Planning to get some exciting recreation in your life perhaps means finding activities that take you outside your comfort zone, or at least getting busy with adventures you may not have thought of before. Put some renowned mountains on your bucket list, so you have the opportunity to discover the best in hiking in different locations around the U.S. ReserveAmerica has listed below six exciting mountains with easy to difficult hiking trails.
Recommended: 5 Wilderness Winter Wonderlands to See This Year
Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
Grandfather Mountain has a large network of trails and nature walks that let you experience lovely forests and gentle meadows while viewing wildlife. The wildlife is very diverse as Grandfather has 16 distinct natural ecosystems. Easy hikes are available as well as more rugged exploring with cables and ladders helping you attain some heights.
Some of the best trails are the Black Rock Trail, Cragway Trail, and the Daniel Boone Scout Trail. Black Rock Trail slopes gradually and is only a moderate challenge and one mile to get to the end of the trail using a ladder and cable up the rock. But then you reach the viewpoints where you can see fabulous peaks. Cragway Trail is for those up for a more strenuous hike. It is one mile through steep terrain but with breathtaking vistas. The Daniel Boone Scout Trail is slightly longer at three miles and is also strenuous, ascending around 2,000 feet in just over three miles, with ladders and cables to assist hikers in steep sections.
Where to Stay: Grandfather Mountain State Park, North Carolina
Staying at Grandfather Mountain State Park will be an adventure in itself, as all the campsites are hike-in, primitive sites. Itโs a perfect setting for this spectacular backcountry vacation. Be sure to see the mile-high swinging bridge when you come.
Mount Elbert, Colorado
One of the most exciting things about Mount Elbert is that it is the highest point in Colorado. This gives a person who has come here and hiked certain bragging rights. Those in good shape can conquer this mountain.
You can take either of the trails to the summit, South Mt. Elbert Trail and North Elbert Trail. Both are relatively easy hikes. South Mt. Elbert Trail is 5.8 miles and the North Elbert Trail is 4.3 miles each way. No matter which trail you take, remember that the elevation gain for each is over 4,300 feet.
Where to Stay: Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, Colorado
Down the valley from Mount Elbert, this park is near town and offers wonderful fishing opportunities. Try for a trophy catch of rainbow, cutthroat, or brown trout. You may also pull in a kokanee salmon or a northern pike. The scenic surroundings inspire you to stay longer than planned. The panoramic views of the towering mountains are fabulous.
Recommended: 7 Cozy Mountain Cabins for Autumn
Stanton Mountain, Montana
This mountain is a place to come for a moderate hike close to Whitefish, Montana. Situated in Glacier National Park, it rises more than 4,500 feet over Lake McDonald.
The Stanton Mountain Trail is 7.5 miles in length and is rated as difficult. You move through changing terrain, heading up to the ridge, and finally reaching the summit with incredible views.
Where to Stay: Whitefish Lake State Park, Montana
Just a little over an hour from Stanton Mountain, this park offers an ideal camping spot for your hiking adventure. Abundant activities at this state park include boating, fishing, hiking, and biking. If the season is right, you can rent a paddleboard, kayak, or pedal boat.
Recommended: 9 Scenic Mountain Camping Experiences
Flattop Mountain, Alaska
This peak is Alaskaโs most visited. To reach the summit means you’ll take advantage of sweeping views from Mount McKinley to the Aleutian Islands.
The trail that takes you to the summit is a 1.5-mile vertical hike. There are also more hikes like one from the parking lot that goes 5 miles one-way to Williwaw Lakes or another 5.5-mile hike to Wolverine Peak.
Where to Stay: Chugach State Park, Alaska
This Southern-Central state park is close to Anchorage and has more than 400,000 acres of land. Rugged peaks rise to more than 8,000 feet. The largest lake within the park is Eklutna Lake. A vast amount of activities within the park are yours, such as fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, berry picking, and of course, camping. When you finish hiking on Flattop Mountain, you can enjoy over 280 miles of trails in this park.
Mount Washington, New Hampshire
Of all the mountains in New Hampshire, Mount Washington is the most famous. It is the highest peak in the White Mountains and has been a coveted hike on many bucket lists. It can be a dangerous hike, but it has attracted many who have an adventurous spirit.
You will find some beginner climbs on Mount Washington like Tuckerman Ravine Trail, a 4.2-mile trek to the summit which takes roughly four hours. Other hikes range from a steep 3.8-mile climb to a slow and lazy 15-mile hike. The two easy paths are the Davis and Crawford Trails and the Huntington Ravine and Great Gulf Trails are very steep.
Where to Stay: The Lodges at Coleman State Park, New Hampshire
This state park makes a good base camp for your visit to Mount Washington. There are plenty of activities within the park you can enjoy such as wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking, and snowmobiling. There are four cabins, four lodge houses, and a lodge room.
Mount Hood, Oregon
Oregon has a variety of recreation available to outdoor lovers. Mount Hood in particular is a favorite place to explore miles of scenic trails on hiking adventures.
Some trails to explore at Mount Hood include the Trillium Lake Loop Trail #761. Itโs rated as an easy to intermediate trail on a loop of 1.9 miles. Move over wet meadows on boardwalks and then wind through the trees and go to the dam. Youโll see lots of views of Mount Hood. Another trail is the Tamanawas Falls Trail which is a moderate out-and-back trail of 3.3 miles in length. You hike through a forest and climb over some rocks to see the waterfall! You will see more waterfalls if you take the moderate Umbrella Falls and Sahale Falls Trail. It is a loop that travels 3.9 miles over a couple of bridges.
Where to Stay: Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
The best state park for your visit to Mount Hood is called the crown jewel of all Oregon State Parks, and that is Silver Falls. Although the park is 117 miles from Mount Hood, itโs worth the drive for your day of hiking. It is nestled in the Cascade Mountains and has sites with electrical hookups, tent sites, and cabins. The electrical sites are open year-round.
Are you ready for your adventure? Plan your camping trip!
Check with your Local Government Organization
Many policies have been established to counter and control the coronavirus outbreak. State and local officials have been taking decisive action to stop the spread. The policies vary by state, sometimes to a great degree. When you book a reservation, make sure to review the park and state’s latest rules and regulations prior to your visit.
For COVID-19 updates, please visit our Impacted Park List and Reservation Guide for the latest information.