Hiking has always been a popular outdoor activity, and recently it has become even more so. As many people learned in 2020, getting out into the fresh air and experiencing the serene settings of the natural world can greatly improve mental health and quality of life. During the extreme isolation of the pandemic, hiking became a crucial outlet for many Americans. According to the American Hiking Society, 2020 saw a 200% increase in trail usage compared to 2019.
Using a ranking formulated by LawnStarter, a lawn care start-up that frequently conducts research into city and state amenities, 24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the 50 best U.S. cities for hiking. The ranking is based on 11 weighted metrics including number of hiking routes, number of camping stores, sunshine, monthly precipitation, and air quality. (Hiking isn’t the only enjoyable outdoor activity, of course. Here’s a list of the best summer destination for outdoor fun in every state.)
Nearly all of the best cities for hiking are in the West. The region tends to have more trails, more camping stores, and a better climate than most of the eastern part of the country. Half the top cities are in California, in fact, which scored well not only for its trails and suppliers of camping equipment but also for its generally mild climate.
Click here to see the best American cities for hiking in 2021
Actually, though, Californian cities don’t actually have the most access to hiking trails. The cities with the most hiking routes are, in this order, Phoenix, Tucson, Colorado Springs, Portland (Ore.), and Salt Lake City.
Many of the hiking trails in or near these cities and elsewhere are in regional or national parks, national forests, or nature preserves. Here are the National Parks that have grown the most in popularity since 1980.
50. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
> Hike recommendation: Salem Lake Park Trail
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49. Austin, Texas
> Hike recommendation: Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail
48. Tampa, Florida
> Hike recommendation: Red, Yellow, and Blue Trails Loop in Cypress Creek Nature Preserve
47. Spokane, Washington
> Hike recommendation: Trail 25 to Centennial Trail in Riverside State Park
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46. Mesa, Arizona
> Hike recommendation: Pass Mountain Trail in Usery Mountain Regional Park
45. Tacoma, Washington
> Hike recommendation: Swan Creek Park Trail
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44. San Antonio, Texas
> Hike recommendation: Restoration Way Trail in Friedrich Wilderness Park
43. Oxnard, California
> Hike recommendation: Harbor Island Trail
42. St. Paul, Minnesota
> Hike recommendation: Holland and O’Brien Lakes Trail in Lebanon Hills Regional Park
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41. Greensboro, North Carolina
> Hike recommendation: Piedmont Trail at Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway
40. Boise City, Idaho
> Hike recommendation: Mores Mountain Loop in Boise National Forest
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39. Vancouver, Washington
> Hike recommendation: Salmon Creek Trail in Salmon Creek Park
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38. Henderson, Nevada
> Hike recommendation: Black Mountain Trail in Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
37. Salt Lake City, Utah
> Hike recommendation: Avenues Twin Peaks from Terrace Hills Trailhead
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36. Minneapolis, MN
> Hike recommendation: Minnehaha Falls Lower Glen Trail in Minnehaha Regional Park
35. North Las Vegas, Nevada
> Hike recommendation: Fire Wave Trail in Valley of Fire State Park
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34. Scottsdale, Arizona
> Hike recommendation: Sunrise Trail in Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve
33. Santa Clarita, California
> Hike recommendation: Whitney Canyon Falls Trail in Whitney Canyon Park
32. Sacramento, California
> Hike recommendation: Miners Ravine Trail in Roseville
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31. Elk Grove, California
> Hike recommendation: Laguna Creek Trail from Jack E. Hill Park
30. Glendale, California
> Hike recommendation: Beaudry Loop Trail in the Verdugo Mountains
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29. Honolulu, Hawaii
> Hike recommendation: Manoa Falls Trail in Round Top Forest Reserve
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28. Santa Ana, California
> Hike recommendation: Peters Canyon Loop Trail in Peters Canyon Regional Park
27. El Paso, Texas
> Hike recommendation: Aztec Cave Trail in Franklin Mountains State Park
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26. Seattle, Washington
> Hike recommendation: Lighthouse Loop Trail in Discovery Park
25. Albuquerque, New Mexico
> Hike recommendation: South Piedra Lisa Trail in Sandia Mountain Wilderness
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24. Santa Rosa, California
> Hike recommendation: Western Trail in Taylor Mountain Regional Park
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23. Fontana, California
> Hike recommendation: Mary Vagle Nature Center Trail in Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Regional Park
22. Ontario, California
> Hike recommendation: Gale Mountain Loop in Claremont Hills Wilderness Park
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21. Irvine, California
> Hike recommendation: Bommer Canyon Trail in Bommer Canyon Open Space Preserve
20. Chula Vista, California
> Hike recommendation: West Side Trail at Lower Otay Reservoir
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19. Rancho Cucamonga, California
> Hike recommendation: Etiwanda Falls Trail in North Etiwanda Preserve
18. San Bernardino, California
> Hike recommendation: Daley Canyon Trail in San Bernardino National Forest
17. Colorado Springs, Colorado
> Hike recommendation: Mount Muscoco Trail in North Cheyenne Cañon Park
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16. Anaheim, California
> Hike recommendation: Weir Canyon Trail in Santiago Oaks Regional Park
15. Fremont, California
> Hike recommendation: Mission Peak Trail in Mission Peak Regional Preserve
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14. Phoenix, Arizona
> Hike recommendation: Hidden Valley Trail in South Mountain Park
13. Las Vegas, Nevada
> Hike recommendation: Calico Tanks Trail in Red Rock Canyon
12. Riverside, California
> Hike recommendation: Two Trees Trail in Box Springs Mountain Reserve Park
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11. Oceanside, California
> Hike recommendation: Bluffs Beach Trail at San Onofre State Beach
10. Long Beach, California
> Hike recommendation: Dominguez Gap Wetlands Trail
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9. Tucson, Arizona
> Hike recommendation: Bear Canyon Trail to Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
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8. Moreno Valley, California
> Hike recommendation: Terri Peak in Lake Perris State Recreation Area
7. Huntington Beach, California
> Hike recommendation: Brightwater Trail in Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
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6. San Jose, California
> Hike recommendation: Church Hill Loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park
5. Portland, Oregon
> Hike recommendation: Wildwood Trail in Forest Park
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4. San Diego, California
> Hike recommendation: Kwaay Paay Peak Trail in Mission Trails Regional Park
3. Los Angeles, California
> Hike recommendation: Coldwater Canyon Park Trail
2. Oakland, California
> Hike recommendation: Huckleberry Nature Path in Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
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1. San Francisco, California
> Hike recommendation: Coastal Trail in Lincoln Park
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