The 15 Best Places For Hikers To Live

Getting out into the wilderness can have a profound effect on mental and physical health, reconnecting the body to nature and allowing an escape from a digital world that often reigns supreme. In areas that don’t have access to the wilds, it can be hard to escape. And while many people think that large metro areas don’t give them that chance, there’s a surprising number that have hundreds of miles of trails and a plethora of state and national parks ready to be explored.

Rocket Homes^SM has teamed up with BestPlaces.net to find the 15 best places for hikers to live.

Those interested in living where hiking trails abound can head to one of these cities – so the next time someone tells them to “take a hike,” they’ll have more than enough opportunity to do so.

Finding The Best Places For Hikers To Live

The researchers at BestPlaces.net used the following metrics to determine the rankings for the best places for hikers to live in the U.S.:

• Number of trails within the metro area
• Total miles of trails
• Average trail distance
• Summer weather comfort index
• Number of state parks or forests within the metro area
• Size of state parks or forests within the area
• Number of national parks or forests within the metro area
• Size of national parks or forests within the area

1. Eugene, OR

• Number of trails: 90
• Total number of trail miles: 125.2
• Number of state parks: 14
• Number of national parks or forests: 3

Eugene ranks in the top 10% of the country for trail miles, average trail distance and low humidity, making it the top choice for best places for hikers to live. Nestled between the Cascade and Calapooya mountain ranges, Eugene offers hikers the chance to tread along paved and natural paths that take them through wetlands, forests and grasslands. The diverse terrain includes flat trails, moderate inclines and advanced summit climbs. One of Eugene’s most popular trail systems is the 12-mile Ridgeline Trail, which features seven different trailheads that lead to various parks. One of the most prominent parks on the trail system is Spencer Butte, a rocky summit that’s also the city’s highest point. In the spring, hikers flock to Ridgeline’s newest trail called Wild Iris Ridge, which is blanketed in stunning, purple wild iris during the season.

2. Phoenix, AZ

• Number of trails: 234
• Total number of trail miles: 156.3
• Number of state parks: 7
• Number of national parks or forests: 8

When it comes to hiking in Arizona, the Grand Canyon often hogs the spotlight, but just 3 hours away, the city of Phoenix might just give it some competition. Arizona’s capital ranks in the top 10% for the length of hiking trails to traverse. The city’s South Mountain Preserve, consisting of three mountain ranges, makes up 50 miles of trails alone. Just 20 minutes from downtown, Camelback Mountain offers 360-degree views as far as the eye can see atop one of the city’s highest summits. These are just four of several mountains in Phoenix’s metro area. And while resident hikers can enjoy time spent in nature, they can also enjoy time spent protecting it. That’s because the city of Phoenix is ranked one of the most sustainable cities in the U.S.

3. Portland, OR

• Number of trails: 345
• Total number of trail miles: 159.5
• Number of state parks: 47
• Number of national parks or forests: 8

Along the eastern slope of the Tualatin Mountains, Forest Park’s lush green vegetation hugs more than 80 miles of trails meandering through a dense, native forest. One would almost forget that they’re smack-dab in the middle of the city of Portland. The 5,200-acre park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, but it’s not the only park to hike in the city. In fact, the greater Portland area has more state parks than 98% of the country. That includes Tyron Creek State Natural Area, Oregon’s only state park located in a major metro area. Only a 15-minute drive from downtown, the park includes 8 miles of maintained hiking trails that cross bridges, wind around wetlands and introduce travelers to nearly 300 plant species growing in the second-growth forest.

4. Fresno, CA

• Number of trails: 88
• Total number of trail miles: 170.6
• Number of state parks: 4
• Number of national parks or forests: 4

Fresno’s proximity to three national parks – all within a 90-minute drive – make it the perfect home base for those who wish to explore some of the most iconic landscapes in the country. Sequoia National Forest and King’s Canyon provide more than 800 miles of maintained hiking trails in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and allow visitors to encounter some of the largest trees in the world. And within Yosemite’s 1,200 square miles, you’ll find a vast array of sights, including waterfalls, meadows, lakes, rivers and breathtaking rock formations. Fresno is also one of the most affordable places to live in California, with a median home price of $316,400 and a cost of living that’s 47% below the rest of the state.

5. Sacramento, CA

• Number of trails: 313
• Total number of trail miles: 181.5
• Number of state parks: 18
• Number of national parks or forests: 5

California’s capital has more trail miles in its metro area than 95% of the country, with several trails spanning more than 6 miles. And with an elevation of just 30 feet, the city is relatively flat, making most of those miles light and comfortable for hikers of all levels. Many of the trails within the city are paved and run along the American River, including Sacramento’s longest trail, the 32-mile Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail. For more advanced, scenic hikes, residents can drive about 40 miles northeast to Auburn State Recreation Area, which provides more than 100 miles of rustic, multi-use trails that take explorers through California’s historic Gold Country.

6. Salinas, CA

• Number of trails: 114
• Total number of trail miles: 75.6
• Number of state parks: 9
• Number of national parks or forests: 2

Of the 75 miles of trails throughout Salinas, more than 20 miles of hiking can be found in Toro Park, just outside of the downtown area. There, explorers will find views of the Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay and more than 100 geocache sites for treasure-hunting hikers. Beginners may prefer Jacks Peak, which offers nearby parking, well-marked trails and shorter hikes. Depending on the trails they choose, hikers may catch glimpses of the many lettuce, broccoli and pepper crops that have helped Salinas Valley become known as “the salad bowl of the world.” With a low humidity that ranks in the top 10% of the country, Salinas won’t have stifling summer air that feels too heavy or damp to enjoy the surroundings.

7. Knoxville, TN

• Number of trails: 65
• Total number of trail miles: 45.5
• Number of state parks: 12
• Number of national parks or forests: 4

Knoxville experiences all four seasons, with milder winters than northern states, making hiking a year-round activity for residents of the Marble City. In the summer, many tree-covered trails provide ample shade and, in the autumn, surround hikers in vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. And because Knoxville ranks in the top 10% for average trail distance, hikers can enjoy their surroundings for a little longer. Those who want stunning views any time of year can climb to the top of House Mountain, the highest point in Knox County. And for a longer day trip, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just an hour away. Wherever residents go in the Knoxville metro area, they can expect their dollar to go a little further, too – the cost of living is almost 15% lower than the U.S. average.

8. Visalia, CA

• Number of trails: 92
• Total number of trail miles: 206.2
• Number of state parks: 2
• Number of national parks or forests: 4

Ranking in the top 1% of the country for average trail distance, Visalia has just under 100 trails that have an average distance of 2.24 miles. The longest one, St. Johns River Trail, is a paved, 6.5-mile trail that meanders along the riverbank within city limits. Just 10 minutes from the charming downtown, you’ll find the Kaweah Oaks preserve, a highly recommended natural preserve with hiking trails, self-guided nature paths and over 300 plant and animal species residing there. Moro Rock Trail offers a more unique adventure with a stone stairway cut into a granite dome. Thousands of feet above the highway, the rock’s summit provides 360-degree views, which include the Great Western Divide and the San Joaquin Valley.

9. Asheville, NC

• Number of trails: 77
• Total number of trail miles: 52.9
• Number of state parks: 1
• Number of national parks or forests: 8

As the cerulean haze from Asheville’s Blue Ridge Mountain range blends into the heavens above, it’s easy to see how “The Land of the Sky” got its nickname. Seated at the foot of the range’s popular Great Smoky Mountains, Asheville is a dream for hikers of all levels. There are low-impact trails under 3 miles long or rugged terrain of more than 10 miles and an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet. The metro area has more national parks and forests – eight total –  within its boundaries than 90% of the country. With an access point less than 10 minutes outside of downtown Asheville, the Pisgah National Forest has more than 500,000 acres of old-growth forest with cascading waterfalls and some of the highest, oldest peaks in the east, including Grandfather Mountain.

10. Salem, OR

• Number of trails: 83
• Total number of trail miles: 51.5
• Number of state parks: 9
• Number of national parks or forests: 3

Ranking in the top 20% of the country for comfortable summers, Salem has a pleasant  humidity and an average high temperature of 82 degrees during the warm season. It’s the type of weather that provides a relaxed hike on any one of the 83 different trails around the Salem metropolitan area. Inside city limits, residents will find Minto-Brown Island Park, which features 29 miles of bark chip and paved trails along the Willamette River, through leafy canopies and around open cornfields and farmland. For a more serene, secluded hike, residents can escape the capital city to Silver Falls State Park, about 30 minutes away. While the Trail of Ten Falls is a busy trail at the park, there’s a lesser-known path called The Perimeter Trail, which can often be traveled without seeing another person.

11. San Bernardino, CA

• Number of trails: 400
• Total number of trail miles: 222.6
• Number of state parks: 13
• Number of national parks or forests: 7

Residents of the San Bernardino metropolitan area could hike one trail a day for a year and still not have hiked all the trails in the area. With 400 trails and more than 200 miles to explore, the city ranks in the top 10% of the country for trail count and top 5% for total number of trail miles. More than 100 of those trails can be found in the San Bernardino National Forest which has day hiking and overnight trips and includes the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), one of only 11 National Scenic Trails. If that’s not enough, city inhabitants are also just 90 minutes from Joshua Tree and 2 hours from Mojave National Preserve. Between these two parks, hikers will have more than 2 million acres of awe-inspiring desert landscape to explore.

12. Spokane, WA

• Number of trails: 99
• Total number of trail miles: 58.8
• Number of state parks: 9
• Number of national parks or forests: 5

Spokane’s dry summers put it in the top 5% of the country for humidity. Great humidity means that, though the city’s average high temperature in the summer is 87 degrees, hikers will stay cooler on the trails than they would in muggier areas of the country. That’s a good thing considering there are almost 100 trails to explore – and more than half of those are within 20 miles of downtown Spokane. While there’s plenty to explore in the more rural areas, hikers will also want to check out Riverfront Park, home to the largest urban waterfall in the country and called “one of America’s most beautiful urban parks” by National Geographic. Along with urban and rural hiking, residents of Spokane also enjoy a cost of living that is 26% lower than the rest of the state.

13. Albuquerque, NM

• Number of trails: 158
• Total number of trail miles: 107.2
• Number of state parks: 8
• Number of national parks or forests: 7

Hikers who love history can combine their passions in Albuquerque, home of the Petroglyph National Monument. The park has three Petroglyph trails, up to 2 miles long, that provide views of up to 500 carved symbols that date back 400 to 700 years. A fourth trail in the park doesn’t have petroglyphs but offers scenic views of the Rio Grande Valley, the Sandia Mountains and unique volcanic cinder cones. Those looking to get into the mountains can do so with ease on the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway. The longest aerial tram in the world takes riders from the desert to a forest of spruce and fir that features hikes through caves, along waterfalls and up mountain peaks. Albuquerque’s pleasant humidity, which ranks in the top 10% of the country, and sweeping scenery will make any trek enjoyable.

14. Ventura, CA

• Number of trails: 154
• Total number of trail miles: 77.2
• Number of state parks: 7
• Number of national parks or forests: 3

With 1,455 square miles of national parks within its boundaries, Ventura ranks in the top 15% of the country for the magnitude of its national parks and forests. Of that coverage, almost 400 square miles are made of five islands located just off the coast called the Channel Islands. Dubbed the “Galapagos of North America,” these islands hold 150 plant and animal species that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. It’s also one of the least-visited national parks, meaning visitors will experience more quiet, undisturbed surroundings. Each island will yield different opportunities, from exploring some of the world’s largest sea caves and secluded white beaches to watching humpback whales splash around. The islands feature shorter hikes for beginners or cross-island hikes for those who are more advanced.

15. Anchorage, AK

• Number of trails: 119
• Total number of trail miles: 103.2
• Number of state parks: 7
• Number of national parks or forests: 2

The average daytime high temperature in the summer of Anchorage is a comfortable 66 degrees, making it prime weather to spend the day exploring the great outdoors – and in Anchorage, there’s much to discover. The metro area ranks in the top 1% of the country for the number of square miles of state parks. That’s because of Chugach State Park, which covers about 495,000 acres – most of which lie within the municipality of Anchorage. Combined with the nearby Chugach National Forrest, the second-largest national forest in the U.S., these two parks have more than 9,000 square miles filled with glaciers, mountain peaks, lakes, streams, wildflowers and all sorts of edible berries ripe for picking. Access to some of the most popular trails is just 20 minutes from downtown Anchorage.

Summary: The Wild West Ranks High Amongst The Rest

The focus of this article is more on the remote, wilderness hiking opportunities of the 150 largest metro areas in the U.S. Because of this, you’ll notice that western cities are overwhelmingly more present on this list than any other area of the country. This is because the layout of eastern cities is more compact while western cities are generally laid out with more space. To focus on longer hiking trails found more in the wilderness, we weighted average trail length higher and kept the weight of national and state parks lower in an effort to remove most urban national monuments, memorials and gardens, which have shorter trails and different types of hikes than we wanted to focus on. If we were to include these types of state and national parks, this list would likely have more East Coast and Southern cities ranked.

Methodology: Finding The Best Cities For Hikers

To determine the best places for hikers to live, we began by analyzing the 150 largest metro areas, which are home to over 70% of U.S. residents.

We analyzed data in 8 key areas, which provided insight into longer, remote hiking opportunities available within the area and a resident’s ability to hike during the prime season (summer) given the weather conditions of the area during that time.

For scoring and comparison, each data metric was normalized and transformed to a common range of 0-100 points. Weights were then applied to each metric to reflect its importance in the study and, from there, the weighted scores for each metric were summed and sorted to generate the final rankings.