Summer is right around the corner and now is the time to plan your summer hiking trips. A hike that involves summiting a mountain is arguably the best kind of hike to get your adrenaline pumping and take you out of your comfort zone.
From Sir Edmund Hillary’s Everest ascent to John Muir’s Sierra treks, human explorers have long been enticed to climb lofty peaks. You might break through a canopy of green to a view across the Adirondacks, or walk in the footsteps of settlers on the western frontier or gaze across the southwestern desert. Mountain hikes will sharpen your outdoor skills and help you reconnect with nature.
Test your limits on nine inspirational mountain hikes in state parks across America, all with camping options.
1. Blue Knob/Lost Turkey Trail
Destination: Blue Knob State Park, Pennsylvania
Challenge: 3,146 feet elevation, 26 miles one way
Hike through two state parks on the Allegheny Front to summit Pennsylvania’s second highest peak. The heavily forested backcountry trail follows Pot Ridge and Bob’s Creek before climbing on Hog Back Ridge to the top. Two miles before the finish, look for a monument built in memory of two pioneer children who disappeared off the trail in 1856.
2. Brace Mountain/Brace Mountain Trail
Destination: Taconic State Park, New York
Challenge: 2,311 feet elevation, 3.6 miles out and back
A waterfall .3 miles into this Hudson Valley trek is a scenic rest stop before the challenging scramble over rocky terrain to sweeping views of the valley below. Look for trailside huckleberries and blueberries, and take the short spur trail about halfway to the top that leads to a small cascade perfect for soaking your feet on the way back down.
3. Cheyenne Mountain/Dixon Trail
Destination: Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Colorado
Challenge: 9,570 feet elevation, 17.5-mile lollipop loop
Start at the Limekiln Trailhead for a full day trek that rivals any “Colorado 14er” (mountains in the state exceeding 14,000 feet). Cheyenne Mountain gained notoriety as the site of a NORAD Cold War defense site, and is back on the map with a new trail making the summit accessible to hikers for the first time. You’ll start out in rolling scrub oak and pine forest until you hit rocky ridges and steeper terrain at mile two. It’s a technical ascent of 2,500 feet through a series of switchbacks, covering the same ground as Thomas Dixon and his family when they settled their cattle ranch here in the early 1900s. Pass scattered remains of a plane crash before topping out at Robber’s Roost and views of Fort Carson and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Recommended: Colorado Camping Trips to Plan This Year
4. Humbug Mountain/Humbug Mountain Trail
Destination: Humbug Mountain State Park, Oregon
Challenge: 1,756 feet elevation, 6-mile loop
Hugging the Pacific coast, this rugged trail cuts through lush ferns and old-growth forest before climbing a series of switchbacks. A steeper ascent begins after several trailside springs, with ocean and valley views on the west side and vistas over the mountain range to the east. Grab a seat on the bench at the summit to enjoy the southern-facing views.
Recommended: Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary
5. Table Mountain/Table Mountain Trail
Destination: City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico
Challenge: 5,726 feet elevation, 4.5 miles out and back
The Hydra Trail from the visitor center follows a gravel doubletrack through rock pinnacles formed by a volcanic eruption millions of years ago. The barren landscape, marked by 30 to 40-foot-high outcroppings, is flat and exposed, so be prepared for unrelenting sun. Connecting to the Table Mountain Trail, you’ll tackle two steep climbs to reach 360-degree views of the southern desert.
6. Mount Sunapee/Mt. Sunapee Summit Trail
Destination: Sunapee State Park, New Hampshire
Challenge: 2,726 feet elevation, 4.1 miles out and back
A moderate climb to the summit and views of Lake Solitude skirt the edge of a ski resort, with lots of open terrain for spying wild turkey, deer, black bear and late-blooming wildflowers. This family-friendly trek can easily be extended over the peak and down to the lake, an ideal rest break to watch the dragonflies, frogs and fish jumping before retracing your steps to the trailhead.
7. Mount Mitchell/Mt. Mitchell Trail
Destination: Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina
Challenge: 6,683 feet elevation, 12 miles out and back
Climb to a mountaintop observation tower and gravesite memorial to geologist Elisha Mitchell, the adventurer credited with discovering the tallest peak in the eastern U.S. Start at Black Mountain Campground for a steady, technical, and punishing climb straight to the summit. The thick spruce-fir forest is often shrouded in mist, resembling the Canadian wilderness.
8. Blood Mountain
Destination: Vogel State Park, Georgia
Challenge: 2,119 feet elevation, 8.3 miles loop
There are a few ways up Blood Mountain, but one of our favorites is taking Bear Hair Gap and the Coosa Backcountry Loop. This well-marked trail is a loop until about two-thirds the way as you near the summit of Blood Mountain. The ascent is steady nearly all the way up. Expect to cross streams and some rocky sections of the trail. The views from the peak are outstanding, and are a fitting, well-deserved end to the hard hike up the hill.
9. Flattop Mountain/Glen Alps Trail
Destination: Chugach State Park, Alaska
Challenge: 3,510 feet elevation, 3.3 miles out and back
One of the most popular ascents in the state, Flattop is a heart-pumping climb to 360-degree summit views of Anchorage and Cook Inlet. Hike through hemlock groves before traversing Blueberry Hill and beginning the steep ascent on the mountain’s upper flanks. You’ll climb through talus fields, with rock scrambles close to the top. Allow plenty of time for berry-picking on your way back to the trailhead.
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.