Hiking is one of just a few sports that doesn’t require a gym membership or a pile of expensive gear. That being said, one necessity for an exceptional hike is beautiful scenery. Traversing green forests and taking in breathtaking views along the way makes for an unparalleled experience, and each state has at least one town that’s home to a handful of picturesque trails.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed trail database and online guide Hiking Project, which lists close to 150,000 miles of trails across the country. 24/7 Wall St. ranked the town or town equivalent with the most trails running through it as the best place to hike in each state.
Not surprisingly, a majority of the towns on this list are located near state parks, nature preserves, or central to iconic hikes that pass through a number of states, such as the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. For example, the longest trail passing through Stehekin, Washington is section L of the Pacific Crest Trail, specifically the part that runs from Rainy Pass mountain in Washington to Manning Park, British Columbia. This 71-mile hike is the final stretch of the 2,650-mile long trail.
Not all states are designed for hiking. Therefore, the best place to hike in one state may not even make the top 50 places in another state. The best place to hike in Nebraska, a state primarily made up of miles of grasslands, is Omaha, where the longest known trail is not even a full mile long. Omaha only has a total of 12 trails running through it, the most of any other place in Nebraska according to the Hiking Project database.
At the other end of the spectrum is California, where hiking trails are abundant, and the number of towns is much greater. The census designated place of Yosemite Valley, California, though, ranks highest with an impressive 3,372 trails coursing through it.
Some of the longest trails that run through the best town in each state, also run through the majority, if not the entirety, of the state. For instance, the Long Trail in Vermont, which goes through Pittsfield, the best place to hike in the state, covers some 150 miles, which is the length of the entire state.
To identify the best towns for hiking, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed trail database and online guide Hiking Project. The best place for hiking in each state has the most trails running through it. Data on the number trails, and miles of the longest trail also come from Hiking Project. Some of the locations on this list are not incorporated towns, but are rather cities, census designated places or other populated areas considered places by Hiking Project.
Click here to see the best town for hiking in each state.
Source: Nhlarry / Wikimedia Commons
1. Alabama: Huntsville
> Hiking trails: 46
> Total trail miles: 68.5
> Longest trail: Monte Sano Nature Preserve: Flat Rock (9.2 miles)
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Source: mikejuvrud / Flickr
2. Alaska: Gateway
> Hiking trails: 21
> Total trail miles: 20.2
> Longest trail: Long Lake Loop (3.0 miles)
Source: Thinkstock
3. Arizona: Tanque Verde
> Hiking trails: 59
> Total trail miles: 177.3
> Longest trail: Arizona Trail – Passage 11a – Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass (21.5 miles)
Source: Photolitherland (talk) Chris Litherland / Wikimedia Commons
4. Arkansas: Dover
> Hiking trails: 28
> Total trail miles: 74.0
> Longest trail: Brock Creek #23 (14.8 miles)
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Source: chicanerii / Flickr
5. California: Yosemite Valley
> Hiking trails: 129
> Total trail miles: 626.6
> Longest trail: John Muir Trail: Segment 2 – Tuolumne Meadows to Devils Postpile (34.7 miles)
Source: Wusel007 / Wikimedia Commons
6. Colorado: Estes Park
> Hiking trails: 97
> Total trail miles: 273.6
> Longest trail: Mummy Pass Trail (9.5 miles)
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Source: dougtone / Flickr
7. Connecticut: Ridgefield
> Hiking trails: 11
> Total trail miles: 13.1
> Longest trail: Yellow Trail – Pine Mountain (2.7 miles)
Source: PookieFugglestein / Wikimedia Commons
8. Delaware: Newark
> Hiking trails: 25
> Total trail miles: 39.9
> Longest trail: Rittenhouse Trail (4.3 miles)
Source: formulanone / Flickr
9. Florida: Immokalee
> Hiking trails: 18
> Total trail miles: 24.0
> Longest trail: Ranch Road (3.2 miles)
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Source: Gwringle / Wikimedia Commons
10. Georgia: Dahlonega
> Hiking trails: 19
> Total trail miles: 159.4
> Longest trail: Appalachian Trail in Georgia (79.0 miles)
Source: Ken Lund / Wikimedia Commons
11. Hawaii: Volcano
> Hiking trails: 20
> Total trail miles: 111.5
> Longest trail: Ka’u Desert Trail (18.2 miles)
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Source: Lordchadwick79 / Wikimedia Commons
12. Idaho: Boise
> Hiking trails: 115
> Total trail miles: 264.4
> Longest trail: Boise Ridge Rd Trail (14.9 miles)
Source: Dustin M. Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons
13. Illinois: Lisle
> Hiking trails: 21
> Total trail miles: 15.5
> Longest trail: Morton Arboretum (West Loop Two) (1.5 miles)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
14. Indiana: Nashville
> Hiking trails: 36
> Total trail miles: 92.5
> Longest trail: Nebo Ridge Trail (8.1 miles)
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Source: w:Flickr user LHOON / Wikimedia Commons
15. Iowa: McGregor
> Hiking trails: 25
> Total trail miles: 40.8
> Longest trail: Saddle Loop Trail (3.4 miles)
Source: Thrive Allen County / Wikimedia Commons
16. Kansas: Iola
> Hiking trails: 13
> Total trail miles: 72.0
> Longest trail: Prairie Spirit Trail (54.5 miles)
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Source: jctabb / iStock
17. Kentucky: Campton
> Hiking trails: 15
> Total trail miles: 43.3
> Longest trail: Rough Trail #221 (7.9 miles)
Source: Infrogmation of New Orleans / Wikimedia Commons
18. Louisiana: Mandeville
> Hiking trails: 10
> Total trail miles: 10.7
> Longest trail: Fountainbleau Hiking Trail Loop (2.3 miles)
Source: marktegethoff / Flickr
19. Maine: Bar Harbor
> Hiking trails: 72
> Total trail miles: 96.1
> Longest trail: Cadillac South Ridge Trail (4.0 miles)
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Source: Idawriter / Wikimedia Commons
20. Maryland: Clarksburg
> Hiking trails: 28
> Total trail miles: 36.8
> Longest trail: Yellow Trail (Saddleback Horse Trail) (6.8 miles)
Source: gracefamily / Flickr
21. Massachusetts: Milton
> Hiking trails: 15
> Total trail miles: 13.4
> Longest trail: Border Path (1.8 miles)
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Source: Elevatorrailfan / Wikimedia Commons
22. Michigan: West Branch
> Hiking trails: 26
> Total trail miles: 10.8
> Longest trail: Ogemaw Hills Pathway: Section 7-8 (1.7 miles)
Source: StevenSchremp / Getty Images
23. Minnesota: Kabetogama
> Hiking trails: 19
> Total trail miles: 54.9
> Longest trail: Kab-Ash Trail (19.4 miles)
Source: Dudemanfellabra
(Original text: Dudemanfellabra) / Wikimedia Commons
24. Mississippi: Meridian
> Hiking trails: 21
> Total trail miles: 15.2
> Longest trail: Gravel Road: Bonita Lakes Park (4.2 miles)
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Source: Vsmith / Wikimedia Commons
25. Missouri: Longrun
> Hiking trails: 24
> Total trail miles: 55.9
> Longest trail: Bateman Trails: Short Hollow Trail #510 (6.9 miles)
Source: photommo / Flickr
26. Montana: Swiftcurrent
> Hiking trails: 47
> Total trail miles: 272.1
> Longest trail: Continental Divide National Scenic Trail: Many Glacier to Goat Haunt (31.5 miles)
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Source: vwcampin / Flickr
27. Nebraska: Omaha
> Hiking trails: 3
> Total trail miles: 2.2
> Longest trail: Riverfront Paved Trail (0.8 miles)
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Source: ipjmike / Flickr
28. Nevada: Summerlin South
> Hiking trails: 48
> Total trail miles: 110.7
> Longest trail: Twilight Loop (10.6 miles)
Source: pfly / Flickr
29. New Hampshire: Pinkham Notch
> Hiking trails: 91
> Total trail miles: 197.3
> Longest trail: Rocky Branch Trail (9.7 miles)
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Source: marypmadigan / Flickr
30. New Jersey: Hardwick
> Hiking trails: 14
> Total trail miles: 29.6
> Longest trail: Blue Mountain Lake Trail (Outer Loop) (4.8 miles)
Source: Jack Arnold / Wikimedia Commons
31. New Mexico: Santa Fe
> Hiking trails: 29
> Total trail miles: 176.9
> Longest trail: Skyline Trail #251 (73.8 miles)
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Source: Mwanner / Wikimedia Commons
32. New York: Keene
> Hiking trails: 31
> Total trail miles: 67.3
> Longest trail: Elk Lake to Mount Marcy Trail (10.1 miles)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
33. North Carolina: Brevard
> Hiking trails: 72
> Total trail miles: 141.8
> Longest trail: South Mills River Trail #133 (14.6 miles)
Source: cls_rob / Flickr
34. North Dakota: Medora
> Hiking trails: 26
> Total trail miles: 178.0
> Longest trail: Maah Daah Hey (99.2 miles)
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Source: Videojolt / Wikimedia Commons
35. Ohio: Peninsula
> Hiking trails: 21
> Total trail miles: 56.7
> Longest trail: Buckeye Trail: Boston to Pine Lane (15.7 miles)
Source: plmccordj / Flickr
36. Oklahoma: Talihina
> Hiking trails: 9
> Total trail miles: 118.5
> Longest trail: Choctaw Nation Trail (29.0 miles)
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Source: darthale / Flickr
37. Oregon: Government Camp
> Hiking trails: 47
> Total trail miles: 215.5
> Longest trail: Pacific Crest Trail: Highway 35 to Cascade Locks (55.5 miles)
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Source: Doug Kerr / Wikimedia Commons
38. Pennsylvania: Waterford
> Hiking trails: 22
> Total trail miles: 20.5
> Longest trail: Laurel Highlands: Fish Run Trail (3.8 miles)
Source: ericharrison / Flickr
39. Rhode Island: West Greenwich
> Hiking trails: 4
> Total trail miles: 7.8
> Longest trail: Sizzler (2.4 miles)
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Source: blahedo / Wikimedia Commons
40. South Carolina: Clemson
> Hiking trails: 36
> Total trail miles: 43.9
> Longest trail: Hunting Arrow Trail (4.7 miles)
Source: Beatmastermatt / Wikimedia Commons
41. South Dakota: Rapid City
> Hiking trails: 26
> Total trail miles: 20.7
> Longest trail: Centennial Trail – Rapid Creek TH to Brush Creek TH (4.8 miles)
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Source: Mountain Vacation Resorts / Wikimedia Commons
42. Tennessee: Gatlinburg
> Hiking trails: 71
> Total trail miles: 364.5
> Longest trail: Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Segment 1B (50.5 miles)
Source: Gigi_my_girl / iStock
43. Texas: Canutillo
> Hiking trails: 55
> Total trail miles: 53.3
> Longest trail: Lower Sunset Trail (5.8 miles)
Source: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa / Wikimedia Commons
44. Utah: Moab
> Hiking trails: 220
> Total trail miles: 806.7
> Longest trail: White Rim Road Trail (70.9 miles)
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Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons
45. Vermont: Pittsfield
> Hiking trails: 19
> Total trail miles: 227.9
> Longest trail: The Long Trail (150.3 miles)
Source: birdma / Flickr
46. Virginia: Stanley
> Hiking trails: 47
> Total trail miles: 102.2
> Longest trail: Shenandoah National Park: Rapidan Road (10.3 miles)
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Source: David Ansley / Wikimedia Commons
47. Washington: Stehekin
> Hiking trails: 105
> Total trail miles: 585.1
> Longest trail: Pacific Crest Trail: Rainy Pass to Manning Park, BC (71.2 miles)
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Source: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) / Wikimedia Commons
48. West Virginia: Marlinton
> Hiking trails: 30
> Total trail miles: 114.9
> Longest trail: Pocahontas Trail #263 (17.8 miles)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
49. Wisconsin: La Crosse
> Hiking trails: 19
> Total trail miles: 20.5
> Longest trail: Three Rivers Trail (4.6 miles)
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Source: waypoint-zero / Flickr
50. Wyoming: Yellowstone South Entrance
> Hiking trails: 59
> Total trail miles: 361.2
> Longest trail: Continental Divide National Scenic Trail: Fox Park to Heart Lake TH (27.6 miles)
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