Top 8 Hikes to Free Your Soul in the U.S.

Hiking is a great way to see nature and get a workout, but don’t forget to hike while on vacation. Many people travel to beautiful locations only to sit in a resort or stay in the confines of a city. Not me, I enjoy being in nature and seeing parts of our great country not on the beaten path and instead forge my own trail. If you are like me then this list of the top 5 hikes to travel to in the U.S is just up your alley. I scoured the internet and used my personal experiences to figure out which spots are the best and worth your trip.

Kalalau Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

Beginning with the most spectacular hike I’ve ever been on is an obvious jumping off point. The Kalalau trail in Kauai is just spectacular and divine. The 2-mile hike ends at a beautiful beach, which is only accessible by boat or the hike. Pack lots of water as this hike ventures up mountains, through a rain forest and finishes off at a pristine beach. The trail blazes through boulders and across a river multiple times, so be prepared to get wet.

Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona

One of the eight wonders of the world, the grand canyon is grandiose in every aspect of the word. The North Rim is harder to access and more difficult of a hike, but the views and sunset/sunrises are worth the trouble. No list of best hikes can be written without including the Grand Canyon, well worth any trip.

Pacific Crest Trail, Western Coast of US

The Pacific Crest Trail stretches from Mexico all the way to Canada, along the Western Coast of the US. The entire hike is 2,650 miles long and ventures through three states. Traverse through the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains while exploring the beautiful scenery. The entire trail is ridiculously long, so pick a small portion a try it out.

Paint Mines, Colorado

This 3.6-mile loop trail is one of Colorado’s prettiest and a hidden gem in the Rockies. The beautifully highlighted clay set this hike apart from others, as I’ve never seen a collection of colors in nature. There are also human made mines that date back over 9,00 years.

Angels Landing, Utah

Getting its name from the 1,500 ft rock formation in Zion National Park, this hike is incredible. Only a 2.5-mile trek to the top of the Angels Landing, gives you outstanding views of Zion Canyon and its entirely carved out of solid rock.

John Muir Trail – California

Named after famed naturalist, John Muir, this hiker’s heaven is the ultimate trek. A 210-mile hike that takes adventurers weeks to accomplish is the bar that all hikes are measured on. Starting out in Yosemite National Park, this trail takes you to Mount Whitney, Continental United States, tallest peak. Not for the weary or novice, this hike is intense but completely worth the trouble.

Mt Heavenly Overlook Trek, Alaska

This is one of Alaska’s easiest mountains to summit and great for hikers of all levels. The Overlook trail begins in thick forest and traverses tundra and finally comes out on top. The views of Alaska are huge and vast, making this one of my favorite hikes of all time.

Many Glacier Area, Montana

Located in the center of Montana’s Glacier National Park, Many Glacier is a hike to see the ancient world. Active glacier and beautiful mountain lakes dot this hike and make it a dream come true. Check out the way the world looked in the ice ages with this spectacular glacier hike.

Explore our world one step at a time with these wonderful hikes that vary in difficulty and will leave you speechless. Our world is bigger and more beautiful than you could ever imagine.

Photos Courtesy of NewYorkTimes, Hawaii-Guides, electricreflections, squamlakes.org,