Strenuous trails
Long, steep, or technical efforts. Start early, carry more water than you think you need, and respect turn-around times.
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.
3 Dune Challenge
Steep sand climb over the three highest dunes in the state park section.
Alamere Falls via Coast Trail
Long coastal walk to a rare tidefall — water flowing over the cliff onto the beach.
Alkali Flat Trail
Marker-only loop across the heart of the dune field — extremely disorienting in poor visibility.
Alta Peak
Big-day climb to an 11,204-foot summit with views deep into the high Sierra.
Alum Cave Bluffs to Mount LeConte
Most beloved climb in the park to one of its highest summits and the rustic LeConte Lodge.
Andrews Glacier
Climb to a small glacier above the Loch Vale basin.
Angels Landing
Permit-required chain-assisted scramble along an exposed sandstone fin.
Apgar Lookout
Burn-zone climb to a historic fire lookout overlooking Lake McDonald.
Arrigetch Peaks Approach
True wilderness route — no marked trail — to a granite alpine cirque.
Avalanche Peak
Compact climb to a 10,568-foot summit above Yellowstone Lake.
Beehive Loop
Compact iron-ladder scramble up an exposed cliff above Sand Beach with extraordinary views for the effort.
Bill Hall Trail to Thunder River
Long backpack to one of the largest springs in the canyon — North Rim only.
Bonanza Mine Trail
Steep climb to a historic copper mine site high above Kennecott.
Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point
Most popular South Rim corridor trail, descending to the Tonto Plateau.
Bright Angel to Indian Garden
Day-hike standard for fit visitors descending halfway to the river.
Brokeoff Mountain Trail
Quiet climb to a 9,235-foot summit on the southern park boundary.
Burroughs Mountain Trail
Tundra walk on the most accessible alpine zone in the park.
Cable Mountain Trail
East-side climb to the historic 1900s cable-works site above Zion Canyon.
Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail
Long granite ridge climb to the summit of the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast, with sweeping ocean views the entire way …
Cassidy Arch Trail
Steep slickrock climb to an arch above the Grand Wash.
Chasm Lake Trail
Climb to a glacial cirque under the east face of Longs Peak.
Chesler Park Loop
Big day in the Needles district through sandstone spires and hidden meadows.
Chimney Tops Trail
Steep climb to a pair of bare rock pinnacles (final scramble currently closed for restoration).
Cinder Cone Trail
Steep climb up loose cinder slopes to a 1665 eruption site.
Cleetwood Cove Trail
Only legal access to the lake shore — steep return climb on volcanic rubble.
Clouds Rest
Some say the best Yosemite Valley view of all — an exposed knife-edge summit.
Condor Gulch to High Peaks
Less crowded approach to the High Peaks summit area.
Confluence Overlook
Long Needles backcountry walk to an overlook of the Green-Colorado confluence.
Cracker Lake Trail
Long approach to a brilliantly turquoise tarn beneath Siyeh Glacier.
Devils Garden Primitive Loop
Long, route-finding loop past Landscape Arch, Double O Arch, and the Dark Angel monolith.
Dipsea-Steep Ravine Loop
Big-day loop climbing out of the redwoods to coastal views.
Dorr Mountain South Ridge
Stone-step climb up Dorr Mountain with optional connector to Cadillac.
Druid Arch Trail
Long Needles approach to a Stonehenge-like double arch.
Eagle Peak via Yosemite Falls
Long add-on from the Yosemite Falls trail to the highest of the Three Brothers.
East Rim Trail (Stave Spring Section)
Quieter east-side trail linking Weeping Rock with the East Entrance.
Easy Pass Trail
Highway 20-area climb to a high ridge with views into Fisher Basin.
Eielson Alpine Trail
Bus-access climb above the Eielson visitor center for tundra views.
El Capitan via Yosemite Falls Trail
Long route to the top of the iconic 3,000-foot wall.
Emory Peak Trail
Highest summit in the park (7,825 ft) with a final Class-3 rock scramble.
Fairyland Loop
Long, quiet circuit through the northern hoodoos, passing Tower Bridge.
Fern Lake Trail
Long hike past three named lakes in the Big Thompson drainage.
Fiery Furnace Loop
Permit-required maze of sandstone fins navigated by route-finding rather than a marked trail.
Flattop Mountain Trail
Above-treeline climb to a broad tundra summit.
Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point
Steep historic toll trail climbing out of the Valley.
Garnet Canyon Approach
Climb to the staging area for the Grand Teton climbing routes.
Glacier Gorge to Black Lake
Big-day climb past Mills Lake into a deep glacial cirque.
Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa
Steep historic miners' route to an old copper-mining mesa.
Granite Park Chalet via Loop Trail
Climb to a historic backcountry chalet alternative to the Highline approach.
Greenstone Ridge (Section)
Section of the long spine-of-the-island traverse.
Gregory Bald
Long climb to a grassy mountaintop famous for late-June flame azalea bloom.
Grinnell Glacier Trail
Climb past three glacial lakes to the rapidly retreating namesake glacier.
Guadalupe Peak Trail
Highest point in Texas (8,751 ft) with iron-trail benchmark on the summit.
Gunnison Route
Permit-required scramble to the river — chain-assisted in the steepest section.
Halemau'u Trail
Switchback descent down the crater wall to the floor.
Half Dome via Cables
Permit-required cable-assisted ascent of the iconic 8,800-foot granite dome.
Harding Icefield Trail
Climb above Exit Glacier to the edge of a 700-square-mile icefield.
Hat Shop Trail
Steep descent to a cluster of capstone hoodoos that resemble hats.
Heart o' the Hills to Hurricane Hill
Quieter alternative approach to Hurricane Hill from the Heart o' the Hills campground.
Hermit Trail to Dripping Springs
Lightly maintained corridor trail to a moss-curtained spring.
Hermit's Rest to Boucher Trail
Quieter Hermit Road descent to a remote tributary canyon.
Hidden Canyon Trail
Chain-assisted scramble to a hanging slot canyon.
High Peaks Loop
Best of the Pinnacles, including the steep-and-narrow High Peaks scramble.
Highline Trail
Iconic cliff-side traverse along the Garden Wall from Logan Pass.
Hugh Norris Trail
Long ridge climb in the western district, also reaching Wasson Peak.
Iceberg Lake to Ptarmigan Tunnel
Climb past Iceberg Lake to a hand-cut tunnel with views into the Belly River.
Juniper Canyon Loop
Steep loop linking the High Peaks with the west-side trailheads.
Kalapawili Ridge
Less-traveled Kīpahulu-area climb above the bamboo forest.
Kaymoor Miners Trail
821-step climb past the ruins of an early 20th-century coal town.
Klahhane Ridge Trail
Subalpine ridge with mountain goat sightings and Strait views.
Kolob Arch Trail
Long backcountry walk to one of the largest natural arches in the world.
Lakes Trail to Pear Lake
Subalpine traverse to a chain of granite-rimmed lakes.
Lassen Peak Trail
Climb the volcano that erupted in 1915, with views of Mount Shasta on clear days.
Liberty Cap Trail
Climb to a dramatic sandstone landmark on the rim.
Longs Peak via Keyhole Route
Famous 14,259-foot summit with a Class-3 scramble — full mountaineering effort.
Maddron Bald via Snake Den Ridge
Big-day loop over a high mountain bald.
Marble Falls Trail
Lower-elevation hike to a powerful spring waterfall in marble canyon.
Mauna Loa Summit Trail
High-altitude approach (above 11,000 ft) to the summit cabin of the world's largest active volcano.
Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls
Classic waterfall ladder via the Mist Trail with a return loop on the John Muir Trail.
Mount Angeles Loop
Less-traveled high-country loop near Hurricane Ridge.
Mount Cammerer Lookout
Big day to a CCC-built stone lookout on the eastern ridge.
Mount Ellinor
Steep eastern Olympics climb to a 5,944-foot summit with mountain goat sightings.
Mount Healy Overlook
Steep climb above the entrance area with iconic Denali views on clear days.
Mount Scott Trail
Highest summit in the park (8,929 ft) with arguably the best lake view.
Mount Sterling
Steep climb to a fire-tower-topped 5,842-foot summit.
Mount Storm King
Steep, rope-assisted climb above Lake Crescent.
Mount Townsend
Quiet eastern Olympics climb to a 6,212-foot summit with views to Seattle.
Mount Whitney Trail
Highest peak in the lower 48 (14,505 ft) — permit-required day or overnight effort.
Mowich Lake to Eagle's Roost
Climb to a high col with views into Mist Park.
Murphy Loop
Backcountry-feeling loop dropping below the Island in the Sky rim.
Napau Crater Trail
Long walk to a former lava-lake crater (currently in flux due to recent eruptions).
Navajo Knobs Trail
Long ridge climb to a 360-degree panorama of the Waterpocket Fold.
North Kaibab to Roaring Springs
Cooler North Rim alternative descending to a year-round spring.
Numa Ridge Lookout
Long climb to a historic fire lookout above Bowman Lake.
Old Rag Mountain Loop
Most famous hike in the park, with a memorable granite scramble across the summit ridge.
Old Rag Quick Loop (Saddle Trail)
Steep alternative descent for those skipping the rock scramble.
Otokomi Lake
Long climb to a high cirque lake from Rising Sun.
Paintbrush-Cascade Loop
Classic big-day loop crossing 10,720-foot Paintbrush Divide.
Peekaboo Loop
Strenuous loop through the heart of the amphitheater, shared with horse traffic.
Penobscot and Sargent Mountain Loop
Big-day loop over the second-highest peak in the park, returning past the high alpine Sargent Pond.
Pinnacle Peak Saddle
Compact climb to a saddle with the classic Tatoosh Range view of Rainier.
Pinnacles Trail
Steep climb out of the Chisos Basin to the high country, often combined with Emory Peak.
Pitamakan-Dawson Loop
One of the great backpacking loops, crossing two passes in the Two Medicine area.
Pohono Trail (Glacier Point to Wawona)
Long ridge through-hike with a sequence of southside Valley overlooks.
Precipice Trail
Iron-rung scramble up the sheer east face of Champlain Mountain — closed during peregrine falcon nesting season.
Rainbow Falls Trail
Long climb to the highest single-drop waterfall in the park.
Ramsey Cascades Trail
Long climb through old-growth forest to the tallest waterfall in the park.
Reef Bay Trail
Famous descent through dry forest past a sugar mill ruin to a beach with petroglyphs.
Ridge Lakes Trail
Steep climb to a pair of high alpine lakes.
Riprap Loop
Long ridge-and-hollow loop in the quieter South District.
Saddle Pass Trail
Steep, slippery scramble up the badlands escarpment.
Sahale Arm and Glacier Camp
Add-on from Cascade Pass climbing to a high camp on the Sahale Glacier.
Savage Alpine Trail
Most accessible ridge hike in the park, with sweeping tundra views.
Sepulcher Mountain
Big-day loop above Mammoth with sweeping views.
Siyeh Pass Trail
High alpine traverse with one of the highest maintained passes in the park.
Skookum Volcano Trail
Climb above the McCarthy Road to an extinct volcano caldera.
Sky Pond via Loch Vale
Big-day climb past Alberta Falls and the Loch to a high tarn beneath the Sharkstooth.
Skyline Trail Loop
Marquee Paradise-area loop through wildflower meadows to Panorama Point.
Sliding Sands (Keonehe'ehe'e) Trail
Descend into the volcanic crater across cinders and lava flows — return climb at high altitude is the hard part.
Sliding Sands to Halemau'u Traverse
Through-hike across the crater requiring a car shuttle.
Sliding Sands to Halemau'u via Holua
Through-hike across the crater requiring car shuttle.
Smugglers Cove Trail
Quiet Santa Cruz Island loop to a hidden beach.
Snow Creek Trail
Steep north-Valley climb to a high meadow above Tenaya Canyon.
South Kaibab Rim-to-River
Day-hike-pushed-to-extremes route — rangers strongly discourage attempting this in summer.
South Kaibab to Skeleton Point
Open ridge descent with sweeping inner-canyon views the entire way.
South Rim Loop
Classic big day in the Chisos with a panoramic 1,500-foot cliff edge over the Mexican desert.
Spence Field via Anthony Creek
Long climb to an open mountaintop bald on the AT.
Star Dune via High Dune
Climb the tallest dune in North America via the popular High Dune ridge.
Static Peak Divide
Highest maintained trail point in the park at 10,790 feet.
Subway Bottom-Up
Permit-required scramble up the Left Fork to a famous half-pipe section.
Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes
Steep climb to two cirque lakes high under the Grand Teton itself.
Tanalian Mountain Climb
Steep climb above Lake Clark with views into the Chigmit Mountains.
Tanque Verde Ridge Trail
Sunrise ridge climb in the eastern Rincon district.
Telescope Peak Trail
Climb the highest point in the park (11,049 ft) with views of Badwater nearly two vertical miles below.
The Bowl Loop
Climb into a high-elevation conifer forest hidden above the desert.
Tonto Trail (Hermit to Bright Angel)
Bench-traverse backpack across the Tonto Plateau (multi-day).
Twin Sisters Peaks
Quiet east-side climb to twin 11,400-foot summits.
Uncle Tom's Trail
328 metal stairs descending to a viewpoint of the Lower Falls (currently closed).
Vogelsang Loop
Multi-day high country backpacking loop through the Sierra crest.
Wasson Peak via King Canyon
Highest peak in the Tucson Mountain District (Saguaro West).
West Rim Trail (Lava Point to the Grotto)
Permit-required through-hike from the high mesa down into the Valley.
Wheeler Peak Summit Trail
Climb to the second-highest peak in Nevada (13,063 ft).
Whiteoak Canyon to Cedar Run Loop
Gem of the Central District with six waterfalls and natural swimming holes.
Wildrose Peak Trail
Quiet alternative to Telescope, with views of both the basin and the Sierra crest.
Wonderland Trail (Mowich Lake to Sunrise)
Multi-day section of the iconic 93-mile Wonderland circuit.
Yosemite Falls Trail
Climb to the top of the tallest waterfall in North America (2,425 ft).