2021’s Best Cities for Hiking

Ready to get outside after so many months cooped up? Take a hike. Seriously. 

The perfect casual exercise to strengthen body and mind is hiking. Going for a hike is a great way to leave your home while following current pandemic health guidelines. 

But where are the best places to hike amid trees, streams, native grasses and wildflowers?

LawnStarter ranked the Best Cities for Hiking based on 11 key metrics ranging from the number of usable trails to the average amount of sunshine. 

You can find our ranking, highlights/lowlights, expert commentary, and methodology below. Then lace up your hiking boots, head outdoors, and get a shot of nature. 

Table of Contents

City RankingsHighlights and LowlightsMethodologyWhy This Study Matters

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

OVERALL RANKCityOverall ScoreAccess RankQuality RankClimate RankSafety Rank

1San Francisco, CA65.10244171

2Oakland, CA64.931025757

3Los Angeles, CA64.6722824138

4San Diego, CA63.4111292113

5Portland, OR63.28437326

6San Jose, CA62.6512226113

7Huntington Beach, CA62.5474112117

8Moreno Valley, CA61.19131512121

9Tucson, AZ61.023124632

10Long Beach, CA61.0064111138

11Oceanside, CA59.9223412113

12Riverside, CA59.77143412121

13Las Vegas, NV59.69873438

14Phoenix, AZ59.301305269

15Fremont, CA58.884618757

16Anaheim, CA58.67184112117

17Colorado Springs, CO58.295266217

18San Bernardino, CA56.8876112100

19Rancho Cucamonga, CA56.8754512100

20Chula Vista, CA56.4692232113

21Irvine, CA56.10381812117

22Ontario, CA55.962014712100

23Fontana, CA55.14794112100

24Santa Rosa, CA54.9140271144

25Albuquerque, NM54.9017114245

26Seattle, WA54.7226353911

27El Paso, TX54.51448389

28Santa Ana, CA54.37754112117

29Honolulu, HI53.8521410149

30Glendale, CA53.7570612138

31Elk Grove, CA53.7268412721

32Sacramento, CA53.5374412721

33Santa Clarita, CA53.31672012138

34Scottsdale, AZ52.3215175269

35North Las Vegas, NV52.117133438

36Minneapolis, MN51.976141439

37Salt Lake City, UT51.959265121

38Henderson, NV51.8462143438

39Vancouver, WA51.3660413238

40Boise City, ID51.0119134784

41Greensboro, NC50.9099412696

42St. Paul, MN50.7594414312

43Oxnard, CA50.62341475147

44San Antonio, TX50.282541837

45Tacoma, WA49.9343413966

46Mesa, AZ49.1127325269

47Spokane, WA48.9849416033

48Tampa, FL48.987241664

49Austin, TX48.7716418862

50Winston-Salem, NC47.93954125142

51Reno, NV47.3722961137

52Aurora, CO47.2756417121

53Salem, OR47.18120414176

54Denver, CO47.0728387164

55New York, NY47.04293310527

56Louisville, KY47.0353411223

57Glendale, AZ46.9366415269

58Stockton, CA46.83454137132

59Bakersfield, CA46.82962430131

60Knoxville, TN46.48394110025

61Peoria, AZ46.4278415279

62Durham, NC46.3736417453

63Chandler, AZ46.2584415269

64Tempe, AZ46.1190415269

65Buffalo, NY45.99104411182

66Fresno, CA45.911233831129

67Atlanta, GA45.7255417545

68Raleigh, NC45.5032418065

69Lubbock, TX45.44145414584

70Dallas, TX45.3042419052

71Milwaukee, WI45.261094110113

72Cleveland, OH45.25514112816

73Yonkers, NY45.23584111419

74Akron, OH45.19654111918

75Modesto, CA45.16864129144

76Virginia Beach, VA45.04804148106

77Grand Rapids, MI45.0097411294

78Kansas City, MO44.62574112031

79Fort Worth, TX44.6163419047

80Philadelphia, PA44.4881418248

81Columbus, OH44.43114411238

82Pittsburgh, PA44.36524111736

83Corpus Christi, TX44.23143416444

84Chesapeake, VA44.131114148106

85Charlotte, NC44.09484169106

86Toledo, OH44.021374110615

87Indianapolis, IN43.96474113235

88Detroit, MI43.78129419921

89Wichita, KS43.671404111314

90McKinney, TX43.66100419042

91Laredo, TX43.57150417726

92Grand Prairie, TX43.5293419054

93Fort Wayne, IN43.401274111120

94Newport News, VA43.381054148124

95Amarillo, TX43.31146106399

96Baltimore, MD43.281024110837

97Chicago, IL43.26774113328

98Washington, DC43.234114670130

99Newark, NJ43.161124111428

100Gilbert, AZ43.11891475269

101Plano, TX43.06107419055

102Brownsville, TX43.01149416860

103Irving, TX42.79124419048

104Providence, RI42.75824112448

105Frisco, TX42.63122419055

106Arlington, TX42.61107419063

107Madison, WI42.521034113134

108Garland, TX42.48117419059

109Lincoln, NE42.36105417884

110Norfolk, VA42.351424148124

111St. Petersburg, FL42.31854166124

112Aurora, IL42.271104113328

113Lexington, KY42.25126418960

114Boston, MA42.19115417684

115Jacksonville, FL42.07694110996

116Miami, FL42.07119418577

117Huntsville, AL42.063336130106

118Oklahoma City, OK41.631134110481

119Chattanooga, TN41.54503114180

120Hialeah, FL41.39144418577

121Columbus, GA41.34133418484

122Rochester, NY41.348341103106

123Fayetteville, NC41.26131418098

124Houston, TX41.03374114882

125Nashville, TN40.98884112783

126St. Louis, MO40.97874113566

127Little Rock, AR40.881012112695

128Des Moines, IA40.871164111084

129Worcester, MA40.653141136124

130Birmingham, AL40.64644114093

131Sioux Falls, SD40.591344110784

132Tulsa, OK40.491254114443

133Overland Park, KS40.461184112084

134Fort Lauderdale, FL40.411384185105

135Orlando, FL40.325941102132

136New Orleans, LA40.241284114251

137Memphis, TN39.737341143100

138Omaha, NE39.4513641112106

139Port St. Lucie, FL39.371354173132

140Richmond, VA38.91984179142

141Cape Coral, FL38.781414113793

142Cincinnati, OH38.05354115068

143Augusta, GA37.6613938139106

144Montgomery, AL37.471474114684

145Anchorage, AK36.853016125149

146Tallahassee, FL36.199141147132

147Jersey City, NJ35.74121147114124

148Shreveport, LA35.6714741138132

149Baton Rouge, LA32.8313041149144

150Mobile, AL32.0113241145148

 

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Highlights and Lowlights

California Dreaming

Our hiking ranking was dominated by California. While almost every city in the Golden State performed well in the Climate categories due to mild weather and plentiful sunshine, the cities also are well rounded in other metrics such as number of hiking routes, number of camping sites, and variety in route difficulty. California is a hiker’s dream.

Happy Trails Out West

Other Western-state cities, such as Tucson, Las Vegas and Portland, also ranked well. Western cities tend to feature a higher number of hiking routes and camping stores. The climate is generally better for the outdoors than might be expected as well: Western cities report better air quality and — despite the wet reputation of the Pacific Northwest — surprisingly little average monthly precipitation.

Fewer Perfect Hiking Days

While cities in the South and Midwest fared poorly in a number of Best Hiking City metrics, it’s temperatures that truly mark these regions as less than ideal for hiking. Cities like Tallahassee and Cincinnati are subject to temperature extremes with a high yearly average of both very cold and very hot days. It’s not impossible to find a nice day for a stroll here, but we wouldn’t bet on it.

Methodology

To determine the best and worst U.S. cities for pandemic hiking, LawnStarter first identified quantifiable factors that affect the quality and suitability of a hike. We identified and collected the most recently available data for a total of 11 key indicators, which are listed below, and grouped these into four categories: route access, route diversity, route safety and climate. 

Next, we assigned a weighted score to each metric based on its significance within its indicator category. A single weight is equal to 4 points, a double weight 9 points and a triple weight 13 points.

Finally, we compared the 150 most populated U.S. cities by summing up their scores across the 11 indicators. The city that scored the highest was ranked No. 1, or “best,” while the city with the lowest score was ranked No. 150, or “worst.”

MetricWeightingMin. ValueMax. Value

Number of Hiking Routes30238

Number of Camping Sites20128

Number of Camping Stores10130

“Access” Category Total6

Variety of Route Difficulty30.00%100.00%

“Diversity” Category Total3

Yearly Average Number of Very Cold Days30192

Yearly Average Number of Very Hot Days32169

Sunshine2085

Average Monthly Precipitation23.0965.28

Air Quality11558

“Climate” Category Total11

Natural Hazards Index21020

Natural/Environmental Death Rate10.11.8

“Safety” Category Total3

Overall Total23

Sources: AllTrails, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Yelp

Why This Study Matters

Fresh air, budding trees, and blooming wildflowers — getting out in the Great Outdoors does wonders for your body and mind. Hiking, arguably, is just what the doctor ordered after months of staying close to home due to pandemic restrictions.

It’s a prescription millions have been happily taking, as Americans hit the trails in droves in 2020. The American Hiking Society estimates a 200% increase in trail usage over 2019. Sales of hiking equipment, such as boots and guidebooks, are seeing a sharp uptick, too. 

With baseball on hold for part of last year, hiking — and gardening — became our new national pastimes. 

Here’s why: Safe activities that keep us healthy are more necessary than ever, even as some states and cities ease COVID restrictions. One Stanford University study found that even a 90-minute walk in a natural setting can decrease depression and improve mental health.

So, get off your couch and get out there. Pack a face mask, though. Some trails are busy with people enjoying nature. 

Main Photo Credit: Needpix

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