Every avid hiker has a list of favorite trails. Most people who walk in natural areas regularly have a personal connection with the paths they choose to tread regularly. This makes it difficult to create any sort of universal “top 10” or “best of” list of hiking destinations.

 

That said, certain trails in the U.S. enjoy a high profile because of their overall length, remoteness, amazing scenery or historical significance. These classics of the American hiking scene, including the Appalachian Trail pictured here, draw much-deserved attention from both casual hikers and boot-and-beard-wearing hard-core trekkers. These headline-stealers might not have the same place in your heart as the local path that you walk on 150 times a year, but they certainly are among the most attractive trekking routes that anyone in the U.S. can set foot on.

 

Where can you find America's classic hiking experiences? (Text: Josh Lew)