Boating down the Colorado River below Havasu Creek / Photo by Mark Lellouch, NPS

Bucket list hikes for every skill level

by Amanda Burgess

We sat down with an all-woman panel of US-based hiking experts to ferret out the best hiking trails in the US for women of all levels and abilities. American JourneyWomen looking to explore more of your own backyard this spring and summer before the world opens up to you: Get your inspiration here. JourneyWomen everywhere else: Bookmark this article to help you plan your next North American hike.

For centuries, hiking has been a way for philosophers, royalty and regular folk to clear their minds and realign their bodies and spirits with the rhythms of nature. In the pandemic era, it’s been a way for women the world over to experience a sense of freedom on their own two feet.

It’s also one of the world’s most affordable and accessible activities. The novice-to-intermediate day hiker needs little in the way of costly gear or strenuous physical training. If you can walk or amble along with a mobility aid, you can hike – with The 10 Essentials nestled in your backpack or bag.

That’s something that the American Hiking Society wants everyone to know. “We like to bring a really inclusive community to hiking. A lot of people would say: ‘Oh, well, I just go for walks outside. We say: ‘No, no, no. That counts as hiking,” says AHS Executive Director Kate Van Waes. “You don’t have to be a hardcore hiker to love being outside. It’s one of the lowest barrier activities – you don’t need fancy hiking boots, and you don’t need Gore-Tex. You can put on a pair of sneakers and go for a walk. Moving through the world on foot makes a big difference to your perspective.”

Lisa Ballard, avid hiker and Emmy Award-winning producer and host of PBS series Wildlife Journal, couldn’t agree more. “From a skill point of view, if you can walk, you can hike. If you aren’t super fit, don’t worry – take a hike that’s relative to your fitness level in distance and vertical climb,” she says. “You can start modestly and work your way up from there. As you get into it more, you get a more difficult terrain, and there’s more skill, ability and knowledge required, but anybody can step out onto a trail. You just need to start with something.”

Jump to a Trail:

6. Painted Cove Trail, Oregon
7. Chinese Wall Loop, Montana
8. Harding Icefield Trail, Alaska
9. Havasu Canyon Trail, Arizona
10. Monument Canyon Trail, Colorado

Our Hiking Experts

Top 10 Best Hiking Trails in the US for Women

Tip: The National Park Service recently launched a free app for Apple and Android offering interactive maps, accessibility info, self-guided tours, hours and locations for points of interest like restaurants, things to do at all 420+ national parks, and more. If you want to hike the public lands of the US, consider this your starting point. 

Best for adventurous hikers whose palms don’t sweat when faced with heights and exposure, this 11.2-mile (18-kilometre) trail offers a day-hike challenge with its narrow pathways, switchbacks, and wet walks on slippery rocks through waterfalls early in the season. Traversing the shores of stunning lakes, the trail climbs higher and higher, opening up to spectacular views. The steepest part of the hike – cutting across some gulp-worthy vertical rock faces – has you climbing staircases made of giant stones. The views are worth the effort and stress sweat.

TIP: If your trip doesn’t include an overnight stay in the Many Glacier area, hightail it there no later than 8 am. The parking lots fill up fast, and park rangers turn visitors away at the entrance.

This 8.6-mile (13.8-kilometre) trail offers the adventurous hiker some steep terrain, an exposed ridgeline and some sweeping panoramic views. This is one you’ll want to train for, but the reward is in the view from the summit (best to start early in the morning to get the best view), and the waterfalls you’ll pass along the way. If you want a place to rest, refill your water bottle, grab a snack or eat your lunch, you can do all of that at the Greenleaf Hut. While a strong day hiker can complete the hike in a day, you can also choose to stay in one of the co-ed bunkrooms at the Greenleaf Hut or book one of Appalachian Mountain Club’s full-service huts.

This 18-mile (29.8-kilometre) out-and-back hike winds uphill through Aspen groves, offering a visual feast of mountaintops and fields of wildflowers. The journey culminates in an opportunity to soak your aching feet in warm natural hot springs with expansive views of the valley. If you want to camp near the hot springs at one of 19 designated sites, you’ll need a permit.

TIPS: Be prepared for all weather (storms roll in quickly over the mountain. There is no cell service. If you want to avoid the crowds and blazing sun, start early. At 18 miles roundtrip, you’ll want to pack plenty of food and water.

This 14-mile (22.5-kilometre) trail begins at Lee Pass Trailhead on the Kolob Canyons Road, offering spectacular views of the canyons as it crosses Timber Creek and descends towards La Verkin Creek. If pockets of solitude in primitive area of Zion Wilderness is appealing to you, this is your hike. Strong day hikers can hike to Kolob Arch, one of the largest freestanding rock arches in the world. The roundtrip hike takes about eight hours to complete. Backpackers can camp at one of 13 sites, which must be reserved in advance, or make reservations at Visitor’s Centres for first come, first served sites. Backpackers also require permits, which can be applied for on the park’s website.

This 1-mile (1.6-kilometre) out-and-back trail takes you through the Upper Reserve on a sandy trail offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean from Yucca Point Overlook. Hikers of all abilities can combine a short hike that is long on beautiful views with some beach time. The trail ends at the stairs leading to Torrey Pines State Beach, where you can dip your toes in the ocean, go swimming, or relax in the sand. Sounds like the best of both worlds, no?

This short 0.3-mile (0.5-kilometre) walk is great for hikers of all skill levels and features a picturesque boardwalk through the painted hills. That’s some serious bang for your buck. The trail is suitable for hikers with mobility issues, with signage along the way educating visitors about the geologic processes of how the hills were formed. The vivid colours of the hills are incredible to witness in person. Be sure to Leave no Trace by staying on the trails!

If you’re a serious hiker looking for a challenging multi-day trip through some pristine backcountry, you can’t go wrong with this 72.3-mile (116.5-kilometre) trail in the wilds of Montana. The trail is located in Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex – over 1.5 million acres of untouched Rocky mountain terrain that is roughly the size of Delaware. This is the most popular multi-day hike in this area, and it’s a grueling one. The reward? Fields of wildflowers and sweeping views of the Chinese Wall, a massive limestone escarpment that looms over 1,000 feet tall and spans more than 12 miles. This is grizzly bear country, so you might want to do this one with a guide or a group of experienced hikers. You’ll want to carry bear spray, and learn about bear safety and proper food storage before embarking on this unforgettable adventure.

This is an 8.2-mile (13.2-kilometre) out-and-back hike that leaves from the Exit Glacier Area and winds through cottonwood and alder forests and heather-filled meadows on its climb above tree-line to spectacular views of the icefield that stretches as far as the naked eye can see. The trail gains 1,000 feet of elevation with very mile and takes about six to eight hours to complete. The NPS cautions hikers to be prepared for storms, high winds, blinding sunlight and drastic temperature changes. Also be bear-aware: Visiting the Fjords on an NPS project, Pilcher saw 11 bears on her first day.

You’ll want to plan this 16-mile (25.8-kilometre) hike months in advance. Reservations and an overnight stay in the Canyon are required, with reservations notoriously difficult to obtain. The trail is typically accessed by backpacking in 10 miles from Hualapai Hilltop via the Havasu Falls trail or via helicopter followed by a two-mile hike – both pleasing options for the adventurous. From Hualapai Hilltop, the trail dips into the canyon via a full mile of switchbacks, after which you follow a riverbed into the deep shade of the canyon. Creek crossings, cliff scrambling, and ladder climbing through waterfalls make this one big canyoning adventure.

A great long causal trail which winds you 11.6 miles (18.7 kilometres) along several spectacular rock formations, including Independence Monument, Bell Tower and the Coke Ovens to name a few. There isn’t much shade, so be sure to take plenty of water with you, especially on a warm day. The majority of the trail is a gentle grade with a steep accent/decent as you approach the Monument Canyon Upper Trailhead. Keep an eye out for lizards, deer or bighorn sheep!

TIP: To shorten the hike, you can park a car at either end of the trail.  

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