571 Best Sights in USA

This 7-mile dirt road in the Stronghold Unit is ideal for mountain biking, but should be attempted only when dry, and riders must stay on the road. The terrain is level for the first 3 miles, then it climbs and levels out again. At the top you can take in great views of the area.

Popular with families and birders, Ship Harbor's 1.3-mile figure-8 trail loops through woods and edges a sheltered cove where you may spot great blue herons feeding in the mudflats during low tide. Also great for families, Wonderland Trail is nearby on Route 102A. A portion of Route 102A (Seawall Road) was temporarily closed after 2024's winter storms. While repairs should be complete, if the loop road is closed, access it from its southern terminus with Route 102 in Bass Harbor, not its northern terminus in Manset. Watch for signs. Easy.

Of the redwood hikes in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, this flat, easy, 1-mile loop through an incredibly dense forest is the best fit if you have only an hour or so. The trailhead is a short hop off U.S. 199 between Crescent City and Hiouchi, and interpretative signs tell a bit about the diverse flora—you'll encounter hemlocks, huckleberries, and many ferns along this route. Easy.

Bisecting the Boardwalk Trail loop, the wide Sims Trail runs a straight line through the swamp on an elevated causeway. It's a pleasant walk that sees fewer crowds than the Boardwalk loop, and it's the fastest route to access the wilderness trails deeper in the park. Easy.

Winding down the forested ridge, this trail passes by places where water has left the ridgetop and shaped the landscape on its way down. The most striking of these is the enormous sinkhole at the middle that gives the trail its name. Footing can be tricky. 1 mile. Moderate.

Beginning at the Slaughter Canyon Cave parking lot (four-wheel-drive or high-clearance vehicles are recommended; check with visitor center for road conditions before setting out), the trail traverses a heavily vegetated canyon bottom into a remote part of the park. As you begin hiking, look off to the east (to your right) to see the dun-color ridges and wrinkles of the Elephant Back formation, the first of many dramatic limestone formations visible from the trail. The route travels 5½ miles one-way, the last 3 miles steeply climbing onto a limestone ridge escarpment. Allow a full day for the round-trip, and prepare for an elevation gain of 1,850 feet. Difficult.

Wear a hat and carry plenty of water if you're on this trail—you won't find any shade along the 2.4-mile round-trip loop. This is the rare frontcountry site where you might spot one of the few remaining native herds of bighorn sheep in the national park system and nice panoramic views. Easy.

Sloan's Crossing Pond is an anomaly—a standing body of water in a place where most water disappears under the earth. This accessible boardwalk encircles the pond, offering turnouts with outdoor exhibit panels explaining the aquatic life of a woodland pond. A small picnic area is available. 0.4 miles. Easy.

Starting at Slough Creek Campground, this trail climbs steeply along a historic wagon trail for 1½ miles before reaching expansive meadows and prime fishing spots, where moose are common and grizzlies occasionally wander. Allow two or three hours for the full 3.4-mile round-trip hike. Moderate.

A 6.1-mile round-trip loop takes you by streams and, in spring and summer, lots of wildflowers, including trailing arbutus. At Smokemont Campground near Cherokee, this is an easy trail to access. The only downside is that there are no long-range views. Moderate.

One of the easiest and most rewarding hikes in the park, this little trail travels 1½ miles round-trip through the forest on almost completely level ground. The overlook is an excellent point from which to photograph the Chapin Mesa–area cliff dwellings. Easy.

This trail starts near Yaki Point, 4 miles east of Grand Canyon Village, and is accessible via the free shuttle bus. Because the route is so steep (and sometimes icy in winter)—descending from the trailhead at 7,260 feet down to 2,480 feet at the Colorado River—many hikers take this trail down, then ascend via the less demanding Bright Angel Trail. Allow four to six hours to reach the Colorado River on this 6.4-mile trek. At the river, the trail crosses a suspension bridge and runs on to Phantom Ranch. Along the trail there is no water and little shade. There are no campgrounds, though there are portable toilets at Cedar Ridge (6,320 feet), 1½ miles from the trailhead. An emergency phone is available at the Tipoff, 4.6 miles down the trail (3 miles past Cedar Ridge). The trail corkscrews down through some spectacular geology. Look for (but don't remove) fossils in the limestone when taking water breaks. Difficult.

In 2018, JWTR timber company opened the first portion of a fantastic new trail system on a nearly 7,500-acre tract of pristine conifer forest about 12 miles northwest of town, near the western shore of Upper Klamath Lake. There are currently 42 well-groomed trails open for mountain biking, running, and hiking (as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter), with the nearly 10-mile Spence Mountain Loop the property's showpiece. The trail rises steadily to a 5,800-foot peak that offers spectacular views of Upper Klamath Lake and the surrounding mountains.

With virtually no elevation gain, this ½-mile, pine-lined looped path near a popular backcountry campground is wheelchair accessible and provides views of Hallet Peak and Flattop Mountain. Easy.

While Petroglyph Point Trail takes you along the side of the canyon, this trail ventures down into its depths. It's only 2.4 miles long, but you descend about 600 feet in elevation. Remember to save your strength; what goes down must come up again. The trail is open even while Spruce Tree House is closed. Still, check with a ranger. Moderate.

This trail connects Collie Ridge Trail with the livery at Double J Stables & Horseman's Campground. Horses and hiking only. 0.2 mi. Easy.

Starting from the North Cascades Visitor Center, this popular introductory stroll follows a short 300-foot path over a boardwalk to a lookout above the forested Picket Range peaks. Easy.

Well marked and mostly flat, this 2.3-mile loop leaves the south side of the road for a perfect beginner's hike out to Yellowstone Lake, particularly with a setting sun. The trail rounds the western edge of Indian Pond, then passes moose habitat on its way to Yellowstone Lake's Storm Point, named for its frequent afternoon windstorms and crashing waves. Heading west along the shore, you're likely to hear the shrill chirping of yellow-bellied marmots. Also look for ducks, pelicans, trumpeter swans, and bison. You'll pass several small beaches that kids enjoy exploring. Easy.

The 3½-mile loop around String Lake lies in the shadows of 11,144-foot Rockchuck Peak and 11,430-foot Mt. Saint John. This is also a good place to see moose and elk, hear songbirds, and view wildflowers. The hike, which takes about three hours, is a bit less crowded than others in the vicinity. Easy–Moderate.

The easiest trail in the park, it's only a quarter mile, virtually level, and paved, so it's suitable for young children, strollers, and wheelchairs. A brochure available at the start explains the numbered exhibits and features of the trail. Easy.

A stunning waterfall awaits at the end of this well-groomed, 1.3-mile trail along the cliffs and shores of picturesque St. Mary Lake. You can hike one-way and take a boat transfer back. Easy.

The 1½-mile-long loop of this self-guided trail takes you through the delicate subalpine meadows near the Sunrise Visitor Center. A gradual climb to the ridgetop yields magnificent views of Mt. Rainier and the more distant volcanic cones of Mt. Baker, Mt. Adams, and Glacier Peak. Easy.

A series of forested switchbacks along this trail descend from Sunset Point Overlook on the Heritage Trail to the river bottom just above River Styx Spring. The trail is narrow and the footing uneven, so use caution. Taking the trail upward can be moderately strenuous. 0.3 mile. Moderate.

Nearly 10 miles round-trip, this rigorous all-day out-and-back hike starts at Lupine Meadows and switches back through steep pines and flowered meadows to Surprise Lake and the regal Amphitheater Lake, tucked away in an expansive rock basin. The trail weaves out for views of the sprawling valley, while Disappointment Peak looms above. Get to the trail early and allow six to eight hours to tackle the 3,070-foot gain. Difficult.

Though technically within Saguaro West, this trail is on the eastern edge of the district (and closer to town), and affords access to Wasson Peak from the eastern side of the Tucson Mountains. After gradually climbing 3.4 miles, it ends at King Canyon Trail (which would then take you on a fairly steep 1.2-mile climb to Wasson Peak). Long and meandering, this little-used trail allows more privacy to enjoy the natural surroundings than some of the more frequently used trails. Moderate.

This trail system on the northern edge of Billings is a pleasant mix of paved urban paths and rugged dirt tracks, where seventy-something-year-old locals out for a Sunday stroll are just as content as extreme mountain bikers. Several individual trails make up the Rimrock system, which starts at Boothill Cemetery and winds past the airport up into the rocky formations that surround the city and give the trail its name. Expect fantastic views of the open plains and five distinct mountain ranges in some places, and the roar of jet engines and the sight of oil-refinery smokestacks in others. There are vault toilets near the parking area.

Hike 1½ miles from the trailhead to the lake and then, optionally, you can extend your trek by continuing on a 4-mile route around the lake where the terrain becomes steeper near Beaver Creek, or making the 5-mile loop trail around Bradley Lake, just to the north. There are views of Avalanche Canyon and areas where you might see moose. Allow an hour to get to the lake and back, and another two to three hours to make it around one or both lakes. Moderate.

This simple forested trail that winds around the Denali Visitor Center and other buildings and connects with the bus and train depot. The trail is made of gravel with minimal grade, most explorers should be able to complete the loop in less than an hour. Access may be limited by snowfall in winter. Easy.