcomers and veterans alike.
Hawaii — Island Trails Like Nowhere Else
Hawaii scored 39.96, nearly topping the list thanks to landscapes you won’t encounter anywhere else in America. Volcanic craters, black sand beaches, bamboo forests, and coastal cliffs create hiking diversity that’s almost hard to believe. Trails on the Big Island let you walk across recent lava flows, while Kauai’s Na Pali Coast offers heart-stopping clifftop paths above crashing waves.
The challenging terrain means trail infrastructure scores slightly lower, but that raw character attracts adventurous hikers who don’t mind scrambling over roots or navigating muddy sections. Maui’s Haleakala volcano provides sunrise hikes above the clouds, and Oahu’s ridgeline trails deliver stunning valley views. Hawaii’s unique ecosystems and year-round hiking season make it an absolute bucket-list destination for anyone serious about exploring on foot.
