Top 5 Iconic Seasonal Hikes | United States | Bucket List Trails | Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall

These are 5 of the best, most exhilarating iconic American hikes with the backdrop of the most picturesque seasonal scenery. These need to be on your bucket list! How many have you done?

The United States is blessed with an abundance of natural resources with rugged backcountries that encompass some of the best hiking trails in the world. When you combine the picturesque landscape of these epic treks with the beauty that seasonal weather can bring, you have the makings for an adventure-seeker’s bucket list.

CONTENTS
00:00 Teaser Overview
01:00 #5 Wilburn Ridge
03:31 #4 Cadillac Mountain
06:01 #3 Emerald Lake
08:30 #2 The Narrows
11:00 #1 Yosemite Valley
13:44 Trail Comparison

#5 Mt Rogers & Wilburn Ridge - in the Winter
Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia
Within Virginia’s high country are some of the most beautifully diverse areas within the Southern Appalachian Mountains. From the Grayson Highlands State Park into the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, the Appalachian Trail traverses the breath-taking balds of Wilburn Ridge and Pine Mountain on the way to the state’s tallest peak, tree-covered Mount Rogers. Along the way, you will be greeted by bouldering opportunities as well as a number of freely roaming wild ponies. Sprinkle in some magical winter white dust and you have one of the most exhilarating and beautiful seasonal hikes this country has to offer.

#4 Cadillac Mountain - in the Fall
Acadia National Park, Maine
Due to early morning cloud coverage, we started our Acadia visit at the famed Jordan Pond House to partake in local foods and craft brews. After nourishment we headed to the trailhead for the popular North Ridge trail up to Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak along the eastern seaboard - and the first place to view an American sunrise from October to March. During our fall visit, the iconic trek uniquely combined the serenity of the open sea with the thrill of a pinnacle ascent and the backdrop of extraordinary autumn colors. This is indeed one of the best seasonal day hikes in the U.S.

#3 Emerald Lake - in the Spring
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
One of the most manageable and rewarding hikes within Rocky Mountain National Park is the trail to the majestic 10,000 foot Emerald Lake. This adventure takes hikers past two other scenic alpine lakes that enjoy the backdrop of Tyndall Glacier flanked by Hallet Peak and Flattop Mountain. In the winter the lakes freeze over and the trail passes right over the surface, making for a surreal hiking experience. With the shade of high elevation evergreens, packed snow often remains on the trail until June, making Spring a perfect time to catch the exquisite beauty of the snow-covered Rocky Mountains on this epic seasonal hike.

#2 The Narrows - in the Summer
Zion National Park, Utah
Within the narrowest section of Zion canyon is the legendary, epic hike known as the Narrows. This experience is challenging but uniquely exhilarating as hikers carefully navigate slippery stones within the chilly waters of the Virgin River - all while being surrounded by breathtaking canyon walls. The gorge itself is sometimes only 20 to 30 feet wide while the canyon walls can extend over 2000 feet up. To become fully immersed in this hiking experience, the warmer months are ideal. While the rest of Zion can be highly exposed and downright hot, the cold-water gorge is an ideal escape during those summer months, making this one of the top seasonal hikes in America.

#1 Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley - in late Spring
Yosemite National Park, California
The crown of renowned beauty and lauded seasonal hiking goes to this venture in Yosemite that starts atop the awe-inspiring Glacier Point and travels the Panorama Trail over to the famed Mist Trail that descends to the Yosemite Valley floor. Late Spring is at the height of snowmelt and brings about maximum water flow over the Mist Trail’s Nevada and Vernal Falls - giving that final stone staircase it’s appropo nickname. This point-to-point trek is mostly downhill, but is long with an uphill portion and finishes with those tricky, wet downhill steps. With this effort, however, comes insanely picturesque views while hugging legendary waterfalls during perhaps the most iconic seasonal hike this country has to offer.

Trail Comparison
These 5 trails are not only diverse in their scenic offerings, but are equally diverse in their location and difficulty. This map shows how our hikes are scattered throughout the country, stretching from west to east. Additionally, this chart shows how each hike varies in features and difficulty - outlining the components that earn those ratings. Regardless of the effort required, you can be assured that these treks will reward you as one of the top iconic seasonal hikes in the nation. Leave a comment if you have your own personal favorite seasonal hike. And, as always, like and subscribe if you enjoy these videos.