Most of us explore the national parks because we love to hike. Every national park offers miles and miles of trails that allow us to escape into nature’s vibrant embrace. From the simplest walks through the forest to rocky scrambles up the tallest peaks, every hike offers something to enjoy. Some hikes, however, stand out more than others. Some hikes cause you to forget to watch where you’re stepping. They make you wonder if you really should go back home to your mundane day-to-day life. The most epic hikes in the national parks remind us why we love this beautiful world so much.

In May of 2023, I surpassed the halfway mark in my quest to visit every national park in the country. After visiting 32 of these breathtaking locales, I’ve spent lots of time reflecting on my experiences in each of them. I decided to compile a list of the most epic hikes I’ve done in the national parks, in an attempt to convince others of the hikes they should absolutely prioritize upon first visit to a park. Hopefully, you find this list helpful, and hopefully it encourages you to plan your next trip to a new park.

Before I get started, here are a few disclaimers…

1. As of August 2023, I’ve only been to 32 out of the 63 national parks. That means there are 31 national parks I still need to visit, some of which are big-hitters like Yellowstone and Glacier. This list of epic hikes is therefore INCOMPLETE, and I will update it as I continue to visit the parks. Visit my website for the full list of parks I have – and haven’t – visited.
2. Many of these hikes are challenging, requiring lots of preparation and good physical fitness to complete. Take note of the mileage and elevation gain listed for each hike before you embark on these adventures. Bring plenty of water, food, and appropriate clothing.
3. Some national parks – like Yosemite – could score multiple entries on this list. However, to keep it fair, I will only list one hike per park represented on this list.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Half Dome, Yosemite National Park
3. Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park
4. Mount Fremont Lookout, Mount Rainier National Park
5. Rim-to-River-to-Rim, Grand Canyon National Park
6. Thornton Lake & Trappers Peak, North Cascades National Park
7. South Rim & Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park
8. Mount Le Conte, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
9. Angels Landing, Zion National Park
10. Figure Eight Loop, Bryce Canyon National Park
11. Mount Storm King, Olympic National Park
12. Montañon Ridge Loop, Channel Islands National Park