The Best States in America for Hiking
Written by Nadia Podrabinek
My team and I analyzed five factors that we believe contribute to an optimal hiking experience, and gave each of the 50 US states a score out of 100 in order to create our Hiking Index.
The factors analyzed within the index included the number of hiking trails and waterfalls relative to state area, the percentage of each state covered by national and state parks, as well as the average yearly temperature and rainfall.
So, here are the results:
- Connecticut ranks as the best state in America for hiking, scoring highly for its large proportion of hiking trails, waterfalls and state and national park coverage.
- Massachusetts ranks as the second-best state, offering the highest number of hiking trails relative to state size.
- Hawaii ranked as the third best state for hiking, and offers the highest average annual temperature.
Best States in America for Hiking Map
The 10 best US states for hiking
| Rank | State | Hiking Index Score / 100 |
| 1. | Connecticut | 73.98 |
| 2. | Massachusetts | 72.31 |
| 3. | Hawaii | 72.09 |
| 4. | California | 70.79 |
| 5. | New Jersey | 69.49 |
| 6. | Arizona | 64.25 |
| 7. | Washington | 62.45 |
| 8. | New Hampshire | 61.55 |
| 9. | Utah | 61.22 |
| 10. | Rhode Island | 60.65 |
Connecticut ranked as the best state for hiking in the US, with a Hiking Index Score of 73.98 out of 100 across the five examined factors. The Constitution State boasts an impressive number of hiking trails in proportion to its size. In fact, it comes second only to Massachusetts with whopping 1,455 hiking trails per 1,000 square miles.
Top 10 Best Hiking States in the US Map
The Nutmeg State also has the third-highest state and national park coverage, accounting for 8.49% of its total area, and the fifth-highest number of waterfalls relative to its size, with 30 waterfalls per 1,000 square miles.
Scoring 72.31 out of 100, Massachusetts ranked as the second-best state for hiking in the US. It was found to offer 2,221 hiking trails per 1,000 square miles which was the highest figure out of any state. The state also features 14 waterfalls per 1,000 square miles and 5.01% of its total area is covered by state and national parks.
Hawaii was found to be the third-best state for hiking in the US, with a score of 72.09 out of 100. The Aloha State has the warmest average annual temperature at 73.5°F and the highest number of waterfalls relative to its size, with an impressive 85 waterfalls per 1,000 square miles. It also has the second-highest percentage of total area covered by state and national parks, at 9.46%.
California is fourth on the list, scoring 69.49 out of 100 across the five factors. The Golden state offers 107 hiking trails and seven waterfalls per 1,000 square miles and has one of the lowest yearly average rainfall at 22.3 inches. A respectable 7.63% of California’s total state area is covered by state and national parks, meaning it ranks fifth highest for this factor.
New Jersey ranked as the fifth best state for hiking in the US, with a Hiking Index Score of 69.49 out of 100. The state has 650 hiking trails per 1,000 square miles, meaning it ranks fourth-highest for this factor. It also has nine waterfalls per 1,000 square miles and 8.14% of its total area is covered by state and national parks. The Garden State also offers a balmy average temperature of 53.6°F year round.
Surprisingly, Arizona is only the sixth-best state for hiking in the US, with a Hiking Index Score of 64.25. It has the second-lowest average rainfall behind Nevada, with 11.6 inches annually and an average temperature of 61.1°F. Home to the Grand Canyon, Arizona offers 52 hiking trails and one waterfall per 1,000 square miles, and 2.17% of its total area is covered by state and national parks.
Washington ranked seventh with a score of 62.45 out of 100. The Evergreen State has 140 hiking trails and 47 waterfalls per 1,000 square miles, ranking second for the latter factor. It receives an average of 43.2 inches of rainfall annually, and 4.18% of its total area is covered by state and natural parks.
With a score of 61.55 out of 100, New Hampshire ranks as the eighth-best state for hiking in the US. The Granite State offers 482 hiking trails and the third-highest number of waterfalls relative to its size with 40 per 1,000 square miles. It has an average temperature of 44°F, yearly average rainfall of 48 inches, and 1.40% total national and state park coverage.
Utah ranked as the ninth-best state overall for hiking, with a score of 61.22 out of 100. The state offers 87 hiking trails per 1,000 square miles and 1.86% state and national park coverage. The landlocked state has one waterfall per 1,000 miles and the third-lowest annual rainfall, at an average of 13.5 inches.
Rhode Island is the tenth-best US state for hiking, scoring 60.65 out of 100. Despite being the smallest state in the US by area, Rhode Island has the third-highest number of hiking trails relative to its size, with 1,131 hiking trails per 1000 square miles. The Ocean State also has two waterfalls per 1000 square miles and 49 inches of rainfall annually.
My considerations
This data offers a fascinating insight into the best destinations in the US for lovers of the great outdoors. Connecticut’s emergence as the best state for hiking may appear rather surprising, however, its large proportion of trails and park coverage means that hikers of all skill levels are likely to find a trail that caters to their preferences across the beautiful New England state.
When planning a trip, it is important to consider other factors that can greatly impact the quality of your journey. Climate and the presence of natural landmarks are just as vital to a successful hiking trip, so taking these elements into account, ensures visitors are able to enjoy a well-rounded experience.
Methodology
Data from the US Census Bureau, National Park Service, Trailforks, World Waterfall Database and the National Climatic Data Centre was used to create a Hiking Index Score for all 50 states. The index comprises five factors that may be important for hiking trips.
These factors were; number of hiking trails per 1,000 square miles, number of waterfalls per 1,000 square miles, average yearly temperature, average yearly rainfall, and the percentage of each state covered by state and national parks.
Each of these factors was scored with each state being able to score a maximum total of 100. Some indicators were transformed using the log transformation to reduce skew in their distributions, and the figures for hiking trails were weighted at 2x the other factors. Rainfall was scored inversely so that lower levels were given a higher score.
The complete data table
| Rank | State | State area (sq miles) | Average yearly rainfall (inches) | Average temperature (°F) | State & National Park coverage (% of state) | Number of hiking trails (per 1,000 sq miles) | Number of waterfalls (per 1,000 sq miles) | Hiking Index Score / 100 |
| 1. | Connecticut | 4,841.40 | 49 | 49.9 | 8.49% | 1,455 | 30.363 | 73.98 |
| 2. | Massachusetts | 7,798.90 | 49 | 48.75 | 5.01% | 2,221 | 13.720 | 72.31 |
| 3. | Hawaii | 6,420.70 | 43 | 73.5 | 9.46% | 62 | 84.570 | 72.09 |
| 4. | California | 155,812.80 | 22.3 | 59 | 7.63% | 107 | 6.777 | 70.79 |
| 5. | New Jersey | 7,352.90 | 48 | 53.6 | 8.14% | 650 | 9.112 | 69.49 |
| 6. | Arizona | 113,623.10 | 11.6 | 61.05 | 2.17% | 52 | 1.171 | 64.25 |
| 7. | Washington | 66,437.50 | 43.2 | 47.3 | 4.18% | 140 | 47.037 | 62.45 |
| 8. | New Hampshire | 8,951.00 | 48 | 44 | 1.40% | 482 | 40.331 | 61.55 |
| 9. | Utah | 82,355.10 | 13.5 | 49.2 | 1.86% | 87 | 1.202 | 61.22 |
| 10. | Rhode Island | 1,033.60 | 49 | 50.65 | 1.00% | 1,131 | 1.935 | 60.65 |
| 11. | Colorado | 103,610.10 | 18 | 46.2 | 1.02% | 79 | 5.434 | 59.11 |
| 12. | Vermont | 9,215.40 | 46 | 43.05 | 0.88% | 285 | 39.282 | 57.82 |
| 13. | Maryland | 9,708.60 | 45 | 55.4 | 1.63% | 174 | 2.163 | 56.75 |
| 14. | New York | 47,111.30 | 44 | 46 | 1.16% | 162 | 20.038 | 56.72 |
| 15. | Wyoming | 97,063.00 | 16 | 42.25 | 4.12% | 21 | 5.357 | 56.68 |
| 16. | Delaware | 1,948.00 | 46 | 56.2 | 2.09% | 207 | 0.513 | 55.68 |
| 17. | Michigan | 56,591.00 | 33.9 | 45.15 | 2.31% | 75 | 4.789 | 55.54 |
| 18. | Maine | 30,836.60 | 46 | 41.8 | 3.92% | 85 | 15.728 | 55.01 |
| 19. | North Carolina | 48,607.40 | 51 | 59.55 | 1.57% | 55 | 18.125 | 54.97 |
| 20. | Pennsylvania | 44,729.90 | 45 | 49.45 | 1.03% | 126 | 7.691 | 54.07 |
| 21. | Virginia | 39,471.70 | 46 | 56 | 1.05% | 75 | 4.712 | 52.91 |
| 22. | Montana | 145,509.20 | 18.9 | 42.55 | 1.21% | 32 | 3.306 | 52.87 |
| 23. | Tennessee | 41,227.10 | 55 | 58.45 | 1.72% | 38 | 16.955 | 51.62 |
| 24. | Illinois | 55,499.00 | 40.7 | 52.65 | 1.41% | 88 | 0.775 | 51.61 |
| 25. | Ohio | 40,847.90 | 41.1 | 51.65 | 0.77% | 56 | 6.904 | 51.27 |
| 26. | Florida | 53,633.70 | 54 | 71.4 | 7.42% | 34 | 0.112 | 51.13 |
| 27. | Oregon | 95,962.60 | 32.1 | 47.9 | 0.46% | 38 | 16.840 | 51.11 |
| 28. | Wisconsin | 54,153.10 | 34.1 | 43.85 | 2.02% | 36 | 3.527 | 50.59 |
| 29. | Texas | 261,193.90 | 28.6 | 65.8 | 0.97% | 18 | 0.360 | 50.31 |
| 30. | West Virginia | 24,034.80 | 47 | 52.6 | 0.96% | 46 | 8.862 | 49.89 |
| 31. | Kentucky | 39,480.90 | 50 | 56.3 | 1.76% | 21 | 17.046 | 49.68 |
| 32. | South Carolina | 30,055.80 | 48 | 63.35 | 0.55% | 21 | 11.978 | 48.55 |
| 33. | New Mexico | 121,280.10 | 13.8 | 54.45 | 0.18% | 18 | 1.072 | 47.85 |
| 34. | Minnesota | 79,604.80 | 28.6 | 41.65 | 0.95% | 29 | 1.821 | 46.88 |
| 35. | Georgia | 57,701.10 | 50 | 64.15 | 0.23% | 37 | 6.291 | 46.66 |
| 36. | Idaho | 82,623.30 | 23.7 | 43.9 | 0.16% | 42 | 4.006 | 46.66 |
| 37. | Nevada | 109,831.30 | 10.2 | 51 | 0.30% | 15 | 0.219 | 45.60 |
| 38. | Indiana | 35,817.00 | 44 | 52.35 | 0.82% | 20 | 3.909 | 45.07 |
| 39. | Arkansas | 52,023.80 | 53 | 61 | 0.18% | 28 | 8.746 | 43.27 |
| 40. | South Dakota | 75,789.60 | 21.2 | 45.65 | 0.78% | 9 | 0.132 | 39.63 |
| 41. | Alabama | 50,633.20 | 57 | 63.6 | 0.15% | 24 | 2.330 | 38.81 |
| 42. | Missouri | 68,727.30 | 44 | 55.25 | 0.34% | 13 | 0.233 | 35.79 |
| 43. | Oklahoma | 68,577.80 | 36.4 | 60.3 | 0.13% | 5 | 0.525 | 34.07 |
| 44. | Iowa | 55,838.90 | 35.6 | 48.3 | 0.21% | 12 | 0.233 | 33.70 |
| 45. | Nebraska | 76,796.20 | 24.2 | 49.4 | 0.32% | 3 | 0.143 | 32.13 |
| 46. | North Dakota | 68,976.50 | 18.8 | 41 | 0.22% | 12 | 0.014 | 31.54 |
| 47. | Alaska | 570,865.80 | 37.6 | 27.95 | 9.81% | 2 | 0.589 | 31.23 |
| 48. | Kansas | 81,736.80 | 29 | 55.05 | 0.06% | 4 | 0.379 | 30.00 |
| 49. | Mississippi | 46,913.10 | 59 | 64.15 | 0.08% | 7 | 0.362 | 27.00 |
| 50. | Louisiana | 43,193.10 | 60 | 67.1 | 0.12% | 2 | 0.116 | 21.94 |
Hello, my name is Nadia.
I usually write about traveling (there are so many places to fit all the lifestyles), relocation (finding a job overseas or moving without losing an income), and living in a foreign country (adapting to a different culture and mentality). Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn!
2 replies on “The Best States in America for Hiking ”
We are avid hikers – from Kilimanjaro and the Alps to Mt. Washington and the Rockies and can tell you these are silly metrics. Thus you have silly results. Hike in NH someday – the licence plates are almost all from Mass. NOBODY goes to Connecticut for hiking. Seriously – you need to readjust this “study” or just take this post down.
I’m sorry, but this is the most absurd list imaginable. It is simply comical. No serious hiker would choose Connecticut, NJ, or Mass over states in the intermountain west, California, or PNW. When you evaluated Utah, did you consider that a vast majority of the land is BLM land that is available for hiking/camping, etc., but not an actual park? Seriously. I went 30 min from my house today in SLC (a major metropolitan area with everything you’d want in a big city) with the dog and hiked from ~7500 feet to ~9500 feet. I’ve lived in the east, and it simply can not compare.