There is quite a lot to see and experience in America’s national parks. The best way to get up close and personal with these parks is by exploring them on foot. You can hike through the canyons, hike into the verdant forests, hike up to the hidden waterfalls and lakes, and hike to amazing viewpoints where you can see it all via a panoramic view. Here to help those of you who are less athletic or travel with small children, are 20 short hikes in US national parks.
20 Short Hikes In US National Parks
1. The Queen’s Garden Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park
This short Utah hike is rated easy to moderate and is less than three miles. Depending on your level of experience and how long you wish to look around you might want to give yourself between two and three hours for this one. Veterans say it is one of the best ways to take in the canyon. Hiking the Navajo and Queen’s Garden Trails in a single loop, you can enjoy arches, canyons, hoodoos, pine forests, Wall Street, Thor’s Hammer, and Bryce Canyon’s only slot canyon as well.
2. Inspiration Point, Grand Teton National Park
This is an essential short hike for any first-time visitor to Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. This two-mile hike is rated easy to moderate and should take no more than two hours. You take the convenient Jenny Lake boat shuttle across beautiful Jenny Lake to begin this hike to this famous viewpoint.
On the way to Inspiration Point, you can take a little half-mile detour to thundering Hidden Falls. The remaining half-mile to Inspiration Point is steeper. If you have time and feel up to a longer hike, consider hiking onward into rugged Cascade Canyon. Not only are the views here reportedly magnificent, but you also have a pretty good chance of seeing bears or moose.
3. The Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge, Rocky Mountain National Park
Catch a “Rocky Mountain High” on this short hike in Colorado. Despite being four miles long, this comparatively short hike is actually officially rated as easy. It should take no more than three hours to complete.
This hike provides travelers with exceptional views of the Rocky Mountain National Park and again requires little effort. Here you hike across the alpine tundra and enjoy wonderfully unobstructed views of the Continental Divide, Forest Canyon, and Longs Peak too. What more can you ask for, right?
4. The Blue Forest Trail, Petrified Forest National Park
This is a three-mile round trip, off-the-beaten-path short hike. It is not currently well-marked so you or your hiking partner should have route-finding skills. It is rated easy to moderate and should only take between one and two hours. The trail will lead you through the Arizona park’s beautiful Blue Mesa area.
If you love scenery you will love this little portion of the park. The hills here are highlighted with striking stripes of blues, grays, pinks, and purples. This short trail rises and falls through these unique hills and the views change as you go. Additionally, you will see a surprising amount of the park’s famous petrified wood dotting these hills.
5. The Hidden Lake Overlook, Glacier National Park
This short hike is one of the Montana park’s most popular treks. It is an easy hike, less than three miles total, and should not require more than two hours. The trailhead is at Logan Pass.
You will hike over both gravel trails and boardwalks on your way to Hidden Lake’s awesome overlook. Keep your eyes peeled for mountain goats. This is actually said to be the best place to spot them in the entire park. Enjoy the view from the overlook. If you have more time and energy, consider continuing on for another good mile to the Hidden Lake itself.
6. Ooh Aah Point, Grand Canyon National Park
Doesn’t a short Arizona hike to Ooh Aah Point sound like fun? While it clocks in at under two miles, it is nevertheless rated strenuous and could take you two hours to finish it. This South Rim viewpoint is a favorite though so it’s worth a little effort.
Besides, you can only get to this viewpoint on foot. The hike is notably steep but the view here is breathtaking. The two best times to hike here are right before sunrise and right before sunset.
Those in the know confess the hike back up to the canyon’s rim is why it is considered difficult. Still, they also agree this is a great short hike to travel below the canyon’s rim. Some travel bloggers also like the South Kaibab Trail compared to the more well-known Bright Angel Trail.
If you are unable to plan your hike of the latter in order to avoid other hikers, it is an option. If you are able to hike the entire canyon rim to rim, you will not worry about the perceived difference in views. You’ll see everything.
7. Balanced Rock, Big Bend National Park
Texas’ 2.2-mile Balanced Rock hike is a comparatively easy hike that requires no more than two hours to complete. One small part of rock scrambling is fun for kids of all ages too. Specifically, it is the last quarter of a mile that is a little challenging and fun.
That’s where you have to do a bit of rock scrambling to get past the big boulders on the trail. Most of this hiking trail though is through a flat, sandy, wide wash. Of course, the main reason for this specific hike is to actually see Balanced Rock. It is one of the park’s most distinctive rock formations. You will find it at the end of the trail. People love to take pictures here too.
8. Bearfence Mountain, Shenandoah National Park
Travel to Virginia and enjoy this short, moderately difficult hike. It should take you only an hour to cover this 1.1 mile-hike. It is brief but includes some fun rock scrambling like the previous hike.
Here you scramble up a sheer but short rock wall and several large, jagged boulders to get to the top of the mountain. Indeed, the views from atop Bearfence are spectacular. It is one of the few places in this popular park where you can take in a 360-degree view.
9. Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
Utah’s hike to the famous Delicate Arch is three miles in total, moderately difficult, and could take you as long as three hours to complete. Many people travel here as this arch is one of the world’s most famous geologic formations. You can only really get close to it by hiking to it.
You hike a gravel path and then complete a strenuous, short climb up slickrock. Here it becomes fun as you hike amidst huge sandstone rock domes. Finally, you hike along a rock ledge along a rock wall.
Just know that caution is paramount here as there is actually a drop-off on one side. Around the last little turn, you can enjoy your first close view of the popular Delicate Arch. Veteran visitors say you should plan on arriving just before sunset since the setting sun reportedly casts the entire arch in a surprisingly warm glow.
10. The Natural Entrance, Carlsbad Caverns National Park
One of the best experiences in New Mexico is arguably entering Carlsbad Caverns via the Natural Entrance. All you need to do is complete this easy 1.2-mile hike. If you take your time it should still only take an hour.
The trail is not only well-maintained, but it is also paved and winds right down into the Caverns’ mouth. Allow your eyes a moment as they adjust to low lighting as your journey beneath the earth continues. Take in the sight of the distinctive dripstones and other rocky formations. When you reach the Big Room, you can continue on another mile or so through the country’s largest cave chamber then take the elevator to the surface.
11. The Canyon Overlook Trail, Zion National Park
Here is another short hike in Utah. It’s an easy one-mile walk that shouldn’t require more than one hour. Not only is it fun for all ability levels and ages, but it also takes you to an incredible viewpoint overlooking the famous canyon. Travel writers claim it will even keep your kids entertained for the whole hike as you will hike along rugged cliffs, through a real cave, and over huge tree roots and rocks as well.
12. The Skyline Trail to Panoramic Point, Mount Rainier National Park
Venture to Washington State for two to three hours and complete this short albeit strenuous four-mile hike. The popular Skyline Trail is one of the park’s best hikes. It’s a notably strenuous loop hike that is more than six miles in length. You can cut off a couple of miles by stopping at Panoramic Point.
That way, if you don’t feel up to a challenging, lengthy hike you can still enjoy magnificent views. Your adventurous short hike begins at the Paradise Visitor Center. From there you hike uphill to popular Panoramic Point. Remember though that even if you visit in summer, the trail still might be layered with snow.
13. Rialto Beach to Hole in the Wall, Olympic National Park
This easy four-mile hike is little more than a stroll on a Washington State beach. It shouldn’t take more than two hours. The hike begins at the official Rialto Beach parking lot. It ends near the huge sea stacks.
As you go, you’ll see large piles of driftwood and little tidepools. Check out the ocean along your way and you might see sea lions, otters, and whales there. Once you are at the well-known Hole in the Wall, you might want to explore the coastline too. Summer is fine for this hike but know that if you go too early in the morning the beach may very well be fog covered.
14. The Beehive Trail, Acadia National Park
This strenuous, 1.4-mile hike is one of the most exciting hikes in this park in Maine. It could take you up to three hours to finish it despite its short distance. It is a thrilling, exhilarating climb complete with metal rungs, cliff walks, and an incredible, panoramic view of Mt. Desert Island.
You should note, however, that this short hike also is not for anyone afraid of heights. This hike includes a significant amount of exposure with ladder climbs and notably narrow cliff trails too. This is also not a child-friendly hike either.
15. The White Rim Overlook, Canyonlands National Park
Here’s another noteworthy short hike in Utah. It’s easy and less than two miles. It might take you an hour for this one.
In fact, not only is it easy, but it also provides hikers with some of the very best views in this park. Indeed, veteran visitors can confirm that the views from Buck Canyon overlook and Grand View Point are amazing. More importantly, though, the White Rim Overlook takes these views and joins them into one incredible viewpoint. Since you have to actually hike to get to this point, you will run into a lot less people than at the other two places.
16. Dream and Emerald Lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park
It’s back to Colorado for another popular, short hike in this famous park. It is rated easy to moderate, has a distance of under four miles, and requires no more than three hours to complete. It’s suitable for almost all ages and ability levels as well.
It is highlighted by beautiful scenery and a trio of lovely lakes including Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, and Nymph Lake. Not only can it serve as a noteworthy introduction to this specific national park, but if you’re feeling energetic and have more time, you can also expand this hike to include Lake Haiyaha and Bear Lake too.
17. Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park
Wait! Have we not mentioned California yet? Have no fear! This Golden State hike is noteworthy for a number of different reasons.
With a distance of only 0.6 miles, it is the shortest short hike on this list. It should take no more than half an hour. It is still rated moderately difficult because in order to actually reach the top of Moro Rock, you will have to climb a total of 400 steps. Ah, but the view from the rugged summit of this natural granite dome is nothing less than fabulous. Here you can not only look out over striking Sequoia National Park but also the nearby Kings Canyon National Park.
18. The Notch Trail, Badlands National Park
Let’s not ignore the state of South Dakota either. For it is here that you can discover the popular Notch Trail. This is an easy short hike but is quite fun. With a total distance of just one and a half miles round-trip, this family-friendly hike can provide an hour of adventure for adults and children alike.
(Come on, just the name “Badlands” makes it sound kind of exciting, doesn’t it? Well, at least that’s what your rovin’ writer thought when he was here as a kid anyway.) On this brief trek, you will stroll through a striking scenic canyon, climb all the way up a wooden ladder, briefly hike along a sheer cliff trail, and arrive at your desired destination to discover the amazing, iconic scenery of the famous Badlands.
19. Cassidy Arch, Capitol Reef National Park
Next on our list, we return to Utah. For it is here that hikers can enjoy a short and classic hike to nigh-world-famous Cassidy Arch. You only need between two and three hours to complete this moderate, 3.4-mile hike.
Some experienced hikers say this is one of the park’s “most thrilling” hiking trails. This short hike is accessible from the well-traveled Scenic Drive. Not only will you eventually be able to actually stand right on famous Cassidy Arch but will take in views of the great Grand Wash and other noteworthy scenery as well. In fact, you can not only see the iconic arch from a distance but also walk right across it and take advantage of one of the park’s most unique and popular photo ops as well.
20. Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop, Death Valley National Park
Last but not least, is this short hike in distinctive Death Valley National Park which actually straddles the border of Nevada and California. This loop hike is rated easy to moderate and has a distance of 4.4 miles. It begins with a hike through Golden Canyon.
Next, you climb to the golden monolith Manly Beacon. Enjoy the view then hike down through Gower Gulch and to your vehicle to finish the loop. (Fun Fact: Star Wars fans may very well feel like they’re on Tatooine as this section of Death Valley was used as a Star Wars shoot location!) You will need between two and three hours to finish this hike.
