These Were the Top U.S. Hiking Trails of 2023

Chris Malone Méndez
·2 min read

With breathtaking natural beauty ranging from snow-capped mountains to bright orange deserts, the U.S. boasts something for everyone who wants to get outside and breathe in some fresh air. Hikers of all levels frequently turn to popular website and app AllTrails to get information on trails near them and prepare for their excursions into the wilderness.

AllTrails compiled data from users across the country and came up with the top trails in the U.S. for every type of hiker. The most popular trails of the year were all in the West, with two of the top five locales being in Colorado. The top honor went to the Ice Lakes Trail in Durango, CO, which takes hikers to Island Lake and Ice Lake in San Juan National Forest. Unsurprisingly, second place went to Angels Landing in Utah's Zion National Park.

Here are the most popular trails for 2023.

  1. Durango, CO: Island Lake and Ice Lake via Ice Lakes Trail

  2. Springdale, UT: Angels Landing Trail

  3. Crested Butte, CO: Scarp Ridge Trail to 421 Trail Loop

  4. Greenwater, WA: Burroughs Mountain Loop Trail

  5. Yosemite Valley, CA: Yosemite Point

As for the most beautiful trails of the year, the West once again boasted the most scenic options, including outings in the ever-popular Zion and Yosemite national parks.

  1. Stanley, ID: Sawtooth Lake via Iron Creek Stanley Lake Trail

  2. Springdale, UT: Floating Rock via Zion Narrows Riverside Walk

  3. Marblemount, WA: Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm Trail

  4. Yosemite Valley, CA: Half Dome via the John Muir Trail (JMT)

  5. Bryce, UT: Wall Street and Queens Garden Loop to Peekaboo Loop (Figure Eight Trail)

If you're looking to take the family on a hike, AllTrails has you covered with the best child-friendly hiking trails in the U.S.

  1. Hartland, CA: Congress Trail via Generals Highway Trailhead

  2. Boothbay, ME: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Loop

  3. Damascus, VA: Virginia Creeper Trail: Damascus to Whitetop

  4. Skykomish, WA: Deception Falls Interpretive Trail

  5. Silt, CO: Rifle Falls Coyote Trail

And if you're looking to take it easy or are looking for an accessible option, AllTrails ranked the best ADA-approved trails of the year too.

  1. Cassel, CA: Burney Falls Loop

  2. Hiouchi, CA: Stout Memorial Grove Trail

  3. Richmond Heights, MI: Missouri Botanical Garden Loop

  4. Flagstaff, AZ: Wupatki Pueblo Trail

  5. Mackinac Island, MI: Mackinac Island Outer Loop