Spring is here and it’s begging you to go hiking and enjoy the beautiful weather. How can you resist? It’s beautiful, vibrant and perfect for hiking. Pushing winter’s chill aside, the cool breezes and warm sunshine is simply irresistible. The green landscape, clear sky views and blooming flowers are a welcome change. No doubt that hikers all around the U.S. are right now preparing for spring hiking trips.
From Alaska to Hawaii, there are numerous amazing spring hiking destinations in the USA. That’s a good thing but choosing the perfect US spring hike can be quite a challenge. That’s why we’ve narrowed down these choices for you and put together a list of America’s 7 best spring hikes to pick from.
Experience the joy of hiking with these 7 best spring hiking destinations in the U.S.
It’s a steep 7.2-mile hike that rewards you with amazing views. You can see the entire Yosemite Valley from the top of the Yosemite Falls. The trail itself is surreal with constant views of the misty waterfall. But it is strenuous and you have to ascend 2,400 feet which can take a toll on you if you aren’t prepared for it. It’s easier if your legs are in shape for a day worth of challenging terrain.
The name of this trail itself is enough to make me wanna gear up and go hiking. But name aside, the Maroon Lake Scenic Trail is one of the most photogenic places to go hiking this spring. If you want to see the wildflowers in bloom, the best time to visit is in late May or early June. The trailhead can be reached by car and it can be accessed from Aspen or Snowmass Village.
Maroon Lake Scenic Trail takes you on an amazing journey through Aspen, Colorado and gets you up close to the Rocky Mountains. Expect to encounter tons of wild animals running around in late spring. Mountain goats call this place their home and often graze on the mountainside. There are picturesque lakes and streams dotted along the hiking trail. So, make sure to bring your camera with you.
3. Cascade Mountain
The Cascade Mountain hiking trail is the place to be for one of the best day hikes in the US. So, it is jam-packed with hikers all year round. But the green landscape and cool temperatures of spring serve as the best time to hike here. The start of the hike is a little hard but the views accompanying you will make it worthwhile. Reaching the summit is the end goal of all hikers visiting the Cascade Mountain.
It can take you almost 2 hours to complete this hike. And you can stop at an open ledge overlooking the Marcy Mountains once you reach the 1.8-mile mark. Cascade Mountain’s hiking trail is the perfect place to introduce your kids to ‘Mountain Hiking’. The seemingly endless mountain views are the highlight of this hiking trail.
Looking for some idyllic views of the incredible Zion Canyon? Then consider hiking the famous Angels Landing trail. This is a rewarding 5-mile hike that offers everything from easy to difficult. So, it’s ideal for all types of hikers. The views on this hiking trail are truly something else.
It’s one of the most popular hiking trails in the U.S. So you won’t have to hike alone for long even if you’re going solo. Expect narrow rocky pathways and steep drop-offs while hiking. Hikers with vertigo can have a hard time getting through some sections of this trail. You’ll enjoy exploring the Zion National Park if you choose to hike here.
Most part of the trail is full of mountainous forests filled with incredible flora and fauna. The annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is another great reason to hike here. It’s a 5-day celebration with plenty to do. You can go on a photographic tour, join seminars and history class. A small section of this trail features blossoming rhododendron and flame azaleas.
Lookout for deer as there’s a huge population of deer in this region. You can even catch some glimpses of wild turkeys and beavers. If you want, you can also explore some small caves found throughout the trail. The hike is considered as easy, but the scenic views are hard to find anywhere else. Period!
All in all, the trail is about 9 miles long and lets you explore green mountainsides. Hiking here will bring you to two mountain peaks: Mount Lafayette and Mount Lincoln. The start is quite easy and does not need much of an effort. But as you get further and higher, you will come up to a narrow section. This bit of the trail provides you with something to really think about.
