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 2023, I surpassed the halfway mark in my quest to visit every national park in the country. After hitting this milestone, I 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. I’ll keep updating this list as I continue to visit national parks and discover other mind-blowing hikes. 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…
- As of January 2025, I’ve only been to 36 out of the 63 national parks. That means there are 27 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.
- 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.
- Some national parks – like Yosemite – could score multiple entries on this list. To keep it fair, I will only list one hike per park represented on this list.
Table of Contents
To make this guide a little easier to navigate, you can use the list below to jump to a hike that interests you. Have fun!
| Hike | Distance, Elevation Gain |
|---|---|
| Half Dome, Yosemite, CA | 16.5 miles, 5,305 feet |
| Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain, CO | 13.3 miles, 4,934 feet |
| Mount Fremont Lookout, Mount Rainier, WA | 5.7 miles, 1,112 feet |
| Rim-to-River-to-Rim, Grand Canyon, AZ | 16.6 miles, 4,747 feet |
| Thornton Lake & Trappers Peak, North Cascades, WA | ~12 miles, ~4,000 feet |
| South Rim & Emory Peak, Big Bend, TX | 15.2 miles, 3,185 feet |
| Mount Le Conte, Great Smoky Mountains, TN | 11.0 miles, 3,061 feet |
| Angels Landing, Zion, UT | 4.3 miles, 1,827 feet |
| Figure Eight Loop, Bryce Canyon, UT | 6.3 miles, 1,499 feet |
| Mount Storm King, Olympic, WA | 4.1 miles, 2,106 feet |
| Montañon Ridge Loop, Channel Islands, CA | 8.9 miles, 1,699 feet |
| Wheeler Peak Summit, Great Basin, NV | 8.5 miles, 2,906 feet |