Top Hiking Trails in North America — The Ridge-Bound Bucket List
- andres maldonado
- Mar 22
- 9 min read
By Andres R. Maldonado | Ridge-Bound | @ridgeboundco | @ridgeboundofficial | www.ridge-bound.com
North America is home to some of the most jaw-dropping terrain on the planet — slot canyons carved by ancient rivers, glaciers that have been retreating for centuries, volcanic peaks, dense Appalachian hardwood forests, and Canadian Rockies so dramatic they look computer-generated. At Ridge-Bound, we have been building our bucket list of trails we are itching to get our boots on, and this is that list.
Every fact in this post — distances, costs, permit fees, pet policies, accessibility notes — has been verified against official park sources, Recreation.gov, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Parks Canada, and AllTrails. No fluff, no guessing. Just real info so you can plan smart and hike harder.
#1 — Angels Landing | Zion National Park, Utah
🔥 Intensity: Hard | 📍 Zion National Park, Springdale, UT | 🎟️ Permit Required
Distance: ~5.4 miles RT | Elevation Gain: ~1,488 ft | Best Season: Spring & Fall
One of the most iconic hikes in the United States. The final half-mile to the summit involves pulling yourself up steep, exposed rock using chains bolted into the cliff face — with sheer 1,500-foot drop-offs on both sides. The views from the top of Zion Canyon are flat-out unreal, and the adrenaline of that chain section is something you will be talking about for years.
✅ Pros
Walter’s Wiggles — 21 iconic switchbacks just below Scout Lookout, one of the most fun sections of trail in any national park
360-degree panorama of Zion Canyon from the summit — red canyon walls, arches, and the valley floor far below
The chain section is genuinely thrilling — nothing else like it in the US national park system
Accessible via free park shuttle — no car needed once you’re inside Zion
❌ Cons
Extreme exposure — not suitable for anyone with a fear of heights; drop-offs are real and serious
Permit lottery required year-round — competitive and can be hard to win; no permit means no chain section
Rangers can close the trail at any time for weather — no refunds on permit fees
No pets allowed on any shuttle-served trails in Zion National Park
The Details:
💰 Cost: $35/vehicle park entry (7-day pass) + $6 non-refundable lottery application fee + $3/person if selected. Apply via Recreation.gov.
🐾 Pets: Not allowed on Angels Landing or any shuttle-served trails in Zion
♿ Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible. The paved Riverside Walk (1 mile) near the park entrance is accessible.
⚠️ Hiking without a permit is punishable by up to $5,000 fine and/or 6 months in jail
#2 — The Zion Narrows | Zion National Park, Utah
🌊 Intensity: Moderate to Strenuous | 📍 Zion National Park, Springdale, UT | 🎟️ No Permit (Bottom-Up)
Distance: Up to 9.4 miles RT to Big Springs (turn around whenever) | Best Season: Late May through October
This is not a trail — it is a river. You hike through the Virgin River itself, wading between 1,000-foot sandstone canyon walls that narrow to just 20 feet apart. The bottom-up route from Temple of Sinawava requires zero permit and lets you go as far as you want. Wall Street, the most jaw-dropping section, is about 6 miles round trip from the trailhead.
✅ Pros
Wall Street section — 1,000-ft walls only 20 ft apart; one of the most otherworldly places on the continent
No permit required for the popular bottom-up day hike — one of the few world-class hikes with zero booking friction
Orderville Canyon side trip — a quieter, narrower side canyon with waterfalls; far less crowded than the main Narrows
Fully customizable distance — turn around whenever; great for all fitness levels
❌ Cons
Flash flood risk — canyon can fill in minutes; always check weather forecasts and CFS flow rates before entering
Cold water year-round — dry suit rental (~$55/person) essential in cooler months
Trail closes March–May for spring runoff — plan around water levels
No pets allowed on any trails in Zion National Park
The Details:
💰 Cost: $35/vehicle park entry. No permit needed for bottom-up. Top-down (16 miles) requires a wilderness permit, often sold out 3 months ahead.
🐾 Pets: Not allowed. Cyanobacteria in park rivers is also unsafe for animals.
♿ Accessibility: Paved 1-mile Riverside Walk leading to the Narrows entrance is wheelchair accessible. The river hike is not.
🚌 Getting There: Free park shuttle to Temple of Sinawava (Stop #9). Visitor center parking fills before 9 AM — arrive early.
#3 — Half Dome | Yosemite National Park, California
🔥 Intensity: Very Hard | 📍 Yosemite National Park, CA | 🎟️ Permit Required
Distance: ~14–16 miles RT | Elevation Gain: ~4,800–5,300 ft | Best Season: Late May through mid-October (cables up Memorial Day through Columbus Day)
One of America’s hardest and most memorable day hikes. The route passes Vernal Fall (317 ft) and Nevada Fall (594 ft) on the Mist Trail before climbing steel cables bolted into near-vertical granite to the 8,800-foot summit. From The Visor — a granite brim jutting over a sheer 2,000-foot northwest face — you get an incomparable 360-degree view of Yosemite Valley. The park limits access to 300 hikers per day on the cables.
✅ Pros
Mist Trail — getting soaked by mist from Vernal Fall is an experience on its own, well before you even reach the dome
The cable section — pulling up hundreds of feet of steep granite with Yosemite Valley below is a genuine bucket-list moment
Summit view — 360-degree panorama of Yosemite Valley, the high Sierra, and Half Dome’s sheer 2,000-foot face
Iconic waterfalls, giant sequoias, and alpine scenery packed into a single route
❌ Cons
Lightning danger — do not be on the summit if a storm is approaching; the exposed dome is extremely dangerous
Extremely demanding — 14–16 miles with nearly a vertical mile of gain; serious fitness and training required
Permit lottery is highly competitive — 2023 success rate was only 22%; plan well in advance
No pets allowed on Half Dome or most Yosemite trails
The Details:
💰 Cost: $35/vehicle park entry + $10 non-refundable lottery application fee + $10/hiker if selected. Pre-season lottery in March; daily lottery available during season (apply 2 days ahead). Via Recreation.gov.
🐾 Pets: Not allowed on Half Dome or most Yosemite trails
♿ Accessibility: Not accessible — extremely strenuous with near-vertical cable section
⚠️ Hiking past the sub-dome without a permit risks a $5,000 fine and/or 6 months in jail
#4 — Grinnell Glacier Trail | Glacier National Park, Montana
🏔️ Intensity: Strenuous | 📍 Many Glacier Area, Glacier NP, MT | 🎟️ No Hiking Permit Required
Distance: 10.6 miles RT from trailhead (7.2 miles using boat shuttle) | Elevation Gain: ~1,600–2,500 ft | Best Season: Late June through September
Often called the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park delivers on every front. This trail passes turquoise glacial lakes, cascading waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and some of the most dramatic alpine scenery in the United States. Wildlife encounters are not rare here — moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, black bears, and grizzlies have all been spotted on this trail. The 152-acre Grinnell Glacier at the summit is a staggering and sobering sight.
✅ Pros
Thunderbird Falls — the waterfall cascades directly over the trail; prepare to get soaked and love every second of it
Glacial lake color — Grinnell Lake and Upper Grinnell Lake turn a shade of turquoise that genuinely doesn’t look real
No hiking permit required — just show up (early) and go
Boat shuttle option — Glacier Park Boat Company cuts ~3.5 miles RT off the hike via historic lake boats
❌ Cons
Active grizzly country — bear spray is mandatory, not optional; trails can close without notice due to bear activity
Lingering snow and ice near the glacier even in July — microspikes recommended early season
Parking fills before 7 AM in July and August — arrive very early or prepare for a long walk from overflow
No pets allowed on any trails in Glacier National Park — violations subject to fine
The Details:
💰 Cost: $35/vehicle park entry (7-day pass). No hiking permit required. Boat shuttle is an additional fee — book in advance at glacierparkboats.com for peak season.
🐾 Pets: Not allowed on any trails in Glacier NP. Permitted in parking lots, campgrounds, and picnic areas only.
♿ Accessibility: Not accessible — strenuous terrain with significant elevation and rough rocky sections near the glacier
📅 Season: Late June through early October. Many Glacier area generally open May–October — verify with the park before visiting.
#5 — Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
🏔️ Intensity: Moderate to Hard | 📍 Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta | 🎟️ Park Pass Required
Distance: ~8.8 miles RT (14.2 km) | Elevation Gain: ~1,200 ft (365 m) | Best Season: Mid-June through mid-October
This one starts at what is arguably the most beautiful lake in North America — turquoise, glacier-fed Lake Louise in Banff National Park — and only gets better from there. You walk the flat lakeshore trail before climbing into a stunning alpine amphitheater surrounded by six hanging glaciers, a historic backcountry teahouse, and views reaching all the way to Abbot Pass on the BC/Alberta border.
✅ Pros
Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse — a historic seasonal teahouse at elevation serving tea and chocolate cake; bring cash, no cell service up there
Dogs allowed on-leash — one of the few glacier hikes in this list where your dog can join the adventure
Golden larch trees in September/October — one of the most photographed hikes in Canada during fall foliage season
Accessible lakeshore start — the first 2 km along Lake Louise is flat, paved, and stunning even for non-hikers
❌ Cons
Parking is a serious problem — Lake Louise lot ($42 CAD/day) fills before 7 AM on summer weekends; book the Parks Canada shuttle well in advance
Avalanche terrain in winter and spring — only hike mid-June through mid-October when conditions are safe
Loose scree above the teahouse — final section to viewpoint is on loose rock; trekking poles strongly recommended
Dogs not permitted on Parks Canada shuttles — if bringing your dog you must drive or arrange your own transport
The Details:
💰 Cost: Banff National Park pass required (purchase at gate or via Parks Canada online). No trail permit needed. Parking $42 CAD/day in summer.
🐾 Pets: Dogs allowed on-leash on this trail. Not permitted on Parks Canada shuttles — drive or arrange separate transport.
♿ Accessibility: The first 2 km of Lake Louise lakeshore (flat, paved/crushed gravel) is accessible. The Six Glaciers trail beyond is not.
📅 Season: Best mid-June through mid-October. Open year-round but high avalanche risk in winter and spring.
#6 — The Appalachian Trail | Georgia to Maine, 14 States
🧭 Intensity: Varies (Easy day hikes → Extreme thru-hike) | 📍 Springer Mountain, GA → Mount Katahdin, ME | 🎟️ Varies by section
Total Distance: 2,197.9 miles (2026) | 14 States | Thru-hike average: 5–7 months
The world’s longest hiking-only footpath, first proposed in 1921 and completed in 1937. Over 3 million people hike sections of it every year. One of the Triple Crown of Hiking in the United States alongside the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. You do not have to thru-hike it — the AT has hundreds of access points within a few hours’ drive of millions of Americans, making it one of the most accessible bucket-list trails on the planet.
✅ Pros
Trail community — one of the most legendary hiker cultures in the world; trail towns, hostels, and trail angels make the experience uniquely human
Day hike access — iconic sections like Max Patch (NC), McAfee Knob (VA), and Franconia Ridge (NH) are accessible without months on trail
Dogs welcome on most sections — one of the most dog-friendly long trails in the US
Over 260 shelters along the route — built-in shelter network for backpackers the entire length
❌ Cons
Thru-hike budget is serious — estimated ~$3.70/mile in 2026; full thru-hike runs upwards of $8,100 including gear, food, and resupply
Wildlife throughout — black bears common along the entire trail; rattlesnakes and copperheads from Georgia through Massachusetts
Pennsylvania’s rocks — legendary among thru-hikers for brutal, ankle-punishing boulder fields that seem to go on forever
Dog restrictions in certain sections — notably the Great Smoky Mountains NP portion; always check local rules
The Details:
💰 Cost: Most sections free. Some require permits/fees (Great Smoky Mountains NP, Baxter State Park in Maine). See appalachiantrail.org for full fee details.
🐾 Pets: Dogs welcome on most sections. Restrictions apply in some areas (e.g., Great Smoky Mountains NP). Keep leashed as required.
♿ Accessibility: Several short sections near towns built to ADA standards. Visit appalachiantrail.org for details.
📅 Thru-hike season: Most northbound hikers start mid-March through early April at Springer Mountain, finishing at Katahdin in September or October.
The Ridge-Bound Verdict
Every trail on this list is on our personal bucket list for a reason. None of them are easy, none of them are cheap to get to, and none of them will leave you the same person who showed up at the trailhead. That is exactly the point.
The world-level hiking blog is coming next — we are just getting warmed up. Drop a comment with the trail you are hitting first, and tag us when you do.
Stay wild, move free — Andres R. Maldonado | Ridge-Bound | www.ridge-bound.com | @ridgeboundco | @ridgeboundofficial
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