What are the Best Places to Hike in the US?

Hiking is one of the most popular leisure activities in the US. Each weekend many thousands go outside to enjoy the environment and the physical exercise.

The United States knows many national parks that have excellent facilities for hiking and outdoor activities. But don’t forget about the many state parks. Here is a list of eight of these state parks. You can find new ideas for your next hiking trip!

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan

Porcupine State Park is located in Michigan on the Upper Peninsula. It is the state’s largest natural park. The park has more than 90 miles of hiking trails that lead along the park’s waterfalls and through forests. At times you will get a glimpse of one of the many lake-side views.

Besides hiking, there are many enjoyable activities. You can camp or rent a cabin. During your treks, you can find wild plants, eagles, moose, and wolves.

Cayo Costa State Park, Captiva, Florida

This Florida state park is located on an isolated island in the Gulf of Mexico. You can only get there by helicopter or boat. It is an ideal place for hiking and enjoying the sea. There are cabins and camping facilities.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Canyon, Texas

The Palo Duro Canyon Park is located in northern Texas. It is the country’s second-largest canyon.

There are many trails that you can explore on foot, bike, or horse. You can stay the night in your tent, RV, or in a rented cabin.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, California

This is another park that is right next to the sea. It provides many opportunities for hiking and aquatic activities. However, the state of California is working hard to preserve the park’s wildlife and there are several restricted areas.

Ecola State Park, Astoria, Oregon

The Ecola State Park is located in Oregon on its Pacific coast. You can enjoy ocean views, mountains, forests, and an abandoned lighthouse. Don’t be surprised if you run across deer and eagles. Those that love the ocean can look out for whales!

Hikers can make use of one of the many trails. Famous is the Clatsop Loop Trail. It is not very long with its 2.5 miles but is part of the Corps of Discovery journey. The trail leads to the spectacular views of Tillamook Head.

Letchworth State Park, Castile, New York

The Letchworth State Park centers around the Genesee River in Upstate New York. The river provides a beautiful setting with a lovely gorge and several spectacular waterfalls.

The gorge fulfills an important role as it prevents the area from flooding. You have access to the park, the waterfalls, and stunning landscapes through a road or railroad that runs through the park.

Hiking is one of the main activities in this park. For this purpose, you can hike more than 65 miles of hiking trails. These trails offer amazing views and cover all levels of elevation. For those who prefer, there are specific trails for horseback riding as well.

Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin

Some call Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin the most beautiful state park in the Midwest. You can see for yourself how much you like this largest state park in Wisconsin.

The spectacular landscape is the result of glaciers that moved over the surface of the Northern United States about 12,000 years ago. The 360 acres of park cover lakes and bluffs, and you can find specimens of quartzite rock there.

Also, this park seems to have been made for hiking. Within the park’s boundaries, there are 40 miles of trails. Some of them are specially made for handicapped visitors, others for mountain bikers, and some for the hiker that likes an extra challenge.

The main feature of the park is the lake and many of the trails go around it. Elevated points along the trails give amazing views over the water.

There are many activities available here including:

• hiking
• rock climbing
• swimming
• boating
• camping in specific places

Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio

The Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio has much to offer. It covers a variety of landscapes, which makes it an ideal place for hiking. Along the many park trails, you will find majestic waterfalls, spectacular cliffs, and mysterious caves.

A popular attraction within the park is Old Man’s Cave. The trail that passes along this cave also includes several waterfalls and gorges.

There are several other trails that you can explore. These trails are categorized according to the level of difficulty. Other activities that you engage in are swimming, boating, and fishing in the lakes. Hunting is allowed in season in specific areas of the park.

Scattered over the Hocking Hills State Park are various campsites. All parts of the park are easily accessible, and facilities are provided. The campsites are pet-friendly, as long as they are leashed.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California

The last park on this list is Anza Borrego Desert Park, which provides a unique landscape. It covers almost 600,000 acres and is one of the biggest in the state.

There is an extensive network of trails that cover more than 500 miles. The trails are marked, which makes it easy for you to follow.

The park is ideal for bird watching. You can also find a wide variety of desert animals, like coyotes, snakes, and sheep.

Conclusions

The US has many national parks that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors. But state parks are equally impressive. Many of them have excellent provisions for lovers of hiking. Explore them for yourself.