Life & Culture

The Best Hikes Across The USA

May 24, 2022 ByLaura Lee

Now that hiking season has arrived, it’s time to update our outdoor bucket list. Declaring the “greatest hikes” is a ticket for a fistfight, just like disputing sports, religion, or the best type of peanut butter (it’s indisputably extra chunky, by the way). Nonetheless, we will lay claim to the top hikes in the United States in various categories. Here are the finest hikes to take in 2022 across the country.

Mount Whitney, in California, is on every hiker’s bucket list. Although it is possible to climb it in a single day, we advocate a multi-day backpacking trip. This strenuous journey takes you past beautiful mountain peaks, lakes, and valleys with breathtaking views. Getting to the top is a huge accomplishment.

Hiking routes abound in Oregon, taking you through steep terrain, deep woods, and harsh beaches. Oregon is a hiking paradise in America, with 361 state parks and 11 national forests. You can trek a section of the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon, which extends from Mexico to Canada, but there are many other options within the state. We chose Smith Rock’s Misery Ridge trail because it is one of America’s most well-known hiking trails. It’s short and sweet at only 3.5 miles, but it’s steep and magnificent. The Monkey Face Rock, granite rock faces, and quiet mirror lakes can all be found high on Misery Ridge.

Continental Divide Trail above Timberline with Mountains

GettyImages/Created by MaryAnne Nelson/Moment

The Continental Divide Trail is the ultimate psychologically and physically tricky hiking experience in the United States (CDT). It encompasses several of the most magnificent natural beauty in the country and its sheer size, taking you across five states: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. This is not a hike for the faint of heart. To be sure, no fewer than 30 people attempt to trek the CDT every year, and only a few succeed.