We’ve been blessed to explore many of our national parks! Hiking is always one of our favorite national park experiences. To celebrate these amazing places, here are our favorite trails we hiked each year!
2023 – Endless Wall Trail at New River Gorge
New River Gorge National Park surpassed our expectations. We enjoyed learning about the history of the area. Watching the trains pass the historic Thurmond Depot was a highlight of our visit, but so was hiking the Endless Wall Trail. The trail is 2.4 one way between the Fern Creek Trailhead and Nuttall Trailhead and skirts the edge of the gorge. The best viewpoint is Diamond Point, but we also liked the unnamed viewpoints that offered views of the New River Gorge Bridge.
Honorable Mention: Bald-Parkman-Gilmore Loop at Acadia National Park; Blackrock Summit at Shenandoah National Park; Castle Rock Trail at New River Gorge National Park; Petrified Forest Loop at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
2022 – Main Loop & Alcove House at Bandelier
Bandelier National Monument’s Main Loop Trail is 1.4 miles and leads to the monument’s famous “cavetes.” The Alcove House Trail adds another mile to the hike and takes hikers up a series of four ladders to reach the Alcove House high above Frijoles Canyon.
Honorable Mention: Boquillas Canyon Trail at Big Bend National Park; Dune Life Nature Trail at White Sands National Park; Emerald Lake at Rocky Mountain National Park
2021 – Sky Pond Trail at Rocky Mountain
Rocky Mountain National Park’s Sky Pond Trail is a nine mile out-and-back trail that takes hikers passed Alberta Falls and the Loch before climbing to Timberline Falls. Hikers must actually climb the waterfall to reach the Lake of Glass before arriving at Sky Pond. We were greeted by a mountain goat at Sky Pond the day we did this awesome hike!
Honorable Mention: Alum Cave Trail at Great Smoky Mountains; Homan’s Path & Emery Trail at Acadia National Park
2020 – Avalanche Lake Trail at Glacier
Glacier National Park’s Avalanche Lake Trail is a 4.6 mile out-and-back trail that branches off the Trail of the Cedars. It ends at a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by mountains. We liked this hike so much we did it twice!
Honorable Mention: Boicourt Overlook Trail at Theodore Roosevelt National Park; Tower Trail at Devils Tower National Monument
2019 – Ledges Trail at Cuyahoga Valley Nation Park
Cuyahoga Valley’s Ledges Trail is a 1.8 mile trail that circles a plateau of interesting rock formations. It is one of Liberty the Dog’s all time favorite national park hikes with plenty of shade and mild rock scrambles.
Honorable Mention: Boardwalk Trail at Congaree National Park; Halema’uma’u Trail at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; Beech Cliffs Trail at Acadia National Park
2018 – Congress Trail at Sequoia
Sequoia National Park’s Congress Trail loops around grooves of Giant Sequoias named for the Senate and the House as it winds through the Giant Forest. One of the most memorable of any of our national park hikes!
Honorable Mention: Sliding Sands Trail at Haleakalā National Park; Pīpīwai Trail at Haleakalā National Park; Sargent Mountain via the Spring Trail in Acadia National Park
2017 – Queen’s Garden Trail to Navajo Loop at Bryce Canyon
Hiking through the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park is like hiking through another world! The hoodoos provide cool shade for the plants and animals that live in this gorgeous canyon.
Honorable Mention: Canyon Overlook Trail at Zion National Park; Pemetic North Ridge Trail at Acadia National Park; Anacapa Trails at Channel Islands National Park
2016 – Gorham Mountain with Cadillac Cliffs at Acadia
Our favorite hike in our favorite national park – Gorham Mountain is a fun hike in any season. The Cadillac Cliffs spur trail provides an adventurous rock scramble and a chance to explore ancient sea caves and tunnels.
Honorable Mention: Wrigley Memorial on Catalina Island, California; Gorge Path in Acadia National Park
2015 – Landscape Arch Trail at Arches
Landscape Arch was our favorite arch in Arches National Park! The trail to Landscape Arch provides opportunities to spot other arches along the way.
Honorable Mention: Acadia Mountain in Acadia National Park; Treasure Loop Trail at Lost Dutchman State Park (Arizona).
2014 – Midway Geyser Basin at Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park’s Midway Geyser Basin Boardwalk is only .7 miles, but it may be the most memorable walk in the park as it passes by the incredible Grand Prismatic Spring. The loop also takes hikers by Excelsior Geyser and the Opal Pool.
Honorable Mention: Observation Point in Grand Teton National Park; Upper Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park
2013 – Cholla Cactus Garden at Joshua Tree
At only a quarter mile, the Cholla Cactus Garden at Joshua Tree National Park barely qualifies as a hiking trail, but we loved seeing the setting sun light up these gorgeous cacti.
Honorable Mention: Great Head Trail at Acadia National Park; Anhinga Trail at Everglades National Park
2012 – Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls – Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier National Park‘s Skyline Trail climbs through the Paradise area’s alpine meadows of wildflowers to an unforgettable waterfall dropping off the side of the mountain.
Honorable Mention: Hoh Rainforest at Olympic National Park; Sol Duc Falls at Olympic National Park; Waterfall Trail at White Tanks Regional Park (Arizona)
2011 – Bar Island Trail at Acadia
Bar Island Trail is an Acadia National Park classic! The trail begins at the water’s edge on Bridge Street, but it is only available at low tide! Exploring the sand bar makes the trail unique, but we also love the huge field of lupine on the island. The end of the trial provides a great view of the cute village of Bar Harbor.
2010 – National Mall in Washington, D.C.
An easy walk around the nation’s capitol provides a memorable experience. We loved seeing the monuments and exploring the Smithsonian Galleries.
2009 – Mist Trail in Yosemite
Yosemite National Park’s Mist Trail is one of the most famous hikes in the national park system! The trail begins at Happy Isles and provides a lovely view of Vernal Falls before taking hikers up a series of granite stairs next to the waterfall. Powerful Nevada Falls is 2.7 miles from the trailhead.
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