Trail Guides

CaliforniaNovember through May

Eaton Canyon Falls

3.4 mi400 ft gain

Guide to the Eaton Canyon Falls trail near Pasadena, California. An easy 3.4-mile hike to a 40-foot waterfall just minutes from the LA metro area.

6 min read

CaliforniaOctober through May

Josephine Peak via Colby Canyon

5.5 mi1,500 ft gain

A 5.5-mile out-and-back to the 5,558-foot summit of Josephine Peak in Angeles National Forest, California, with sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding San Gabriel peaks.

6 min read

CaliforniaMay through November

Mt. Baldy via Devil's Backbone

11 mi3,900 ft gain

Guide to summiting Mount San Antonio (Mt. Baldy) via the Devil's Backbone in Angeles National Forest, California. The highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains at 10,069 feet.

6 min read

CaliforniaOctober through June

San Gabriel Peak

6.2 mi1,300 ft gain

Guide to San Gabriel Peak in Angeles National Forest. A 6.2-mile out-and-back from Red Box Junction climbs to the highest point in the front range of the San Gabriels with panoramic views of Los Angeles.

6 min read

CaliforniaNovember through April

Sturtevant Falls

3.6 mi500 ft gain

Guide to Sturtevant Falls in Angeles National Forest. A 3.6-mile out-and-back from Chantry Flat drops into Big Santa Anita Canyon, passing historic backcountry cabins to a 50-foot waterfall.

5 min read

CaliforniaNovember through May

Trail Canyon Falls

4 mi800 ft gain

Guide to the Trail Canyon Falls hike in Angeles National Forest, California. A 4-mile out-and-back to a 30-foot waterfall in a lush canyon above Tujunga.

5 min read

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests

Anna Ruby Falls Trail

0.8 mi150 ft gain

GeorgiaYear-round

Guide to Anna Ruby Falls Trail in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. A short, paved, wheelchair-accessible trail to a stunning double waterfall near Helen, Georgia.

9 min read

Blood Mountain via Appalachian Trail

4.6 mi1,500 ft gain

Guide to hiking Blood Mountain via the Appalachian Trail from Byron Reece Trailhead in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Georgia's highest point on the AT at 4,458 feet, with panoramic views and a historic stone shelter.

9 min read

GeorgiaApril through October

Brasstown Bald via Freeman Trail

6.2 mi1,200 ft gain

Guide to hiking Brasstown Bald via the Freeman Trail in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Georgia. A 6.2-mile out-and-back to the state's highest point at 4,784 feet, with views into four states and a staffed visitor center at the summit.

7 min read

Dukes Creek Falls Trail

2.4 mi600 ft gain

Guide to the Dukes Creek Falls Trail in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Georgia. A 2.4-mile out-and-back to a 250-foot waterfall cascade, with a viewing platform and a trail to the base of the falls.

7 min read

Panther Creek Falls Trail

6.8 mi600 ft gain

A 6.8-mile out-and-back to one of Georgia's finest waterfalls in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, following Panther Creek through hardwood forest to a 75-foot cascade near Toccoa.

6 min read

Raven Cliff Falls Trail

5 mi750 ft gain

GeorgiaApril through November

Guide to hiking Raven Cliff Falls Trail in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. A 5-mile hike through a rhododendron gorge to one of Georgia's most dramatic waterfalls, where water pours through a massive cleft in the rock face.

8 min read

moderate-hardloop

Rich Mountain Loop

8.8 mi1,800 ft gain

An 8.8-mile loop through the Cohutta and Rich Mountain Wilderness areas in Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia, with 1,800 feet of gain through some of the most remote hardwood forest in the southern Appalachians.

7 min read

Springer Mountain via AT Approach Trail

16.2 mi3,000 ft gain

Guide to hiking Springer Mountain via the Appalachian Trail Approach Trail from Amicalola Falls State Park. A strenuous 16.2-mile out-and-back to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.

11 min read

Coconino National Forest

ArizonaOctober through April

Bear Mountain Trail

4.8 mi1,900 ft gain

Guide to the Bear Mountain Trail in Coconino National Forest, Arizona. A strenuous 4.8-mile out-and-back near Sedona with 1,900 feet of gain through red rock terrain, ending at one of the finest panoramic viewpoints in the entire Sedona basin.

8 min read

Bell Rock Pathway

3.6 mi200 ft gain

ArizonaYear-round

Guide to the Bell Rock Pathway in Sedona, Arizona. An easy 3.6-mile hike through classic red rock terrain with views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.

6 min read

ArizonaOctober through May

Boynton Canyon Trail

6 mi900 ft gain

Guide to the Boynton Canyon Trail in Coconino National Forest, Arizona. A 6.0-mile out-and-back through a stunning red rock canyon near Sedona, with Sinagua ruins visible in the canyon walls and sweeping views at the canyon's end.

8 min read

ArizonaMarch through November

Cathedral Rock Trail

1.2 mi740 ft gain

Guide to the Cathedral Rock Trail in Sedona, Arizona. A short, steep 1.2-mile scramble to the saddle between Sedona's most iconic red rock spires.

6 min read

ArizonaJune through October

Humphreys Peak Trail

10 mi3,333 ft gain

Guide to the Humphreys Peak Trail near Flagstaff, Arizona. A strenuous 10-mile out-and-back to the highest point in Arizona at 12,637 feet.

7 min read

Vultee Arch via Sterling Pass Trail

3.8 mi500 ft gain

Arizonayear-round

A 3.8-mile out-and-back through shaded Sterling Canyon in Coconino National Forest, Arizona, to an 80-foot sandstone arch named for aviation pioneer Gerard Vultee, killed in a 1938 crash near Sedona.

6 min read

ArizonaMarch through November

West Fork Trail

6.9 mi340 ft gain

Guide to the West Fork of Oak Creek Trail in Coconino National Forest. A stunning 6.9-mile canyon hike through Arizona's best fall foliage, with 13 creek crossings and towering red rock walls.

10 min read

ArizonaSeptember through May

Wilson Mountain via North Wilson Trail

10.4 mi2,300 ft gain

A strenuous 10.4-mile out-and-back to Wilson Mountain's 7,122-foot summit above Sedona in Coconino National Forest, Arizona, with views of red rock formations, Oak Creek Canyon, and the Verde Valley.

6 min read

Deschutes National Forest

Black Crater Trail

7.8 mi2,500 ft gain

A strenuous 7.8-mile out-and-back to the 7,251-foot summit of Black Crater in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, with views of the Three Sisters, Mount Washington, and the high desert that few Cascade trails can match.

6 min read

Fall River Trail

4.4 mi50 ft gain

Oregonyear-round

An easy 4.4-mile out-and-back along the spring-fed Fall River in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, a crystal-clear, 48-degree stream through ponderosa and lodgepole forest south of Sunriver.

6 min read

Green Lakes Trail

9 mi1,100 ft gain

Guide to the Green Lakes Trail in the Three Sisters Wilderness. A 9-mile out-and-back hike to stunning alpine lakes beneath Broken Top and South Sister.

8 min read

Paulina Peak Trail

4 mi1,500 ft gain

A strenuous 4-mile out-and-back climb to the highest point in the Newberry Caldera at 7,985 feet, with 360-degree views of the Cascade volcanoes, two crater lakes, and obsidian flows on the caldera floor below.

7 min read

Proxy Falls Loop

1.6 mi100 ft gain

A short 1.6-mile loop in the Three Sisters Wilderness connecting two dramatically different waterfalls, including 226-foot Upper Proxy Falls and Lower Proxy Falls, which vanishes into a lava field with no stream outlet.

7 min read

OregonJuly through September

South Sister Summit Trail

12 mi4,900 ft gain

Complete guide to summiting South Sister, Oregon's third-tallest peak at 10,358 feet. Route details, permit requirements, and tips for this strenuous 12-mile day hike.

8 min read

Todd Lake Trail

1 mi200 ft gain

A short, easy hike to a quiet alpine lake beneath the north face of Broken Top, with direct views of South Sister and a gentler pace than the crowded trailheads nearby on the Cascade Lakes Highway.

7 min read

Tumalo Falls Trail

7 mi600 ft gain

Guide to the Tumalo Falls Trail near Bend, Oregon. A scenic 7-mile out-and-back hike past a 97-foot waterfall and along Tumalo Creek.

9 min read

Flathead National Forest

Danny On Memorial Trail

3.6 mi1,500 ft gain

Guide to the Danny On Memorial Trail at Whitefish Mountain Resort in Flathead National Forest. A 3.6-mile summit hike with panoramic views of Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.

8 min read

Glacier View Mountain Trail

4 mi1,200 ft gain

A moderate 4.0-mile out-and-back to Glacier View Mountain at 5,600 feet in Flathead National Forest, Montana, with views of Glacier National Park peaks and the North Fork Flathead River valley near Polebridge.

7 min read

Great Northern Trail

6 mi2,000 ft gain

Guide to the Great Northern Trail in Flathead National Forest. A 6-mile out-and-back hike along the old Great Northern Railway grade through dense forest and grizzly bear country.

8 min read

Holland Lake Falls Trail

3 mi400 ft gain

Guide to the Holland Lake Falls Trail in Flathead National Forest, Montana. An easy 3.0-mile out-and-back to a beautiful waterfall at the head of Holland Lake, with views of the Swan Range and access for hikers of nearly all abilities.

7 min read

MontanaJuly through September

Hornet Lookout Trail

8.8 mi3,200 ft gain

Guide to the Hornet Lookout Trail in Flathead National Forest, Montana. A strenuous 8.8-mile out-and-back gaining 3,200 feet to a historic fire lookout tower at 7,510 feet, with sweeping views of the Swan Range and Mission Mountains.

8 min read

MontanaJuly through September

Jewel Basin (Alpine Trail #7)

8 mi1,800 ft gain

Guide to Jewel Basin Hiking Area in Flathead National Forest. An 8-mile out-and-back hike through one of Montana's best alpine lake basins with 27 named lakes.

9 min read

Stanton Lake Trail

3.6 mi400 ft gain

Guide to the Stanton Lake Trail in Flathead National Forest. A family-friendly 3.6-mile hike through old-growth forest to a peaceful backcountry lake near Glacier National Park.

8 min read

MontanaJuly through September

Whitefish Lake Lookout Trail

7.4 mi2,600 ft gain

A strenuous 7.4-mile out-and-back to a historic CCC-era fire lookout at 6,200 feet in Flathead National Forest, Montana, with views of Whitefish Lake, the Whitefish Range, and distant peaks of Glacier National Park.

6 min read

George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

Apple Orchard Falls

3.2 mi800 ft gain

Guide to Apple Orchard Falls in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia. A 3.2-mile out-and-back through a rhododendron and hemlock canyon to one of the tallest waterfalls in Virginia at 200 feet.

8 min read

VirginiaApril through November

Chimney Rock Trail

4.4 mi1,200 ft gain

A 4.4-mile out-and-back to a dramatic quartzite pinnacle in the Goshen area of George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia, with sweeping views down the Calfpasture River valley.

7 min read

Crabtree Falls Trail

3.4 mi1,500 ft gain

Guide to Crabtree Falls Trail in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi, a 3.4-mile out-and-back with five major cascades.

10 min read

Dragon's Tooth

4.6 mi1,600 ft gain

Guide to Dragon's Tooth in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. A 4.6-mile out-and-back to Virginia's most dramatic rock scramble, featuring Class 3 climbing and a quartzite spire on the AT.

10 min read

Humpback Rocks Trail

2 mi800 ft gain

Guide to Humpback Rocks Trail in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. A short, steep 2-mile hike to panoramic Blue Ridge views near the Blue Ridge Parkway.

11 min read

McAfee Knob

8.8 mi1,720 ft gain

Guide to McAfee Knob in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The most photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail, an 8.8-mile out-and-back hike to an iconic rock ledge overlooking the Catawba Valley.

11 min read

Tinker Cliffs

10.5 mi2,100 ft gain

Guide to Tinker Cliffs in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia. A 10.5-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail to a half-mile-long quartzite cliff band with sweeping views over the Roanoke and Catawba valleys.

8 min read

VirginiaMay through October

Whitetop Mountain Trail

4.2 mi800 ft gain

A 4.2-mile out-and-back to the second-highest peak in Virginia via the Lewis Fork Trail in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, with above-treeline views into Tennessee and North Carolina.

7 min read

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Ape Cave Lava Tube

2.9 mi100 ft gain

WashingtonYear-round

Guide to Ape Cave in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The longest lava tube in the continental United States, with two distinct routes for different skill levels.

10 min read

WashingtonApril through November

Falls Creek Falls Trail

3.4 mi700 ft gain

Guide to the Falls Creek Falls Trail in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. A family-friendly 3.4-mile out-and-back hike to a dramatic 335-foot three-tiered waterfall.

9 min read

WashingtonJuly through September

Goat Ridge Trail to Snowgrass Flat

10.2 mi2,000 ft gain

A 10.2-mile out-and-back through the Goat Rocks Wilderness in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington, climbing through old-growth forest to alpine meadows with views of Mount Rainier and Mount Adams.

7 min read

WashingtonLate July through September

Indian Heaven Wilderness Loop

10.3 mi800 ft gain

Guide to the Indian Heaven Wilderness Loop in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. A 10.3-mile loop across a gentle volcanic plateau dotted with over 150 lakes, historic huckleberry grounds, and far fewer crowds than better-known Cascades destinations.

9 min read

moderate-hardloop

Lava Canyon Trail

6.5 mi1,500 ft gain

WashingtonJune through October

Guide to the Lava Canyon Trail in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. A dramatic 6.5-mile loop through a volcanic gorge carved by the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption.

10 min read

WashingtonMay through October

Lewis River Falls Trail

9 mi1,400 ft gain

Guide to the Lewis River Falls Trail in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. A 9-mile out-and-back hike past three major waterfalls along the Lewis River.

8 min read

WashingtonJune through October

Norway Pass Trail

4.4 mi900 ft gain

A 4.4-mile out-and-back through the Mount St. Helens blast zone to Norway Pass in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington, with views of Spirit Lake and the volcanic recovery landscape.

7 min read

WashingtonJune through October

Sleeping Beauty Trail

3.4 mi1,400 ft gain

Guide to the Sleeping Beauty Trail near Trout Lake in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. A short, steep 3.4-mile out-and-back to a rocky summit with 360-degree views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Rainier.

8 min read

Inyo National Forest

Bishop Pass Trail

12 mi2,600 ft gain

Guide to the Bishop Pass Trail in Inyo National Forest. A 12-mile out-and-back climbing through alpine lakes to an 11,972-foot pass with views into Kings Canyon National Park.

11 min read

CaliforniaMay through October

Convict Lake Loop

2.8 mi200 ft gain

Guide to the Convict Lake Loop Trail in Inyo National Forest. An easy 2.8-mile lakeside walk with stunning mountain scenery, great for families and fall color photography.

9 min read

Duck Pass Trail

9.6 mi2,500 ft gain

Guide to the Duck Pass Trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. A 9.6-mile out-and-back hike climbing past alpine lakes to a 10,797-foot pass in the John Muir Wilderness.

10 min read

Hilton Lakes Trail

8 mi1,600 ft gain

An 8-mile out-and-back into the John Muir Wilderness above Rock Creek in Inyo National Forest, California, reaching a chain of glacially carved lakes above 11,000 feet with strong trout fishing and light traffic.

7 min read

Kearsarge Pass

8.4 mi2,600 ft gain

Guide to Kearsarge Pass in Inyo National Forest, California. An 8.4-mile out-and-back climbing to an 11,760-foot pass on the John Muir Trail with views of the Kearsarge Lakes, Bullfrog Lake, and the Kings Canyon backcountry.

8 min read

CaliforniaJune through October

Methuselah Trail

4.5 mi800 ft gain

Guide to the Methuselah Trail in Inyo National Forest, California. A 4.5-mile loop through the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains, home to the oldest trees on Earth.

8 min read

Mono Pass Trail

8.4 mi1,800 ft gain

An 8.4-mile out-and-back from Mosquito Flat to the 12,060-foot Mono Pass in Inyo National Forest, California, climbing a historic Sierra crossing used by miners and Native Americans through the Rock Creek drainage.

8 min read

Mount Whitney Trail

22 mi6,100 ft gain

Complete guide to hiking Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous US at 14,505 feet. Route details, lottery permit system, altitude tips, and planning advice for this 22-mile day hike.

12 min read

Mount Hood National Forest

Elk Meadows Trail

6.4 mi800 ft gain

A 6.4-mile out-and-back on the northeast side of Mount Hood in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon, reaching a broad subalpine meadow with a direct close-up view of Eliot Glacier and exceptional late-July wildflower blooms.

7 min read

OregonMay through October

Lost Lake Loop Trail

3.1 mi80 ft gain

Guide to the Lost Lake Loop Trail in Mount Hood National Forest. A flat 3.1-mile loop around a 240-acre lake on Hood's north side, with iconic reflections of the mountain and old-growth Douglas fir forest.

8 min read

OregonJuly through September

McNeil Point Trail

8.6 mi2,500 ft gain

Guide to the McNeil Point Trail in Mount Hood National Forest. A strenuous 8.6-mile hike to a 6,100-foot ridge on Hood's northwest shoulder, with panoramic glacier views and a 1930s CCC stone shelter.

8 min read

Mirror Lake Trail

3.2 mi700 ft gain

Guide to the Mirror Lake Trail near Government Camp, Oregon. A family-friendly 3.2-mile hike to an alpine lake with views of Mount Hood's south face.

8 min read

Ramona Falls Trail

7.1 mi1,000 ft gain

Guide to the Ramona Falls Trail in Mount Hood National Forest. A 7.1-mile loop to one of Oregon's most photogenic waterfalls through old-growth forest.

10 min read

OregonMay through November

Tamanawas Falls Trail

3.8 mi430 ft gain

Guide to the Tamanawas Falls Trail in Mount Hood National Forest. A 3.8-mile hike through old-growth forest to a 100-foot waterfall dropping from a basalt lava cliff on Hood's east side.

7 min read

strenuousloop

Timberline Trail

41.1 mi9,000 ft gain

OregonLate July through September

Complete guide to the Timberline Trail, a 41.1-mile loop circumnavigating Mount Hood. Route details, river crossings, permit info, and tips for backpacking Oregon's most iconic alpine trail.

9 min read

Tom Dick and Harry Mountain Trail

8.8 mi1,800 ft gain

An 8.8-mile out-and-back from Government Camp to a 5,066-foot summit in Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon, passing the Mirror Lake basin and climbing to panoramic views of Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, and the Sandy River Valley.

8 min read

Pisgah National Forest

North CarolinaMay through October

Black Balsam Knob

3.5 mi1,100 ft gain

Guide to Black Balsam Knob in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. A 3.5-mile out-and-back on the Art Loeb Trail to an open Appalachian bald at 6,214 feet with 360-degree views over the Southern Appalachian high country.

7 min read

North CarolinaMarch through November

Courthouse Falls

4 mi600 ft gain

A 4.0-mile out-and-back through old-growth forest in Pisgah National Forest to a 45-foot waterfall on Courthouse Creek, one of the quieter cascades in western North Carolina.

7 min read

Devil's Courthouse

1 mi250 ft gain

A short but dramatic 1.0-mile out-and-back to a quartzite summit at 5,462 ft in Pisgah National Forest, offering 360-degree views into North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.

7 min read

easy-moderateloop

Graveyard Fields Loop

3.2 mi400 ft gain

Guide to the Graveyard Fields Loop off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Pisgah National Forest. A 3.2-mile loop through a unique high-altitude valley with two waterfalls and exceptional fall color.

10 min read

Looking Glass Rock Trail

6.2 mi1,700 ft gain

Guide to the Looking Glass Rock Trail in Pisgah National Forest. A challenging 6.2-mile out-and-back hike to the summit of one of the most iconic peaks in the southern Appalachians.

8 min read

Max Patch

2.4 mi350 ft gain

Guide to the Max Patch hike on the Appalachian Trail in Pisgah National Forest. A 2.4-mile loop to a grassy bald with 360-degree views of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains.

9 min read

Moore Cove Falls

1.4 mi200 ft gain

North CarolinaYear-round

Guide to Moore Cove Falls in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. A 1.4-mile out-and-back through a flat forest cove to a 50-foot waterfall you can walk behind, near Brevard, NC.

8 min read

Shining Rock via Art Loeb Trail

7.6 mi1,600 ft gain

Guide to the Shining Rock hike via the Art Loeb Trail in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. A 7.6-mile out-and-back to a white quartz outcropping at 5,940 feet.

6 min read

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Bells Canyon Trail

7.8 mi2,800 ft gain

UtahMay through November

Guide to Bells Canyon Trail in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest above Sandy, Utah. A strenuous 7.8-mile out-and-back through a dramatic granite canyon to lower Bells Canyon Reservoir, with a 40-foot waterfall at mile 2.5.

7 min read

UtahJuly through September

Cecret Lake Trail

1.8 mi400 ft gain

Guide to the Cecret Lake Trail at Albion Basin in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. A short 1.8-mile hike to an alpine lake with world-class wildflowers.

6 min read

Donut Falls Trail

3.2 mi500 ft gain

UtahJune through October

Guide to the Donut Falls Trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. A family-friendly 3.2-mile hike to a unique waterfall that flows through a hole in the rock.

6 min read

Grandeur Peak Trail

6.6 mi2,600 ft gain

UtahMay through November

Guide to Grandeur Peak in Mill Creek Canyon, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah. A 6.6-mile out-and-back strenuous summit hike with 360-degree views of the entire Salt Lake Valley.

7 min read

Lake Blanche Trail

6.8 mi2,700 ft gain

UtahJune through October

Guide to the Lake Blanche Trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. A steep 6.8-mile out-and-back to a stunning alpine lake beneath Sundial Peak.

6 min read

Living Room Trail

3.4 mi1,100 ft gain

UtahYear-round

A 3.4-mile out-and-back on the Wasatch foothills above Salt Lake City to a rock formation at 5,700 ft with direct views down into the Salt Lake Valley, Great Salt Lake, and the Oquirrh Mountains.

8 min read

UtahJuly through September

Mount Timpanogos via Timpooneke Trail

14 mi4,580 ft gain

Guide to summiting Mount Timpanogos via the Timpooneke Trail in Utah. A strenuous 14-mile out-and-back to the second-highest peak in the Wasatch Range.

7 min read

Red Pine Lake

6.8 mi2,100 ft gain

UtahJune through October

A 6.8-mile out-and-back in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest climbing to a granite cirque lake at 10,000 ft in Little Cottonwood Canyon, with views of 11,326-ft Pfeifferhorn above Salt Lake City.

7 min read

White Mountain National Forest

New HampshireMay through October

Arethusa Falls Trail

2.8 mi800 ft gain

Guide to the Arethusa Falls Trail in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire. A family-friendly 2.8-mile hike to the tallest waterfall in the state.

9 min read

New HampshireMay through October

Crawford Path to Mount Pierce

6 mi2,100 ft gain

A 6.0-mile out-and-back on America's oldest continuously maintained hiking trail in the White Mountain National Forest, climbing to the 4,312-ft summit of Mount Pierce with above-treeline views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range.

8 min read

strenuousloop

Franconia Ridge Loop

8.6 mi3,900 ft gain

Complete guide to the Franconia Ridge Loop in the White Mountains. Route details via Falling Waters Trail and Old Bridle Path, above-treeline traverse, weather tips, and planning info.

10 min read

Lonesome Lake Trail

3.2 mi1,000 ft gain

New HampshireMay through October

Guide to the Lonesome Lake loop in White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire. A moderate 3.2-mile loop to an AMC hut on a 2,760-foot lake with direct views of Franconia Ridge, suitable for families and beginners.

7 min read

moderate-hardloop

Mount Chocorua via Piper and Brook Trail Loop

7.6 mi2,400 ft gain

A 7.6-mile loop in the White Mountain National Forest to the iconic rocky summit of Mount Chocorua (3,490 ft), with above-treeline scrambling and views of Lake Chocorua and the Sandwich Range.

8 min read

Mount Lafayette via Old Bridle Path

8.6 mi3,500 ft gain

Guide to hiking Mount Lafayette via the Old Bridle Path in Franconia Notch. Route details past Greenleaf Hut to the 5,260-foot summit, weather info, and trip planning.

10 min read

New HampshireJune through September

Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine

8.4 mi4,250 ft gain

Complete guide to hiking Mount Washington via the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. Route details, weather hazards, permits, and tips for summiting the highest peak in the Northeast.

11 min read

Zealand Falls Trail

5.6 mi700 ft gain

Guide to the Zealand Falls Trail in White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire. An easy-moderate 5.6-mile out-and-back along the Zealand River to the AMC Zealand Falls Hut, with waterfall views and an excellent snowshoe route in winter.

7 min read

White River National Forest

ColoradoJune through October

Booth Falls Trail

4.4 mi1,100 ft gain

Guide to the Booth Falls Trail in Vail, Colorado. A popular 4.4-mile out-and-back hike to a 60-foot waterfall in the Eagles Nest Wilderness.

9 min read

Conundrum Hot Springs Trail

17 mi2,500 ft gain

Guide to Conundrum Hot Springs in White River National Forest, Colorado. A strenuous 17-mile out-and-back to geothermal pools at 11,200 feet in the Elk Mountains above Aspen, typically done as a two-day overnight with a permit required June through October.

8 min read

ColoradoJuly through October

Grizzly Lake Trail

8 mi2,000 ft gain

Guide to the Grizzly Lake Trail near Aspen, Colorado. An 8-mile out-and-back hike through wildflower meadows to an alpine lake in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness.

10 min read

ColoradoMay through October

Hanging Lake Trail

3 mi1,200 ft gain

Guide to the Hanging Lake Trail in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. A steep 3-mile out-and-back hike to one of Colorado's most iconic travertine lakes. Timed entry permit required.

10 min read

Lost Man Loop

8.6 mi1,700 ft gain

Guide to the Lost Man Loop near Independence Pass in White River National Forest, Colorado. A moderate 8.6-mile high-country loop connecting Lost Man Lake, Linkins Lake, and Independence Lake, entirely above 11,000 feet with wildflowers, elk, and golden aspen.

8 min read

ColoradoJune through October

Maroon Bells Scenic Loop

1.8 mi200 ft gain

Guide to the Maroon Bells Scenic Loop at Maroon Lake near Aspen, Colorado. An easy 1.8-mile loop with views of the most photographed mountains in North America.

10 min read

Mystic Island Lake Trail

7.6 mi1,800 ft gain

A 7.6-mile out-and-back in the White River National Forest through the Eagles Nest Wilderness to a remote cirque lake at high elevation above Silverthorne, Colorado, via the Rock Creek drainage.

7 min read

Pitkin Lake Trail

9.8 mi2,800 ft gain