Skip to main content

The 6 best day hikes in U.S. national parks

If you're a day hiker and love to explore national parks, this list is for you

Sunset at "The Window" near Chisos Mountain Lodge at Big Bend National Park.
Robbie / Flickr

It’s time to dust off your best hiking boots and get them ready for new dirt. Across rainforests, mountain ranges, sprawling plateaus, rivers, and valleys, the North American continent offers some of the most stunning natural geography in the world. To take in these amazing natural experiences, you can set out on weeks- or months-long journeys, but most of us don’t have the time. No need to worry because The Manual has got your back with six of the best hikes in the U.S. inside national parks.

So load up your pack with essentials for day hikes and tasty hiking snacks — hiking season is here, and the trail awaits.

Recommended Videos

Jordan Pond to South Bubble Summit, Acadia National Park

Jordan Pond from Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park in Maine.
Navya Sriramaneni / Wikimedia Commons

Length: 3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

There’s no better place to immerse in Maine’s majestic hardwood forest than on the trail that skirts Jordan Pond, especially in the autumn. This 3-mile trek skates along the edge of Acadia’s glacial lake before climbing to the crest of the South Bubble and rewarding visitors with phenomenal views of Pemetic Mountain and the breathtaking blue waters below. Every October, fiery fall foliage bursts forth, rewarding hikers with awesome natural vistas. After returning to the bottom, refuel with popovers and blueberry soda at Jordan Pond House, conveniently situated right inside the park.

Learn More

Castle Trail/Medicine Root Loop, Badlands National Park

Towers of striated, sedimentary rock in South Dakota's Badlands from the Bigfoot Pass overlook.
Flickr

Length: 11 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous

Badlands is just that: A sandy scrub that leads up to an alien landscape of striated, sedimentary hills left behind by glacial flow. Take the several-hour rolling loop along the Medicine Root Trail (connecting with the Castle Trail near the Old Northeast Road), and you can find undulating prairie that offers up cactus, rattlesnake, and possible bison sightings. (Don’t get too close — the cactus and the snakes are liable to bite.)

Stop along or take side trips along spur trails to take in scenic overlooks that offer South Dakota’s waving rocks along the Wall Formation. Loop back to the car and either camp under the stars or head into town to take in the ultra-touristy yet impossible-to-hate city of Wall.And if you’re traveling to the park during summer’s peak season, be sure to hit the trails as early as possible to avoid crowds and the heat.

Learn More

Window Trail, Big Bend National Park

The Window View Trail in Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park.
Jasperdo / Flickr

Length: 5.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

Texas’ “Gift to the Nation,” Big Bend National Park offers over 150 miles of trails and recreational activity. Carving through the park’s Chisos Mountains is the Window Trail, which transitions from forest to canyon to expansive views of the Chihuahuan Desert below. During the summer months, it is too hot to hike at lower elevations, but the Window Trail maintains cool mountain air.

In addition to the sprawling landscape, it is not uncommon to see tracks and scat from black bears, mountain lions, and gray foxes along the trail. Bounding and skittering along the rocks are often Carmen Mountain white-tailed deer, rock squirrels, whiptail lizards, Spotted Towhees, Tufted Titmice, and Mexican Jays. Park at the Chisos Basin Campground to access the craggy sandstone fins of the Chisos Mountains along this well-paced trail, culminating in a mellow rock scramble up to the park’s iconic Window Formation.

This is south Texas, so summers can get hot. But, being a desert, the nights still tend to be cool, with sprawling, cloudless summer night skies awaiting those willing to brave the day’s heat.

Learn More

Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park

Brown rock spires rise from a view at the top of the Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon, Utah.
cb_travel / Shutterstock

Length: 5.2 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous

The Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail begins at Bryce Point and drops quickly to the canyon floor. The hike is challenging due to rapid elevation changes along its over 5-mile length. Believe us, though, Bryce Canyon’s natural beauty is worth the sweat. As an added bonus, you can escape the throngs of summer visitors.

In-season crowds seethe in popular national parks, so you’ll often have to endure a lot of extra leg burn to escape the crowds. The Peek-A-Boo Trail, however, skirts these packs to weave amidst thousands of finger-like, projecting hoodoos (rock spires) in the arid southern Utah geography. Remember, too, that this is a loop, and you’ll have to reascend the 1,400-foot drop down to the canyon floor.

Learn More

Alum Cave Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Alum Cave Bluff on the Alum Cave Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
Daveynin / Flickr

Length: 5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

Great Smoky Mountains National Park spreads over 522,427 acres between Tennessee and North Carolina. Choosing a place to hike here might be overwhelming, but the path up to Alum Cave contains some of the best that the Smokies has to offer — old-growth hardwood forest, rippling waterfalls, and the eerie Arch Rock tunnel that emerges at a gold-tinged overhanging cave (and a perfect place for a rest and a bite to reenergize).

As the trail climbs up Peregrine Peak, climbers can catch a heath bald full of mountain laurels and rhododendrons before reaching Inspiration Point, a rocky outcrop that offers a panoramic spread of the rugged valley below and its surrounding by mountains. Turn around here to complete the 5-mile loop, or, for more fun, continue along on the trail to the summit of Mount Le Conte for sweeping vistas.

Learn More

Panorama Trail, Yosemite National Park

A daredevil walks across a tightrope to Taft Point, overlooking Half Dome and Liberty Cap in California's Yosemite National Park.
Adobe Stock

Length: 9 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous

Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome in California is one of the country’s most incredible natural formations, a nearly 2,000-foot granite monolith rising 5,000 feet above the valley below. As such, it’s also an incredibly popular hike, with a permit required to hike it. Although a reservation is required to drive into Yosemite National Park during peak hours from May 20 through September 30, you can find some of its best sights (including Half Dome) along less-traveled the Panorama Trail.

In a national park internationally recognized for endless, show-stopping appeal, Yosemite’s Panorama Trail steals the show. Beginning at Glacier Point, a sweeping view overlooking the whole Yosemite Valley, the trail ventures around the roaring Illilouette Falls to pop out with a spectacular spread that includes Half Dome and Liberty Cap, a 1,700-foot granite outcropping.

Learn More

Tips for summer day hiking

Couple hiking and drinking water
Jacob Lund / Shutterstock

Summer sun and beautiful hikes go hand in hand, but staying safe and comfortable is key. Here are some tips to make your summer day hikes in national parks fun and unforgettable.

  • Hike early: The coolest part of the day is often sunrise or shortly after. This helps you avoid the midday sun and gives you a head start before it gets too hot.
  • Seek shade: Choose trails with plenty of tree cover, and take breaks under trees and other natural shade while on the trail.
  • Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: This can’t be overemphasized, as many people ignore this advice, year after year. Drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty. Aim for at least a liter of water per hour, and consider adding electrolytes to your water for longer hikes.
  • Light and breathable clothing: Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing made from breathable fabrics like nylon or merino wool. Avoid cotton, which traps sweat.
  • Sun protection: A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) are essential. Apply sunscreen liberally and reapply every two hours or more often if you’re sweating a lot or you stop for a dip in water along the trail.
  • Sturdy footwear: Wear proper hiking boots or shoes that provide good ankle support and traction on uneven terrain.
Matthew Denis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
More people disappear in the Alaska Triangle than anywhere else
The mystery of the Alaska Triangle is solved. Well, sort of
Hiking Denali National Park in Alaska

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, has fascinated scientists and conspiracy theorists alike with tales of disappearances without a trace, but it's not the only spot in the world shrouded in unsolved mystery. The Alaska Triangle and the stories behind it is far more chilling. Surrounded by the sweeping mountains and heavy snowstorms and infamous for supposed alien abductions, Bigfoot sightings, and paranormal activity, this area has become so intriguing that the Travel Channel even made a series out of it. While I'm slow to believe the paranormal explanations, it's still a bone-chilling mystery that's worth exploring.

The borders of the Alaska Triangle connect Anchorage and Juneau in the south to Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow) along the state’s north coast. Like much of Alaska, the Triangle contains some of the most rugged, unforgiving wilderness in North America. It's an impossibly vast expanse of dense boreal forests, craggy mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and large swaths of plain old wilderness. Amid this dramatic backdrop, it’s hardly surprising that people go missing. What is surprising, however, is the sheer number of people who go missing. Add to that the fact that many disappear without a shred of evidence, and bodies (alive or dead) are rarely found.
Mysteries surrounding the Alaska Triangle

Read more
Breathtaking views: The best hiking trails with waterfalls to explore
Relax after hiking to these stunning waterfalls
Bridal Veil Falls in Colorado

There are some truly stunning hikes around the United States, but my personal favorites always end in a waterfall. I've always loved that healing experience that always comes by watching gallons of water cascade into a pool. But as Shakespeare wrote in The Tempest, "Too light the winning makes the prize light." To me, the challenge to get to a destination makes the destination even more beautiful. So, with that in mind, here are the best hiking trails with waterfalls in the U.S.
Havasu Falls, Arizona

Havasu Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the United States, and it's located right at the heart of the Havasupai Indian Reservation in the Grand Canyon. This waterfall is known for its deep turquoise waters surrounded by red canyons. This location is very popular, so it's important to secure your reservation in advance. Visitors can book at the Havasupai Reservations Website.

Read more
How to prevent hypothermia while camping in the snow: Tips for staying safe
Camping in the snow isn't so hard as long as you stay warm
Two people sitting by a campfire at night in the winter

One of the main concerns of camping in the snow is hypothermia. Yes, you will probably experience some cold days and nights, but there are ways to stave off the cold, especially if you have the right gear. When done right, camping in the snow can be an invigorating adventure that gives you quicker access to all of your favorite winter sports. Here's how to fend off one of winter campers' biggest threats.
What is hypothermia?

Regular body temperature is considered to be about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and hypothermia is when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees. According to the Mayo Clinic, this is when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, which is terrible for your heart, nervous system, and organs. This is considered a dangerous medical emergency, so it's best to play it safe when planning to camp outside.

Read more