The 16 Best Hikes in National Parks According to Outdoor Adventurers Like You

Article Summary: Best Hikes in National Parks

It’s no secret that my favorite way to recreate in a national park is hiking. There’s something about hitting the trails and finding isolated areas of America’s most beautiful places that I can’t get enough of. Finding the best hikes in national parks I’m visiting is always a thrill while I explore new places.

I knew I wasn’t the only one with this passion, so I consulted other like-minded individuals to come up with a list. These outdoor adventurers are fellow bloggers, podcasters, or national park enthusiasts. Together, we’ve come up with an incredible list of the best hikes in National Parks. From the top of Yosemite Valley to the reefs of the Virgin Islands, these are some of our favorite hikes in America.

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The Best Hikes in National Parks of America, According to Outdoor Adventurers and Park Enthusiasts

Alum Cave to Mount LeConte, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Written by Erin from Erin Abroad

The Great Smoky Mountains are incredible for hikes of all sizes. Located between Tennessee and North Carolina, this is a great hiking and camping destination for people located closer to the east coast.

I took a long weekend trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in early fall 2019. Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a great place to stay during your trip. Here, you will find incredible AirBnBs in the mountains to come back to after a long day of hiking!

From Gatlinburg, it is about a 10-minute drive into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are so many hikes that you can climb and waterfalls that you can visit here – go to the visitor center at the entrance to pick one!

If you’re here for a long hike with incredible views, I definitely recommend the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte. It is ranked as the #1 hike in the Smoky Mountains, and rightfully so! It’s one of the best hikes in national parks. It is around 13 miles roundtrip and is definitely more on the strenuous side, but the views are so worth it.

Start your hike as early as possible. We left the base of the trail around 7:30 a.m. and got back to the truck at 4 p.m. You don’t want to be hiking in the dark!

There are landmarks at different points on this trail. You will go through awesome caves, waterfalls, and of course, great views of the Smokies from high up! Bring good quality hiking shoes, pack water and something for lunch, and don’t forget your camera!

Distance: 10.5 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain: 2,942 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Angels Landing, Zion National Park

Written by Allison from She Dreams of Alpine

Zion National Park was Utah’s first recognized National Park, and it’s no wonder why. It is one of the most beautiful and iconic places in the United States. Zion boasts of tall canyon walls, amazing camping, and epic hiking and backpacking trails throughout the park, and the Angels Landing hike is one of its most iconic hiking trails. Thousands of people every year come to take on the fear-inducing challenge of hiking the narrow spine and cables up to the top of Angels Landing.

The Angels Landing trail is an out-and-back kind of hiking trail that is a steep uphill hike with breathtaking views of Zion National Park. In order to reach these views though, you must be willing to hike over 2.5 miles (5 miles roundtrip) and 1,800 feet up a series of steeply graded switchbacks, and along a scarier narrow trail toward the final half of the hike.

This narrow path to the top of Angels Landing is part of what makes this hike so classic, but if you are afraid of heights it will certainly make your heart flutter. The trail is also very popular, so not only must you learn to battle the fear of heights you might experience, but you must learn to share the trail with a continuous flow of hikers. There are chains and safeguards in place along the trail though, so that if you take your time, mind your step and remember to breathe, it could quite possibly become one of your favorite hikes of all time.

Pro Tip: If you are visiting Zion in the summer, this area can get very hot. This kind of heat can cause extreme heat exhaustion, which would be really dangerous to experience on this hike. If you want to do this hike in the summer, make sure to wake up very early in the morning to tackle it when the temperatures are cooler, and bring plenty of water. You’ll want to bring a backpack with you too so you can remain hands-free while hiking the narrow portion of the trail.

Distance: 5 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain: 1,630 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Beaver Ponds, Yellowstone National Park

Written by Grant Sinclair from Our Wander-filled Life

Beaver Ponds Loop is a beautiful trail leaving out of Mammoth Hot Springs at the north end of Yellowstone National Park. We did the loop clockwise, which had us huffing and puffing up some switchbacks to begin with but after that, the trail mellows out.

The trail comes out of the trees into several beautiful meadows with views to the east of Mount Evans before leading by the eponymous beaver ponds. We spotted a good amount of wildlife, especially elk. Sadly, we did not see any beavers.

One thing to note, don’t forget your bear spray or your bear country hiking tips. We encountered not one but two black bears on this hike. The first was about a 100 yards uphill of us. We made noise. The bear saw us and couldn’t have cared less. It was more concerned about rooting for food.

The second bear came up the hill in front of us, crossed the trail, and then walked parallel to the trail, passing us and then merging back on to the trail to keep walking. Again, the bear knew we were there and didn’t care.

At no point did we feel in danger but we were cautious in terms of dealing with the bears. We made noise. We had bear spray ready. Still, the experience was exhilarating and we loved seeing the bears truly out in the wild.

Coming around the backside of the loop, we meandered through wooded and meadow sections with plenty of moments to look around and just say wow. Seriously, the views toward the Gardiner River were spectacular.

We chose this as our favorite hike in the national parks because it is reasonably accessible, offers gorgeous backcountry views, and the opportunity to see some wildlife on the trail. At just under 6 miles, it is an easy hike to accomplish for most hikers. It’s one of our favorite hikes in Yellowstone.

Distance: 5-8 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain: 835 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Estimated Time: 2.5 hours

Bright Angel, Grand Canyon National Park

Written by Amy from Park Chasers

Departing from Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim, the Bright Angel Trail is among the most popular trails in the national parks. Like many first-timers on the Bright Angel, we only hiked the first few miles of the 9.5-mile one-way journey on our first trip to the canyon to Tunnel One, the first waypoint on the trail. The short dip below the rim was enough of a taste that we applied for a multi-day permit to hike to the bottom the following year.

On our return trip, that first leg was still some of the busiest in the National Park Service, even in the off-season. But as the wide, dirt-packed, out-and-back trail followed the fault line further down into the canyon, the day hikers thinned out and we began to understand why everyone’s Grand Canyon National Park hiking trips are truly unforgettable.

While the North Rim trail offers more solitude, we recommend Bright Angel for the less experienced or ‘leisure’ hiker. Bright Angel offers more shade in the morning and afternoon than its exposed counterpart the South Kaibab Trail. It also has water and rest-stops along the way, including the Three Mile Resthouse and Indian Garden Campground.

Don’t worry, the 4,460 feet of elevation change to the bottom offers plenty of challenge. Just when you think you’ve had enough of the scorching Arizona heat, you’ll meet the aqua blue waters of the Colorado River. Take the time to spend a few nights at the bottom. Your legs will appreciate the lazy afternoon at the Phantom Ranch cantina and the gorgeous camping at the Bright Angel Campground before returning back up.

Distance: 9.5 miles one way 

Elevation: Trailhead/South Rim (6860 ft / 2093 m) to Bright Angel Campground (2480 ft / 756 m)

Difficulty: Very Strenuous 

Cohab Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park

Written by Megan from Red Around the World

Every time I visit Capitol Reef National Park and do a new hike I say “This is my favorite hike in Capitol Reef!” Every time. It’s foolproof. Well, this time I really meant it. 

Cohab Canyon is a 3.5-mile round-trip trail with 440 feet of elevation gain in the heart of the Fruita District of Capitol Reef. The trailhead is right across from the Gifford Store (make sure you stop for pie, ice cream, and cinnamon rolls!) and is much less trafficked than other nearby trails. I would plan 3-4 hours for this so you have time to look around, explore, and relax a bit along the way, too.

It starts with some steep switchbacks (most of the 440 feet, I think) before going into the canyon. If you go in the spring, keep an eye out for blooming cactus and wildflowers. Along the sides of the canyon, you may see some small slot canyons branching off. Eventually, you come to a fork and can keep going or go up to the North Fruita Overlook (will probably add some distance, but not tons) which I would highly recommend.

From there you are overlooking the Hickman Bridge parking area/trail, almost the whole Fruita District, the campground, and the river trail. It also feels like a totally different park up there by all of the white rock and grasses instead of the red rock below. I would say this is a moderate hike, but the views and seclusion are 100% worth it on your next visit.

Distance: 3.5 miles round-trip

Elevation Change: 440 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Estimated Time: 3-4 hours 

Read about more of the best Capitol Reef hikes

General Grant Tree, Kings Canyon National Park

Written by Lara from Lives of Lara

General Grant Tree Trail sits in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. Grant Grove is a beautiful introduction to the magic of Kings Canyon and is home to some of the Nation’s oldest trees, including General Grant, “The Nation’s Christmas Tree”.

I love that the trail is paved, making it accessible for most people of different abilities and fitness levels. The General Grant Loop is approximately 1/3-mile long, but you can extend your trip through other loops in the area.

Aside from marveling at General Grant, you can visit Gamlin Cabin, and even take a walk through a fallen Sequoia! This trail is well-trafficked and one of the premier destinations for those coming to visit Kings Canyon and the Sequoias.

Distance: 0.5 miles round-trip

Elevation Change: 29 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Guadalupe Peak, Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Written by Matt and Diana from Adventurous Way

At 8,751 feet above sea level, Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Texas. Views from the “Top of Texas” are incredible as the mountain towers 3,000 feet above the Chihuahuan Desert in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Hiking to its summit from the Pine Springs Campground is a relentless 4.2-mile climb as the trail ascends 2,800 feet. The trail is steep but well maintained, although rocky in places.

The steepness of the first mile and a half eases off as switchbacks give way to a more gradual trail climbing up through the forest on the north-facing slope. About two-thirds of the way up is a false summit, but the trail continues for another mile. The final stretch is a short, steep section of switchbacks – more like scrambling than hiking at times!

In a state not known for its mountain hiking, this trail stands proud. As the trail climbs, it leads hikers through multiple ecosystems as the high desert gives way to the forest.

With the Guadalupe Mountains on one side and the vast Chihuahuan Desert on the other, we loved the panoramic vistas. As we neared the top, El Capitan appears, dominating the view to the South.

The summit of Guadalupe Peak is marked by a stainless steel pyramid, installed by American Airlines in 1958 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Pony Express stagecoach route. Standing on the summit and looking out past El Capitan to the desert as far as we could see is a memory that will stay with us for a long time!

Distance: 8.1 miles round-trip

Elevation Change: 2,867 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

Written by Alissa from Exploring Wild

There’s hardly a more iconic national park hike than the Half Dome cables route in Yosemite National Park. During a stout 14-17 miles of steep terrain, you’ll be misted by dramatic waterfalls, awed by endless granite vistas, and mentally tested by the notoriously heady cable-assisted climb to the very top of Yosemite’s most recognizable landmark.

The Half Dome hike is so popular that permits for the sub-dome and cables are only available by lottery during the month of March, with a few last-minute permits available by rolling lottery during the hiking season. The route is only hike-able while the cables are installed, which is typically from late May to early October, subject to weather conditions.

The most common route is an out-and-back day hike from Yosemite Valley via the Mist Trail or Muir Trail, then continuing on the Half Dome Trail to the top before retracing your steps back down. Many hikers prefer the Mist Trail on the way up, so they can enjoy the waterfalls while fresh, and the slightly longer but less steep Muir Trail on the way down.

With a wilderness overnight permit, it’s possible to camp at Little Yosemite Valley and break the hike into two days. You’ll have the cables practically to yourself before the day hikers arrive, but you’ll have to lug your pack up and down the 2,000 feet of elevation gain to camp.

Don’t be fooled by the route’s popularity: Half Dome is an advanced-level day hike. The route climbs 4,800 vertical feet from the valley floor and will take all day, so a sunrise start and a headlamp are both highly recommended. You’ll need a head for heights and a decent base of physical fitness. It’s crucial to wear stable, grippy shoes like hiking boots or trail runners, and some people like to bring gloves for the cables. Take more food than you think you’ll need, and carry 4-5 liters of water per person, or bring a water filter and refill at Little Yosemite Valley.

Most importantly, take special care on the cables, as fatal accidents can and do happen occasionally. After a long day of hiking uphill at altitude, you’ll need to muster your strength and focus for the final climb (and then you’re still only halfway done!). Climbing the cables during rain or thunderstorms is extremely dangerous, so be mentally prepared to make a tough decision and turn back early in case of bad weather. Finally, cooperate with fellow hikers on the cables, which can get crowded, and be patient with anyone who might be wrestling with their fear of heights.

That may sound like a lot to think about, but all the training and preparation will be worth it when you gaze out over Yosemite Valley from the top of Half Dome. For experienced hikers looking to challenge themselves on a spectacular and uniquely thrilling route, Yosemite’s Half Dome hike will be unforgettable.

Distance: 14.8 miles round-trip

Elevation Change: 5,164 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Harper’s Corner, Dinosaur National Monument

Written by Mikah Meyer

The Harper’s Corner Trail provides stunning views of rivers, canyons, large green plateaus, snow-capped mountains, and many of the intricate rock features that make Dinosaur National Monument so unique. This hike inspired me to drive 10 hours out of my way to come back and raft one of those rivers!

It’s also a very easy path. You can drive to the trailhead, and it’s relatively flat after that. It’s not wheelchair friendly or paved, but there isn’t much elevation change. And since it’s a ridgeline hike, the views are stunning in every direction!

Because the trail is in a National Monument and not one of the 63 National Parks, there are none of the crowds you’d deal with at Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, etc. As long as you have a vehicle, it’s very easy to access.

The park is a 2 to 3-hour drive from the nearest interstate, so it’s not a roadside attraction you might stumble upon, but that’s also what makes it so special! I was lucky in that I stumbled upon it only because of my project visiting all 429 National Park Service sites.

Distance: 2.3 miles round-trip

Elevation Change: 347 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Hurricane Hill, Olympic National Park

Written by Michelle from Wandering Queen

One of the best hikes in the national parks and on the Olympic Peninsula is none other than the Hurricane Hill Hike. Why? Because it is located in one of the most iconic spots in Washington State: Hurricane Ridge.

Hurricane Ridge is located 17 miles south of Port Angeles and is one of the most accessible mountain areas in Olympic National Park. People LOVE coming here for sunrise and sunset. The views are outstanding, and all you need to do is drive up a long and winding road.

Hurricane Hill is the perfect hike to start out your Olympic National Park vacation. It is an easy hike for the whole family with beautiful views throughout the trail. You also have the option of making the hike longer. There are a variety of longer hikes out of the Elwha River Valley. Once you get to the viewpoint, you can spot Canada from a distance and the stunning Olympic Mountains and its snow-capped views.

The trail is only 3.2 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 650 feet. This hike can get pretty crowded, so I suggest getting there nice and early. You can also attempt this trail in the wintertime on weekends. Just make sure to check the weather beforehand and bring snowshoes or microspikes. It can get pretty slippery.

Distance: 3.2 miles round-trip

Elevation Change: 650 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Kings Canyon, Saguaro National Park

Written by Matt from Parklandia Podcast

Located in the eastern section of Saguaro National Park in the Tucson Mountains, the Kings Canyon trail is my favorite way to reach the top of Wasson Peak. At eight miles out-and-back, it’s a moderately difficult trail with roughly 1,800 feet of elevation gain.

What I love about the trail is it features some of the most quintessential views and saguaro forests along the way, as it weaves along the cacti-filled canyon and zigzags up the mountain.

It’s important to keep your eyes peeled and on the trail at all times, especially for the first few miles, as the dried creek beds can blend in with the trail and take you off-course—Brad and I meandered off-trail accidentally, and things can get pretty prickly. But as long as you’re diligent in the early stage of the trail, you should be fine.

Along the way, the elevation change is moderate enough so you’ll be able to comfortably drink in the sights of majestic cacti, as the surrounding panorama of the Tucson valley comes increasingly into view.

About two-thirds of the way up the trail, it merges with the Sweetwater Trail on the final leg to Wasson Peak, where the 360-degree views are absolutely stunning. I love that it’s a summit that feels totally accessible and doable in a couple of hours, and it’s a trail that won’t ravage your lungs.

Also, it’s a route that’s constantly filled with desert eye candy and wildlife, especially the adorable kind like roadrunners and rabbits. Check out more great hikes in Saguaro.

Distance: 7.9 miles round-trip

Elevation Change: 1,863 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Leinster Bay Trail to Waterlemon Cay, Virgin Islands National Park

Written by Danielle from Everybody’s National Parks

We visited Virgin Islands National Park with young children ages 4 and 7. Though it is short and flat, one of our favorite hikes was the Leinster Bay Trail to Waterlemon Cay. It is less than 1 mile each way, but it is beautiful following the coastline with views of the British Virgin Islands across the bay.

The trail ends with access to snorkel around Waterlemon Cay, a small island that is a favorite snorkeling spot on St. John. Once you reach the end of the trail, look for a patch of sand in between the trees to park yourself. The beach was not the kids’ favorite since it is very small, but they enjoyed seeing barracuda, nurse sharks, and turtles from the shore. A fun game was to look for and spot the turtles coming up for air. When we saw them, we would swim over to see the turtles.

Waterlemon Cay was the best snorkeling we did on our visit. The snorkeling at this location was too challenging for our kids so we took turns. We were advised by the park ranger at the visitor center in Cruz Bay to swim around the island counter-clockwise due to the current. Check with the ranger in case things have changed. We saw beautiful coral as well as two big stingrays at deep depths when swimming from the Cay back to shore.

The Leinster Bay trailhead is close to the Annaberg Sugar Plantation ruins. There is sometimes a volunteer there to answer questions. It is a nice walk to visit and learn about the plantation while taking in the spectacular views overlooking the bay across to the British Virgin Islands. It is a great teaching moment with many different topics to discuss with our kids. We talked about slavery and slave labor. There was even a dungeon. We discussed wind power, the sugar making process, mercantilism, and natural resources. We picked up the Junior Ranger Books at the visitor center beforehand, which included questions about the ruins.

If you make a full day of visiting the plantation and Waterlemon Cay, be sure to pack a lunch with you. Another hike we enjoyed included an early morning bird walk on the Francis Bay Trail, where we saw pelicans, little blue herons, royal terns, and kingfishers. This trail is a loop and is less than 1 mile. Part of the trail is ADA accessible.

A popular hike to do is either of the Lind Point Trails from the Visitor Center to Salomon Bay or Honeymoon Bay. We parked in the lot on the North Shore Road and started the trail from there.

Two hikes we missed that we would like to do on a future visit are the Reef Bay Trail ranger-guided hike to see petroglyphs and ruins and the Rams Head Trail to Salt Pond.

The day we left the island, our youngest said, “I want to come back tomorrow.”

A great resource for hikers is the Trail Bandit hiking map and app. Be sure to check out the Virgin Islands National Park podcast series from Everybody’s National Parks. Episodes include history, archeology, and coral reef environment and snorkeling, hurricanes, and our trip report.

Distance: 1.9 miles round-trip

Elevation Change: 249 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Old Rag, Shenandoah National Park

Written by Becky Lomax, author of the Moon guide to USA National Parks

With a name like Old Rag Mountain, the trail hints at a certain sort of scrappiness and centuries-old paths. This challenging route, a rite of passage for many hikers in Shenandoah National Park, makes a loop that includes a scramble. Deft hands and feet are required to weave up, down, around, under, and over the massive exposed granitic boulders. Due to the exposed summit, keep an eye on the sky for impending bad weather, especially lightning, that signal to skitter down.

From the trailhead, the blue-blazed forested trail climbs steadily, canting steeper up switchbacks toward the ridge. At an outcrop with a sweeping view, grab a breather while snapping photos. From here, the fun scramble launches into a maze of jumbled boulders. Since no trail marks the route, follow the blue blazes painted on rocks. Crawl under granite slabs, and climb over others. Using hands and feet, shimmy down cracks, squeeze through slots, and grab onto nubbins to ease up crags. After several false summits, the route arrives at the real summit where stone promontories offer places to enjoy lunch with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

To continue the loop, descend via switchbacks on the blue-blazed Saddle Trail, an alternate path up and back if you want to avoid the scramble route. After Old Rag Shelter, the trail widens into a fire road to connect with the yellow-blazed Weakley Hollow Fire Road. This forested saunter strolls among redbud trees along creeks before veering off on a trail to complete the loop at the trailhead.

Distance: 9.2 miles (14.8 km) round-trip

Elevation Gain: 2,380 feet (725 meters)

Difficulty: Strenuous

Duration: 5-6 hours

Trailhead: Exit east from Thornton Gap (MP 31.5) to Sperryville, then take U.S.-522, VA-321, VA-707 and VA-600/Nether Rd. to the trailhead

Siyeh Pass, Glacier National Park

Written by Susan from This Big Wild World

Epic views, waterfalls, glaciers, streams, forests, and wildflowers. The Siyeh Pass Trail has it all, which is why it’s one of my favorite hikes in the National Parks. As one of the hidden gems in Glacier National Park, you likely will have the trail nearly to yourself even in the busiest of months.

The trail can be hiked in one direction from Siyeh Bend to Sunrift Gorge (10.3 miles) or as an out-and-back from Siyeh Bend to Siyeh Pass (4.7 miles each way). If you start your hike at Siyeh Bend, there’s a 2,200-foot elevation gain to the pass and then a 3,400-foot decline into the gorge. 

The trail is a great day hike for anyone wanting a bit of a challenge. There are steep sections, ledges, and occasional bear activity. Be sure to bring bear spray and sunscreen!

The Siyeh Pass Trail is one of the most diverse day hiking trails I’ve ever experienced. At the start of the trail, you’re in a lush green forest with trickling streams. Then you transition into Preston Park which is a subalpine valley dotted with wildflowers. The ascent to Siyeh Pass is a seemingly never-ending series of switchbacks. Then all of a sudden the rocky ascent gives way to the most incredible view of the surrounding valley. To one side of the pass is an up-close view of Sexton Glacier. 

The descent into Baring Creek Valley is lined with waterfalls fed by the melting glacier. The valley has experienced forest fires in recent years, making it an otherworldly but beautiful landscape. 

I’m so glad I took the Ranger’s advice and hiked the Siyeh Pass Trail in Glacier National Park!

Distance: 10.3 miles one-way

Elevation Gain: 5,551 feet 

Difficulty: Strenuous

Sliding Sands, Haleakala National Park

Written by Dusty from Gaze at the National Parks

This hike through the Haleakala Crater is my favorite hike in the national parks, though I still have many more parks to explore so I’m sure this could change. It is 11 miles one-way, the elevation gain is 2,795 feet, and they say it takes around 6 hours. We only had one day to spend in Haleakala National Park, and the ranger told us that this was the coolest thing do to in Haleakala and that we shouldn’t miss it.

We did drive some of the Road to Hana the following day, but we are so glad we invested a whole day for this trail. It is recommended that you park at the base of the trail, hitchhike your way to the summit, and begin the trail there. We did this, though found it difficult to get a car to take us to the summit. We ended up joining two other hikers who also had a car, and we hiked with each other all day.

This trail is my personal favorite because there are so many different terrains. First, you are on hills of sand, then you are on craggy lava rock, then green fields, then rock, then moss-covered stone. It took us about 6 hours going from the summit to the bottom of the trail. There is plenty of incline in this direction, and it’s great for the fairly experienced hiker.

The highlight of this hike was the last leg. After crossing the crater filled with lava rock and fields of flowers, you then climb up stone switchbacks to get back to the rim of the crater. When we were in this section, it was covered in fog, and then for about 2 minutes, the fog lifted to present the most glorious, unforgettable view we had ever seen.

This trail is absolutely not to be missed. We detail this entire trail in Episode 27 and Episode 28 of our podcast. 

Distance: 11 miles one-way

Elevation Gain: 2,795 feet 

Difficulty: Strenuous

Tomales Point, Point Reyes National Seashore

Written by Theresa from National Parks With T

The Tomales Point Trail is in the northern section of Point Reyes National Seashore. It is a 9.4-mile out-and-back trail that hugs the Pacific Coastline. The first three miles of the trail follows an old dirt ranch road and is well maintained while the rest of the trail is a sandy path.

On the day that we visited, our group wasn’t really up for a 9-mile hike, but we hoped to glimpse the Tule Elk, so we decided to hike the maintained section of the trail. This trail winds along a ridge above the ocean and then runs through the Tule Elk Reserve.

Nearly extinct in the 1970s, the Tule Elk were reintroduced to the Tomales peninsula, where they had once thrived in the grasslands. Today, there are about 300 elk living in the Reserve. So we set off on the Tomales Point Trail, determined to see some elk. We met a park ranger along the way who pointed us in the right direction and, to our delight, we did see a herd about 2.5 miles in, grazing in the tall grass above Tomales Bay.

We loved this trail with its serene ocean views, easy terrain, and wildlife sightings.

Distance: 9.4 miles one-way

Elevation Gain: 1,177 feet 

Difficulty: Moderate

What to Pack for the Best Hikes in National Parks

For more suggestions, read my posts on my favorite outdoor gear and the best daypacks for women.

The 10 Hiking Essentials

Every hiker should always carry the ten essentials with them. These include:

• 1. Navigation systems: map, compass, and/or GPS
  2. Sun protection: sunscreen and/or ballcap
  3. Insulating layers: synthetic or down jacket, rain jacket, hat, gloves, and leggings
  4. Illumination (flashlight or headlamp)
  5. First-aid kit
  6. Something to light a fire: lighter, waterproof matches, and/or fire starter
  7. Repair kits and tools: pocket knife, duct tape, screwdriver, and/or scissors
  8. Emergency shelter: tent, bivy, tarp, and/or space blanket
  9. Nutrition: food for both meals and snacks
  10. Hydration: water bottle, water treatment (LifeStraw or SteriPen), and water

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