My 10 Favorite Trails Of All Time | Amazing Trails You Need To Add To Your Bucketlist

I have been hiking for quite some time and have done hundreds of hikes throughout the United States. After thinking about which ones would be my favorite, I list some of the best hikes I have ever done—trails with mountain views, canyons, lakes, rivers, rainforests, and much more. I can’t wait to show you below which ones made the list! It wasn’t easy to choose, but I know you will love them all and add them to your ever-growing bucket list.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you. Thank you to AllTrails for collaborating on this blog post. As always, all opinions are my own. 

How I Found These Trails

I always get questions about how I find these beautiful and unique trails, and one of my favorite ways to find hikes is to use AllTrails! You can usually search by region, and AllTrails will give you a list of options and a map with the locations.

You can then choose a trail you would like to do and save it to your favorites list or read reviews left by fellow hikers. It is best to make a Free account on AllTrails to have access to information on each trail.

How To Feel Safe On The Trails

Starting to hike can feel scary, especially when, most of the time, you have no cell service. This is why I love having the AllTrails Plus version on my phone. It helps me feel more confident when I am on the trails. AllTrails+ lets me download an offline map, allowing me to navigate the trails without having to take my map and compass out of my backpack. It even alerts me when I am off-trail! I recommend you try out AllTrail+. >>>Click Here To Learn More

My 10 Favorite Trails

Fremont Lookout

• Distance: 5.7 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,112 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Click Here

It is so hard to top my favorite trail of all time, which is Fremont Lookout. I have done this hike a few times and highly recommend it during sunrise or sunset, and you might get lucky and get a cloud inversion as I did.

I also love that the trail has a fire lookout which is great for photos, and I also like that you get fantastic views of Mt. Rainier throughout the whole trail. Even if you don’t make it to the lookout, it is still worth doing one mile of the hike. Rainier does look lovely all throughout this hike.

Maple Pass

• Distance: 7.4 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,191 ft
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Click Here

It took me a while to hike Maple Pass Loop, even though it is one of the most famous trails in Washington State. I would look at the photos of the trail and always felt like it looked only ok. I was completely wrong! This hiking trail is one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever seen. The pictures do not do it justice.

I highly recommend you spend a whole day exploring this hike, as it is awe-inspiring. Especially in the Fall when the Larch trees come out. The best part of this trail is that it is a loop, and with every step you take, it just keeps getting better and better. I recommend doing the counterclockwise way because I feel like the end is so much better.

Chain Lakes Loop

• Distance: 7.1 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,886 ft
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Click Here

One of the least-known trails in Washington State is the amazing Chain Lakes Loop. This trail has one of the best views of Mount Baker, a smaller yet prominent mountain when compared to Mount Rainier.

You can hike counter or clockwise on this trail because it does not matter. The views are lovely throughout the whole hike. It is not obscured by trees which is very common with most trails in Washington.

Hall Of Mosses

• Distance: 1.1 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 78 ft
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Click Here

Hall Of Mosses is the shortest hike on this list. It is effortless, but I still had to include it because it is still one of my favorites. The bright green moss that cascades like a willow tree really is a spectacle to witness. Never had I seen so much moss in my life.

Hall Of Mosses is a very rainy area in Washington (yes, even rainier than Seattle), and it can be challenging to find this area without rain. But even if it is rainy, I would still hike here.

Angels Landing

• Distance: 4.4 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,604 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Click Here

Angels Landing is one of the most famous trails in the United States. It has become so popular that they have now added a permit system to hike the trail. It can be a pretty sketchy hike for some. Towards the end of the trail, there are chains to help you get to the viewpoint with steep dropoffs. This is not a hike for the faint of heart.

Angles Landing remains one of my all-time favorite hikes because it was my first trail in a National Park, and it is the reason why I kept on exploring the outdoors. I fell in love with the difficulty and the vibrant colors surrounding me, which made me decide that I needed to explore the world even more! This trail has a special place in my heart.

Devils Garden Loop

• Distance: 7.9 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,085 ft
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Click Here

I know most people flock to the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, but I enjoyed Devils Garden Trail even more. This hike is perfect for all skill levels of hikers. Whether someone is a beginner, moderate or advanced, this trail has a section for everyone. That is why I love it!

Hike up to Landscape Arch if you want to walk the easy trail, hike up to Double O Arch for a moderate trail, or hike the whole trail for a more challenging trail. I hiked the entire loop, and I loved it, but I will say that the whole loop is not for everyone. There were a few terrifying sections. Bring newer hiking boots with a good grip.

Colchuck Lake

• Distance: 8.1 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,326 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Click Here

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a beautiful bright-colored lake right next to a strong, sharp-faced mountain. Colchuck Lake is just that, and that is why it is one of my favorite hikes. Colchuck is one of the most vibrant lakes I have ever seen, and even on cold and rainy days, it still looks so lovely. It can be a long and difficult hike, and parking is a pain, so I recommend getting there very early.

South Kaibab Trail Ooh Aah Point

• Distance: 1.8 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 685 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Click Here

I could not include a favorite trail list without naming a Grand Canyon Trail, so one of my favorites there is, of course, the Ooh Aah Point. I loved the views throughout the whole trail, and I loved how short it is. It is a fantastic way to explore the Grand Canyon without hiking all the way to the bottom.

Chesler Park Loop

• Distance: 10.4 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,820 ft
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Click Here

Years ago, I was so lucky to have the opportunity to backpack the amazing Needles at Canyonlands National Park. It remains one of my favorite trails of all time! Luckily, you don’t have to backpack to enjoy The Needles. There is a small section you can do for a day hike (which I feel was the best part of the trail). It features incredible slot canyons and, of course, the famous Needles that jut out of the ground. It truly is magnificent to see. I will warn you that this hike is hard and very strenuous so bring plenty of water and food.

Delta Lake

• Distance: 7.4 mi, round trip
• Elevation Gain: 2,299 ft
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Click Here

One of the least-known trails on this list is the beautiful Delta Lake. This milky white blue-colored lake has been one of my favorite trails to date. As beautiful as this trail is, I will warn you that it is incredibly steep, and the trail is not as prominent as the others on this list. We went off track without knowing for a while, but luckily we were able to find out way back thanks to AllTrails. I highly recommend you download an offline map on AllTrails+ before attempting this trail.

Conclusion

I hope you liked my list of favorite hikes. Add these trails to your bucket list! If you need more inspiration, make sure to check out my other posts on more popular hiking trails:

• The 26 Best Hikes in the World | Most Beautiful Hiking Trails
• Best National Parks To Visit In Winter
• Best National Parks To Visit In the Fall
• Best National Parks To Visit In Summer
• Best National Parks To Visit In Spring

Pin For Later