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5 Most Beautiful Day Hikes In America

day hikes in America

With cooler weather setting in across America, it is a great time to break out the boots and hit the trails. Most of the northern states are in the midst of Autumn meaning the trees are turning beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows, making the scenery something out of a picture. The southern states are just cooling off enough to make the long hikes bearable.

There are great hiking spots all across the US, whether one be in your back yard or you travel to get there, you’re in for some beautiful scenery and a great adventure. Here are some of the most beautiful day hikes in America.

#1. Muliwai Trail, Big Island, Hawaii

The Muliwai Trail is a 9 mile hike that will show you all the great elements of the Big Island in one hike. The hike takes you from Waipio Valley to Waimanu Valley and in between you will find a beautiful black sand beach, ancient ruins, and multiple spots along the way to stop and swim in the streams and waterfalls.

This hike really encompasses all there is to love about this tropical Hawaiian island. The best part is you can hike here anytime seeing as the weather on the Big Island is beautiful all year round!

#2. HOH River Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington

This 6.2 mile hike takes you through the very mossy Olympic National Park. This trail really shows you how beautiful the tree-filled forests of Washington really are. Here you will come across various forms of wildlife that can become potentially dangerous, so they advise hiking with a friend.

It is advised that you hike this trail from June to September because they do experience snow and icy conditions on the trail. If you wish, you can even extend your hike another 17.6 miles to Glacier Meadows and set up camp along the way, make a real trip of it!

#3. Yosemite National Park, California

On this 7.6 mile hike through the Yosemite National Park, you’ll see more than just the breathtaking waterfalls they are well known for. You can also see some large meadows, one of the tallest cascades in the world, beautiful wildlife, and much more.

The best time to hike this trail is March-May but if you can’t get there around that time then any of the warmer summer months will do. You just want to make sure you’re not setting out on your hike in the winter as the trail can have some harsh conditions. 

#4. Mt. Tammany, New Jersey

This 3.5 mile hike may sound like a breeze but I can assure you it is a tough one. The hike up is a steep and rocky one, but the view waiting at the top makes it worthwhile. There you will find a breathtaking view of what everyone calls the “Gap”. It is a sharp point carved out by the Delaware river in the Kittatinny Mountains beautifully lined with trees.

You are going to wish you could search for NJ real estate and get a house right there- that’s how beautiful the view is! Although the hike may not be something you want to do everyday to get home.

This hike is best done in the spring-fall, though I’d recommend the fall once the leaves have changed. You just want to make sure there is no rain or snow because the steep slope and rocks can become very slippery and dangerous. 

#5. Appalachian Trail, Pennsylvania

The Appalachian Trail is one of the largest and most well-known trails in the United States, being almost 2,200 miles long in total. This trail runs from Georgia to Maine passing through 14 states in total and shows you so much of what this beautiful country has to offer.

Now, you can hike just a portion of this trail and make it a day trip or you can devote an entire summer to hiking it in its entirety. EIther way, this hike will take you through beautiful mountains, dense forests, across rivers and falls, and much more that would be a sight worth hiking. 

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