100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A.: The Country's Ultimate Scenic Trails

by Stephanie Pearson

From a bucket list trek on the Pacific Crest Trail to a day hike up Viriginia's Old Rag, discover the best hikes across the United States to add to your bucket list.In this sequel to the best-selling 100 Hikes of a Lifetime, discover the best trails, day hikes, and pilgrimage treks across the United States.Complemented by stunning National Geographic photography, each hike includes information on trail length and elevation, skill level, and worthwhile scenic resting spots. Plus, find expert recommendations for where to stay—from camp sites to nearby lodges—wildlife spotting, alternative routes, and planning.This collection of bucket list-worthy trails takes you from coast to coast, Lost Coast Trail, one of the few truly coastal hikes on the U.S. mainland and an exceptional wilderness experience--The American Discovery Trail, an epic 6,800-mile, coast-to-coast route from Point Reyes National Seashore in California to Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware--A Grand Canyon rim-to-rim route, a 24-mile, one-way journey through two billion years of geological history--The Guadalupe Peak Trail in Texas's Guadalupe Mountains National Park, a 3,000-foot ascent with sweeping Lone Star views from the summit--The Superior Hiking Trail, which starts in Duluth, Minnesota, and follows the shoreline of Lake Superior to the Canadian border for a grand total of 37,800 feet of elevation gain, almost 10,000 more feet than climbing Mount Everest--Mount Katahdin Loop in Maine, a trek to the summit of 5,269-foot Baxter Peak, the highest point in Maine and the northern terminus of the Appalachian TrailFor devout long-distance trekkers and day hikers alike, this book is a must-have to create your next bucket list.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Nature

400 pages, Hardcover

Published April 7, 2026

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is dedicated to witnessing the country's most scenic sites on the trail, whether you plan to day hike or thru-hike. Like every state, there is so much diversity in the environment that you have loads of options to choose from! The majority of the hikes are noted as strenuous, depending on trail length, completion time, terrain complexity, elevation gain, weather forecasts, wildlife encounters, and other unique factors.

I have already brought this book up in conversation with fellow hikers who are curious to see which trails are featured inside. In addition, I have already used this guide to select specific trails that we will blaze on some of our upcoming trips.

Please keep in mind to always check the latest available maps and trail conditions before heading out. Be safe, practice Leave No Trace (LNT), and always tell someone where you're going!

As a travel advisor, I review travel books to check their credibility and ensure you have the best information to enjoy your next adventure. If you're interested in reading this book, click the link below! Using my custom affiliate link helps support my small business at no extra cost to you: https://link.amazon/B0hk7rodl 🥾

[Leah Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photography is beautiful. The hikes are interesting, I was a little disappointed with the Arizona ones and feel there are much better ones to choose but it was a cool book.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A. feels more like a coffee table book than a hiking guide. It does have beautiful photography, and gave me a few new ideas of places to hike. It does not feature any maps, which I always appreciate in hiking guides. Overall, if you want an overview of potential hikes, strongly tending towards multiday hikes on epically long stretches of trail, then this might be the book for you. But if you want to actually hike any of the routes featured in the book, you'll need supplemental materials (maps, trail guides, and websites).

There are also a few points where I picked up textual errors (ruffed grouse became roughed grouse, for example). I expected better editing from National Geographic.

[Jennifer]

I do not feel like I can adequately “star rate” 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A. as I scanned the book, reading little bits of sections, and decided I, a day-hiker, was not the target audience. With gorgeous photography accompanying each suggested Top 100 Hike, it was definitely a feast for the eyes.

But, like I said, I’m a day-hiker: camping and multi-day treks are not my cup of tea and that describes the majority of the featured hikes. So, if those hikes are your type of thing, this book is sure to light your curiosity and suggest excursions to research further. Do not expect to pick a hike and go. The book offers an introduction to the hikes with limited details; further research will be needed to actually undertake the journeys.

* Scanned on August 8, 2026

[SA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads, the author and publisher for a copy of this book.

I feel so fortunate to have received a copy of this book. It is truly amazing. The gorgeous photos and spectacular images of the parks showcase some of the most beautiful places on earth, literally bringing tears to my eyes.

This book would make an amazing gift for anyone who enjoys hiking and wants inspiration for their hiking bucket list. I especially like that it classifies the difficulty of the hikes, helpful to someone like me who sticks to easy or moderate trails. It is also great for the nature lover who appreciates learning about beautiful parks and can appreciate the lovely imagery.

[Sarah Dunmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the National Geographic travel books, so I was excited to see this at my library. I guess people are pretty intense about hiking! Many were described as strenuous. Maybe I just like walking through pretty scenery and the forest, not serious hiking 🤪 The book is categorized by area of the country. Lovely pictures. Was disappointed there weren’t maps to give you an idea of the trails’ area. Definitely found a handful of trails I’d like to see. Not thru-hike, as they say, but parts of them. There’s an American Discovery Trail coast to coast that’s 6,800 miles one way and would take 2.6 billion steps. A couple did it in 2005!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of the best hikes that represent America's diverse landscapes, history and culture. Because of the amount of trails the book covers there is not much time to go into tips and tricks. It should really be viewed as inspiration or an educational read. Many of the hikes recommend take days, weeks even months to complete. I think someone with a lot of time on their hands and with no responsibilities would be the target market for this book, particularly those into Thru hiking. As someone who did not fit those categories I found it an entertaining enough read and enjoyed the photography.

[Allison Horten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-distributed across the US, I primarily read this to make a new list after moving to a different region to start exploring more places! It was fun to review with a group of experienced hikers to discuss our shared experiences.

[Jim Flucke · Rating 4 out of 5]

No maps, but nice pictures.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a bucket list, not so much a travel guide. There are no maps.

[Kris Lodwig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some beautiful scenery I may want to see

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing pictures and great hike selection overall. Really needed maps, though.