No waiting for the slow person, no rushing past the photo ops, just you and whatever Mother Nature throws your way.
These 5 hikes represent some of the best trails the good ol’ USA has to offer:
1. Angels Landing Trail – Zion National Park, Utah
Trail Details:
- Length: 5.4 miles round-trip
- Time: 4-6 hours
- Elevation Gain: 1,488 feet
- Trailhead: Grotto Picnic Area via shuttle
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Best Season: April-October (permits required March-November)
Thrilling, iconic, and unforgettable. The chains section is intense but safe with caution; many solo hikers do this. Extremely popular = safety in numbers.
Pro tip: get your permit early and start before 6 AM. You want those chains to yourself when possible.
2. Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point – Grand Canyon, Arizona
Trail Details:
- Length: 12.2 miles round-trip
- Time: 6-9 hours
- Elevation Gain: 3,020 feet (descent first, then ascent out)
- Trailhead: Bright Angel Trailhead on South Rim
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Best Season: March-May and September-November
Excellent trail maintenance, water stations, ranger presence. Incredible canyon views. Solo-friendly if started early with good prep.
Pro tip: Pack more snacks than seems reasonable.
3. Cascade Canyon Trail – Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Trail Details:
- Length: 9.1 miles round-trip to Inspiration Point
- Time: 5-7 hours
- Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
- Trailhead: Jenny Lake (boat shuttle recommended)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best Season: June-September
If you want to feel like you’re hiking through a postcard, this is your trail – the Tetons rise up from the valley floor like nature’s own skyscrapers.
One of the most peaceful and scenic hikes in the U.S., with wildlife, alpine lakes, and mountain views. Well-trafficked and well-marked.
Take the boat across Jenny Lake if you can swing it – your knees will thank you, and you’ll have more energy to gawk at the scenery.
Pro tip: Brush up on your wildlife etiquette before you go – good chance of encountering moose.
4. Cadillac Mountain via Great Head Loop – Acadia National Park, Maine
Trail Details:
- Length: 7.2 miles (combining summit road walk and coastal loop)
- Time: 4-5 hours
- Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet
- Trailhead: Sand Beach parking area
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best Season: April-November
This might be the most underrated combo hike in America. You get mountain views, ocean crashes, and enough granite scrambling to keep things interesting without needing a helmet.
Coastal views, moderate challenge, sunrise summit option, and safe terrain make this perfect for solo travelers.
Hit Cadillac for sunrise – there’s something special about being among the first people in the country to see the new day. The coastal section afterward feels like a completely different hike, with waves crashing below while you pick your way across pink granite slabs.
Pro tip: Pack layers; Maine weather can go from sunny to sideways rain in about ten minutes.
5. Lost Mine Trail – Big Bend National Park, Texas
Trail Details:
- Length: 4.8 miles round-trip
- Time: 3-4 hours
- Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
- Trailhead: Lost Mine Trailhead on Basin Road
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best Season: October-April
One of the best moderate solo hikes in a remote park. Great views, manageable distance (4.8 miles RT), and safer than other Big Bend trails.
The views into Mexico from the overlook will make you like you’re standing on the edge of the world.
Pro tip: desert hiking is a whole different beast than mountain hiking, so bring sunscreen, a hat, and about twice as much water as you think you need.
Words of Advice
- Always tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
- Pack the ten essentials, know how to read a map and compass (your phone will die at the worst possible moment), and never be too proud to turn around. Don’t be shy about bailing on hikes because of weather, fatigue, or just a gut feeling that something isn’t right. The mountain will be there next weekend, but you might not be if you push your luck.
- Start with easier trails to build confidence, then work your way up to the big ones.
There’s nothing quite like conquering a mountain with no one to high-five except yourself!
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