The United States has an incredibly diverse landscape. From deserts and rainforests, to oceans and lakes, mountains and valleys, and everything in between. With beautiful landscapes come epic hiking opportunities! If you’re an avid hiker, the United States is a treasure trove of exploration. After traveling the country full time for the past two years, we’ve put some serious miles on our campervan, and our hiking boots. With this experience, we’ve rounded up the sixteen best day hikes in the United States. Some are short, some are long, some climb peaks, while others skirt coastlines. All of them are epic, and all of them will take you less than a day.

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1. The Narrows

Location: Zion National Park, UT

Length: 9.4 miles | Elevation: 334 feet | Trail Details

First on our list of best day hikes is one of the most unique trail experiences you can have. The Narrows trail hikes along and through the Virgin River in Zion National Park. As the name implies, The Narrows is the narrowest part of the Zion Canyon. As you hike, the canyon walls tower above you, giving perspective of how truly small we are. To do this hike, you will take the Zion Shuttle to stop #9. You can hike as short as 1 mile and not enter the water, or as long as 10 miles with waist deep water at points. The entire hike is gorgeous and there is no final endpoint, so choose your own adventure.

You are allowed to hike as far as The Big Spring without having a permit. As much as 60% of the hike is spent wading so you will want to be prepared if you plan to go the whole way. In the summer you may not require any extra gear however spring and fall can mean colder air and water temperatures. Dry pants and canyoneering boots can be rented from Zion Outfitters. Be aware of flash flood potential, this area is subject to closure for safety in adverse weather. If you’re looking for more adventure, this hike can be done from the top down as a permitted two day backpacking trip.

2. Bisti Badlands

Location: Farmington, NM

Length: 5.5 miles | Elevation: 213 feet | Difficulty: Easy | Trail Details

This little visited and largely unknown spot has some of the craziest rock formations and geologic features packed into one area. We loved that the hike felt like a choose your own adventure, discovery hike. Walking through the Bisiti Badlands feels like stepping foot in an alien landscape. 70 million years ago, this area was once a river delta on the shores of an ancient sea. When water retreated, the area was left coated in mudstone, sandstone, shale, and coal. Over the last 8,000 years, erosion has slowly revealed the features we see today.

Using the map above, you can wander through the wash seeking out unique rock features. Possibly the most mind blowing is the Petrified Wood in Bisti. Trees that stood at the edge of the river have been preserved and petrified by mud. As erosion has occurred, these petrified logs have formed the tops of hoodoos. About halfway out are petrified logs Other notable spots are the Chocolate Hoodoos, a section of rock formations with darker tops. The Cracked Eggs quite literally look like spherical eggs cracked open with yolk dripping out. This area is perfect for children and adults alike. Make your hike long or make your hike short, either way, it’s sure to blow your mind!

3. Congress Trail

Location: Sequoia National Park, CA

Length: 3.0 miles | Elevation: 495 feet | Difficulty: Easy | Trail Details

The Congress Trail offers the opportunity to see the largest trees on this planet. Giant Sequoias grow in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. This unique landscape nurtures these trees to grow into the most volumous trees, the largest of those being General Sherman. The Congress trail will begin with a visit to this tree, towering at 275 feet tall. The mostly paved trail will then take you past the Congress group and the House group of Sequoias. These groves of trees will have you awestruck at their magnitude. There are many places in nature that will leave you feeling small in comparison, this is certainly one of them.

4. Four Mile to Panorama to Mist Trail

Location: Yosemite National Park, CA

Length: 13.4 miles | Elevation: 4,425 feet | Difficulty: Hard | Trail Details

This classic hike in Yosemite will allow you to see several iconic sights all in one day. Starting on the valley floor, you will ascend 3,600 feet over 4.6 miles to Glacier Point. Looking across the valley as you climb, you will have views of El Capitan, Lower, and Upper Yosemite Falls. At the top of your climb to Glacier Point, you will be rewarded with a classic view of Half Dome, as well as distant views Nevada, and Vernal Falls. Linking up with mostly flat Panorama Trail, you will get unique perspectives of Half Dome as well as Illilouette Falls.

When you meet the Mist Trail, you will descend the stairs to view Nevada and Vernal Falls up close. At the end of the Mist Trail you can catch the bus back to your car at the Four Mile Trailhead. We recommend doing this trail in the spring when the waterfalls are at their height. If you’re lucky like we were at the end of April, you may even time it right when Glacier Point is not yet open to vehicles! As far as the best day hikes go, it doesn’t get much more jam packed than this.

5. Hoh Rainforest Hall of Mosses

Location: Olympic National Park, WA

Length: 1.1 miles | Elevation: 78 feet | Difficulty: Easy | Trail Details

This loop is the quintessential temperate rainforest hike. Stepping foot on the Hall of Mosses trail feels like being transported to a fairy land. Light leaks through the forest shining on abundant moss dripping from trees. At a short 1.1 miles, it’s family friendly and an easy stroll for all. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like Roosevelt Elk, birds, and banana slugs. We recommend arriving early to beat the crowds, the parking area and trail can get extremely busy during the summer. Fall is the most magical time to visit as the leaves changing color look like forest confetti.

6. Chapel Loop

Location: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Munising, MI

Length: 10.1 miles | Elevation: 770 feet | Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Details

In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the hidden gem of Pictured Rocks. On the Chapel Loop Trail, you can view two waterfalls and hike some of the most stunning freshwater coastline in the United States. From the trailhead you will pass Chapel Falls before reaching Chapel Beach. Where the trail meets the lake is Chapel Rock, a unique formation of sandstone with a tree growing out of the top. For much of the hike, the trail towers above the lake, however Chapel Beach and Mosquito Beach offer chances to take a dip in the chilly but pristine waters.

The trail will take you along 4.6 miles of cliffside of Lake Superior. You will be treated to views of unique rock formations like Lover’s Leap and water that would have you swear you’re in the Caribbean. Once you reach Mosquito Beach you will turn back into the forest to reach Mosquito Falls. The loop will bring you back to the trailhead you started from for one of the best day hikes around.

7. Fiery Furnace

Location: Arches National Park Moab, UT

Length: Varies | Elevation: Varies | Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Details

A true “choose your own adventure” hike! Fiery Furnace is a series of red rock fins that you can hike and scramble through. A permit and an educational video are required to do this hike. Permits are $6 and must be obtained online through recreation.gov two days prior to visiting, they can be reserved up to seven days in advance. You are required to pick up the permit from the Arches Visitor center. The educational video will help you understand how to orient yourself in the furnace and properly care for waste.

There is no set trail and you are encouraged to adventure and explore. As you hike, you may encounter dead ends that will force you back the way you came. GPS does not work well in the furnace due to the towering sandstone walls, you will have to rely on your own sense of direction. Go as far or short as you want!

8. Root Glacier Trail

Location: Wrangell St. Elias National Park, AK

Length: 5.7 miles | Elevation: 793 ft. | Difficulty: Hard | Trail Details

There are few places in the United States where you can hike less than 6 miles roundtrip and step foot on a glacier. Root Glacier is one of the most accessible and safely trekked glaciers. All you need is a pair of crampons, trekking poles and a sense of adventure. Starting from the town of Kennicott, an abandoned copper mining town, you will hike two miles out before reaching the toe of the glacier. Once stepping on the glacier, the world is your oyster, you can hike as far or short as you want. You could hike this trail a million times and have a different experience each time. You can find glacial waterfalls, blue glacial pools, glacial rivers, and more.

9. West Fork Trail to The Subway

Location: Zion National Park, UT

Length: 9.1 miles | Elevation: 1,305 feet | Difficulty: Hard | Trail Details

The Subway is one of the most picturesque locations anywhere in the world. This hike requires a little more planning than most as it requires a permit. To keep impact down, Zion National Park allows eighty people to hike per day. From April to October, there is a lottery system in place, these applications are taken three months in advance of the date of your trip. From November to March, permits are first come first served.

The hike has no marked trail and requires some way finding, it is difficult to get lost however as you are following the river. The slot canyon is named for it’s curved walls that resemble a Subway. The contrast of the green-blue water of the North Fork River against the orange-brown is one of the most stunning sights to behold. If you have keen eyes, you might even find a set of Dinosaur tracks along the trail!

10. Peekaboo Loop Figure Eight Trail

Location: Bryce Canyon National Park

Length: 6.3 miles | Elevation: 1,499 feet | Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Details

This hike links together some of the most incredible parts of Bryce Canyon National Park. This region is known for it’s hoodoos which are rock formations caused by erosion from repeated freezing and thawing of ice. What’s left are gorgeous spires that resemble rand castles. We recommend starting the trail from Bryce Point at sunrise. Golden hour leaves an incredible hue on the orange rock. Hiking up Queen’s Garden and down Wall Street will be a gentler climb, plus you will be facing the formations hiking down the switchbacks of Wall Street. Queen’s Garden and Wall Street will be more crowded while the Peekaboo Loop is a quieter hiking experience. Bring lots of water and sunscreen as the trail is exposed at parts. If you only have time for one hike in Bryce Canyon, make it this one!

11. Cirque of Towers Overlook

Location: Wind River Range, WY

Length: 16.6 miles | Elevation: 1,700 feet | Difficulty: Hard | Trail Details

Cirque of the Towers is traditionally done as a 43 mile multi-day backpacking trip. If you don’t have that much time, you can still get to one of the most gorgeous spots in a day hike. At 16.6 miles, this is one of the longer day hikes we’ve included, but we promise it’s worth it. The Wind River Range is home to some of the most beautiful and rugged mountains.

The first 6 miles of your hike will be flat. Once you reach Big Sandy Lake, you will start your ascent. You’ll pass a boulder field along a second lake, have one last uphill push and will be rewarded with a view of the stunning Cirque of Towers. The Cirque is a valley carved by a glacier which retreated 8,000 years ago. Surrounding the valley are towering jagged peaks. This view makes it clear why this makes the list for the best day hikes in the United States.

12. Harding Ice Field

Location: Kenai Fjords National Park, AK

Length: 9.2 miles | Elevation: 3,641 ft | Difficulty: Hard | Trail Details

This steep climb in Kenai Fjords National Park will offer you an opportunity to step foot on the Harding Icefield, remnants of the last ice age. This massive expanse of ice covers 700 square miles and feeds over forty glaciers in south central Alaska. The trail skirts Exit Glacier, climbing until it reaches the the icefield. You will traverse through forest, meadows, and snow before reaching the end of the trail.

The view from the top is breathtaking, ice as far as the eye can see, broken only by mountain peaks called nunateks. The hike is strenuous and exposed, be sure to take lots of water and wear sunscreen. The best time to hike is July through September when there is less snow and lower avalanche risk. If snow is present on the trail, microspikes and trekking poles are very helpful. Be sure to check with a ranger before starting your hike to get reports on current trail conditions.

13. Olympic Hot Springs

Location: Olympic National Park, WA

Length: 21.2 miles | Elevation: 3,166 ft. | Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Details

Admittedly, this is a day bike and hike, but we feel it belongs on the list of best day hikes nonetheless. This trail used to be much shorter however flooding in 2014 after the removal of the Elwha River dams caused a road to wash out, leaving the road inaccessible by car. Now, you can park at the Madison Falls parking lot and either walk or bike the 8 miles of road. A bypass trail will take you around the washed out road. From there, the road is in relatively good condition and feels eerily post apocalyptic. After 8 miles, you will reach the original trailhead where you can drop your bike.

Another 2.5 miles of hiking and you can soak your aching muscles in the hot springs. The springs are set amongst a fairy tale mossy backdrop. Hike to the farthest spring up the hill for the prettiest and most private experience! The original campground near the trailhead is still here if you want to make this trip an overnight stay.

14. Tolmie Peak

Location: Mt. Ranier National Park, WA

Length: 5.1 miles | Elevation: 1,541 ft. | Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Details

Mt. Rainier National Park is packed with contenders for the best day hikes. We’re partial to this hike located on the less visited west side of the park. The trail will begin at Mowich Lake, hiking two miles before climbing Ipsut Pass, part of the Wonderland Trail. From there, you will reach the sapphire blue, Eunice Lake. You will then climb 1,100 feet before reaching the Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout. The end of the trail rewards you with breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier. Though the fire tower looks like it would make an incredible overnight, unfortunately Tolmie Peak is closed to overnight camping. Regardless, the peak is a stunning place to spend an afternoon before descending back down the trail.

15. Goat Lake

Location: Sawtooth Wilderness, ID

Length: 8.1 miles | Elevation: 1,768 ft. | Difficulty: Hard | Trail Details

Goat Lake is one of the most stunning alpine lakes in the Sawtooth Wilderness, maybe in all of the United States! A bit off the beaten path, it will have less traffic than other hikes in the region like Alice Lake. The hike begins at the Iron Creek Trailhead about 1.1 miles into the hike at the junction, take a left to follow the Alpine Way Trail. The trail is steep from here with switchbacks before leveling off for a section.

The last mile ascent to the lake is the most difficult, you will climb up a scree field that is largely unmarked. We will admit, this part sucks but it’s totally worth it. Once at the top of this scree field, do not cross the boulder field to get to the lake. To your left, above the falls, is a beaver dam. You will cross the creek here where it is just a short hike to the lake. Bask in the beauty of the lake, take a dip in the chilly waters or try your hand at catching Brook Trout. If you want to make this an overnight trip, camping is allowed at the lake.

16. Surprise, Amphitheater, and Delta Lake

Location: Grand Teton National Park, WY

Length: 11.5 miles | Elevation: 3,667 ft. | Difficulty: Hard | Trail Details

As far as bang for your buck goes, this best day hike packs a punch. In 11.5 miles, you can visit three alpine lakes, with the most stunning of them being Delta Lake. Delta Lake is an unmarked spur trail from the main trail. We recommend doing the spur trail first as the hike to Delta Lake is the most steep and strenuous portion of the hike. Portions can be slippery and require some small rock scrambling, trekking poles are recommended. The spur is worth it however as you will be rewarded with views of a milky blue glacier lake and views of The Grand Teton. Hiking back the way you came, you will continue up the trail for two more lakes, Amphitheater, and Surprise Lake, both equally stunning. Be sure to bring bear spray and maintain bear awareness.

That wraps up our 16 best day hikes in the United States. Which ones have you done before? Which ones are you adding to your bucket list? Happy hiking and get out and Create Your Own Roadshow!