Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Which Ones You Can Truly Hike


Contents

Most lists deal with all 50 state excessive factors as one bucket record. They’re not. The bulk are drive-ups or quick walks. A handful are actual path hikes. Seven of them aren’t hikes in any respect: they require mountaineering, technical climbing, or glacier journey to succeed in the summit.

Technical Peaks

These peaks require expertise and kit past commonplace climbing. Right here’s the most effective hikeable different for every.

Alaska

Denali (20,310 ft) → Flattop Mountain (3,510 ft)

Denali (20,310 ft) is apparent. The tougher downside is discovering any normal-hike different in Alaska. Even mid-elevation peaks within the 4,000–7,000 ft vary sometimes have uncovered sections I wouldn’t suggest to most hikers. Flattop Mountain (3,510 ft) outdoors Anchorage is the most suitable choice: maintained path, one quick scramble close to the highest, manageable for those who take your time.

Flattop Mountain on AllTrails

Washington

Washington state high point alternative: Mount St. Helens
Mount Rainier (14,411 ft) → Mount St. Helens (8,363 ft)

Mount Rainier (14,411 ft) requires mountaineering year-round. Mount St. Helens (8,363 ft) is the most effective different: forest path, marked boulder area, steep ash slope to the summit. Open in late summer time when snow clears. No technical expertise required.

Mount St. Helens on AllTrails

Wyoming

Wyoming state high point alternative: Medicine Bow Peak
Gannett Peak (13,810 ft) → Medication Bow Peak (12,018 ft)

Gannett Peak (13,810 ft) requires glacier journey and is taken into account the toughest state excessive level after Denali. Medication Bow Peak (12,018 ft) has an official USFS path (#295) all the way in which to the summit. Cloud Peak and Fremont Peak are nearer in elevation however contain off-trail journey and scrambling I wouldn’t universally suggest.

Medication Bow Peak on AllTrails

Nevada

Nevada state high point alternative: Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park
Boundary Peak (13,147 ft) → Wheeler Peak (13,065 ft)

Boundary Peak (13,147 ft) has a route, however the Forest Service describes it as requiring cross-country navigation. Wheeler Peak (13,065 ft) in Nice Basin Nationwide Park is just 84 toes decrease with a maintained NPS path. The elevation distinction is negligible; the expertise distinction shouldn’t be.

Wheeler Peak on HikingGuy

Montana

Montana state high point alternative: Trapper Peak in the Bitterroot Mountains
Granite Peak (12,807 ft) → Trapper Peak (10,157 ft)

Granite Peak (12,807 ft) entails uncovered Class 4/5 mountain climbing and is likely one of the hardest state excessive factors within the decrease 48. Trapper Peak (10,157 ft) within the Bitterroot Mountains has an official USFS path and is an easy, if steep, full day.

Trapper Peak on AllTrails

Idaho

Idaho state high point alternative: Scotchman Peak in northern Idaho
Borah Peak (12,662 ft) → Scotchman Peak (7,018 ft)

Borah Peak’s (12,662 ft) “Rooster Out Ridge” names the issue. Scotchman Peak (7,018 ft) in northern Idaho has an official USFS path and is known as the toughest Class 1 peak within the state. Hyndman, Citadel, and Iron Creek Level are greater options however contain scrambling and route-finding I wouldn’t broadly suggest.

Scotchman Peak on AllTrails

Oregon

Oregon state high point alternative: South Sister in the Cascades
Mount Hood (11,249 ft) → South Sister (10,358 ft)

Each path to Mount Hood (11,249 ft) requires mountaineering. South Sister (10,358 ft) is the very best non-technical summit in Oregon, hikeable in late summer time when snow clears. Unfastened and gravelly close to the highest, however no publicity and no route-finding.

South Sister on AllTrails

All 50

  • Technical: mountaineering or climbing required; information hyperlinks to the beneficial different above
  • Hike: non-technical path, actual effort
  • Stroll-up: drive-up accessible or very quick path
State Excessive Level Elevation Kind
Alaska Denali → Flattop Mtn (3,510 ft) 20,310 ft Technical
California Mount Whitney 14,505 ft Hike
Colorado Mount Elbert 14,440 ft Hike
Washington Mount Rainier → Mt St. Helens (8,363 ft) 14,411 ft Technical
Wyoming Gannett Peak → Medication Bow Peak (12,018 ft) 13,810 ft Technical
Hawaii Mauna Kea 13,803 ft Stroll-up
Utah Kings Peak 13,528 ft Hike
New Mexico Wheeler Peak 13,167 ft Hike
Nevada Boundary Peak → Wheeler Peak (13,065 ft) 13,147 ft Technical
Montana Granite Peak → Trapper Peak (10,157 ft) 12,807 ft Technical
Idaho Borah Peak → Scotchman Peak (7,018 ft) 12,662 ft Technical
Arizona Humphreys Peak 12,637 ft Hike
Oregon Mount Hood → South Sister (10,358 ft) 11,249 ft Technical
Texas Guadalupe Peak 8,751 ft Hike
South Dakota Black Elk Peak 7,231 ft Hike
North Carolina Mount Mitchell 6,684 ft Stroll-up
Tennessee Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) 6,643 ft Stroll-up
New Hampshire Mount Washington 6,288 ft Stroll-up
Virginia Mount Rogers 5,729 ft Hike
Nebraska Panorama Level 5,429 ft Stroll-up
New York Mount Marcy 5,344 ft Hike
Maine Katahdin 5,268 ft Hike
Oklahoma Black Mesa 4,973 ft Stroll-up
West Virginia Spruce Knob 4,863 ft Stroll-up
Georgia Brasstown Bald 4,784 ft Stroll-up
Vermont Mount Mansfield 4,395 ft Hike
Kentucky Black Mountain 4,139 ft Stroll-up
Kansas Mount Sunflower 4,039 ft Stroll-up
South Carolina Sassafras Mountain 3,553 ft Stroll-up
North Dakota White Butte 3,508 ft Stroll-up
Massachusetts Mount Greylock 3,492 ft Stroll-up
Maryland Spine Mountain 3,360 ft Stroll-up
Pennsylvania Mount Davis 3,213 ft Stroll-up
Arkansas Mount Journal 2,753 ft Stroll-up
Alabama Cheaha Mountain 2,407 ft Stroll-up
Connecticut Mount Frissell 2,380 ft Hike
Minnesota Eagle Mountain 2,301 ft Stroll-up
Michigan Mount Arvon 1,979 ft Stroll-up
Wisconsin Timms Hill 1,951 ft Stroll-up
New Jersey Excessive Level 1,803 ft Stroll-up
Missouri Taum Sauk Mountain 1,772 ft Stroll-up
Iowa Hawkeye Level 1,670 ft Stroll-up
Ohio Campbell Hill 1,550 ft Stroll-up
Indiana Hoosier Hill 1,257 ft Stroll-up
Illinois Charles Mound 1,235 ft Stroll-up
Rhode Island Jerimoth Hill 812 ft Stroll-up
Mississippi Woodall Mountain 806 ft Stroll-up
Louisiana Driskill Mountain 535 ft Stroll-up
Delaware Ebright Azimuth 450 ft Stroll-up
Florida Britton Hill 345 ft Stroll-up

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