Home to one of the longest and most famous hiking trails in the world, the East Coast of the United States offers a plethora of dramatically beautiful hikes for virtually any preference. From the sandy, humid banks of the Suwannee River in Florida to the peak of the highest mountain in Maine, the Eastern U.S. offers thousands of unique opportunities to commune with nature for any hiker, from the absolute beginner to the experienced and discerning.

1.   The Appalachian Trail 

This massive, world-famous trail is America’s longest marked footpath at about 2,178 miles.  It stretches from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia all the way up to Mount Katahdin, Maine, crossing six national parks, eight national forests and fourteen states. It’s got virtually everything a hiker could want to see and experience from the majestic peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina to the peaceful river vistas of the Potomac in Maryland.

2. Mount Katahdin, Maine

Katahdin is the highest mountain in Maine at 5,267 feet in elevation and is located in Baxter State Park, about 25 miles northwest of Millinocket. The Knife Edge route via the Chimney Pond Trail is challenging yet extremely rewarding, offering views of much of the park’s 200,000 acres of lakes, streams, forest and 400-million-year-old mountains.

3. Presidential Traverse, White Mountains, New Hampshire

Winter hikers who crave strenuous hikes will find no more picturesque location than the White Mountains of New Hampshire. 

4. Daniel Boone Scout Trail, Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina

Grandfather Mountain may be North Carolina’s newest state park, but these rugged peaks have been a top destination for hikers on the East Coast for decades. Its most memorable trail, the Danial Boone Scout Trail, is moderately strenuous with cables and ladders to help you on your ascent. 

5. Acadia Mountain Trail, Maine

If you want breathtaking views of the only fjord in the eastern United States, the Acadia Mountain Trail will deliver. After beginning a steep, rocky climb you’ll be rewarded with blueberry bushes and a stunning vista of Echo Lake before reaching the summit. 

6. Sunset Ridge Trail, Mount Mansfield, Vermont

Viewed from the east, Mount Mansfield resembles the profile of a human face, with an Adam’s apple, chin, nose and forehead. The Sunset Ridge Trail is noted as the mountain’s most scenic, with much of its 3.3 mile length above the treeline. For those who can’t quite handle the trail’s 2,700 foot ascent, you can cheat using the toll road or gondola.

7. Mount Rogers Loop, Virginia

Bird watchers and wildlife lovers will have plenty to look at on the Mount Rogers Loop Trail, which is mostly located within the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in Virginia. Among the songbirds found breeding in the area during the summer are the blackburnian warbler, black-capped chickadee, golden-crowned kinglet, red crossbill and northern saw-whet owl. The entire region is often referred to as “the rooftop of Virginia”, with the summit of Mount Rogers reaching 5729 feet. 

8. Breakneck Ridge Trail, Beacon, NY

Along the eastern bank of the Hudson River lies Mount Taurus, the rock face of Breakneck Ridge. While the climb is arduous, it’s also relatively short, and once you reach the top you’ll enjoy some of the most incredible views in the state. These mountains are home to hawks, turkeys, coyote, deer, red fox and the endangered eastern timber rattlesnake.

9. Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania

Pine Creek Gorge is often referred to as “The Other Grand Canyon”, and though its vast expanses of pine trees couldn’t be more different from the national landmark in Arizona, its impressiveness makes it worthy of the title. The 75-km gorge in north-central Pennsylvania is surrounded by nearly a million acres of state forest and parkland. The gorge plummets 427 meters from the rim to its deepest point.

10. Suwannee River Trail, Florida

Offering a dramatically different experience that is no less enjoyable, the Suwannee River Trail of Florida is flat and leisurely but reveals many treasures along the way including seemingly bottomless springs. The cool waters of the Suwannee River are enticing after a hot summer day of hiking. It’s a favorite spot for canoers and kayakers, who paddle along the river among towering cypress trees and a dazzling array of Florida wildlife.

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