According to Expedia’s 2026 trends report, slow travel continues to dominate travel preferences. With that in mind, walking holidays are becoming increasingly popular as one of the most meaningful ways for travellers to experience the USA’s most spectacular landscapes.
From hiking amidst the dramatic alpine scenery of Rocky Mountain National Park to discovering the vibrant wildflowers at various elevations in Arizona, there are plenty of trails to slow down and connect with nature on these US walking holidays.
Take your pick from 211 miles of trails in Aspen & Snowmass Village, Colorado
As the epitome of paradise for keen hikers with endless options for day hikes and backpacking trips, Aspen and Snowmass Village offer stunning scenic trails through fields of wildflowers, over rushing streams and within dense forest. In Snowmass Village, visitors can enjoy stunning 360-degree views of mountains and valleys on the 3.98-mile Rim Trail South – a shorter version of the full Rim Trail – and in Aspen, the 5.3-mile Cathedral Lake trail takes hikers from Ashcroft ghost town up to the idyllic Cathedral Lake, via viewpoints of the Maroon Bells.
Take the Aspen Pledge to explore responsibly and ACRA will donate $18.80 to the Independence Pass Foundation or Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers. aspenchamber.org / gosnowmass.com
Wildflower walking trails, Arizona
Arizona is a hiker’s paradise all-year-round, but a visit in the spring brings a new dimension of beauty and cooler temperatures, perfect for a day out on the trails. For those seeking a slow and pleasant hike, check out the Waddell and Waterfall Trails at the White Tank Mountain Regional Park – the largest regional park in Maricopa, Arizona. For the more adventurous, the San Tan Mountain Regional Park is a great trail to catch a wide variety of blooms thanks to the different elevations and varying temperatures.
Entry fees for the parks are £7 and £5 per vehicle respectively. visitarizona.com
Explore a high-alpine playground in Mammoth Lakes, California
The Mammoth Lakes Basin is home to some of the Eastern Sierra’s most stunning scenery, an outdoor haven for walking holidays through pine forests, jagged peaks, wildflowers and crystal-clear lakes. Located just minutes from the town of Mammoth Lakes, the Lakes Basin offers visitors easy access to dozens of trailheads and over 100 miles of designated routes leading into the John Muir Wilderness and deeper into the Sierra Nevada. The basin is a perfect destination for hikers of all levels, trails vary from easy forest strolls to steep climbs into the high country.
National Parks
Colorado’s Wildest Alpine Escape: Rocky Mountain National Park
A visit to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is the kind of bucket-list American adventure that stays with you forever. Home to more than 350 miles of hiking trails, the park offers dramatic alpine scenery, mirror-like lakes, wildflower-filled meadows and soaring mountain peaks. Wildlife thrives here too, with visitors regularly spotting elk, moose, bighorn sheep and even golden eagles roaming the landscape. For the full Rocky Mountain experience, stay at the iconic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, best known for inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining.
Room rates from £289 per night. colorado.com
Walk among Icons in Yosemite National Park, California
Follow in the footsteps of the father of National Parks, John Muir, on a hiking exploration of Yosemite. Journey past towering granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves and thundering waterfalls, and encounter iconic sites including El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Falls and Mariposa Grove. Hike Taft Point Trail to Sentinel Dome and the Mist Trail for rewarding views.
Learn about the conservancy of the parks and local trails with guided hikes and trail stewardship programmes from Mariposa Trails. Yosemite.com on these walking holidays.
- Intrepid has a six-night Hiking Yosemite National Park: Iconic Trails and Scenic Views Itinerary, including transfers from San Francisco, transport to trailheads and accommodation from £1580 with specific departure dates in 2026 and 2027 (flights and National Park entry fee not included).
See the first U.S. sunrise in Acadia National Park, Maine
Try Maine’s “crown jewel of the North Atlantic coast”, Acadia National Park, for gorgeous foliage and coastal scenery. 158 miles of scenic trails range from picturesque Jordan Pond 5km loop to the very challenging Beehive (at certain points, iron rungs are required to climb a mountain). Hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain for the first sunrise on the U.S. east coast. This year the Maine Gear Library Network launched, providing affordable access to high-quality outdoor equipment, so hikers needn’t worry about transporting their own. visitmaine.com
- Guided group walking trips in Acadia National Park are available through Wild Trekking, with an Acadia Hiking and Kayaking 5-day adventure, departing from Bangor Maine, with accommodation in Bar Harbor from £2619 per person (flights, transfers and National Park pass not included)
*Note: All national parks in the United States can be entered using an America the Beautiful pass, which covers an entire vehicle, or two motorcycles, or the passholder plus three additional adults in their party, where per-person rather than per-vehicle fees are charged. Passes start from £185 and last a year with unlimited national park entry.
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