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Hiking Trails Under 5 km in United States

The directory currently contains 3,816 quality-checked routes matching this guide in United States. Their average mapped distance is 1.9 km and average recorded ascent is 71 m (233 ft); the longest route in the set is 5.0 km.

This subset represents 67% of the 5,699 quality-checked routes in United States. Its average distance is 1.9 km, compared with 14.1 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 71 m (233 ft), versus 264 m (866 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 2157 routes (57%) are rated easy, 3 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 874 (23%) 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

1.1 km

Overlook Cliff Trail

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

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

10 m

North Summit 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

Moderate

Upper Cascade Falls Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
784 m
Typical duration
2 hr 12 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

North Summit Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Timber Lake Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
443 m
Typical duration
1 hr 38 min
  • Lake
  • 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
Moderate

Beacon Falls Yellow Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
153 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • 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
Moderate

Lookout Mountain Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
84 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Turkington Falls Loop

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
22 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Valley Cove, Southwest Harbor, ME
Moderate

Valley Peak Trail

Maine · United States

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
222 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Hikers along the ridge of Catoctin
Moderate

Blue Ridge Summit Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
38 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Coronado National Memorial
Moderate

Coronado Peak Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
89 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Summit Meadows Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
99 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • 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
Moderate

Lava Falls Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
33 min
  • Waterfall
  • Mountain
Easy

Orange Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waterfall
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Jericho Blue-Blazed Trail. Ruins of Bridge at end of Sheffield Street, Waterbury. Trailhead for Hancock Brook Trail.
Moderate

Hancock Brook Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
212 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Mill Creek Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
134 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • River
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

Summit Trail 300

Arizona · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
418 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Panoramic viewpoint
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
Looking west over Flagstaff from Mt. Elden Lookout. Taken 7-17-13 by Brady Smith. Credit: U.S. Forest Service, Coconino National Forest.
Moderate

Elden Lookout Trail

Arizona · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
764 m
Typical duration
2 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Moderate

Lower Cascade Falls Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Waterfall
  • Mountain
Easy

Beckman's Trail

Maryland · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
69 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Half Dome Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
653 m
Typical duration
1 hr 39 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Summit Meadow Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
457 m
Typical duration
1 hr 35 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Alpine meadow
Moderate

Summit Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
117 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
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
view across Soldier Lake The Rock Creek wildfire was started by an abandoned campfire within a meadow, at approximately 11,000-ft. elevation in the backcountry of Sequoia National Park. Because of the lateness of the season, the high altitu
Moderate

Soldier Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
556 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
20020823 1657 Forest Plants on Black Lake Trail
Moderate

Black Lake Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
41 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Dawn Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
266 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Moderate

Starkweather Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Bald Mountain Red Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
192 m
Typical duration
1 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Cliff Trail

Maryland · United States

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

Ditch Road

Colorado · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
457 m
Typical duration
1 hr 35 min
  • Mountain
Remains of a hydroelectric power plant foundation
Moderate

Falls Trail

Georgia · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
56 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Falls Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
15 m
Typical duration
15 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Little Falls Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
16 min
  • Waterfall
  • 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

Gay City Trail

Connecticut · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
96 m
Typical duration
42 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Tokopah Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
188 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake

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
Upper Cascade Falls TrailColorado4.9 km784 m2 hr 12 minModerateJuly to September
North Summit TrailConnecticut1.3 km10 m17 minModerateApril to October
Timber Lake TrailColorado4.7 km443 m1 hr 38 minModerateJuly to September
Whitestone Cliffs TrailConnecticut2.2 km84 m35 minModerateApril to October
Beacon Falls Yellow TrailConnecticut2.8 km153 m49 minModerateApril to October
Overlook Cliff TrailMaryland1.1 km36 m17 minModerateApril to October
Lookout Mountain TrailConnecticut1.7 km84 m29 minModerateApril to October
Turkington Falls LoopConnecticut1.5 km22 m21 minEasyApril to October
Valley Peak TrailMaine2.4 km222 m50 minModerateApril to October
Blue Ridge Summit TrailMaryland2.8 km35 m38 minModerateApril to October

Upper Cascade Falls Trail, North Summit Trail, Whitestone Cliffs 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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