Conquer the Wild: Discover Your Next Great Adventure

Angels Landing is one of the world's most renowned hikes, featuring a narrow sandstone ridge with 1,000-foot drop-offs on both sides. Fixed chains provide security for the final ascent to a spectacular 360-degree view of Zion Canyon.

The Bright Angel Trail is the premier hiking route into the Grand Canyon. It follows a natural fault line, providing a manageable grade and frequent rest houses with water, making it the safest route for exploring the inner canyon.

Half Dome is the ultimate Yosemite challenge. The final 400 feet of the ascent requires hikers to pull themselves up near-vertical granite using steel cables, rewarding them with an unparalleled view of the Sierra Nevada.

One of Glacier National Park's premier hikes, the Highline Trail follows the Continental Divide along the Garden Wall, offering spectacular views of glacial valleys, alpine meadows, and wildlife. Starting at Logan Pass, the trail traverses along cliff faces with dramatic drop-offs (a hand cable provides security in one narrow section). Many hikers take the trail to Haystack Butte (7.2 miles round trip) or continue to the Granite Park Chalet before returning via the Loop Trail for a 11.6-mile one-way journey. Look for mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and possibly grizzly bears.

Delicate Arch is the most iconic natural stone arch in the world. The trail traverses vast stretches of open slickrock before a final narrow ledge reveals the 46-foot-tall freestanding arch.

Starting from the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park, this popular trail offers some of the best views of Mount Rainier for moderate effort. The 5.7-mile round trip passes through alpine meadows, often blooming with wildflowers in summer, before reaching a historic fire lookout at 7,181 feet. From the lookout, hikers enjoy panoramic views of Mount Rainier, Grand Park, and on clear days, the Cascade Range. Watch for mountain goats, marmots, and pikas among the rocks. The trail is typically snow-free from mid-July through September.

This popular combination in Bryce Canyon National Park creates the perfect introduction to the park's famous hoodoos—tall, thin spires of rock. Beginning at Sunrise Point, the trail descends among colorful orange and pink formations, including one resembling Queen Victoria. Connecting to the Navajo Loop adds Wall Street, a dramatic slot canyon with towering walls and switchbacks climbing back to the rim at Sunset Point. The 3-mile loop features 600 feet of elevation change and offers constantly changing perspectives on Bryce's unique geology. Early morning light brings out the richest colors in the rock formations.

Yosemite's signature hike follows the Merced River, climbing a granite staircase alongside Vernal Fall (1.6 miles one-way) where hikers get drenched in spring and early summer from the waterfall's spray. Continuing to the top of Nevada Fall (3.4 miles one-way) rewards with even more impressive views. For a scenic loop, return via the John Muir Trail which provides different perspectives of Nevada Fall and Liberty Cap. The trail is busy during summer months, so starting early is recommended.

This challenging trail in Kenai Fjords National Park climbs 3,000 feet through forest and meadows to reach a stunning overlook of the 700-square-mile Harding Icefield, where endless ice stretches as far as the eye can see. Along the way, hikers pass Exit Glacier and enjoy increasingly panoramic views. The 8.2-mile round trip is typically covered in snow until July, and weather can change rapidly. Wildlife sightings may include black bears, mountain goats, and marmots. Early starts are recommended as the hike typically takes 6-8 hours.

Acadia National Park's most challenging and thrilling trail, the Precipice is essentially a non-technical rock climb with iron rungs, ladders, and handrails assisting your ascent up nearly vertical cliffs. The 1,000-foot climb in less than a mile leads to stunning views of Mount Desert Island and the Atlantic Ocean. This trail is not for those with a fear of heights and is typically closed from late spring to late summer to protect nesting peregrine falcons. Descend via the less steep Champlain North Ridge Trail for a 3.2-mile loop.

This ridge-line trail in Grand Canyon National Park offers the most spectacular views per mile of any trail in the canyon. Unlike Bright Angel Trail which follows a side canyon, South Kaibab travels along an exposed ridge, providing expansive panoramas in all directions. Popular turnaround points include Ooh Aah Point (1.8 miles round trip), Cedar Ridge (3 miles round trip), and Skeleton Point (6 miles round trip). The trail has no water sources and little shade, making it particularly challenging in hot weather. Despite the relatively short distances, elevation changes of 1,200-2,000 feet make this a strenuous hike.

This family-friendly trail system in Zion National Park visits a series of pools and small waterfalls set among red sandstone cliffs. The Lower Emerald Pool Trail (1.2 miles round trip) is mostly paved and leads to a collection of small pools beneath dripping springs. The slightly steeper Middle Pool adds 0.2 miles each way, while the more strenuous Upper Emerald Pool Trail continues to a larger pool nestled beneath massive 300-foot cliffs. Combining all three pools creates a 3-mile round trip that showcases Zion's diverse scenery, from lush hanging gardens to towering canyon walls.

This steep, challenging trail in Olympic National Park climbs relentlessly to a stunning viewpoint overlooking Lake Crescent and the surrounding mountains. The 4.1-mile round trip gains over 2,000 feet in elevation, with the final section requiring scrambling with the assistance of ropes (not maintained by the park service). The reward is one of the most spectacular views in the park, with the deep blue waters of Lake Crescent framed by forested mountains. This trail is not recommended for children or those uncomfortable with exposure and heights, particularly at the final scramble section.

One of the most photographed spots on the entire 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail, McAfee Knob features a rocky outcropping that juts dramatically over the Catawba Valley in Virginia. The 8.8-mile round trip hike follows white-blazed AT trail markers through hardwood forest before reaching the iconic overlook at 3,197 feet. The panoramic vista spans the Catawba Valley, North Mountain, Tinker Cliffs, and the Roanoke Valley. The trail is relatively moderate except for its length, with about 1,700 feet of elevation gain. Start early to avoid crowds at the popular summit area.

The classic route to the summit of 14,259-foot Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park is one of Colorado's most challenging and popular 14ers. This 13-mile round trip with nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain traverses diverse terrain, from forest and alpine tundra to exposed rock faces requiring hand-and-foot climbing. After reaching the Keyhole formation, the route becomes increasingly difficult, crossing the intimidating Narrows and steep Homestretch before reaching the surprisingly flat summit. Early starts (2-3am) are essential to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, and the route is typically attempted only from late July through September when free of snow and ice.