Yosemite is the #1 park on KURU Footwear’s list of “Top 10 National Parks for Hiking.” Choose a national park with lots of trails so there’s “something for everyone,” says KURU. The list is based on total number of parks, trail distance and average rating.
Want to experience some of the best trails the National Park Service has to offer? With over 44,000 total miles to choose from, these national parks are rated as the best for hiking.
Utah-based shoe company KURU uses total number of trails, trail distance, average trail rating, annual visitor numbers, and park area to determine the “Top 10 Best National Parks for Hiking.” It was announced that a total of over 4,155 candidates had been narrowed down. Trails through 63 national parks. For hiking families, choosing a park with a large number of trails is a smart choice, the company said, wanting to ensure “something for everyone.”
The longest trail in the National Park System is the North Country Trail, which spans 4,600 miles and spans eight states. Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis ranks among the worst national parks for hiking, with just one trail that’s 2 miles long.
Yosemite was ranked #1. It was also named to Family Vacation Guide’s list of the best national parks to visit with families this summer, and last year it was one of the 25 most visited parks in the National Park System.
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1. Yosemite, California
278 trails
4,729 total miles of trails
4.56 /5 Average Trail Rating
2. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
348 trails
4,354 total miles of trails
4.38 /5 Average Trail Rating
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3. Yellowstone, Wyoming
267 trails
3,507 total miles of trails
Average trail rating 4.2 /5
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4. Olympic National Park, Washington
194 trails
3,072 total miles of trails
4.28 /5 Average Trail Rating
5. Shenandoah, Virginia
264 trails
2,667 total miles of trails
4.34 /5 Average Trail Rating
6. Glacier, Montana
154 trails
2,160 total miles of trails
4.43 /5 Average Trail Rating
7. Rocky Mountain, Colorado
235 trails
1,970 total miles of trails
Average trail rating 4.5 /5
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8. Sequoia, California
98 trails
1,624 total miles of trails
4.48 /5 Average Trail Rating
9. Grand Canyon, Arizona
133 trails
1,562 total miles of trails
4.32 /5 Average Trail Rating
10. Kings Canyon, California
68 trails
1,583 total miles of trails
4.47 /5 Average Trail Rating
Camille Fine is a trend visual producer on USA TODAY’s NOW team.
