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Best Coastal Hikes in United States

The directory currently contains 108 quality-checked routes matching this guide in United States. Their average mapped distance is 12.4 km and average recorded ascent is 322 m (1,056 ft); the longest route in the set is 350 km.

This subset represents 2% of the 5,699 quality-checked routes in United States. Its average distance is 12.4 km, compared with 14.1 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 322 m (1,056 ft), versus 264 m (866 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the coastal tag. Tide dependency, cliff exposure and beach access are not inferred from that tag. Within this set, 42 routes (39%) are rated easy, 16 (15%) are rated hard or expert, and 19 (18%) 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

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

2.2 km

Whitestone Cliffs Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

84 m

Whitestone Cliffs Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Unconventional view, but it works. Bolinas Lagoon Preserve of Audubon Canyon Ranch, California. The coastal subspecies of Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus californicus , lacks the yellow band of median coverts, so we see only a red
Expert

ADT - California - T - Seg 9

California · United States

Distance
70.3 km
/ 43.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,539 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Coast to Crest Trail

California · United States

Distance
113 km
/ 70.1 mi
Elevation gain
4,587 m
Typical duration
33 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Lost Coast Trail

California · United States

Distance
85.2 km
/ 52.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,774 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

California Coastal Trail

California · United States

Distance
55.9 km
/ 34.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,263 m
Typical duration
14 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
Whitestone Cliffs Trail. Blue-Blazed CFPA "loop" foot path in Mattatuck State Forest. Whitestone Cliffs Trail. Blue-Blazed CFPA "loop" foot path in Mattatuck State Forest. Whitestone Cliffs Trail head sign on Spruce Brook Road / Mt Tobe.
Moderate

Whitestone Cliffs Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
84 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
NPS Photo / Samantha Zurbuch
Moderate

Overlook Cliff Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
36 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Coastal
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Webster Cliff Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
10.1 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,131 m
Typical duration
3 hr 48 min
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
Expert

Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail

California · United States

Distance
160 km
/ 99.3 mi
Elevation gain
4,652 m
Typical duration
44 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Hard

North Coast Ridge Trail

California · United States

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
643 m
Typical duration
4 hr 26 min
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
Moderate

Cliff Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
101 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

California Coastal Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Coastal Rail Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Coastal
Easy

Shoreline Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
48 m
Typical duration
1 hr 26 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Geranium carolinianum, taken at the Kentucky River Palisades, Mercer County, KY, May 21 2016.
Moderate

River Road

Kentucky · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
176 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • River
  • Coastal
500px provided description: Climbed the mountain to see the view from the fire tower, got up just before a strong storm rolled in and poured rain at lower elevations. [#storm ,#pines ,#g12 ,#Canon ,#August ,#Maine ,#Acadia ,#Mt Desert Islan
Moderate

Beech Cliff Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
247 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Frankenstein Cliff Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
51 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Cliff Walk

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
257 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Coastal
Jordan Pond Trail Bridge and the North Bubble in Acadia National Park, Maine
Moderate

Jordan Cliffs Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Pemetic East Cliff Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
0.4 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
116 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

The Barbary Coast Trail

California · United States

Distance
9.4 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
419 m
Typical duration
2 hr 35 min
  • Coastal
Indiana Dunes St Park beach
Easy

Beach Trail

Indiana · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Typical duration
10 min
  • Coastal
Easy

Blue Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
13 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Cliff Spring Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
8 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Coastal Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
58 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Coastal
Easy

East Coast Greenway

Maine · United States

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
13 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Coastal
Easy

Mowry Beach Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Typical duration
7 min
  • Coastal
Easy

Mushroom Shore Trail

Iowa · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
20 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Coastal
Sail Rock, the easternmost point in the United States of Alaska. Located in Quoddy Head State Park, Maine.
Moderate

Quoddy Coast Guard Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Dipper Cove Path

Maine · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Mary Moore Cliff Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
106 m
Typical duration
25 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Easy

California Coastal Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Coastal
Moderate

Fort Ambercrombie Cliffs Loop

Alaska · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
163 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Coastal
  • Castle and ruins
Moderate

Spruce-Fir Forest Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
0.9 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
19 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route

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
Pacific Northwest Trail 01 MontanaIdaho350 km7,077 m93 hrExpertJune to October
ADT - California - T - Seg 9California70.3 km1,539 m18 hrExpertApril to October
Coast to Crest TrailCalifornia113 km4,587 m33 hrExpertApril to October
Lost Coast TrailCalifornia85.2 km1,774 m22 hrExpertApril to October
California Coastal TrailCalifornia55.9 km1,263 m14 hrExpertApril to October
Whitestone Cliffs TrailConnecticut2.2 km84 m35 minModerateApril to October
Overlook Cliff TrailMaryland1.1 km36 m17 minModerateApril to October
Webster Cliff TrailNew Hampshire10.1 km1,131 m3 hr 48 minHardApril to October
Mokelumne Coast to Crest TrailCalifornia160 km4,652 m44 hrExpertJuly to September
North Coast Ridge TrailCalifornia16.4 km643 m4 hr 26 minHardApril to October

ADT - California - T - Seg 9, Pacific Northwest Trail 01 Montana, Coast to Crest 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

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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