6 Spectacular Trails on Land and Water

There are hundreds of thousands of miles of trails in the U.S. alone: quaint woodland trails that wind through local green spaces; riverside trails where you can birdwatch or spot a beaver dam from afar; urban trails that bring the natural world into close contact with the hustle and bustle of city living.

And then there are the big ones, the iconic trails. The bucket-list, don’t-miss, have-to-see-it-to-believe-it trails. And amazingly, there aren’t just a handful of those either. Across North America, there are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of trails on both land and water that beckon us back year after year, offering glimpses of not just nature, but something closer to the sublime.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Angel’s Landing, Utah

Due to its overwhelming popularity, this stunning trail in Zion National Park in Utah now requires a permit to hike, but it’s well worth whatever lengths you have to go through to experience it. About 5.5 miles round trip, Angel’s Landing crosses rivers, dips into cool, shady sandstone canyons, and finishes with a half-mile stretch along a rocky fin that employs metal chains to help keep you from tumbling down the fifteen-hundred-foot drop on either side of the ridge.

It may not be for the faint of heart (or those with a fear of heights), but there are few more iconic hiking routes anywhere in the world. If the permit process lets you down, The Narrows, also in Zion, serves up slot canyoneering at its utmost thrilling and is also not to be missed.

Skyline Trail, Alberta

If it’s alpine lakes, waterfalls and mountain views you’re after, two iconic trails stand alone: The Skyline Trail in Canada’s Jasper National Park and the Highline Trail in Montana’s Glacier National Park. Perhaps the most classic backpacking trip in all of the Great White North, the Skyline Trail is ideal for 2- or 3-day overnights, but parts of the trail can easily be explored on day hikes. Most of the route is above the tree line, meaning you’ll be surrounded by stunning views of snow-capped peaks and glacial lakes below. The Highline Trail in Glacier is similarly high-altitude, but at 15 miles, can be completed in a day. The wildlife viewing, including Dall sheep, mountain goats, and brown bears, not to mention the narrow single-track trail nestled against the cliffsides, is truly one of a kind.

Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Maine

River trails are a bit harder to come by than their land-based siblings, but the ones that make the grade do so for a reason. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway in Maine’s North Woods is certainly one of them, combining truly pristine wilderness with world-class camping and wildlife viewing. At over ninety-two miles long, the route can be done as one long trip over about ten days, or spread among different sections. The Allagash Lake section is among the finest, with almost guaranteed moose and bald eagle sightings, as well as the chance to enjoy true solitude as you paddle through the serene landscape. Even Henry David Thoreau, who paddled much of the route in 1857, was wowed: “Here was traveling of the old heroic kind,” he wrote in his journal, “over the unaltered face of nature.”

Apostles Islands, Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, another iconic paddling trail awaits, this time along the dramatic sandstone arches of Apostle Island National Lakeshore. The Mainland Sea Cave trail is revered among kayakers for its combination of incredible geology and, at just three miles or so, relatively short duration. That means you can have your mind blown by this stunning landscape and still be home for dinner. Put it in on your own at Meyers Beach, where there is also a trailhead if you prefer to hike instead of paddle, or join a guided tour, which is recommended for beginning kayakers. Lake Superior is generally friendly weather-wise, but things can change quickly, making an experienced guide a plus. Alternately, the Inner Island Loop is about 23 miles long and serves up lighthouse views, sea caves, and various uninhabited islands you can explore while picnicking.

Half Dome, California

The Half Dome trail in Yosemite National Park is a particularly epic adventure even amongst the top hikes in the country. Around fourteen miles round trip, you’ll pass by roaring waterfalls, cross the sweeping Yosemite Valley, and eventually arrive at a series of steel cables and notched stairways that will help you stay on course as you ascend this most iconic of granite formations. From the top, all of Yosemite opens before you. Again, this one is permitted, so get on the list in early spring, but as far as lottery wins go, the chance to climb Half Dome is like a winning Powerball ticket for outdoors lovers.

Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide

No list of iconic trails would truly be complete without at least mentioning North America’s greatest long-distance routes. These three trails are beyond iconic and include some of the most famous sections of any trails anywhere. The Presidential Range in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and McAfee Knob in Virginia top the Appalachian Trail’s most stunning sections, while the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada and the Cirque of the Towers in Wyoming’s Wind River Range are among the PCT’s and CDT’s best. Boasting glacier-carved peaks, brilliant wildflower meadows, and crystal alpine waters, each of these routes is the kind of bucket-list outing you’ll be talking about for years to come.