The Ten Best National Park Hikes From Personal Experience

If you are familiar with my channel, you know I love America's National Parks. And few things throw me more than exploring the diversity of these amazing gems on foot, leaving the car and occupying all of my senses in nature. So after personally traveling to every National Park in the lower 48 for over two decades now, let me present to you my favorite 10 Hikes from the main 63 National Parks. Using just 10 was challenging, ranking them was even more difficult. Full videos if you check are listed in the description below, so please consider subscribing to America's Parks and let's hit the trails. Today we fight ourselves at Zion National Park here in Southern Utah. Starting off at number 10 is the Narrows at Zion National Park. This is one of the most popular and enjoyable National Park trails. The Narrows begin at the final shuttle stop and is reached after a mile hike on the paved Riverside Walk. From there you enter the Virgin River and begin to hike upstream. Within time the canyon walls narrow down and you'll be immersed almost completely in the water which will get deeper as you go. The end is 16 miles away but you can go up as far as you want and then simply retrace your steps. If we're warned this trail can often be closed and the crowds can be overwhelming but the fun, the adventure and the beauty of the colors and thousand foot canyon walls is unrivaled. We're in Southern Utah, look at the archers National Park. In number 9 we stay in Utah and go to the Devils Garden Loop at Arches National Park. I personally hike this one three times and I never get tired of it. The trail has it all. Arches, spires, fins, but most notably it promises close-up views of some of the most famous archers in the park. Landscape Arches which is the longest arch in North America and double oarches. There's also spurred trails along the way to tunnel arts, pine tree arch, partition arch, knob of hoarches, private arts and the cool rock formation known as the Dark Angel. Despite my loop we'll have you climbing, walking on fins with steep drop-offs and being amazed at the sheer beauty. You will work on the 1,100 feet of elevation change but the effort will be very rewarding. It's we just got done hiking, arguably the best trail at the best National Park in America with all the cars leaving. Welcome to Mount Rainier! In number 8 we go to Washington's Mount Rainier National Park for the Skyline Trail. I hike this one my son early in the summer of 2022. As you can see there was still snow on the ground. The loop trail is 5.5 miles with the challenging 1,700 foot elevation change. The trail is located in the aptly named Paradise District. You'll see cascading waterfalls, sub-alpine meadows, mighty glaciers, seasonal wild flowers and hopefully a good look at Mount Rainier itself if the mountain is out. Slide the under 7,000 feet you'll reach Panorama Point which provides stunning views of Paradise Valley, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and even Mount Hood on a clear day. The Skyline Trail showcases the distinct beauty of what some people deem. Their favorite National Park. It's the middle of October 2021 and are here with a few friends. Welcome to Zion National Park! And number 7 is Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Most of you probably thought out of listed this one a little bit higher. Even though I had been to the summit three times it would have been four but I'd shaken out my first time on this hike. Back in 2011 I still love Angels Landing. Hopefully the most unique and arguably the most dangerous hike on this list is your guided up a sheer canyon wall by chains. Providing security as you move forward on a narrow ledge with a vertical drop of 1500 feet straight down to canyon floor. Recent permit system has helped to thin out the crowds especially since the way up is the same as the way down. If you want a good adrenaline rush, fun adventure and incredible views of picturesque Zion National Park, this is a hike you might want to consider. Got all the boys with me again today. This is an exciting hike and looking forward to this one for a long time. Coming in at number 6 is the sulfur creek trail at Camp Water Leaf National Park. This one's like the narrows but with a fraction of the people. The hike is almost 6 miles down the sulfur creek. You can either leave transportation at one end if you have two vehicles or hike the three miles along Highway 24 back to the starting point. The water flow will vary based upon the snow melt and rainfall. Events Canyon walls will hem you in and you'll need to navigate three small waterfalls on this one. We really had a blast when we did this one back in 2023. And with any of these Canyon Hikes, if there is any rain in the forecast, please postpone your adventure. Welcome to a Canyon National Park and we are here for one day to do one trail, the precipice. In number 5 we go to the precipice trail. It means a Canyon National Park on the east coast. This one is very similar to Angel's Landing but it uses iron rungs instead of the chains. Additionally there are metal ladders and some Monorot Rock Scrambleing is required. The trail navigates the fault lines and shelf systems and takes you 850 feet up the side of Champlain Mountain the 6 tallest peak in Acadia. As you get higher the views of the Atlantic Ocean will become more dramatic. The mile run does have several exposed sections with steep drop offs. The trail is also closed between March 15th and August 15th for Falcon Nesting. When you reach the top the loop continues around the side of the mountain and if you want something a little less challenging try to be high located about a mile to the south. We're in Utah and we have a permit to hike the famous Subway. It's going to be a good one. Number 4 is the Subway located at Zion National Park. This gem will require a permit but if you're granted one be prepared for one of the most beautiful hikes you'll ever experience. There are two routes either a top-down Canyon Earing route that begins with a steep descent into the Canyon or a bottom-up hiking route. Hikes are about 9 miles long and are considered strenuous. We chose the ladder and we first entered the Canyon via a sharp steep 400 foot hike down to the water's edge. From there you'll hike upstream through a majestic display of waterfalls, vegetation and tall cliffs. Eventually you'll reach your destination. The Germanic Lower Subway where a large tubular oval has been cut out by the flowing water. This is the spot where everybody gets their famous Subway photos. Then you pass the Emerald Pools to the waterfall room and jump in if you can endure the cold water. It is Minaktober 2021. We want to welcome you to Bryce Canyon. National Park. Number 3 is any of the Hudu trails at Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce can be easily seen in one day. The main road continues along the upper rim and has several observation points in the road that reveal the inner Canyon or as they call them the Ampitheaters. Yet if you're offering amazing adventure, hike down into the spiral rock formations for a face-to-face look at the Hudu's themselves. A fairyland world of Vermillion, Orange and Tangering Towers. The amazing trails we got the Navajo Loop, Peakaboo, Queen's Garden Trail for instance, all will interconnect. She can customize a hike according to your interests. Enjoy the journey of a lifetime, but be prepared for some elevation changes along the way. Walk up to the Grand Canyon National Park. Number 2 is any trail in the intersection of the Grand Canyon. I have to say as we hit number 2 these two final trails in my opinion are separated from all of the rest. They are in a category of their own. The Grand Canyon is no exception. Most of the visitors I'm told to the park never leave the viewpoints located on the upper rim. However, if you really want to experience the magic of this special place, you need to get into the inner Canyon via one of the three trails. On the less visited north rim is the North Kibab Trail. And on the south rim is the South Kibab Trail or the more popular bright angel trail. I'm not sure what's more rewarding. Completing this hike or stopping off at the Phantom Rans for a cold glass of lemonade on the bottom of the canyon. Sur the expedition to the bottom must be undertaken with significant consideration. But only a short walk in the canyon still immerses you into its beauty that this natural wonder of the world has to offer. Words are not adequate to describe what you'll see and moreover what you'll experience once you enter this national jewel. Before I reveal my favorite national park hike, I feel obligated to name a few of my other favorites that are just too special to leave off this list. For in Canyon at Redwood, Hall of Mosses at Olympic. Maple Pass Loop at North Cascades, the Nots Trail at Badlands, Lassen Peak, at Lassen, other Peak at Great Basin, Cascade Canyon Trail at Grand Teton, the Gunnison route at Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Guadalupe Peak at Guadalupe Mountains, the 3-Dune Challenge at Indiana Dunes and Capra Kooley at Theodore Wilson. Welcome to the 70 National Park and finally my number one, Half Dome at Yosemite National Park. If you're blessed to score a permit, this one is definitely a hike for the ages. My daughter and I completed the 17-mile round trip hike in the summer of 2017. The upper journey ascending roughly 5,000 feet takes you past Vernal Falls and the Baddopholes. From there you'll work your way through the beautiful forest and to reach Half Dome itself. The formation is daunting. Yet the iconic cables will guide you the remaining 400 vertical feet up the Grand At Rock at an angle of 45 degrees. This hike simply has it all. Variety, adventure and beauty. But it will surely stretch your physical and emotional limits. So when closing, if you choose to attempt any of these classic hikes, please understand your limitations and prepare yourself well to ensure adequate safety. Additionally, these places will only stay special if the people who visit them respect the surroundings. Stay on the designated trails and leave no trace. And also, be kind to other people along the way. Thanks for watching. Again, the individual videos of these hikes are listed in the description below. 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