Do you live in one of the best U.S. states for hiking? A new state-by-state analysis from KÜHL ranked all 50 states according to categories like the number of trail networks, weather conditions, and safety. The result is a list of ranked states for hiking, and the West Coast certainly had a strong showing, with eight of the top 10 states for hiking located in the western half of the country.
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Topping the list is California, thanks to its sheer size and landscape diversity. KÜHL notes that California offers “the most extensive trail network in the country,” including more than 13,000 hiking trails, as well as 280 state park units and nine national parks.
[RELATED: Top 10 State Parks for Fall Foliage Hikes]
In second place is Arizona—a state with more 300 days of sunshine each year. Although KÜHL gave the Grand Canyon State the best weather score of any state, it’s worth noting that hiking in Arizona during the hot months of the year can be downright dangerous.
See our tips for hiking in the desert here.
Wondering whether your favorite state for hiking made the top-10 list? Here it is.
Top 10 States for Hiking
- California
- Arizona
- Utah
- Washington
- Colorado
- Hawai’i
- Wyoming
- Oregon
- Florida
- Maine
Which states would you add to this list?
Header stock image by Stefan Tomic/Getty Images
