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Take a hike, America!
Warm and sunny summer weather is the perfect time for appreciating America’s natural beauty — and what better way to do so than venturing out on a long walk on some of our country’s great hiking trails.
Just in time for National Trails Day (the first Saturday of each June), a new study by Lawnstarter compared trails and attractions across the nation.
It ranked these trails and attractions based on accessibility, quality, climate, supplies and safety — and came up with their choice of the best cities for hiking.
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So, where should you take your next stroll?
Check out these top five U.S. cities for great hiking this season, based on an analysis from a lawn care start-up that does regular research into city and state amenities — and if you like these ideas, get walking!
1. Portland, OR
The city known for microbreweries and an environmentally friendly atmosphere was ranked as the top city in America for hiking by Lawnstarter.
An overhead view of Portland, Oregon. (Giulio Andreini/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Portland was tops for supplies access, meaning the city is very highly ranked for the availability of outdoor equipment vendors.
It also made the top five for the most hiking routes, according to Lawnstarter.
Though Portland is a metropolis, the hiking trails in and around the city draw a variety of visitors to the Pacific Northwest, according to Travel Portland.
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Portland’s hiking destinations include forested parks and gardens through the city, as well as alpine lake walks near Mount Hood and waterfall trails in the Columbia River Gorge outside.
2. Tucson, AZ
Tucson came in second place for its wealth of hiking routes alongside other top contenders, including Salt Lake City, Utah.
A woman takes a selfie with a smartphone from atop Tumamoc Hill during sunrise May 13, 2015, in Tucson, Arizona. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Tucson’s desert landscape allows for a slew of hiking trails.
There are 249 scenic routes in the Tuscon area, to be exact, according to All Trails.
Trails include canyon climbs such as Bear Canyon at Seven Falls Trail and dry riverbed rock scrambles at Tanque Verde Falls Trail in the Coronado National Forest.
3. Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix rolled in at a close third, earning only .35 points less than Tucson per Lawnstarter’s ranking system.
The moon rises above a Saguaro cactus at Lost Dutchman State Park in Phoenix, Arizona. (Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The Arizona capital did clutch the top spot for most hiking routes and came in eighth for hiking quality.
Outdoor enthusiasts consider Phoenix a “mecca for urban hiking” with great trails within short driving distance of the city, says Visit Phoenix.
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Phoenix trails range from easy, such as the Double Butte Loop and Hole-in-the-Rock Trail in Papago Park, to difficult, like Echo Canyon Trail on Camelback Mountain.
4. Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs came in as no. 4, ranking third for the most hiking routes and ninth for supplies access.
A view of the Rocky Mountains at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The Colorado city just south of Denver is home to scenic hiking locations such as Red Rock Canyon Open Space and North Cheyenne Canon Park trails.
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Colorado Springs, situated in the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of more than 6,000 feet, is home to the landmark Pikes Peak in Pike National Forest.
5. Oakland, CA
California’s Oakland snuck in to take the fifth spot on Lawnstarter’s list, ranking seventh for hiking accessibility and ninth for climate.
Dog walkers along the trails of Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, Calif., as seen on Wed., March 18, 2015. (Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
San Francisco’s neighboring city may be known for its urban landscape, but popular destinations like Redwood Regional Park showcase the best in Oakland’s natural landscape.
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The Redwood region is home to miles of different hiking trails, not far from views of the San Francisco Bay at Oakland’s various waterfront parks.
