Top 3 Best Places to Hike Alone in the US

Hiking is one of my favorite things to do with friends, but it’s also one of my favorite things to do when I need some time alone. Hiking by myself means that I can go where I want, hike as fast (or as slowly) as I feel like, stop to take photos, and spend some time in nature alone with my thoughts.

Since hiking alone comes with increased risk, I’m always very careful about where I go and what I take with me. We’ve researched the best places to hike alone and included tips for staying safe and packing for your trip. If you already know where you’re headed, you can jump ahead to read our tips for staying safe while hiking alone or suggestions for what to pack when hiking solo.

The top 3 best places to go hiking alone

Spending time outdoors alone can be relaxing, but you should take some extra precautions to make sure you’ll be safe. While there are many beautiful places throughout the country to spend time in nature, we recommend sticking to national parks because they give you enough space to get out and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature, but they have lots of resources that can help you stay safe. National parks have full-time rangers, detailed maps and descriptions of hikes, places to refill your water bottles, and websites with alerts about weather and road conditions.

While there is some risk associated with any outdoor activity, the country’s national parks are very safe—especially if you make smart choices during your visit. The average fatality rate between 2007 and 2013 was 0.57 deaths per one million visits. This means you’re more likely to be struck by lightning than to die in a national park—in any one year, your chances of being struck by lightning in the US are one in 700,000.

Although it is possible to stay safe in any of the national parks, we’re recommending parks that get at least one million visitors per year so that if you hit the trails alone, you’re still likely to pass other adventurers once in awhile. We also considered wildlife threats—even though these threats are very rare, we don’t recommend going to places like Yellowstone alone because wildlife encounters are still a minor concern.

You’d probably be pretty safe visiting any national park in the country, but the three we’ve suggested below have lots of visitors, excellent resources, and minimal wildlife threats.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is known for majestic arches and unique red rocks. The main entrance is just a few miles outside of Moab, UT, so visitors can spend the day hiking in the park and then head into town in the evening to eat at local restaurants, drink craft beer, or peruse bookstores.

Why we recommend it for solo hikers

• There were 1,585,718 visitors in 2016.
• The park is close to a town with a hospital. (Moab is less than six miles from entrance.)
• Wildlife threats are minimal.
• There are water refill stations throughout the park.
• The weather is fairly moderate in the winter.
• Almost all of the hikes in the park can be completed in three hours or less.
• Guided tours are available if you want to try riskier areas.

What to go see

Almost all of the hikes in Arches National Park would be appropriate for a solo traveler, so we’re recommending the ones that will take you to some of the most iconic sights in the park.

Delicate Arch

This is one of the more strenuous hikes in the park because it is steep and unshaded, but it is over smooth ground and only three miles round trip. The arch itself is amazing, and since the trail is incredibly popular, you’re likely to see other people on your way up to the arch even if you hike during the off-season.

The Windows and Double Arch

These short hikes start in the same area and are very easy. Plus, if you’re a movie fan, you may recognize the Double Arch from the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Double O Arch

The hike to Double O Arch is more challenging than other hikes in the park since it has a few steep climbs and is over four miles round trip. However, it is also one of the more rewarding hikes in the park because there are spur trails that you can take to see Landscape Arch, Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, and of course the Double Arch, all in one hike.

When to visit

Arches National Park can get very hot in the summer, and many hikes (like the one to Delicate Arch) are on exposed rock with very little shade. You can stay safe by carrying—and drinking—extra water, wearing sunblock, and starting your hikes early, but we suggest visiting Arches in the early spring or late fall when the temperatures are milder and the park is less crowded.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most popular parks in the country and has a huge variety of animals and plants. The park covers 522,427 acres and has sections in both North Carolina and Tennessee, so you’ll never run out of things to see and explore.

Why we recommend it for solo hikers

• The park had 11,312,786 visitors in 2016.
• The urgent care clinic in Pigeon Forge is less than 10 miles from the park. entrance.
• The park has a contact station in addition to three visitor centers.
• You can try out ranger-led programs if you aren’t comfortable trying out an area alone.
• You can choose from a huge selection of day hikes, so you can easily get out and back in a reasonable amount of time.
• On average, there are only only 38 injuries per year from walking or hiking accidents. That is only one injury per 297,704 visitors.

What to go see

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is enormous, so there are plenty of hikes to choose from. Since the park is known for its waterfalls, you should make sure to go see a few during your visit.

Rainbow Falls

This hike is 5.4 miles round trip and ends at an 80-foot waterfall. If you do this hike on a sunny afternoon, you may be able to see a rainbow produced by the mist from the fall.

Laurel Falls

This is one of the more popular hikes in the park. It is on a paved path and only 2.6 miles round trip. When you reach the end of the hike, you’ll see an 80-foot waterfall.

Cades Cove Loop Road

Cades Cove is one of the most popular destinations in the park. This valley is surrounded by mountains and contains many interesting historical buildings. The loop is 11 miles, so it might be a bit much to tackle in one day, but you could do a section of it, or bicycle through the area. One reason we recommend this hike is that it is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from May to September. You can enjoy this loop from sunrise to 10 a.m. on these days without worrying about traffic.

When to visit

We don’t recommend hiking here alone during the winter since inclement weather could be more dangerous. Two of the best times to visit are April and October since you can see wildflowers in April and fall leaves during the first few weeks of October.

Acadia National Park is on the coast of Maine and receives millions of visitors each year. It has wooded areas, rocky beaches, and mountains. It is also conveniently close to the town of Bar Harbor, where you can explore galleries, peruse shops, and eat at local restaurants when you need a break from hiking.

Why we recommend it for solo hikers

• There were 3,303,393 visitors in 2016.
• There is a hospital less than five miles away in Bar Harbor.
• The park provides easily accessible information about hiking trails and difficulty levels.
• There is lots of wildlife to see, but threats are minimal.
• You can visit multiple information centers throughout the park.
• The carriage road is closed to motor vehicles, which makes it safer for hikers and bikers.

What to go see

While Acadia National Park is known for beautiful cliffs, we don’t recommend hiking near these cliffs if you’re alone. There are several other trails with beautiful scenery that will be less risky for solo hikers.

Jordan Pond Path

Walk 3.2 miles around Jordan Pond for a view of the Bubbles—this pair of rounded mountains is one of the most well-known features of Acadia National Park. This very easy, relaxing hike is close to many other trails.

Cadillac North Ridge Trail

This 4.4-mile round-trip hike is relatively steep, but it leads to great views of the Atlantic.

Gorham Mountain Trail

This hike takes you through a forested area up to an ocean view. Park information says this trail’s difficulty level is moderate and is only 1.8 miles round trip.

When to visit

Since this park is in the northeast region of the United States, we recommend avoiding it during the winter. Many of the visitor centers and information areas aren’t open during the winter months. Many people visit the park during the summer, but it should also be safe to visit during the late spring and early fall.

Tips for staying safe while hiking alone

Get to know the area ahead of time

Check the weather

Stay on the trail

Hike on busy trails

Acknowledge your limits

Tell someone where you’re going

What to pack while hiking alone