Beautiful US forest walks to enjoy this fall

Into the woods

Keen hikers will find plenty of opportunity for boots-on adventures across the USA – and some of the country's finest routes run through its forests.

From tranquil boardwalk circuits lined with palm trees to challenging routes through high-elevation spruce forests, click or scroll on to see America's best wooded walks. 

Ramsey Cascades Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

You're spoilt for choice when it comes to dreamy forested hikes in Smoky Mountains National Park, which is known for its rippling wooded peaks.

This trail routes through the park's Greenbrier area, finishing up at a 100-foot waterfall that rushes over rugged tiered rocks. En route you'll pass under a canopy of old-growth trees, from yellow birches to silverbells – it's an eight-mile round trip. 

Wildwood Trail, Forest Park, Portland, Oregon

Portland is one of the greenest cities in the USA and Forest Park has some 70 miles of trails wiggling through it.

A favorite is the point-to-point Wildwood Trail, which covers a vast swath of the park along its 30 miles, striking out to attractions such as the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. Along the way, look out for the Stone House (also known as the Witch's Castle) – these eerie ruins enveloped by greenery are actually the remains of a public toilet block. 

Main Trail, Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, California

The trees on this trail stand head and shoulders above the rest. General Sherman is the world's largest tree by volume and it's a sky-scraping 275 feet tall too.

You'll reach it on a mellow, paved 0.5-mile-trail (note that there are a few steps) which routes through Giant Forest, knitted with more towering sequoias. There are plenty of information boards along the way so you can learn more about these natural giants. 

Bayou Coquille Trail, Barataria Preserve, Louisiana

Dive into the enchanting landscapes of America's Deep South on this short trail in Louisiana's Barataria Preserve. You'll pass by giant live oaks dripping in Spanish moss and huddles of rugged bald cypress trees – the oldest is 600 years old and known affectionately as the 'Monarch of the Swamp.' 

It's an easy route across boardwalks and packed gravel and it covers half a mile one way.

Trail of The Cedars, Glacier National Park, Montana

Natural wonders abound in Glacier National Park, with its mirror-clear lakes, valleys, and glaciers – and it's got a slew of serene forest trails too.

The easy-going Trail of The Cedars is a crowd-pleaser, passing beneath an umbrella of western hemlocks and red cedars, some of which are 500 years old. There's a boardwalk for easy accessibility and you'll get fabulous views over the lower Avalanche Gorge along the way. 

Adams Canyon Trail, Layton, Utah

Northern Utah – with its lush forests, waterfalls, and Great Salt Lake – is a departure from the red-rock landscapes of the south. Trails through fragrant pine forests abound and the out-and-back Adams Canyon Trail, which heads out from near Layton, is among the most beautiful.

You'll trek through white pines and scrub oak (there are some steep and rugged portions that involve scrambling) and you'll finish up at an impressive 40-foot cascade. The trail is just under four miles long.

Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Florida

Fakahatchee Strand is the largest bald cypress and royal palm swamp on the planet and this mellow boardwalk trail gets you to the very heart of it.

Stretching out for 2,300 feet, the trail is hemmed in by lush greenery and spools out towards a little pond with some resident alligators. It's a great spot for birding too: keep your eyes peeled for green herons and barred owls.

Elephant Back Mountain Trail, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park is known for trails that fringe steaming geysers, hot springs, and lakes, but it's got a fine selection of forest trails too.

Make time for the Elephant Back Mountain Trail, a looping route that covers three and a half miles in the park's Lake Village area. It plunges hikers into a thick lodgepole forest and reaches an overlook that offers stellar views over Yellowstone Lake. 

Take a look at incredible historic images of Yellowstone through the decades

Boardwalk Loop Trail, Congaree National Park, South Carolina

South Carolina's Congaree National Park is one of the most underrated sites in the NPS system. It protects a huge swath of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest and the 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop Trail courses through it.

Wander through the shaded woodland, taking in bald cypress trees, palmettos, and loblolly pines. Look out for songbirds and woodpeckers too. 

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Wai Koa Loop Trail, Kilauea, Hawaii

This gentle trail winds through what's tipped as the largest mahogany plantation in North America. The ground is mostly flat and the tightly knitted trees provide ample shade for what promises to be an easy-going hike.

Have your camera ready: lily-pad-strewn lagoons and the Namahana Mountains crowning the horizon are great photo moments. The trail is accessed via the Kauai North Shore Dog Park. 

Longfellow Trail, Cook Forest State Park, Pennsylvania

Tucked away in Cook Forest State Park, the Longfellow Trail could be pulled straight from a storybook. It whisks walkers into an area of old-growth woodland called Cathedral Forest, knotted with knobbled roots and pistachio-green mosses.

Some cloud-scraping trees here soar to 200 feet and the trail spreads out for less than two easy-going miles one way.

James Irvine Trail, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California

You'll get both beach and woodland vistas on this hike in Northern California.

Striking out from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center, the 12-mile loop trail dives into dense thickets of old-growth redwoods, then wends its way towards the coast through fragrant spruce forests. You'll finish up at Fern Canyon and finally windswept Gold Bluffs Beach.

Sabbaday Brook Trail, White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire

If you're looking for a laid-back, family-friendly hike in New England, the Sabbaday Brook Trail is a winner.

Packed gravel pathways and a stone staircase lead towards a waterfall rushing over craggy, terraced rock and exhibits reveal the region's fascinating geology. The trail is right off the scenic Kancamagus Highway and it's less than a mile long. 

Jordan Pond Path, Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park is rich in trails, which fringe Maine's rugged coastline and strike into its wildlife-filled forests.

For a woodland walk with a side of lake views, make for the Jordan Pond Path. It hugs the forested shores of its namesake, offering panoramas of the water and mountains. It's a 3.3-mile loop and you'll come across wooden boardwalks and footbridges along the way. 

Divide Lake Trail, Superior National Forest, Minnesota

A peaceful trail hems Divide Lake in Superior National Forest, a three-million acre expanse of protected woodland known for its blaze of fall colors and wildlife, including bears.

The route is two miles long, beginning close to the town of Isabella, and is punctured with overlooks offering breathtaking views of the lake. There are some back-to-basics camping spots nearby too. 

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McKenzie River Trail, Blue River, Oregon

The waters of Clear Lake (pictured) are so blue that they need to be seen to be believed. Luckily, the scenic McKenzie River Trail provides the perfect vantage point as it strikes out from the lake.

As its name suggests, the bucolic route fringes the McKenzie River, beating through a sun-dappled old growth conifer forest and also serves as a lookout for Tamolitch Blue Pool, another eye-popping water body. It's a relatively easy-going 26.5-mile route. 

Hawksbill Summit, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

The Hawksbill Summit Hike brings walkers to the top of its namesake peak and you'll route through dense tracts of high-elevation forest to get there.

It's a short yet steep route, but once you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with stunning panoramas over the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley. It's a 1.7-mile round trip.

Ledges Trail, Cuyahoga National Park, Ohio

There are some fascinating rock formations to be found along the Ledges Trail – they were formed millions of years ago and the rocky landscape makes for a rugged hiking route complete with stony staircases and verdant forests.

You'll climb 80 feet upwards as you traverse the looping 1.8-mile route. 

Forest Loop Trail, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Alaska is America's last frontier: an epic state filled with glaciers, frigid lakes, snow-crowned peaks, and vast forests. Its national parks are laced with stirring hiking trails and the Forest Loop Trail within Glacier Bay National Park is one for your travel list.

Get lost in a mist-hung spruce and hemlock forest that's sewn with a boardwalk and dirt and gravel paths. The loop is just a mile long and ranger-led tours are available. 

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Greenstone Ridge Trail, Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

Tackling the entire Greenstone Ridge Trail is no small feat. The whole route covers 41 miles and backpackers will need at least five days, staying in primitive campsites en route. It spans the length of forest-cloaked Isle Royale National Park and the epic hike passes through woodland filled with balsam firs, white spruce, and aspen trees.

The trail is divided into seven sections, so just choose one for a more manageable adventure. You can head out from various campgrounds, including Rock Harbor Campground and Island Mine Campground.

Twin Firs Loop Trail, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

This short-but-sweet trail uncovers a portion of Mount Rainier National Park's old-growth forest. Incredibly, some of the hemlock and cedar trees in this area are 850 years old.

Information panels along the way tell the story of these ancient giants and the trail spreads out for around half a mile. The vine maples here put on a show come fall too. 

Ranked: America's most beautiful national forests

McKinley River Bar Trail, Denali National Park, Alaska

Denali is one of the largest national parks in the system, so it's no surprise that it's filled with near endless walking trails.

For lovers of a forested hike, the McKinley River Bar Trail, in the Wonder Lake Area, wiggles through glorious spruce forest and past numerous ponds as it travels two-and-a-half miles from Wonder Lake Campground to the McKinley River. Look out for wildlife, including moose, who browse on the trees.

Tumbled Rocks Trail, Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin

This secluded route is named for its fallen rocks, which make for a fascinating, rugged landscape, and you'll get top-notch views over Devil’s Lake and the forested bluffs on the opposite shores too.

Much of the route is through or fringed by shady pine forest and it runs on for just over a mile. 

Balsam Nature Trail, near Burnsville, North Carolina

This peaceful trail – connected to the Mount Mitchell Trail, which winds towards the top of its namesake peak – routes through a high-elevation forest thick with spruce and fir trees, emerald mosses, and ferns.

It's a short route at just under a mile and it's easily accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway, a roadway known for its epic views over an endless canopy. 

Hoh River Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington

Did you know a rainforest exists in the USA? Hoh Rainforest is folded into Olympic National Park in the northwest of Washington state and several trails beat a path through it.

The most popular is the Hoh River Trail, an out-and-back route that stretches for 18.5 miles one way, finishing up at Glacier Meadows. It's an oasis of green, with towering coniferous and deciduous trees and a swirl of vivid mosses and ferns.

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