If you want to see a national park, one of the best ways is to walk through it. From the wildflowers to the lakes to the mountaintops, hiking adds to the National Park experience. It is one of the most popular things to do in the National Parks since it allows visitors to slow down and enjoy the landscape. For your next getaway, here are some of the best National Park Trails across the U.S. from Acadia to Zion.
11 Best National Park Trails Across the US
Trail of Time Trail in Grand Canyon
Mist Trail in Yosemite
Queen’s Garden & Navajo Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon
Jordan Pond Path in Acadia
Marymere Falls Trail in Olympic
Skyline Loop in Mount Rainier
The Watchman Trail in Zion
Canyon Rim South Trail to Artist Point in Yellowstone
Rainbow Falls Trail in Great Smoky Mountains
Bear Lake Loop Trail in Rocky Mountain
Window Trail in Big Bend
Trail of Time Trail in Grand Canyon National Park
Designed to be a geologic timeline, the Trail of Time is a relatively flat 2.83-mile (4.56 km) long paved walk. Every tenth of a mile marker is labeled in millions of years of the Grand Canyon’s geologic history.
Walking the trail gives you an appreciation for the magnitude of geologic time. Bronze markers mark your location in time. Along the timeline trail are a series of rocks and exhibits that explain how the Grand Canyon and its rocks formed.
The South Rim is located 59 miles north of Williams, Arizona, on Highway 64. It is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. A 7-day private vehicle pass is $35, and you can purchase a digital pass at recreation.gov.
Top Things to Do in Grand Canyon National Park
Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park
The very popular John Muir and Mist Trails offer spectacular, up-close views of two large waterfalls. Visitors will see the stunning scenery along the Merced River and unique views across Yosemite Valley.
Beyond the Vernal Fall Footbridge and about one trail mile from the trailhead, the Mist Trail and the John Muir Trail diverge. Consider accessing Vernal and Nevada Fall via the Mist Trail, looping around and taking the John Muir Trail back down to the Valley.
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Queen’s Garden & Navajo Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park
By far the most popular hike into Bryce Canyon. The Rim Trail is popular; however, it stays along the rim. For first-time visitors, this is a 2.9-mile (4.6 km) moderate hike that descends into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. This is one of the best National Park trails.
You will walk amongst the hoodoos. The Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop combines the open views and unique hoodoos of the Queen’s Garden Trail with the iconic switchbacks and towering canyon walls of the Navajo Loop Trail.
Bryce Canyon National Park is located approximately 270 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada, to the south and 270 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah, to the north. It is open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. You can use an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) or purchase a 7-day pass for $35 per private vehicle.
Top Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
Jordan Pond Path in Acadia National Park
Located at Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park, this 3.3-mile loop trail is one of the most popular spots in the park. The pond and bubbles are beautiful backdrops as you meander through the woods along the pond, and the boardwalks are unique.
Acadia National Park is just south of Bar Harbor, Maine, and 275 miles northeast of Boston, Massachusetts. It is open year-round, but there are seasonal road closures from November through March. Admission is $35 per car for a 7-day pass or an America the Beautiful pass.
Top Things to Do in Acadia National Park
Marymere Falls Trail in Olympic National Park
A 1.7-mile out-and-back trail through Pacific Northwest scenery from Lake Crescent, through large towering trees to a 90-foot waterfall. It is one of the most popular trails in Olympic National Park.
Olympic National Park is on the Olympic Peninsula, west of Seattle, Washington. It is open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. You can purchase an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) or a 7-day pass for $30 per vehicle.
Top Things to Do in Olympic National Park
Skyline Loop in Mount Rainier National Park
Rising 14,410 feet above the ocean, Mount Rainier can be seen from Seattle on a clear day, only a couple of hours away. On the southern side of Mount Rainier, the Skyline Trail is the most popular route in the Paradise area. This loop has something for everyone: lush vegetation, glacier views, rivers, waterfalls, and incredible views of the surrounding area.
Located southeast of Seattle, use State Routes 706, 123 and 165. Mount Rainier is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, though it has seasonal closures due to snow. A 7-day pass for $30 per vehicle or an annual pass.
Top Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park
The Watchman Trail in Zion National Park
With Lower Zion Canyon views, hikers can hike a 3.2-mile in-and-out unpaved trail that climbs 368 ft (112 m) to a magnificent viewpoint of the Watchman, Temples and Towers and the town of Springdale. Best of all, this trail is less visited, often overshadowed by the most notorious (and sometimes treacherous) trails in Zion.
Zion National Park is located 160 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada, the closest international airport. It is open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. A 7-day pass for $35 per private vehicle and there is a free shuttle in the park.
Top Things to Do in Zion National Park
Canyon Rim South Trail to Artist Point in Yellowstone National Park
A 2.7-mile trail hugs the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Equally as stunning as Arizona’s, Visitors will see the park’s complex geologic history in dramatic colors and shapes. This is one of the best National Park trails.
You should keep a lookout for puffs of steam, marking hydrothermal features in the canyon’s walls. The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River add to the grandeur of the unique natural treasure. It is easy to see why it became known as Artist Point.
It’s 320 miles northeast of Salt Lake City, and it’s open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. A 7-day pass is $35 per vehicle.
Top Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park
Rainbow Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
In the wildly popular Great Smoky Mountains, hikers see the lush Tennessee forest to the Rainbow Falls. During the afternoon, the light will create a rainbow. It is a 5.4-mile out-and-back trail near Gatlinburg.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Unique to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a parking tag is required. This is a physical tag that can be purchased in the area at visitor centers and through Recreation.gov.
Top Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Bear Lake Loop Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park
A flat .6-mile loop around Bear Lake on the Eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park pairs mountain views with lake reflections. The trail is easy going; however, there are other trails in the area for a longer hike.
Located at the end of the Bear Lake Corridor, there is a summer shuttle along the Bear Lake Corridor (otherwise, there’s a vehicle permit requirement). Denver is approximately 70 miles from the Fall River Entrance. Rocky Mountain National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. One-day admission is $30 per car, or a 7-day pass is $35.
Top Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park
The Window Trail in Big Bend National Park
Up in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend, this 5.5-mile trail ventures through Oak Creek Canyon to the Window pour-off. The opening frames panoramic desert vistas, the opening is visible from the Visitor Center.
Worth noting, the visitor center and lodge in the Chisos Basin will be under construction in 2025. However, the area is open. Big Bend National Park is open every day, all day. The 7-day vehicle pass costs $30.
Top Things to Do in Big Bend National Park
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