The Hoh River in Washington's Olympic National Park is surrounded by a rainforest and views of Blue Glacier and Mount Olympus, making it one of the most beautiful places in America's state and national parks. Beginners can hike there via Spruce Nature Trail, a flat 1.2-mile loop with less than a 100-foot elevation gain.

Spruce Nature Trail to Hoh River

The Fairy Falls Trail hike is just a few miles north of Old Faithful in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park, and is typically accessible from May to November. Starting near the Grand Prismatic Spring, one of the most mesmerizing places on earth, a walk through a lodgepole pine forest opens up to beautiful 200-foot-tall Fairy Falls.

Fairy Falls Trail Hike

Hot Springs Mountain Trail, located in Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, is an easy stroll with several scenic overlooks, going around the top of North Mountain and through a lush green forest. The National Park Service (NPS) refers to the journey as "one of the most rewarding trails in the park."

Hot Springs Mountain Trail

The Balanced Rock Trail lies at the base of a show-stopping rock formation in Utah's Arches National Park, with an elevation gain of less than 50 feet. According to NPS, it should take about 20 minutes to walk through the 0.3-mile loop trail that leads to a view of The Windows and the distant La Sal Mountains — plus, the beginning is paved and wheelchair accessible.

Balanced Rock Trail

The Boardwalk Loop at Congaree National Park in South Carolina is an ideal beginner hiking trail that leads you into a scenic lush forest. The 2.4-mile boardwalk has an easily accessible flat surface that makes for a breezy stroll into the Congaree wilderness to spot wildlife amidst the towering green trees.

The Boardwalk Loop