Try These 10 Hikes to Celebrate the Fourth of July Instead

The Fourth of July is the perfect holiday to get outside and celebrate the best part of America: our great outdoors. There is no better way to explore the natural and historical beauty of this country than on foot. Choose the right path and you will feel the same. The experience is even better with friends or family: On such trips, conversations flow easily, silence feels comfortable, and shared moments last long after the trip is over.

Do you want to create your own special memories this Independence Day? These ten hikes offer a mix of scenery, challenge, and opportunities to connect with American history.

Old Rag Mountain Loop in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

If you want to sweat, this 13.3-mile loop Above Shenandoah National ParkOld Rag Mountain is a must. Known for its rugged rock formations, summit views, and wild climbing, it combines physical challenge with Appalachian history.

According to the NPS webpage, people have lived in the Shenandoah Valley for more than 9,000 years. Native Americans once created permanent settlements and communities in the area. is also linked to the legacy of Civil Protection CorpsWhich created the infrastructure of the national park in the 1930s. This was one of the first major projects of the Corps.

Exclamation Point Trail in Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina

Inside Chimney Rock State Park2.2-mile exclamation point mark Takes hikers to the highest viewpoint in the park. It offers dramatic views of dense oak forests and granite outcrops, providing sweeping views of Hickory Nut Gorge. Over the Fourth of July weekend, the park is hosting several events, including a “Freedom Folk Music” concert and an interactive display of Revolutionary War-era games.

This landmark also has epic Hollywood credentials, especially if anyone in your group likes period dramas, as many of the scenes The Last of the Mohicans (1990) were filmed here.

Red Beds Trail, Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming

is not there Devil’s Tower America’s first national monument, but it is also one of the most visually distinctive geological formations in the country. The rock climbing story at this monument runs deep. It has also gained cinematic fame for its role in the 1977 sci-fi classic, close encounters of the third kind.

But Devils Tower has a much older cultural history. It is a sacred site to the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, Kiowa and Lakota tribes – most of whom have their own distinct creation myths about Devils Tower.

The best way to experience its grandeur is the 2.8-mile Red Bed Trail He wanders around the rock peak. It passes through prairie and pine forest, offering views of the monolith from every angle.

Endless Wall Trail in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia

take a hike endless wall path for best observation New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. This 2.7-mile trail winds through sandstone cliffs above New River Gorge BridgeOne of the longest steel arch bridges in the world and a marvel of engineering.

The bridge itself is worth stopping and admiring, so give yourself extra time to enjoy it. The area is also rich with mining history. The Nuttelberg Mine, which hikers pass through, was the largest of the New River Coalfields in the late 1800s.

Maryland Heights Trail in the National Historical Park, West Virginia

This steep but rewarding 4.5-mile Maryland Heights Trail In Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Climbs Civil War-era fortifications overlooking the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. In 1859, it was the site of a raid by famed abolitionist John Brown, where he and his comrades took several people hostage and attacked an armory in hopes of inspiring a rebellion by enslaved people.

Hikers call the Maryland Heights Trail an easy, family-friendly hike with great views from the summit. Views of green river valleys, rolling hills, and the historic town of Harpers Ferry make the climb worth the effort.

Big Round Top Trail, Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania

wild trails Gettysburg National Military Park Major places in the history of the American Civil War. 4.5 miles big round top The trail passes through areas where the Union and Confederate armies fought during the Battle of Gettysburg. Along the way, cannons, monuments and interpretive signs help reconstruct the battle.

For the American Civil War history buff in your life, this is a candy store. With ranger-led guides, history talks and living history programs, history lovers can easily spend an entire day exploring beyond the trail.

Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

0.6-mile Presidential Path In Mount Rushmore National Memorial It may be small, but it’s packed with epic views of the Black Hills. The paved, terraced loop is an outdoor history lesson, bringing you face to face with giant granite likenesses of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Interpretive displays document the monument’s construction and the history of the Black Hills.

If you’re in the area, it’s also worth checking out the Crazy Horse Monument. This massive statue of the Native American leader is also carved from the Black Hills. The Crazy Horse Monument honors the history of the Lakota Sioux, who occupied this area for generations before Europeans arrived, and still hold it sacred today. The Crazy Horse Memorial is an easy 30-minute drive from Mount Rushmore.

Medicine Loop and Castle Trail in Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Joint Medicine Loop and Castle Trail The craggy buttes, fossil beds and eroded rock formations in shades of cream, pink and rust that make up the badlands before opening up into broad prairie grasslands. The original history of the region dates back 11,000 years, when mammoths roamed the area. Later, it became home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which manages the south unit of Badlands National Park.

This otherworldly landscape changes dramatically with the angle of the sun. Try to schedule sunset, when the hills burst into pink and red.

Avalanche Lake Trail in Glacier National Park, Montana

Avalanche Lake Path In Glacier National Park This is a classic family-friendly hike. It has a steady slope with beautiful mountain views, and is best enjoyed with a sandwich and a flask of coffee on the lake. 5.9 mile trail The trail passes through old-growth western red cedar and hemlock forests before ending at Turquoise Glacier Lake.

Angels Landing in Zion National Park, Utah

This 5.4-mile hike is probably one of the most famous hikes in America, with sharp switchbacks and a narrow final ridge that offers unmatched canyon views. This is a bucket-list hike for many, but it is best suited for people with rough and challenging hiking experience.

Keep in mind that you need a permission to hike This mark. They are released by lottery 1-3 months before your desired hike day. Last minute permits are also issued a day in advance for the remaining slots. It may be difficult to hike here on the Fourth of July, but if you can do it, it would be a great way to celebrate the holiday with spectacular views.