Not Yosemite, Not Rocky Mountain: These National Parks Offer The Most Hiking Trails

If your idea of the perfect vacation involves surrounding yourself with stunning scenery, spotting wildlife, and breaking a sweat along the way, then you're probably someone who enjoys hiking. The beautiful national parks scattered across the United States are some of the best places you can travel if hiking is your passion.

There are 433 different national park sites to choose from, and together they cover more than 85 million acres of land. Within those expansive preserves you'll find more hiking trails than any person could possibly traverse in a single lifetime.

Yosemite National Park has some excellent scenic hikes for beginners and experienced hikers. Rocky Mountain National Park has trails that lead to stunning alpine lakes and scenic paths to explore the Continental Divide. Although these are two of the most popular parks in the country, if you're looking for the place with the most hiking trails to explore, you're going to want to choose Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Yellowstone National Park instead.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park had the most visitors of any park in 2025, and year after year it ranks among the most popular national parks in the United States. It's located in the southeastern part of the country on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. More than 500,000 acres of land are preserved within the borders of the park, and within them you'll find more hiking trails than any other national park. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is the closest major international airport to the park if you're flying in. It's a good idea to rent a car so that you have the freedom to explore at your leisure. There are plenty of options when it comes to places to stay. Cabin rentals, campsites, and hotels are all available nearby. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is near the entrance of the park, and it's one of the most budget-friendly destinations in America.

Within Great Smoky Mountains National Park there are a total of 150 different hiking trails. Together they cover over 848 miles. The Appalachian Trail is one of the most iconic trails for serious hikers, and 74 miles of the route go right through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Alum Cave Trail, Chimney Tops Trail, and Clingmans Dome are a few of the most popular routes.

When you've had your fill of hiking, there are incredible scenic drives to enjoy throughout the park, including a portion of the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. The ancient Smoky Mountains are covered in lush forests, babbling brooks, and colorful wildflowers. There are over 22,000 different species of life that can be found within the park. A few of the animal species that visitors can expect to see on their hikes include black bears, elk, squirrels, and birds of all kinds.

Yellowstone National Park was the very first national park to be established in the United States, and the world as a whole. It was officially established on March 1, 1872. In total, the park covers 2,221,766 acres. Most of Yellowstone is located in the western state of Wyoming, but parts of it extend into Montana and Idaho. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the closest place to fly into. There are several different places to stay within the national park, including traditional lodges, cabin rentals, and campgrounds.

Yellowstone is also the national park that has more miles of hiking trails than any other in the United States. There are 1,114 miles of trails to explore within the park, and 92 different trailheads.

Parts of Yellowstone National Park are extremely remote, so it's a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts who long to experience solitude in nature. Dedicated outdoor enthusiasts spend multiple days exploring on wild camping excursions in which they traverse miles of the scenic hiking trails and spend the night in backcountry campsites. Along the way they may encounter rare wildlife species like grizzly bears, bison, wolves, and bighorn sheep.