Hiking is a great way to get out of the house and explore nature. With various difficulties of trails and numerous places to hike such as state or national parks, there is no end to traveling the world and seeing more than what’s outside your window. But, the most important thing about hiking trails is where to find them. Thankfully, there are several apps that can help you out, including one called AllTrails that will find the best hiking trails near you.
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How to Get into Hiking
Find a Hiking Partner
This is not a requirement, but a lot of people feel safer when there is a friend with them on the trail. This could be your significant other, a friend, or a family member that’s willing to explore the wilderness with you. Hiking partners can help watch out for any dangers on the trail, but can also provide much-needed moral support to keep going. Hiking isn’t always easy, and having someone there to cheer you on is a huge advantage.
Choose a Hiking Route for Beginners
Pick the trail for you. Seriously – it’s not fun discovering that a trail is seven miles long one way and having to walk all the way back. Your feet will hurt, muscles will be sore, and you might not want to head out into the woods again. There’s nothing wrong with choosing an easier trail to begin with and working up to more advanced paths. Some easier hiking trails are actually more stunning than the longer ones too.
Start Local
Local trails are easy to find on AllTrails, but more than that local trails are a great way to start hiking. You can have a shorter driving time and really enjoy being out in nature, instead of driving for hours and deciding you didn’t really enjoy the hike. Leave the farther away hikes for bigger trips, and possibly combine them into a vacation so you don’t get burned out just hiking every day.
Interesting Features in AllTrails
AllTrails is just one of many hiking apps you can use, but their design and impressive features make each and every hike one to remember. It also finds the best hiking trails near you with ease, giving you several plotted marks to go and check out.
Interactive
From manipulating maps to figuring out just how many hiking trails are near you, AllTrails is a super easy platform to use. They have both an online version and an app, both with similar programming to keep your experience as smooth as possible.
Personalized
On AllTrails, you can keep your hikes personalized to you with “My Favorites,” and “My Maps.” Create curated maps that only mark the hikes you want to go on, and if you particularly enjoy a certain trail, favorite it and come back again and again.
Record-Keeping
One of the best features about AllTrails is the “Completed” section, where you can view all of the trails you’ve traveled upon. It’s a great way to boost your morale if a certain trail wasn’t that great, and can show you how far you’ve come since starting to hike.
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Best National Parks for Hiking
5. Yosemite National Park, California
First protected in 1864, Yosemite is nestled right in the high Sierra mountains. Of course there are mountain peaks scraping the sky, but there are deep valleys, large meadows, and ancient sequoias spread across 1,200 square miles. In terms of hiking trails, there is a range of difficulties, all the way from paved roads to the Half Dome, which is only accessible through a lottery.
4. Zion National Park, Utah
Utah’s first national park is Zion, drawing in millions of visitors each year. Take a walk down paths that humans have been walking on for thousands of years. Enjoy the sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar above your head, and enjoy the various species of plants that live in this arid environment.
3. Glacier National Park, Montana
Called the “Crown of the Continent” by the National Park Service, Glacier National Park has over 700 miles of trails to explore through the wilderness of Montana. Steeped in human history, visit some of the historic chalets or lodges, or if you’re looking for nature only take a hike into alpine meadows, spectacular lakes, and melting glaciers.
2. Acadia National Park, Maine
With four million visitors a year, Acadia National Park is one of the top ten most-visited national parks in the U.S. Located in Maine, enjoy the beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coast and a rich cultural heritage. For hiking and exploring, there are over 27 miles of motor roads and 158 miles of hiking trails, perfect for a beginner or expert.
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1. Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
If you’re wondering what the United State’s most visited national park is, look no further than the Smoky Mountains National Park. Split between North Carolina and Tennessee, explore numerous trails meandering their way through world-renowned wild and plant life and ancient mountain ridges.
Explore the Best Hiking Trails Near You
Hiking is a great way to exercise and find beauty in the natural world around you. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to improve your hiking experiences, using apps like AllTrails can help you find a route to try and make you fall in love with a new place. Exploring new paths and parks is what hiking is all about, so why not enlist help from an expert resource.