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Best Canyon Hikes in United States

The directory currently contains 122 quality-checked routes matching this guide in United States. Their average mapped distance is 10.9 km and average recorded ascent is 474 m (1,555 ft); the longest route in the set is 162 km.

This subset represents 2% of the 5,699 quality-checked routes in United States. Its average distance is 10.9 km, compared with 14.1 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 474 m (1,555 ft), versus 264 m (866 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry a canyon or gorge tag. Flood risk, access infrastructure and technical terrain require a current local source. Within this set, 8 routes (7%) are rated easy, 27 (22%) are rated hard or expert, and 9 (7%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Trails

Expert

Black Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
153 km
/ 94.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,892 m
Typical duration
40 hr
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Long-distance path
Mills Lake, Glacier Gorge, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Moderate

Glacier Gorge Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
263 m
Typical duration
2 hr 19 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Glacier
Expert

Rae Lakes Loop

California · United States

Distance
57.6 km
/ 35.8 mi
Elevation gain
2,081 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

Joe's Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
497 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Grand Canyon, Arizona View from Moran Point at the south rim, looking north, with Juniperus osteosperma tree at left.
Moderate

New Hance Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
9.4 km
/ 5.8 mi
Elevation gain
261 m
Typical duration
2 hr 21 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Parker Canyon Lake is located southwest of Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Moderate

Parker Canyon Lakeshore Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
7.7 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
137 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Panoramic viewpoint
View north up the Trail Canyon Trail in the Mount Charleston Wilderness, Nevada from about 1.0 miles north of the trailhead
Moderate

Trail Canyon

Nevada · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
471 m
Typical duration
1 hr 22 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Moderate

See Canyon Trail #184

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
585 m
Typical duration
1 hr 53 min
  • Lake
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Hard

Piute Canyon Trail

California · United States

Distance
19.1 km
/ 11.9 mi
Elevation gain
83 m
Typical duration
4 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Hard

Upper Lookout Canyon Trail #120

Arizona · United States

Distance
18.1 km
/ 11.2 mi
Elevation gain
138 m
Typical duration
4 hr 4 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Hungtington Ravine Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
859 m
Typical duration
1 hr 56 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

Baldwin Canyon Trail

California · United States

Distance
6.9 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
707 m
Typical duration
2 hr 30 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Hard

Gibson Canyon Trail #308

Arizona · United States

Distance
14.1 km
/ 8.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,908 m
Typical duration
5 hr 47 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Moderate

Middle Lookout Canyon Trail #121

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.1 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Hard

Pine Canyon Trail #26

Arizona · United States

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
852 m
Typical duration
4 hr 51 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
704 m
Typical duration
1 hr 46 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

Trail 7

Indiana · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
49 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Miller Canyon Trail #106

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
862 m
Typical duration
2 hr 20 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Loy Canyon Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Loy Canyon #5

Arizona · United States

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
603 m
Typical duration
2 hr 32 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Huachuca Mountains, Coronado National Forest.
Moderate

Ida Canyon Trail #110

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
695 m
Typical duration
2 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Moderate

Oversite Canyon Trail #112

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
708 m
Typical duration
1 hr 58 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Hard

Bear Canyon Trail #299

Arizona · United States

Distance
8.2 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,286 m
Typical duration
3 hr 38 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Hard

Gardner Canyon Trail #67

Arizona · United States

Distance
10.0 km
/ 6.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,297 m
Typical duration
4 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

Canon Brook Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
29 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • River
  • Canyon and gorge
Long Canyon Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Long Canyon #122

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.8 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
14 m
Typical duration
1 hr 14 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Superstition Wilderness.
Moderate

Boulder Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
11.7 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
475 m
Typical duration
3 hr 9 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Boynton Canyon Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Boynton Canyon #47

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
302 m
Typical duration
1 hr 28 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Snowmelt from a series winter storms in late January 2017 followed by rain and warm weather in February had dry creekbeds running and many of Arizona's reservoirs filled and overflowing. Dry Beaver Creek in Woods Canyon was no exception. Wo
Moderate

Woods Canyon #93

Arizona · United States

Distance
8.4 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
228 m
Typical duration
2 hr 5 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Hard

Wormhole Canyon Trail

California · United States

Distance
9.6 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,781 m
Typical duration
4 hr 40 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

South Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
9.1 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
395 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Fay Canyon is a favorite hike for many who prefer a shorter hike with minimal elevation gain or who enjoy the grandeur of red sandstone walls towering overhead. Some people visit Fay Canyon to see the natural arch located just under a half
Moderate

Fay Canyon #53

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
95 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Long Canyon Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

Canyon of Fools #174F

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Forest
Hard

Walker Canyon Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
24.4 km
/ 15.1 mi
Elevation gain
536 m
Typical duration
6 hr 10 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

Dark Canyon Trail

California · United States

Distance
6.7 km
/ 4.2 mi
Elevation gain
562 m
Typical duration
2 hr 14 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Cylindropuntia fulgida . King Canyon Trail, Tucson Mountains, Saguaro National Park West, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Moderate

King Canyon / Gould Mine Loop

Arizona · United States

Distance
11.9 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
627 m
Typical duration
3 hr 26 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Hard

Kern Canyon Trail

California · United States

Distance
15.1 km
/ 9.4 mi
Elevation gain
471 m
Typical duration
3 hr 51 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

Steep Ravine Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
437 m
Typical duration
1 hr 21 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

Ravine Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Waymarked route
Easy

DFLT Seitts

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Canyon and gorge
  • Desert
Moderate

Gorge Path

Maine · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
271 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Cloudland Canyon in the winter
Hard

Cloudland Canyon Connector

Georgia · United States

Distance
22.1 km
/ 13.7 mi
Elevation gain
278 m
Typical duration
5 hr 14 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Secret Canyon Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Moderate

HS Canyon #50

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
231 m
Typical duration
1 hr 26 min
  • Canyon and gorge

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Black Canyon National Recreation TrailArizona162 km2,443 m41 hrExpertApril to October
Black Canyon TrailArizona153 km2,892 m40 hrExpertApril to October
Glacier Gorge TrailColorado9.2 km263 m2 hr 19 minModerateJuly to September
Rae Lakes LoopCalifornia57.6 km2,081 m16 hrExpertJuly to September
Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne TrailCalifornia47.6 km1,593 m13 hrExpertJuly to September
Joe's Canyon TrailArizona5.2 km497 m1 hr 49 minModerateJune to October
New Hance TrailArizona9.4 km261 m2 hr 21 minModerateJune to October
Parker Canyon Lakeshore TrailArizona7.7 km137 m1 hr 49 minModerateJune to October
Trail CanyonNevada3.1 km471 m1 hr 22 minModerateJuly to September
See Canyon Trail #184Arizona4.8 km585 m1 hr 53 minModerateJuly to September

Black Canyon National Recreation Trail, Black Canyon Trail, Glacier Gorge Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

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