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Best Forest Hikes in United States

There are 1,178 hikes in United States in our database that fit. They average 8.2 km and 219 m (719 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 164 km.

That is 9 percent of the 13,175 routes we map in United States. They are shorter than the local average, 8.2 km against 11.5 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day.

Forest trails are the dependable choice: shade when it is hot, shelter when it is not, and a completely different character once the leaves turn. The mix is broad: 625 are rated easy and 160 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

6 Crayola crayons from 1938.
Expert

Bartram Trail

Georgia · United States

Distance
164 km
/ 102 mi
Elevation gain
4,533 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Maroon Bells 7-4
Expert

Geneva Lake Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
37.5 km
/ 23.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,175 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Thomas Lyman House, Durham, Middlesex County, CT HABS CONN,4-DUR,1- (sheet 0 of 12)
Expert

Mattabesett Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
95.2 km
/ 59.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,205 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Amanita muscaria (presumed var. guessowii ) at the entrance to the reservoir grounds in West Hartford, Connecticut
Expert

Metacomet Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
95.1 km
/ 59.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,550 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Yale-Myers Forest Research Site off Nipmuck Trail.
Expert

Nipmuck Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
45.9 km
/ 28.5 mi
Elevation gain
633 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Maroon Bells 7-4
Hard

Maroon-Snowmass Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
26.4 km
/ 16.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,078 m
Typical duration
7 hr 28 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
One of several piles of rock and plant debris being removed by the California Highway Patrol on the w:Angeles Crest Highway , five days after a light rain.
Expert

Gabrielino Trail

California · United States

Distance
52.7 km
/ 32.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,498 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Mogollon Rim at the point where Forest Roads 321 and 321C intersect. Just beyond the ridge is a small community called Rim Trail Estates. Taken on 10-15-09 by Brady Smith. Credit: USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
Expert

Highline Trail #31

Arizona · United States

Distance
93.2 km
/ 57.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,536 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
the beast.
Expert

Prescott Circle Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
88.8 km
/ 55.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,160 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
Round Hill Brook, Webb Mountain Park, Paugussett Trail, Monroe, CT.
Hard

Paugussett Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
20.9 km
/ 13.0 mi
Elevation gain
508 m
Typical duration
5 hr 17 min
  • River
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Springwater Dancer - Argia plana?. Female
Moderate

Hamburg Trail #122

Arizona · United States

Distance
5.1 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
81 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Land at the western end of the former Cherokee State Park section of Kenlake State Park , located east of Hardin in Marshall County , Kentucky , United States . Seen here from Kentucky Route 94 , the park has been listed on the National Reg
Expert

North/South Trail

Kentucky · United States

Distance
91.1 km
/ 56.6 mi
Elevation gain
585 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
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
Aspen Trail, Payson, AZ 85541, USA
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
The Little Missouri River viewed from the bridge to the Albert Pike area of Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas.
Expert

Eagle Rock Loop

Arkansas · United States

Distance
42.3 km
/ 26.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,058 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Closer shot of the rock face at Sleeping Giant.
Expert

Quinnipiac Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
31.5 km
/ 19.6 mi
Elevation gain
848 m
Typical duration
8 hr 20 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Menunkatuck Blue-Blazed (CFPA) Trail. Vernal pond along the Menunkatuck Trail in the Timberlands near the Iron Stream. Timberlands is forested preserved open space owned by the Town of Guilford Connecticut and managed by the Town's Conserva
Hard

Menunkatuck Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
25.8 km
/ 16.0 mi
Elevation gain
277 m
Typical duration
6 hr 7 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 44.
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
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 47.
Expert

West Divide Trail #289

Arizona · United States

Distance
41.7 km
/ 25.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,788 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
El Paso County, CO, USA
Expert

Barr Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
19.1 km
/ 11.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,303 m
Typical duration
7 hr 34 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 51.
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
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 44.
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
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 47.
Expert

East Divide Trail #287

Arizona · United States

Distance
62.2 km
/ 38.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,549 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 46.
Expert

Snake Gulch Trail #59

Arizona · United States

Distance
83.5 km
/ 51.9 mi
Elevation gain
687 m
Typical duration
20 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 45.
Expert

Brookside-McCurdy Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
48.1 km
/ 29.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,836 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
This astronaut photograph illustrates the area (approximately 8,900 hectares, or 22,110 acres) and position of the Horseshoe 2 fire within the Chiricahua Mountains on May 15, 2011, as well as an extensive smoke plume extending to the east-n
Hard

South Fork Trail #243

Arizona · United States

Distance
22.2 km
/ 13.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,060 m
Typical duration
6 hr 25 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Near the end of the Discovery Trail at Blanchard Springs Caverns in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, Stone County, Arkansas
Expert

North Sylamore Creek Trail

Arkansas · United States

Distance
36.1 km
/ 22.4 mi
Elevation gain
658 m
Typical duration
9 hr 8 min
  • River
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Golden Trout Wilderness , August 2008. One day after a rainstorm, just south of Farewell Gap.
Expert

Farewell Gap Trail

California · United States

Distance
25.5 km
/ 15.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,556 m
Typical duration
7 hr 58 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Interior of Comstock's Bridge , which is located southeast of central East Hampton in Middlesex County , Connecticut . Built in 1840, this Howe truss covered bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
Moderate

Salmon River Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
136 m
Typical duration
1 hr 45 min
  • River
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Twin Mountains
Moderate

Kearsarge North Trail

New Hampshire · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
808 m
Typical duration
2 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Jericho Blue-Blazed Trail. View north from Crane's Lookout.
Easy

Branch Brook Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • River
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
View of Arizona taken during ISS Expedition 21.
Moderate

Bassett Peak Trail #287C

Arizona · United States

Distance
9.6 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
353 m
Typical duration
2 hr 31 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Forest
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 53.
Moderate

Brule Lake Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
10.5 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
185 m
Typical duration
2 hr 28 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Barney Lake (foreground) and Mammoth Mountain (background), seen looking northwest from Duck Pass, John Muir Wilderness, California.
Moderate

Woods Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Brilliant fall Aspen leaves along the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness Trail. Williams district. 10-5-16. DSC0083. Photo by Dyan Bone. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.
Moderate

Bull Basin Trail #40

Arizona · United States

Distance
6.2 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
679 m
Typical duration
2 hr 19 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
This part of Arizona is surprisingly like California. Pictured: Arctostaphylos pungens (to the right of trail), Yucca elata (left).
Moderate

Bear Mountain #54

Arizona · United States

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
695 m
Typical duration
1 hr 48 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
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
Kanab Creek is one of the many tributaries of the Grand Canyon. It begins in Kane County, Utah, just south of the watershed to the Great Basin and flows 125 miles (201 km) south to the Colorado River. It passes Kanab, Utah, crossing the bor
Expert

Ranger Trail #41

Arizona · United States

Distance
40.7 km
/ 25.3 mi
Elevation gain
392 m
Typical duration
9 hr 50 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata). Female
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
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 53.
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

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
Bartram TrailGeorgia164 km4,533 m45 hrExpertJune to October
Geneva Lake TrailColorado37.5 km2,175 m11 hrExpertJuly to September
Eagle National Recreation TrailArizona37.5 km1,987 m11 hrExpertJuly to September
Mattabesett TrailConnecticut95.2 km1,205 m24 hrExpertApril to October
Metacomet TrailConnecticut95.1 km1,550 m24 hrExpertApril to October
Bay de Noc – Grand Island National Recreation TrailMichigan71.4 km227 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Nipmuck TrailConnecticut45.9 km633 m11 hrExpertApril to October
Charleston Peak Trail South LoopNevada13.5 km1,504 m5 hr 4 minHardJuly to September
Maroon-Snowmass TrailColorado26.4 km1,078 m7 hr 28 minHardJuly to September
Gabrielino TrailCalifornia52.7 km2,498 m15 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Bartram Trail, Geneva Lake Trail, Mattabesett Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

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