National Park Trails: 9 Great Hikes for the Family

Our national parks are timeless treasures. They wait patiently for us to visit them, and when we do, they wow us with unparalleled beauty: majestic mountains, placid lakes, babbling brooks, towering trees and more than 21,000 miles of trails to experience.

With so many amazing options across the country, which trails will you and your family choose to add to your bucket list? Get your inspiration flowing with these nine great family-friendly hikes in the U.S. national parks.

Zion National Park, Utah – Riverside Walk

On this easy Zion National Park trail, your family will come to appreciate the transforming power of water, which has been carving through Zion Canyon’s sandstone walls for the past 18 million years. Park your car at the Temple of Sinawava and start on the paved trail that winds for about a mile along the Virgin River, yielding dramatic views of the gradually narrowing canyons above. On one side, you’ll see hanging gardens fed by water trickling down the walls — on the other, water bubbling over rocks in the riverbed. Keep your eyes open for mule deer, great blue herons, wild turkeys and lots of squirrels (word to the wise: feeding them is against park rules). At the halfway point, you’ll reach the mouth of The Narrows, which is an opportune spot to take a break, cool off in the river and watch other hikers wade in to continue their treks upstream. Because of their popularity as some of the best trails in Zion National Park, Riverside Walk and The Narrows can be crowded, so it’s best to start your hike early.

Best for: Ease of hike; majestic, water-carved canyons

Length of hike: 2.2 miles round trip

Difficulty level: Easy

Other great hikes in Zion National Park: Pa’rus Trail, Emerald Pools trails, Canyon Overlook Trail

Official hiking website: nps.gov/zion

Acadia National Park, Maine – Beehive Loop

Beehive Loop is a challenging hike that pays off with one of the most incredible views in the area — Thunder Hole, Sand Beach and Frenchman Bay below, and the Gulf of Maine stretching as far as the eye can see. Everyone in your crew should be prepared to brave the heights of exposed cliffs, scramble over rocks and climb iron rungs anchored into the steepest sections. To start this Acadia National Park trail adventure, park at Sand Beach and enter the Bowl Trail trailhead. Follow Bowl about a quarter-mile to Beehive, where the real adventure awaits. It’s a 450-foot ascent to the top over the next half-mile. After you’ve enjoyed the expanses of the Maine coastline, complete the loop by hiking to the far side of the summit and taking the loop trail back to the start — going down the iron rungs is not recommended.

Best for: Thrills; amazing coastline views

Length of hike: 1.4 miles round trip

Difficulty level: Difficult

Other great hikes in Acadia National Park: Ocean Path, Jordan Pond Path, Wonderland Trail, Gorham Mountain Trail

Official hiking website: nps.gov/acad

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado – Bear Lake Loop

Overlooking tranquil water and nestled among majestic mountaintops at nearly 9,500 feet, Bear Lake Loop is a quintessential Rocky Mountain National Park trail. The half-mile loop is also an easy outing for even the youngest hikers in the family. To access the Bear Lake trailhead, drive to the end of Bear Lake Road — go early or late in the day for easier parking and lighter crowds. The wide loop path is wheelchair-accessible and relatively flat, so families can focus on the subalpine surroundings: a blanket of ponderosas giving way to rocky peaks, all reflected in glacial Bear Lake in calm weather, and wildlife such as deer, elk, chipmunks, squirrels, Steller’s jays, nutcrackers and chickadees. The trail is best hiked counterclockwise to match up with the many educational signs that explain more about the area. Plan to take a break on the far side of the lake, where there are fewer people. To extend your hike, venture south from the trailhead on Emerald Lake Trail to Nymph Lake (1.0 mile round trip) or on Glacier Gorge Trail to Alberta Falls (1.6 miles round trip).

Best for: Ease of hike; high-elevation scenery and wildlife

Length of hike: 0.5 miles round trip

Difficulty level: Easy

Other great hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park: Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Sprague Lake, Lily Lake

Official hiking website: nps.gov/romo

Glacier National Park, Montana – Avalanche Lake

Avalanche Lake has everything you would expect from a Glacier National Park trail — stunning views of mountain peaks and glacial streams that culminate in a breathtaking mountain lake destination. Start your hike at the Trail of the Cedars trailhead near the parking lots for the Avalanche Picnic Area and Trail of the Cedars. Soon, you’ll reach a bridge marking the start of Avalanche Lake trail. You’ll meander by Avalanche Creek and cut back into thick forest, gaining 500 feet of elevation as you go. Then you’ll arrive at the shore of a showstopper: pristine Avalanche Lake, fed in part by waterfalls tumbling down the mountain ridge that towers thousands of feet in the background. Simply enjoy the view — slip off your shoes and wade into the water. When you’re ready to go again, the hike’s last three-quarters of a mile by the lake is less traveled, giving you peace and quiet among the trees.

Best for: Amphitheater mountain views

Length of hike: 4.6 miles round trip

Difficulty level: Moderate

Other great hikes in Glacier National Park: Trail of the Cedars, St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls, Hidden Lake Overlook, Grinnell Glacier

Official hiking website: nps.gov/glac

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia – Stony Man Trail

Stony Man Trail is one of the easiest of Shenandoah National Park’s trails and offers some of the best views for adventuresome families with young children. From the Stony Man parking lot, take the Appalachian Trail to the Stony Man Trail post, then continue straight on to Stony Man. The path steadily gains 340 feet of elevation. It’s wide enough to spread out a bit, flanked by mountain laurel (that bloom in June) and thickly wooded, providing welcome shade. When you come to the fork in the road, take it — either path will loop around and end up at your destination, Stony Man viewpoint. The second-highest peak in the park, Stony Man treats hikers to panoramas of the Shenandoah Valley and the mountain ridges beyond. While taking in the views, keep a close eye on the children, as there are uneven rocks and no safety rails at the viewpoint. You may see white-tailed deer during your outing and a variety of birds, including peregrine falcons along the cliffs. If you go late in the day, you’ll watch lights blinking on in the patchwork valley below, punctuated by a spectacular sunset. With daylight faded away, it’s a short downhill hike back to the car.

Best for: Shortness of hike; sunset views

Length of hike: 1.6 miles round trip

Difficulty level: Easy

Other great hikes in Shenandoah National Park: Dark Hollow Falls Trail, Limberlost Trail, Blackrock Summit Trail, Bearfence Mountain

Official hiking website: nps.gov/shen

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio – Brandywine Gorge Trail

The grandeur of a 60-foot waterfall and easy access from a couple of interstates make this one of the more popular Cuyahoga Valley National Park trails. You can go to the falls straight away from the large Brandywine Falls parking area before heading out on the loop trail, or you can hike first and end your outing with the falls as the finale. Whichever route you choose, and whatever season you visit, you’re in for a treat. In the spring, for example, wildflowers bloom and rain-filled pools give salamanders a place to breed. In the fall, leaves change to vibrant colors — in particular, maple trees turn a fiery red. Be sure to stay for a while at the main attraction, Brandywine Falls. Stroll the boardwalk hugging the rock walls and see the falls from an upper or lower viewing deck. The parking lot serves visitors to the falls and the local park district’s bike and hike trail, so it’s frequently busy, but cars cycle out fairly quickly. It’s best to visit on weekday mornings or afternoons.

Best for: Impressive waterfall that flows year-round

Length of hike: 1.4 miles round trip

Difficulty level: Moderate

Other great hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Ledges Trail, Buckeye Trail

Official hiking website: nps.gov/cuva

Sequoia National Park, California – Congress Trail

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree in the world — at 275 feet tall and more than 36 feet in diameter at the base — and stands near the start of this Sequoia National Park trail. Give yourself extra time to get there, as the Sherman Tree parking lot can be crowded because of the giant sequoia’s popularity. Kick off your hike at the Sherman Tree trailhead and descend on the path a half-mile to the General Sherman Tree. (Turning back there will give you a 1-mile round-trip hike.) To continue your trek, follow the signs to the paved Congress Trail, which rewards hikers with a quieter atmosphere than the Sherman Tree area. The path undulates through a dense wood of moss-covered pines, patches of ferns and lupines, and a grove of mature sequoias, including the President Tree — the world’s third-largest tree and also the world’s oldest sequoia, at 3,200 years. On the way, your family will enjoy crossing over streams and through a tunnel cut into a huge fallen tree. Hiking the full length of the Congress loop will bring you back to General Sherman, where you’ll want to gather enough energy for the final hike uphill to your starting point.

Best for: Some of the biggest, oldest trees in the world

Length of hike: 2.7 miles round trip

Difficulty level: Moderate

Other great hikes in Sequoia National Park: Big Trees Trail, Tokopah Falls, Moro Rock

Official hiking website: nps.gov/seki

Olympic National Park, Washington – Sol Duc River Trail

On this well-maintained path, you’ll bathe in the serenity of an old-growth forest of fir and hemlock. You’ll hear Sol Duc Falls roaring before you see it — and just wait till you see it! Begin your family hike on this Olympic National Park trail at the Sol Duc River Trail trailhead at the end of Sol Duc Hot Springs Road. Crossing a bridge over the canyon near the falls, you’ll have a unique vantage point of the water being split into three channels by rocky teeth at the top. In addition to the bridge, other viewing platforms along the trail offer hikers a change of perspective and new appreciation of this waterfall wonder. The Sol Duc River Trail continues on from the falls, and a couple of trails — Deer Lake and Lovers Lane — have connecting points nearby, so your family can venture out for more hiking before making your way back to the start.

Best for: Lush forest; roaring, three-part waterfall

Length of hike: 1.6 miles round trip

Difficulty level: Easy

Other great hikes in Olympic National Park: Marymere Falls, Hurricane Hill, Hoh River Trail

Official hiking website: nps.gov/olym

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming – Leigh Lake Trail

With crystal-clear water, evergreen trees and jagged mountain peaks, this hike through Grand Teton National Park is something out of a postcard. Hikers venturing out early in the day will have several advantages: pleasing morning light on the mountains, mirrorlike reflections on the calm water, cooler temps for a more comfortable hike, and lighter crowds. Park in the third lot at the end of String Lake Road to access the Leigh Lake Trail trailhead. Then take a right on the String Lake Trail, which often bustles with activity from hikers, picnickers, paddleboarders and swimmers, and also features ample views of the lake, forest and mountains. After nearly a mile, turn right at the junction to continue onto the less-traveled Leigh Lake Trail. (Going straight at this point will put you on the shorter but equally picturesque String Lake loop.) From the junction, it’s 2.8 miles to Bearpaw Lake, where you’ll turn around and make your way back. The scenery along the lake won’t change much on this segment, though several clearings in the trees frame a stunning picture of Mount Moran — one of the tallest peaks in the Teton range, at 12,605 feet — plus a few other mountains topping 10,000 feet.

Best for: Mountain and lake views; variety of activities

Length of hike: 7.4 miles round trip

Difficulty level: Easy to moderate

Other great hikes in Grand Teton National Park: Inspiration Point, Hidden Falls, Taggart Lake, Lakeshore Trail, String Lake Trail

Official hiking website: nps.gov/grte