The Ultimate National Park
Hiking Guide
Compare trails across Zion, Yosemite, Acadia & more by distance, difficulty, and time. Use our interactive tools to plan your perfect adventure.
National Park Hike Finder
Compare 50+ iconic trails across America's best national parks. Filter by difficulty, distance, and features to find your perfect adventure.
| Park | Trail Name | Distance | Elevation | Time | Difficulty | Best For | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion | Angels Landing | 5.4 mi | 1,488 ft | 4-5 hrs | Strenuous | ViewsChallenge | Plan This Hike |
| Zion | The Narrows | 9.4 mi | 335 ft | 6-8 hrs | Moderate | Slot CanyonWater | Plan This Hike |
| Zion | Observation Point | 8.0 mi | 2,148 ft | 6-7 hrs | Strenuous | ViewsSolitude | Plan This Hike |
| Zion | Emerald Pools | 3.0 mi | 350 ft | 2-3 hrs | Easy | WaterfallsFamily | Plan This Hike |
| Yosemite | Half Dome | 14-16 mi | 4,800 ft | 10-14 hrs | Strenuous | ViewsChallenge | Plan This Hike |
| Yosemite | Yosemite Falls | 7.2 mi | 2,700 ft | 6-8 hrs | Strenuous | WaterfallsViews | Plan This Hike |
| Yosemite | Mist Trail | 5.4 mi | 2,000 ft | 4-6 hrs | Moderate | WaterfallsViews | Plan This Hike |
| Acadia | Precipice Trail | 2.6 mi | 1,058 ft | 2-3 hrs | Strenuous | ViewsChallenge | Plan This Hike |
| Acadia | Beehive Trail | 1.4 mi | 520 ft | 1-2 hrs | Moderate | ViewsShort | Plan This Hike |
| Acadia | Ocean Path | 4.4 mi | 100 ft | 2-3 hrs | Easy | CoastalFamily | Plan This Hike |
| Grand Canyon | Bright Angel Trail | 12-19 mi | 4,380 ft | 2 days | Strenuous | ViewsBackpacking | Plan This Hike |
| Grand Canyon | South Kaibab Trail | 6.0 mi | 2,040 ft | 4-6 hrs | Strenuous | ViewsDay Hike | Plan This Hike |
| Rocky Mountain | Sky Pond | 9.0 mi | 1,750 ft | 5-7 hrs | Moderate | AlpineLakes | Plan This Hike |
| Rocky Mountain | Longs Peak | 15.0 mi | 5,100 ft | 10-15 hrs | Strenuous | Challenge14er | Plan This Hike |
| Glacier | Highline Trail | 11.8 mi | 800 ft | 6-8 hrs | Moderate | ViewsWildlife | Plan This Hike |
| Glacier | Grinnell Glacier | 10.6 mi | 1,600 ft | 6-8 hrs | Moderate | GlacierLakes | Plan This Hike |
Want to calculate exact driving times between parks?
Calculate Drive Times Between ParksPark-by-Park Deep Dive
Explore detailed guides for America's premier hiking destinations. Each park offers unique challenges and unforgettable experiences.
Zion National Park
Towering red rock cliffs, narrow slot canyons, and iconic hikes like Angels Landing make Zion one of America's most dramatic parks.
Top Hikes:
Yosemite National Park
Granite cliffs, giant sequoias, and thundering waterfalls define Yosemite. Home to Half Dome and El Capitan, it's a hiker's paradise.
Top Hikes:
Acadia National Park
Where mountains meet the sea. Acadia offers coastal hiking, iron rung trails, and stunning Atlantic Ocean views from rocky summits.
Top Hikes:
Grand Canyon National Park
One of the Seven Natural Wonders. Descend into the canyon for multi-day backpacking or enjoy rim-to-rim day hikes.
Top Hikes:
Rocky Mountain National Park
Alpine tundra, pristine lakes, and 14,000-foot peaks. Rocky Mountain offers high-altitude hiking with stunning mountain vistas.
Top Hikes:
Glacier National Park
Pristine wilderness with over 700 miles of trails. See glaciers, grizzlies, and wildflower meadows in America's Crown of the Continent.
Top Hikes:
Want to explore more parks?
We cover 15+ national parks with detailed trail guides, difficulty comparisons, and integrated planning tools.
Build Your Multi-Park Road Trip
Select parks and hikes to generate a custom itinerary with driving distances, hiking times, and day-by-day recommendations.
1Choose Your Parks
Select parks above to start building your trip
Strategic Planning Guide
Timing is everything. Choose the right season for your park and pack the right gear for optimal hiking conditions.
When to Visit Each Park
Compare optimal hiking seasons across parks. Ratings based on weather, crowds, trail conditions, and overall experience.
| Park | Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion | ★★★★☆ 60-80°F High crowds | ★★★☆☆ 95-110°F Very High crowds | ★★★★★ 65-85°F Moderate crowds | ★★★☆☆ 40-55°F Low crowds |
| Yosemite | ★★★★★ 55-75°F Moderate crowds | ★★★☆☆ 75-95°F Very High crowds | ★★★★☆ 50-70°F Low crowds | ★★☆☆☆ 30-50°F Very Low crowds |
| Acadia | ★★★☆☆ 45-65°F Low crowds | ★★★★☆ 65-80°F Very High crowds | ★★★★★ 50-70°F High crowds | ★★☆☆☆ 20-40°F Very Low crowds |
| Grand Canyon | ★★★★☆ 55-75°F High crowds | ★★☆☆☆ 85-105°F Very High crowds | ★★★★★ 60-80°F Moderate crowds | ★★★☆☆ 30-50°F Low crowds |
| Rocky Mountain | ★★☆☆☆ 35-60°F Low crowds | ★★★★★ 60-80°F Very High crowds | ★★★★☆ 40-65°F Moderate crowds | ★☆☆☆☆ 10-40°F Very Low crowds |
| Glacier | ★★☆☆☆ 40-60°F Very Low crowds | ★★★★★ 65-85°F Very High crowds | ★★★☆☆ 45-65°F Low crowds | ★☆☆☆☆ 10-30°F Very Low crowds |
Gear Guide by Park & Season
Different parks and seasons require different gear. Here's what to pack for optimal safety and comfort.
- •Water shoes (The Narrows)
- •3+ liters water
- •Sun protection
- •Early start alarm
- •Trekking poles
- •Dry bag
- •Cooling towel
- •Rain jacket
- •Layers
- •Waterproof boots
- •Bear canister (backcountry)
- •Microspikes (early season)
- •Gaiters
- •Trekking poles
- •Wind jacket
- •Warm layers
- •Gloves
- •Camera for foliage
- •Binoculars
- •Tide chart
- •Headlamp (shorter days)
- •4+ liters water
- •Electrolytes
- •Sun hat
- •First aid kit
- •Gaiters (dusty trails)
- •Trekking poles
- •Satellite messenger
- •Layers (alpine weather)
- •Rain gear
- •Sun protection
- •Extra food
- •Altitude meds
- •Trekking poles
- •Bear spray
- •Bear spray (required)
- •Layers
- •Rain gear
- •Bug spray
- •Trekking poles
- •Binoculars (wildlife)
- •Satellite messenger
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about planning your national park hiking adventure.
Still Have Questions?
Use our interactive planning tools to get precise calculations for your specific trip. From driving times to cost estimates, we've got you covered.
Ready to Plan Your National Park Adventure?
Use our complete suite of free planning tools to calculate distances, times, costs, and build your perfect itinerary.
Calculate Drive Times
Get exact driving times between parks and trailheads. Plan your route with precision.
Estimate Trip Costs
Budget your entire trip including gas, lodging, permits, and food expenses.
Measure Distances
Calculate exact distances between any two points for accurate trip planning.
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Related Planning Guides
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Zion National Park: Best Hikes Guide
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Best Utah Hiking Trails
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About This Guide
Welcome to the most comprehensive national park hiking guide on the internet. We've analyzed over 50 iconic trails across America's premier national parks to help you plan the perfect hiking adventure.
What makes this guide different? We don't just list trails—we provide interactive planning tools that let you compare hikes by difficulty, distance, and time. Our multi-park road trip planner calculates exact driving distances and generates custom itineraries based on your selected parks and hikes.
Whether you're planning a weekend trip to Zion, a week-long tour of Utah's Mighty Five, or a multi-state national park road trip, our tools help you make informed decisions. Compare Angels Landing to Half Dome, calculate drive times between parks, estimate your total trip costs, and build day-by-day itineraries with confidence.
We cover everything from beginner-friendly trails like Acadia's Ocean Path to challenging climbs like Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. Each park section includes seasonal planning guides, gear recommendations, permit requirements, and pro tips from experienced hikers.
Our seasonal planning charts help you choose the best time to visit each park based on weather, crowds, and trail conditions. The gear guide ensures you pack appropriately for desert heat in Zion or alpine conditions in Glacier National Park.
Start with our interactive Hike Finder to filter trails by difficulty, distance, and features. Then use the Multi-Park Planner to build your custom road trip with calculated drive times and hiking schedules. Finally, dive into our detailed park-by-park guides for specific trail information and planning tips.
All our planning tools are 100% free and provide real calculations—not rough estimates. We've pre-loaded data for all major national parks and trails, so you can start planning immediately without manual data entry.