National Trails Day is a good excuse to lace up your hiking shoes, explore somewhere new, and appreciate the enormous network of trails connecting parks, forests, mountains, deserts, and coastlines across the United States.
Organized by the American Hiking Society and celebrated on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day is about more than going for a hike. It also encourages trail stewardship, volunteer projects, cleanups, outdoor education, and efforts to leave trails better than we found them.
You certainly do not need to travel across the country to participate. A neighborhood nature trail or nearby state park is every bit as suitable. But if you are looking for inspiration for a future hiking trip, these ten trails showcase just how varied American hiking can be.
🏔️ 1. Grinnell Glacier Trail — Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park is filled with extraordinary mountain hikes, and the trail toward Grinnell Glacier is one of its best-known experiences.
The route travels through the Many Glacier area, where hikers encounter alpine scenery, turquoise lakes, waterfalls, wildflower-covered slopes, and dramatic views of the surrounding mountains. Wildlife is also common in this part of the park, so hikers need to follow current bear-safety guidance and give all animals plenty of space.
The full hike is strenuous, and snow can linger well into the hiking season. Conditions in Glacier can change quickly, making it especially important to check the park’s current trail status before setting out.
For hikers prepared for a long mountain day, however, Grinnell Glacier offers the kind of scenery that makes Glacier National Park unforgettable.
🌋 2. Skyline Trail — Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Few hikes put you this close to the enormous presence of Mount Rainier without requiring a backcountry expedition.
Beginning at Paradise, the Skyline Trail forms a roughly 5.5-mile loop through subalpine meadows beneath the mountain. In summer, the landscape can be filled with wildflowers, while Panorama Point provides expansive views toward surrounding peaks.
The loop gains about 1,700 feet in elevation, so the relatively modest mileage can be deceptive. Early-season snow may also make portions of the route considerably more difficult.
This is a particularly good choice for hikers who want dramatic mountain scenery on a trail that can still be completed as a day hike.
💦 3. Mist Trail to Vernal Fall — Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite’s Mist Trail earns its name in spring and early summer, when spray from Vernal Fall can soak hikers climbing alongside the waterfall.
The route begins near Happy Isles and follows the Merced River before climbing toward Vernal Fall. Hikers can turn around at the Vernal Fall Footbridge for a shorter outing or continue toward the top of the falls for a steeper and more demanding hike.
The famous granite steps can become extremely wet and slippery when the waterfall is running strongly, so sturdy footwear and caution are essential.
Trail access can also change because of seasonal maintenance or construction. Before hiking, check Yosemite’s current conditions and any temporary Mist Trail closures or detours.
For sheer waterfall drama, though, few American day hikes compare.
🌲 4. Alum Cave Trail — Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
The Alum Cave Trail packs an impressive amount of scenery into a relatively short stretch of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The trail passes through hardwood forest before reaching Arch Rock, where hikers climb stone steps through a natural opening in the rock. Farther along is Alum Cave Bluffs, a huge overhanging cliff about 2.3 miles from the trailhead.
Turning around at the bluffs creates a roughly 4.6-mile round-trip hike. More experienced hikers can continue toward Mount Le Conte, creating a much more demanding 10-mile round trip.
The trail is extremely popular, and parking near the trailhead can fill quickly. Great Smoky Mountains National Park also requires a parking tag for vehicles parked longer than 15 minutes.
If you want Appalachian mountain scenery without committing to the entire climb to Mount Le Conte, Alum Cave Bluffs makes an excellent turnaround point.
🪨 5. Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop — Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon looks spectacular from the rim, but hiking below it reveals an entirely different landscape.
The Queen’s Garden and Navajo combination creates a roughly 2.9-mile loop that descends among the park’s famous hoodoos before climbing back toward the rim. The route includes towering formations, narrow passages, colorful limestone, and constantly changing views of the Bryce Amphitheater.
Despite the relatively short distance, this is considered a moderate hike. Bryce Canyon sits at high elevation, and the climb back to the rim can feel much harder than the mileage suggests.
The Wall Street portion of the Navajo Loop is seasonal, so hikers should check current trail conditions. The Two Bridges side generally provides another way to complete the combination when Wall Street is unavailable.
For a first hike below Bryce Canyon’s rim, this loop is difficult to beat.
🏜️ 6. Delicate Arch Trail — Arches National Park, Utah
Delicate Arch has become one of the most recognizable natural landmarks in the American Southwest, but seeing it from the end of the trail is very different from viewing it in photographs.
The hike is about 3 miles round trip and climbs more than 500 feet across open slickrock. Near the arch, the route crosses a narrow rock ledge with significant exposure.
There is very little shade, which makes heat one of the biggest concerns. The National Park Service advises hikers to avoid attempting the trail during midday summer heat.
Spring and fall generally offer more comfortable hiking conditions, although the trail can be icy in winter.
If the full hike is not suitable for your group, the park also offers easier Delicate Arch viewpoints that provide distant views without the strenuous climb.
🌊 7. Ocean Path — Acadia National Park, Maine
Not every memorable hike needs steep mountain climbs.
Acadia’s Ocean Path follows Maine’s rocky Atlantic coastline from the Sand Beach area toward Thunder Hole and Otter Point. Along the way, hikers pass pink granite cliffs, forest, rocky coves, and wide ocean views.
The complete path is approximately 2.2 miles one way, but it is easy to shorten the experience. The section between Sand Beach and Thunder Hole is about 0.7 mile and has a relatively gradual surface compared with many of Acadia’s rugged mountain trails.
Farther along, the trail becomes rockier and includes stairs and uneven terrain.
Ocean Path is an especially good National Trails Day choice for people who want scenery without committing to a strenuous summit hike.
🌄 8. South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point — Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The South Kaibab Trail provides one of the quickest ways to leave the rim and experience what hiking inside the Grand Canyon actually feels like.
For a manageable day-hike introduction, Ooh Aah Point makes a sensible destination. The viewpoint is about 0.9 mile below the trailhead, creating roughly a 1.8-mile round trip.
The distance sounds easy. The hike is not.
Every step down must be climbed on the way back, there is little shade, and the canyon can become dangerously hot. The National Park Service warns that there are no easy trails into or out of the Grand Canyon and strongly discourages ambitious rim-to-river-and-back day hikes, particularly during the hottest months.
There is also no water along the South Kaibab Trail, so hikers need to carry enough for the entire trip.
Conditions and closures within the canyon can change because of heat, storms, flooding, and infrastructure repairs, making a current-condition check essential before any hike below the rim.
🌲 9. Hurricane Hill — Olympic National Park, Washington
Hurricane Hill delivers surprisingly expansive mountain scenery for a hike of about 3 miles round trip.
The route begins near Hurricane Ridge and climbs roughly 700 feet toward a viewpoint overlooking the Olympic Mountains. On clear days, hikers can see layers of rugged peaks stretching across the horizon.
Much of the trail is paved, although its upper portions are steep enough to make the climb a genuine workout.
Summer brings wildflowers and the possibility of seeing wildlife, while snow can linger well beyond winter at this elevation.
For hikers looking for a shorter mountain experience with a big scenic payoff, Hurricane Hill is one of the most appealing options on this list.
🌊 10. Your Favorite Local Trail
One of the best National Trails Day hikes may be the one closest to home.
A local rail trail, city greenway, nature preserve, riverside path, county park, state park, or neighborhood trail can offer exactly what the day is meant to celebrate: an opportunity to get outside and connect with the places that make outdoor recreation possible.
National Trails Day also emphasizes stewardship. Instead of simply walking a trail, you might participate in an organized cleanup, volunteer with a trail-maintenance group, report damaged infrastructure to the appropriate land manager, or pick up litter where doing so is permitted and safe.
You do not need an iconic national park backdrop to participate. Thousands of miles of valuable trails exist outside the country’s famous destinations.
🥾 Choosing the Right Trail
A spectacular trail is only enjoyable when it matches the abilities of the people hiking it.
Mileage alone does not tell you how difficult a trail will be. Elevation gain, altitude, heat, snow, exposure, footing, river crossings, and lack of shade can transform a relatively short hike into a demanding outing.
Before heading out, check the official land-management website for current closures, weather, permits, parking requirements, road conditions, water availability, and seasonal hazards.
Bring more water than you expect to need, carry appropriate layers, wear suitable footwear, and tell someone where you are going when hiking in remote areas.
Turning around because conditions are worse than expected is always a reasonable decision.
🌿 Leave the Trail Better Than You Found It
National Trails Day is a celebration, but it is also a reminder that trails require care.
Stay on established routes, pack out your trash, respect wildlife, avoid damaging vegetation, and follow local rules regarding pets, fires, camping, and food storage.
Popular trails experience enormous pressure each year. Small choices by individual visitors can help reduce erosion, protect wildlife habitat, and keep outdoor spaces enjoyable for the people who arrive after us.
Whether your National Trails Day adventure involves five challenging miles in the mountains or a quiet half-mile walk through a local preserve, the important part is simply getting outside and appreciating the paths that make these landscapes accessible.
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- Mountain Field Guide
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📚 Sources & Further Reading
- American Hiking Society — National Trails Day
- National Park Service — Glacier National Park
- National Park Service — Skyline Trail, Mount Rainier
- National Park Service — Yosemite Hiking
- National Park Service — Alum Cave Trail to Mount Le Conte
- National Park Service — Bryce Canyon Hiking
- National Park Service — Delicate Arch Trail
- National Park Service — Ocean Path, Acadia
- National Park Service — Grand Canyon Day Hiking
- National Park Service — Hurricane Hill, Olympic
