Published on September 13, 2025
By: Tuhin Sarkar
Wyoming has officially joined nan ranks of West Virginia, Hawaii, and Maine arsenic 1 of nan champion hiking destinations successful nan United States. Its breathtaking landscapes and divers trails make it a must-see for each American hiker. With towering upland peaks, expansive nationalist parks, and pristine wilderness, Wyoming offers immoderate of nan astir scenic and rewarding hikes successful nan country. The state’s hiking trails cater to each levels, from casual walks to challenging upland treks, making it nan cleanable spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Wyoming’s earthy beauty, coupled pinch its cleanable hiking infrastructure, makes it a apical contender for immoderate hiker’s bucket list. Whether you’re exploring Yellowstone aliases trekking done Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming is simply a destination that promises an unforgettable experience. If you emotion hiking, there’s nary spot for illustration Wyoming to research quality successful its purest form.
Wyoming has claimed nan apical spot successful a caller study arsenic America’s number 1 hiking destination, leaving down different celebrated states for illustration Hawaii and New Hampshire. The study, conducted by EDGE Fall Protection, LLC, analysed each 50 states crossed 5 cardinal factors that effect nan hiking experience. Wyoming topped nan rankings pinch a cleanable people successful some earthy attractions and way infrastructure, achieving an wide people of 40.14 retired of 50. With immense wilderness areas and a well-maintained web of hiking trails, it’s nary astonishment that Wyoming is nan go-to location for avid hikers. Wyoming’s allure is further evidenced by its awesome nationalist parks, including Yellowstone National Park, which saw complete 4.7 cardinal visitors successful 2024, representing a 5% summation from nan erstwhile year.
1 | Wyoming | 10.00 | 6.38 | 6.18 | 8.58 | 10.00 | 40.14 |
2 | Hawaii | 10.00 | 7.95 | 9.81 | 8.45 | 3.75 | 39.96 |
3 | New Hampshire | 7.87 | 8.66 | 3.24 | 10.00 | 6.30 | 36.07 |
4 | Montana | 6.77 | 8.36 | 2.95 | 8.16 | 7.66 | 33.90 |
5 | Alaska | 4.55 | 4.68 | 10.00 | 7.28 | 6.92 | 33.43 |
6 | Vermont | 5.80 | 10.00 | 2.39 | 7.71 | 5.53 | 31.43 |
7 | Utah | 8.82 | 3.22 | 3.87 | 8.87 | 5.90 | 30.68 |
8 | Maine | 3.50 | 8.54 | 6.01 | 7.88 | 4.45 | 30.38 |
9 | Washington | 5.09 | 7.17 | 6.23 | 5.74 | 6.06 | 30.29 |
10 | West Virginia | 7.84 | 10.00 | 2.54 | 3.81 | 5.78 | 30.07 |
Wyoming: A Perfect 10 for Natural Attractions and Trail Infrastructure
Wyoming’s precocious people tin beryllium attributed to its pristine earthy beauty and an extended way system. The state’s top-tier hiking infrastructure, coupled pinch breathtaking landscapes, creates a cleanable blend for outdoor enthusiasts. Wyoming boasts a assortment of terrains, from nan majestic Teton Range to nan unfastened plains, offering hikers a scope of experiences. This unsocial operation of earthy wonders and accessible trails makes Wyoming nan eventual destination for hiking.
Yellowstone National Park, nan crown jewel of Wyoming, is simply a awesome tie for hikers from astir nan world. It is location to thousands of miles of trails, from easy strolls to challenging treks. The park’s divers ecosystems, geothermal features, and wildlife make it a apical destination for quality lovers. Wyoming’s people of 40.14 retired of 50 reflects nan state’s beardown hiking entreaty and its committedness to maintaining its earthy attractions and infrastructure.
Hawaii: A Close Second pinch Diverse Landscapes
Hawaii came successful 2nd spot pinch a people of 39.96, conscionable awkward of nan apical spot. The authorities scored perfectly for earthy attractions, pinch its stunning landscapes that scope from volcanic mountains to lush rainforests. Hawaii offers an abundance of unsocial hiking opportunities, including trails that lead done tropical jungles, on cliffside ridges, and up volcanic craters.
However, Hawaii’s little people for way infrastructure, pinch a standing of conscionable 3.75, prevented it from clinching nan apical position. The challenging terrain and isolated locations of immoderate trails make way attraction much difficult and costly. Despite this, Hawaii’s divers earthy attractions and its beardown estimation for hiking make it a premier location for outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers are drawn to nan islands for their earthy beauty and nan escapade that comes pinch exploring specified a unsocial environment.
New Hampshire: Leading nan Pack successful Hiking Engagement
New Hampshire secured nan 3rd position pinch an awesome people of 36.07 retired of 50. The state’s hiking engagement people was nan highest of immoderate state, earning a cleanable 10. This indicates a beardown civilization of hiking successful New Hampshire, pinch residents and visitors alike eager to research nan state’s galore trails. New Hampshire is location to nan White Mountains, which supply immoderate of nan astir iconic hikes successful nan Northeast.
Additionally, nan state’s aerial value people of 8.66 was among nan highest successful nan study, making it an perfect location for outdoor activities. The Granite State is known for its scenic beauty and well-maintained trails, which pull hikers looking to acquisition nan champion of New England’s earthy landscapes.
Montana and Alaska: Strong Performers successful Trail Infrastructure and Protected Wilderness
Montana classed 4th pinch a full people of 33.90 retired of 50, performing good crossed each categories. The authorities received peculiarly precocious scores for aerial value and way infrastructure. Montana offers immense expanses of wilderness and immoderate of nan country’s astir rugged and beautiful landscapes. Its nationalist parks, specified arsenic Glacier National Park, pull hikers pinch their melodramatic scenery and divers ecosystems.
Alaska followed intimately successful 5th spot pinch a people of 33.43. The authorities scored a cleanable 10 for protected wilderness, reflecting its vast, untouched earthy areas. Alaska’s rugged mountains, glaciers, and pristine wilderness supply ample opportunities for hiking and exploration. However, its little scores for aerial value and way infrastructure bespeak nan challenges that travel pinch maintaining hiking trails successful specified distant areas. Nonetheless, Alaska’s unmatched earthy beauty and its position arsenic a haven for outdoor escapade support it firmly successful nan apical five.
Other Notable States for Hiking successful America
Other states that performed good successful nan study see Vermont, Utah, Maine, Washington, and West Virginia. Vermont, pinch a people of 31.43, was praised for its cleanable people successful aerial quality, making it an perfect location for hikers seeking clean, caller upland air. Utah scored highly for its earthy attractions, pinch celebrated nationalist parks specified arsenic Zion and Bryce Canyon offering hikers stunning landscapes and memorable trails.
Maine, Washington, and West Virginia besides performed good successful nan rankings, pinch each authorities excelling successful categories for illustration aerial value and protected wilderness. Washington’s divers landscapes, from temperate rainforests to volcanic peaks, make it a awesome destination for hikers seeking variety. Meanwhile, Maine’s immense wilderness areas and coastal trails connection a unsocial hiking acquisition successful nan Northeast.
The Bottom of nan Pack: Nebraska and Oklahoma
At nan different extremity of nan scale, Nebraska and Oklahoma classed among nan lowest for hiking. Nebraska, pinch a full people of conscionable 12.03 retired of 50, scored poorly successful nan earthy attractions category. While nan state’s aerial value was comparatively high, nan deficiency of mountainous terrain and divers ecosystems made it little appealing for hikers.
Oklahoma fared somewhat amended but still classed poorly, pinch a people of 10.36 retired of 50. The authorities received debased scores crossed each categories, pinch its highest standing being conscionable 3.74 for aerial quality. Oklahoma’s deficiency of notable hiking destinations and its comparatively level scenery made it 1 of nan slightest favorable states for hiking successful America.
Hiking successful America: A Booming Industry pinch Lasting Impact
Hiking is much than conscionable a celebrated pastime—it’s a increasing manufacture that supports section economies and communities crossed nan United States. According to nan National Park Service, nan U.S. nationalist parks strategy generated complete $26.4 cardinal successful gross successful 2023, supporting complete 415,000 jobs and contributing $55 cardinal successful economical output. Hiking plays a important domiciled successful this economical impact, arsenic visitors flock to nationalist parks and hiking destinations successful hunt of adventure, relaxation, and a relationship pinch nature.
As much group activity outdoor experiences, states that rank precocious for hiking, specified arsenic Wyoming, Hawaii, and New Hampshire, proceed to use from accrued tourism. In Wyoming, for example, Yellowstone National Park saw a 5% summation successful visitors from 2023 to 2024. This inclination reflects nan increasing fame of hiking arsenic an activity, pinch much group exploring nan awesome outdoors than ever before.
Conclusion: America’s Best Hiking Destinations
The study of hiking destinations crossed nan U.S. has highlighted nan apical states that connection nan champion hiking experiences. Wyoming stands retired arsenic nan champion authorities for hiking, pinch its immense wilderness, well-maintained trails, and stunning earthy attractions. Hawaii, New Hampshire, Montana, and Alaska besides rank highly for their divers landscapes and beardown hiking infrastructure. For those seeking caller air, cleanable trails, and unparalleled earthy beauty, these states connection immoderate of nan champion hiking experiences successful nan country.
The hiking industry’s maturation shows nary signs of slowing down, pinch much hikers venturing to research America’s nationalist parks and trails. As liking successful hiking continues to rise, it’s important for authorities authorities to support and amended way infrastructure, aerial quality, and entree to protected wilderness areas to guarantee that early generations tin bask these unthinkable outdoor experiences.