571 Best Sights in USA

From 1883 until 1890, logging operations (there was even a mill) were conducted in this area. The 2-mile loop, whose unmarked beginning is a few yards west of the Big Stump entrance, passes by many enormous stumps. Easy.

This trail connects Collie Ridge Trail and Wet Prong Trail. Horses and hiking only. 1.8 mi. Moderate.

This is the best trail in Voyageurs that doesn't require a boat to reach the trailhead. Starting near the Ash River Visitor Center on the south side of Kabetogama Lake, the 2.9-mile loop navigates rocky terrain through a boreal forest with superlative scenery. Moderate.

The trail to 15-foot Blue Hen Falls is a favorite of many of the park's own rangers. Hikers can park at Boston Mill Visitor Center, follow the Buckeye Trail uphill, cross Boston Mills Road, and then hike half a mile down a steep incline; don't miss the beautiful little waterfall. The 3-mile round-trip hike requires an unmarked road crossing so be extra cautious during this stretch. Hiking boots for this trail are highly recommended as the trail can get extremely muddy. Moderate.

The 6-mile climb from the Wild Basin trailhead to Bluebird Lake (2,478-foot elevation gain) is especially scenic. You pass Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls, plus an area that was burned in a lightning-instigated fire in 1978—today it's a mix of bright pink fireweed and charred tree trunks. Difficult.

New-growth loblolly pines form the canopy over this 1.8-mile trail that passes through a dramatically different habitat than the lowland swamp. The trail loops past both campgrounds. When high water levels prevent a deeper exploration of the swamp, the Bluff Trail is a pleasant alternative. Easy.

This 3-mile loop leads from the Warner Valley Trailhead to Boiling Springs Lake, which is surrounded by high bluffs topped with incense cedar, Douglas fir, and other conifers. Vents beneath the milky gray-green lake release bubbles into it, heating it to a temperature of 125°F. Most Warner Valley visitors combine this trail with another connecting trail, often Devils Kitchen or Terminal Geyser. Easy–Moderate.

Get away from the crowds for a half day via this strenuous, 2.6-mile (one way) hike. The panorama from the top is well worth it, especially at night. Difficult.

Overlooking the Manatee River, this 1.5-mile path connects downtown Bradenton attractions to the waterfront. The path spans the Green and Desoto bridges and offers various activities, including a splash fountain, a skate park, a canoe and kayak launch, a beach volleyball court, a fishing pier, outdoor seating, and a 20-slip day dock. Various groups use the outdoor amphitheater for special events, and musical and theatrical performances. An eastward expansion of the Bradenton Riverwalk is planned.

Especially scenic, this short but steep jaunt branches off of the North Rim Trail and can be accessed from either the Brink of the Upper Falls or Brink of the Lower Falls parking areas. The ½-mile one-way trail switchbacks 600 feet down to within a few yards of the top of the Yellowstone River's 308-foot Lower Falls. Moderate.

This 1-mile trail with a modest 200 feet of elevation gain lets you see the park from its highest points of more than 9,000 feet, alternating between spruce and fir forest and wide-open vistas out over Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument and beyond. You might see yellow-bellied marmots and dusky grouse, critters not typically found at lower elevations in the park. Allow about an hour. Easy.

From the Sand Dune Trailhead, it's an easy walk across open grassland to Broken Arch, which is also visible from the road. The arch gets its name because it appears to be cracked in the middle, but it's not really broken. The trail is 1¼ miles round-trip, but you can extend your adventure an extra mile by continuing north past Tapestry Arch and through the Devils Garden Campground. On the south end of the loop, a small section requires moderate scrambling. Easy.

A 40-mile section of Ohio's 1,444-mile Buckeye Trail, which loops around the entire state, passes through the park. The park section of the trail weaves its way in a narrow, single track through pine, oak, and hemlock forests, across streams, through ravines, and even alongside highways. It's not an easy trail and can be rocky: you should be prepared to get dirty and wet. There are blue blazes that mark the Buckeye Trail so finding your way should not be a problem. Currently, the road portions of the trail are being relocated into trail areas. Moderate.

Thriving prairie-dog towns entertain on this 11.4-mile loop trail in the North Unit. The trail travels over level grasslands, then loops back along the banks of Squaw Creek. Moderate–Difficult.

For a 360-degree view of Redwood Canyon and the High Sierra, make the 1-mile ascent (2 miles roundtrip) to Buena Vista. Difficult.

This trail cuts across the southern backcountry, following old roadbeds to the Buffalo Creek drainage, and links several trails. At 1.1 miles, Dry Prong Trail heads north and Turnhole Bend Trail heads south. At 2.4 miles, Sal Hollow Trail heads south and Dry Prong Trail reconnects. The trail ends at a junction with Collie Ridge Trail and Wet Prong Trail. Horses and hiking only. 4.4 mi. Moderate.

Approximately 27 miles long, the paved, flat, tree-lined Burke-Gilman Trail runs from Seattle's Gas Works Park, on Lake Union, east along the ship canal, and then north along Lake Washington's western shore. At Blyth Park in Bothell, the trail becomes the Sammamish River Trail and continues for 10 miles to Marymoor Park in Redmond. Except for a stretch of the Sammamish River Trail where horses are permitted on a parallel trail, the path is limited to walkers, runners, and bicyclists.  Bike share options are abundant in Seattle, including near the trail. Look for their locations using the Lime or Bird apps. For all-day rentals, there are a few bike rental shops close to the trail, including in the Fremont neighborhood, Lake Forest Park, and Bothell to the north. For trail access points, view the map online at www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/burke-gilman-trail.

This 2½-hour, 4¾-mile round-trip hike offers spectacular views of the peak named in honor of naturalist and essayist John Burroughs. The challenging trail passes Shadow Lake before climbing to an overlook of the White River and Emmon's Glacier and continues to First Burroughs Mountain. Extend your hike to Second Burroughs for a 7-mile round trip. This area on the northeast slope of Mt. Rainier has some of the most accessible tundra in the Cascades, and you can observe the delicate slow-growing plants that survive in this harsh environment. Early season hiking on this trail can be particularly hazardous due to snow and ice on the steep mountain slopes; check conditions before starting out. Difficult.

This 2½-mile one-way loop is a moderately easy walk along a dirt path that passes historic lime kilns and a wide variety of Sonoran Desert vegetation. It's one of the only off-road trails for bicyclists. Moderate.

This 100-yard paved trail in front of the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible and has resting benches and interpretive signs about common desert plants. Easy.

The mostly exposed 4.4-mile round-trip summit hike rewards with expansive views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the Schoodic Peninsula for much of the way. The trail is worth undertaking at either sunrise or sunset (or both!). Parking can be limited, especially in high season, so park officials recommend taking the Island Explorer bus for access via a 0.1-mile section of the Kebo Brook Trail. Moderate.

Affiliated with the University of Florida's natural history museum in Gainesville, this 0.7-mile interpretive walkway explores the site of an ancient Calusa village—more than 1,500 years old—with excellent signage, two intact shell mounds you can climb, the remains of a complex canal system, and ongoing archaeological research. Check the website for special tours and lecture events.

This 4-mile round-trip gravel path follows an old Jeep trail through a ponderosa pine forest to the canyon overlook at Cape Final with panoramic views of the northern canyon, the Palisades of the Desert, and the impressive spectacle of Juno Temple. Easy.

A popular sunset destination, Cape Royal showcases the canyon's jagged landscape; you'll also get a glimpse of the Colorado River, framed by a natural stone arch called Angels Window. In autumn, the aspens turn a beautiful gold, adding even more color to an already magnificent scene of the forested surroundings. The easy and rewarding 1-mile round-trip hike along Cliff Springs Trail starts here; it takes you through a forested ravine and terminates at Cliff Springs, where the forest opens to another impressive view of the canyon walls.

Informative signs about vegetation, wildlife, and natural history add to this popular 0.8-mile, round-trip, paved path to Cape Royal; allow at least one hour round-trip. At an elevation of 7,685 feet on the southern edge of the Walhalla Plateau, this popular viewpoint offers expansive views of Wotans Throne, Vishnu Temple, Freya Castle, Horseshoe Mesa, and the Colorado River. The trail also offers several nice views of Angels Window. Easy.

The park's longest hike runs 5 miles one way between the Fossil Exhibit trailhead on Badlands Loop Road and the parking area for the Door and Windows trails. Although the Castle Trail is fairly level, allow at least four hours to cover the entire 10 miles out and back. If you choose to follow the Medicine Root Loop, which detours off the Castle Trail, you'll add ½ mile to the trek. Experienced hikers will do this one more quickly. Moderate.

A primary destination here is the splendid Catwalk National Recreation Trail, a 250-foot-long metal walkway drilled into the sides of the massive rock cliffs of the breathtaking Whitewater Canyon—which is only 20 feet wide in places. This is one of the most verdant, beautiful canyons in the state, with the creek and tumbling waterfalls surrounded by gorgeous rocks and shade trees. The Catwalk, first installed as an access route for water lines critical to local gold- and silver-mining operations in the late 1800s, was rebuilt in 1935 for recreation purposes, and rebuilt again after a 2012 flood. A number of famous outlaws, including Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, have used the canyon as a hideout because of its remote, and almost inaccessible, location. You need to be in reasonably good physical condition to scramble up some stone stairways, but the 2.2-mile round-trip trail is well-maintained and worth the effort; there is a nice alternate route that is wheelchair accessible. Bring your bathing suit so you can enjoy standing under the waterfalls and splashing in the creek. Admission is $3.

This 2-mile hike takes you to the bluffs northwest of Scorpion harbor on Santa Cruz, where there are magnificent coastal views and pods of migrating gray whales from December through March. Moderate.

This 0.4-mile round-trip interpretive trail leads out from South Rim Road to two overlooks. It's an easy stroll, and signs along the way detail the surrounding plants. Easy.