Easy trails
Short, gentle routes ideal for families, rest days, and quick out-and-backs near the visitor center.
A few words on what these labels actually mean. Trail Compass uses the National Park Service's own published rating where available and infers from mileage and elevation gain otherwise. "Easy" routes are typically under 3 miles with under 500 feet of climb. "Moderate" covers the broad middle: 3 to 8 miles, often 500 to 1,500 feet of climb. "Strenuous" begins where the climb rate exceeds roughly 700 feet per mile, the total day passes 2,000 feet of vertical, or the route includes meaningful exposure or scrambling. Always read the individual trail page before you commit — these buckets are a starting point, not a substitute for the specifics.
Alpine Pond Loop
Wildflower-meadow loop near 10,000 feet.
Anhinga Trail
Boardwalk through a wet sawgrass slough teeming with alligators and wading birds.
Antietam Battlefield Loop
Walking loop past the Cornfield, Bloody Lane, and Burnside Bridge.
Asticou and Jordan Pond Loop
Botanical-garden-to-pond walk popular for shoulder-season color.
Badwater Salt Flat
Walk onto the lowest point in North America (-282 ft).
Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm Loop
Cultural-history walk through 19th-century farm buildings.
Balanced Rock
Short loop around the iconic 128-foot balanced sandstone formation.
Bar Island Trail
Tidal land bridge to a small forested island, accessible only at low tide.
Barker Dam Loop
Easy walk past petroglyphs and a historic cattlemen's dam.
Bartlett Cove Forest Loop
Walk through the post-glacial successional forest near park headquarters.
Bartlett River Trail
Quiet shoreline walk through coastal rainforest.
Battlefield Tour Road Trail
Walking tour of the 7th Cavalry's last stand and the Native American village site.
Bear Lake Loop
Wheelchair-accessible loop around the most photographed lake in the park.
Bear Valley Trail
Flat creekside walk to the rugged Pacific shore.
Big Room Trail
Self-guided loop through the largest single cave chamber in North America.
Big Stump Loop
Sequoia-stump interpretive loop with logging-era artifacts.
Big Trees Trail
Paved interpretive loop through Round Meadow.
Bird Island Basin Trail
Walk along a hyper-saline windsurfing-friendly bay.
Boardwalk Connector
Spur connecting park boardwalks.
Boardwalk Loop
Elevated boardwalk through cypress and tupelo bottomland forest.
Boquillas Canyon Trail
Scenic riverside walk into the eastern entrance of a deep limestone canyon.
Brandywine Gorge Loop
Loop past 65-foot Brandywine Falls.
Bridalveil Fall
Most accessible Valley waterfall walk.
Bristlecone Loop
Short forested loop at over 9,000 feet visiting ancient bristlecone pines.
Broken Arch Loop
Pleasant grassland-and-slickrock loop from the Devils Garden campground.
Brooks Falls Bear Viewing Trail
Boardwalk to the famous bear-viewing platforms during the salmon run.
Burro Mesa Pour-Off
Short canyon walk to a slick-rock pour-off.
Cactus Forest Trail
Family-friendly loop through dense saguaro stands.
Canyon Overlook Trail
Short east-side walk to a sweeping view down Zion Canyon.
Cap Rock Nature Trail
Wheelchair-accessible interpretive loop near the iconic Cap Rock formation.
Cape Alava Trail
Boardwalk through coastal forest to the westernmost point in the contiguous US.
Cape Final
Easy North Rim walk to a quieter alternative to Cape Royal.
Cape Final Sunset Walk
Easy North Rim sunset walk seldom crowded.
Cape Royal Trail
Paved walk to the broadest North Rim viewpoint, including Angels Window arch.
Capitol Gorge Trail
Walk past pioneer inscriptions and Native American petroglyphs.
Cascade Lake Trail
Easy meadow walk to a quiet lake with frequent bear activity.
Castillo Walk
Self-guided walk along the bayfront ramparts of the historic fort.
Cedar Sink Trail
Walk into a sinkhole forest with a disappearing river.
Chasm View Nature Trail
Short rim walk on the North Rim with one of the deepest canyon views.
Chimney Rock Trail
Spring wildflower-and-elephant-seal walk on the Headlands.
Christian Point Trail
Mangrove-edge walk to a Florida Bay overlook.
Cinnamon Bay Loop
Walk past Danish-era plantation ruins to a Caribbean beach.
Cliff Dweller Canyon Trail
Walk into the cliff alcoves and through the 13th-century rooms.
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
Boardwalk-and-stair loop through a juniper-clad slumped block.
Clingmans Dome Tower
Paved walk to the highest point in the park (6,643 ft) and an iconic observation tower.
Cold Brook Canyon Trail
Open prairie walk ending at the south end of the park.
Craggy Pinnacle
Family-friendly climb to a high meadow with rhododendron in June.
Crystal Forest Loop
Compact loop past large quartz-rich petrified logs.
Darwin Falls
Surprising waterfall and riparian oasis in the deep desert.
DeLacy Creek Trail
Walk to the western shore of Shoshone Lake — the largest backcountry lake in the lower 48.
Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Lower viewpoint for those who can't make the longer climb.
Devastation Trail
Paved walk through a forest destroyed by the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption.
Devastation Trail to Pu'u Pua'i
Walk to a viewpoint of the 1959 cinder cone.
Discovery Point Trail
Cliff-edge walk along the western rim with unobstructed lake views.
Door Trail
Boardwalk and open-walk through a dramatic break in the badlands wall.
Double Arch Trail
Short walk to a pair of massive arches sharing a common end.
Dune Life Nature Trail
Interpretive loop through dune-field life zones.
Eagle Lake Loop
Carriage-road loop around the second-largest lake in the park.
Eco Pond
Sunset wading-bird loop near the Flamingo visitor center.
Endless Wall Trail
Cliff-edge walk above the gorge with overlooks of climbing walls.
Exit Glacier Edge of the Glacier Trail
Family-friendly climb to a viewpoint of the actively retreating glacier.
Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic Overlook
Easy walk to an overlook of the most photographed thermal feature in the park.
Fern Canyon Loop
50-foot-tall fern-draped canyon walls — a Jurassic Park 2 filming location.
Fossil Exhibit Trail
Boardwalk loop interpreting the spectacular fossil record of the badlands.
Garden Key Loop
Short tour of Fort Jefferson's parade ground.
General Grant Tomb Tour
Walk through the largest mausoleum in North America.
General Sherman Tree Trail
Paved descent to the largest tree on Earth by volume.
Giant Logs Trail
Family-friendly walk to the largest petrified log in the park.
Goat Rock Trail
Short climb to a quartz-crystal viewpoint above the city.
Grand View Point Trail
Easy mesa-top walk to a sweeping view of the canyon country.
Grand Wash Trail
Flat walk through a deep, narrow canyon with vertical walls.
Grandview Rim Trail
Walk along the rim with the longest unobstructed gorge views.
Grapevine Hills
Walk to the iconic Balanced Rock formation off the Grapevine Hills road.
Grove of the Patriarchs
Boardwalk loop through 1,000-year-old western red cedars.
Hall of Mosses
Iconic short walk through draped club mosses in the Hoh Rainforest.
Hanging Gardens Trail
Short walk to a seep with hanging maidenhair ferns.
Harpers Corner Trail
Walk to a dramatic peninsula viewpoint above the Yampa-Green confluence.
Heart of the Sands Loop
Family-friendly walk into the heart of the dune field.
Heron Rookery
Flat creekside walk through a former great blue heron nesting area.
Hidden Lake Overlook (Continued)
Boardwalk-and-trail climb above Logan Pass with mountain goats often visible.
Hidden Valley Trail
Family-friendly loop into a valley enclosed by monzogranite walls.
Horseshoe Lake Trail
Forest-and-pond loop near the entrance, often with beaver activity.
Hosmer Grove Loop
Short interpretive loop through an experimental forest of imported tree species.
Hot Springs Historic Trail
Walk past historic ruins to a 105°F natural soaking pool on the bank of the Rio Grande.
Hot Springs Mountain Tower
Climb to the historic mountain-top observation tower.
Indian Tunnel
Walk through a 50-foot-wide lava tube with collapsed-roof skylights.
Interdune Boardwalk
Wheelchair-accessible boardwalk into the dunes.
John's Lake Loop
Easy west-side loop linking three small lakes.
Jordan Pond Path
Flat loop around Jordan Pond with iconic views of the Bubbles, perfect for a slow afternoon.
Joseph Plumb Martin Trail
Loop past the major encampment sites of the 1777-78 winter.
Joyner Ridge Trail
Quieter loop with the best photographic angle of the tower.
Kayenta Trail
Cliff-side connector between the Grotto and the Emerald Pools.
Knife Edge Trail
Walk along the original 1914 entrance road, now a footpath.
Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Wheelchair-accessible interpretive loop named for the First Lady.
Landscape Arch Trail
Mostly flat trail to the longest natural arch in North America at 306 feet.
Laurel Falls Trail
Most popular paved waterfall walk in the park.
Lava Creek Trail
Quiet riverside walk between Mammoth and the Tower campground.
Lehman Caves Tour
Ranger-guided walk through one of the most decorated caves in the West.
Leigh Lake Trail
Family-friendly walk to a long, narrow lake with Mount Moran views.
Liberty Island Promenade
Walk around the base of the iconic statue.
Lind Point Trail
Headland walk between Cruz Bay and Salomon Beach.
Linville Falls Trail
Multiple overlooks of one of the most photographed waterfalls in the East.
Lone Star Geyser
Old gravel road to a geyser that erupts roughly every three hours.
Long Key Loop
Walk on a small island near Garden Key — closed during nesting season.
Long Logs and Agate House
Walk past the largest concentration of full petrified logs in the park.
Long Point Trail
Most accessible view of the New River Gorge Bridge.
Lover's Lane Loop
Sol Duc rainforest loop past several waterfalls.
Lower Glacier Approach
Easy paved walk toward Exit Glacier.
Lower Yosemite Falls
Wheelchair-accessible loop to the base of the lower fall.
Lulu City Site
Easy west-side walk to the ruins of a 19th-century mining town.
Mahogany Hammock Trail
Boardwalk loop through a tropical hardwood hammock.
Main Trail Loop
Boardwalk-and-trail loop through the iconic redwood grove.
Malaquite Beach Walk
Walk along the hard-pack sand of one of the longest undeveloped barrier islands in the world.
Many Pools
Off-trail east-side route to a series of slickrock pools (no signage).
Manzanita Lake Loop
Family-friendly lake loop with classic Lassen Peak views.
Marymere Falls Trail
Easy waterfall walk from Lake Crescent.
McKittrick Canyon (Pratt Cabin)
Famous fall-color hike in the Chihuahuan Desert.
Mesa Arch Trail
Short walk to the iconic sunrise-photography spot.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Wander the most accessible dune field in the park.
Mica View Loop
Easy Eastern District loop with classic saguaro silhouette views.
Montville Nature Trail
Short interpretive loop near the visitor center.
Mossy Cave Trail
Family-friendly walk to a small waterfall and seasonal ice cave.
Mount Mitchell Summit Loop
Walk to the highest point east of the Mississippi (6,684 ft).
Mystic Falls
Short Old-Faithful-area waterfall walk.
Natural Bridge Canyon
Short canyon walk to a large natural bridge.
Northgate Peaks Trail
Family-friendly Kolob Terrace walk to a viewpoint between two peaks.
Ocean Path
Easy graveled path tracing the Atlantic shoreline between Sand Beach and Otter Point, passing Thunder Hole.
Pa Ka'oao (White Hill)
Sunrise overlook above the crater rim.
Pa'rus Trail
Paved bike-and-walk path along the Virgin River from the visitor center.
Pa-hay-okee Overlook
Short boardwalk to a panoramic view of the river of grass.
Painted Canyon Nature Trail
Quick interpretive loop into the painted badlands.
Painted Desert Rim Trail
Easy rim walk with sweeping views of the Painted Desert.
Petrified Forest Loop
Walk through a grove of petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet across.
Pinelands Trail
Walk through a slash pine forest with prairie understory.
Plaikni Falls Trail
Wheelchair-accessible walk to a high-meadow waterfall.
Playa Trail
Walk to a seasonal playa lake bed.
Promenade Walk
Walk along the historic brick promenade behind Bathhouse Row.
Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs
Boardwalk to one of the largest concentrations of Hawaiian petroglyphs.
Pueblo Bonito Loop
Walk through the largest of the Chacoan great houses.
Quinault Loop Trail
Lake Quinault rainforest loop past a 500-year-old Sitka spruce.
Rankin Ridge Loop
Highest point in the park with a fire lookout and prairie panoramas.
Rialto Beach to Hole-in-the-Wall
Beach walk past sea stacks to a tide-dependent natural arch.
Rim Trail (Sunrise to Sunset)
Paved cliff-edge stroll between the two most iconic viewpoints.
Rim Trail Greenway
Paved walk segment between Mather Point and Pipe Creek vista.
Riverfront Promenade
Walk along the Mississippi River beneath the Gateway Arch.
Riverside Walk
Paved walk to the start of the Narrows — wheelchair accessible.
Rocky Point Nature Trail
Family-friendly Lake McDonald loop through a recovering burn area.
Running Eagle Falls
Easy walk to a unique two-tiered waterfall with a hidden upper drop.
Sage Creek Rim Hike
Open prairie walk with frequent bison sightings.
Salt Creek Boardwalk
Wheelchair-accessible boardwalk over a year-round salty creek.
Sand Dune Arch
Tiny soft-sand walk into a slot leading to a hidden arch — a kid favorite.
Sand Pit Overlook
Wheelchair-accessible overlook of the dune field.
Santa Elena Canyon Trail
Short walk up into a 1,500-foot limestone slot canyon along the Rio Grande.
Savage River Loop
Easy round-trip walk along the river at the end of the public road.
Sentinel Dome
Short Glacier Point Road climb to a 360-degree dome view.
Shadow Lake Loop
Family-friendly Sunrise-area loop through subalpine meadows.
Ship Harbor Nature Trail
Interpretive coastal loop on the quieter west side of Mount Desert Island.
Shoshone Point
Quiet South Rim walk to a panoramic point reached by a former service road.
Signal Hill Petroglyphs
Family-friendly walk to a Hohokam petroglyph panel.
Skull Rock Nature Trail
Family-friendly loop visiting the iconic Skull Rock formation.
Skyline Arch
Family-friendly walk to a near-roadside arch.
Sloans Crossing Pond Trail
Boardwalk pond loop near the visitor center.
Smith Spring Loop
Walk to a desert oasis spring frequented by mule deer.
Snake Bight Trail
Walk through mangrove forest to a back-bay overlook.
Soda Canyon Overlook
Three overlooks of Balcony House across a side canyon.
Sol Duc Falls Loop
Short walk through old-growth forest to a triple-channel waterfall.
South Rim Trail to Artist Point
Walk along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone past the famous viewpoint.
Spruce Tree House Trail
Easy walk down to the third-largest cliff dwelling in the park.
Stoll Memorial Trail
Family-friendly Rock Harbor loop with optional moose sightings.
Stony Man Trail
Easiest summit climb in the park.
Storm Point Loop
Shoreline-and-forest loop along Yellowstone Lake with marmot colonies.
String Lake Loop
Family-friendly stroll around a shallow connector lake with views of Mt. Moran.
Sullivan Bay Trail
Family-friendly walk near the Ash River visitor center.
Sulphur Works
Roadside boardwalk past steam vents and bubbling mud pots.
Sun Notch
Family-friendly walk to a viewpoint above Phantom Ship.
Sun Point Nature Trail
Family-friendly walk along the shore of St. Mary Lake.
Sunrise Point Sunset Walk
Easy rim walk between the two most photographed viewpoints.
Sunrise Rim Trail
Sunrise-area loop with big Rainier views and wildflower meadows.
Taft Point and the Fissures
Walk to a vertigo-inducing edge above Yosemite Valley.
Taggart Lake Loop
Most popular short loop in the park with classic Teton views.
Tapestry Arch
Quiet spur near the Devils Garden campground.
The Towpath at Beaver Marsh
Wildlife-rich flat boardwalk along the Ohio & Erie Canal.
Thunder Knob
Family-friendly climb to a ridge above Diablo Lake.
Timber Creek Overlook
Easy Kolob Canyons walk to a sweeping desert overlook.
Tipsoo Lake Loop
Family-friendly loop around an alpine lake at Chinook Pass.
Tower Trail
Paved interpretive loop circling the base of the 867-foot rock column.
Trail of the Cedars
Wheelchair-accessible boardwalk through old-growth western red cedars.
Tree Molds Trail
Walk to perfectly preserved tree-shaped lava casts.
Trillium Falls Trail
Family-friendly Prairie Creek loop past a ten-foot waterfall.
Trout Lake
Easy lake loop popular for sunset photography.
Tundra Loop
Short interpretive loop on the alpine tundra at Eielson.
Ute Trail
Tundra walk on a 10,000-year-old Indigenous travel route.
Valley View Overlook
Short paved walk to a cactus-framed valley view.
Wahweap Overlook Trail
Walk to a panoramic view of Lake Powell from the south.
Warner Point Nature Trail
South-Rim end-of-the-road interpretive walk with a great westward view.
Weston Lake Loop
Loop along an oxbow lake of the Congaree River.
Whale Rock
Slickrock scramble to a humpback rock with views of Upheaval Dome.
Wind Canyon Trail
Short walk to a dramatic Little Missouri River overlook.
Window Trail
Shortest trail in the park, framing a classic eroded-canyon view.
Windows Loop
Family-friendly loop visiting North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch.
Wonderland Trail
Family-friendly walk through scrubby pines to a tide-pool-rich beach.
Worthington Glacier Trail
Walk to the toe of an active glacier off the Richardson Highway.
Zumwalt Meadow Loop
Cedar Grove loop along the South Fork Kings River.