Close Menu
World Travel Blog
    • Airlines
    • Destinations
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Travel Deals
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • How To Move Abroad According To Experts
    • Explore LGBTQ-Friendly Malta
    • More Anti-Tourist Protests in Spain
    • Brazil Allows Gender Changes On Official Documents
    • Before You Book Your Summer Trip You May Want To Consider The Weakening U.S. Dollar
    • CDC Issues Travel Advisories For Countries With High Exposure Risk To Dengue Fever
    • Summer Fun In Provincetown
    • U.S. Sees Sharp Decline In Inbound Tourism
    Thursday, July 10
    Facebook Instagram
    World Travel BlogWorld Travel Blog
    Subscribe
    • Airlines

      What You Need To Know About REAL ID

      May 7, 2025

      World’s Best Airports for 2025 Revealed

      April 25, 2025

      What You Need To Know About Japan Airlines’ Free Domestic Flight Program

      April 13, 2025

      European Union Delays New Digital Entry/Exit System

      October 27, 2024

      New Online United States Passport Renewal Program

      June 27, 2024
    • Destinations

      How To Move Abroad According To Experts

      July 9, 2025

      Explore LGBTQ-Friendly Malta

      July 5, 2025

      CDC Issues Travel Advisories For Countries With High Exposure Risk To Dengue Fever

      June 10, 2025

      Summer Fun In Provincetown

      June 4, 2025

      World’s Tallest Bridge To Open In China

      May 29, 2025
    • Events

      Summer Fun In Provincetown

      June 4, 2025

      The Key West Film Festival 2024!

      November 4, 2024

      Wonderful Wedding & Honeymoon Destinations Around The World

      August 29, 2024

      The Olympics Issues New Guidelines For Journalists Covering Trans Athletes In Paris

      June 23, 2024

      Pack Your Bags For The Malta Biennale!

      March 25, 2024
    • Hotels

      Six Best-Kept Secret Hotels to Book in 2025

      January 4, 2025

      Palm Springs Getaway!

      November 10, 2024

      The Growing Allure of Independent Accommodations

      September 14, 2024

      Your Hotel Concierge Is The Perfect Travel Guide

      April 30, 2024

      Airbnb Updates Its Cancellation Policy

      April 13, 2024
    • Restaurants

      Must-Visit Restaurants in Venice, Italy

      September 22, 2024

      The Growing Allure of Independent Accommodations

      September 14, 2024

      New ‘Everywhere is Queer’ App for LGBTQ Travelers

      July 19, 2024

      20 Top Cities for Vegans and Vegetarians

      October 5, 2023

      Apps To Help You Find The Best Restaurants

      September 22, 2023
    • Travel Deals

      Before You Book Your Summer Trip You May Want To Consider The Weakening U.S. Dollar

      June 13, 2025

      MSC Cruises Unveils New 22-Deck Ship in Florida

      April 24, 2025

      What You Need To Know About Japan Airlines’ Free Domestic Flight Program

      April 13, 2025

      Easy And Affordable Digital Nomad Visas

      February 27, 2025

      Affordable Destinations For Foodies

      February 25, 2025
    World Travel Blog
    Home»Destinations»Some of the Best Urban Hikes in the USA
    Destinations

    Some of the Best Urban Hikes in the USA

    Keith LangstonBy Keith LangstonOctober 29, 2019Updated:July 1, 20204 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Aerial View of Chicago (photo by Joseph Sohm)
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Did you know that many cities in America have some excellent, and quite large, natural wonders close by, or even within the city? That’s right. In some cities, a great hike in a beautiful natural setting may only be a short bus ride away. Join us as we experience some of the best urban hikes in the USA!

    By Keith David Langston

     

    CALABASAS PEAK TRAIL, LOS ANGELES

    Photo: Andy Konieczny

    Despite being America’s second-largest city and the poster child for urban sprawl, Los Angeles is loaded with outdoor opportunities. What separates “the city” from “the valley” is the Santa Monica mountains. This range offers tons of hiking. Runyon Canyon, Temescal Canyon, Malibu Creek State Park, Topanga Canyon, the list goes on… But one of my favorites from when I used to live there was the Calabasas Peak Trail. Home to cougars and coyotes, this trail will make you completely forget you’re in the middle of a megalopolis of almost 25 million people.

     

    CHICAGO’S LAKEFRONT TRAIL

    Photo: Felix Mizioznikov

    Chicago’s Lakefront Trail is a stunning 18 miles-long! And even better, the trail sits right on the lakefront, giving you excellent views of the city skylines, nearby parks, and Lake Michigan. Need another reason to make the journey?… It’s paved. Mean Girls fans rejoice! When this trail ends in Chicago’s North Side, you’ll be close to Evanston, home to Northwestern University as well North Shore High School, the actual school where Mean Girls was filmed!

     

    PINNACLE PEAK PARK, PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE

    Photo: Phyllis Peterson

    Get some desert vibes without ever leaving Scottsdale! But remember…this is very much the real deal. Pinnacle Peak looks like a collection of mounted boulders and rise above the city almost like a ride at Disneyland. It’s a captivating sight. Besides hiking, the mountain also offers some great rock climbing. Gila monsters, desert tortoises, and diamondback rattlesnakes can all be found on the trail, along with other desert animals.

    SWEETWATER CREEK, ATLANTA

    Photo: Jamie_Jeff

    Want to visit the site where The Walking Dead, and two Hunger Games movies were filmed? Sweetwater Creek is located right outside Atlanta, and has a beautiful river, rapids, nine miles of hiking trails, and an old abandoned factory. In 1846, a 5-story cotton mill was erected along the river using hydropower and it produced some 700 pounds of cotton a day. When the Civil War broke out, the North seized the mill and set it one fire. Now, nature has reclaimed what’s left, with ivy growing up the stone brinks, and trees growing through what was once the production floor. Nowadays, the park is home to foxes, horned owls, river otters, deer, and more.

     

    MUIR WOODS, SAN FRANCISCO

    Photo: Topseller

    Located just 16 miles from downtown San Francisco is the Muir Woods National Monument, named after famed naturalist, John Muir. Muir loved nature and avidly hiked the American West. He co-founded the Sierra Club and was a prominent figure in protecting Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. Now, a forest has been preserved in his honor, so everyone living in the Bay Area can enjoy the beauty of the California wilderness. As Muir famously said, “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”

     

    ROGER WILLIAMS PARK, PROVIDENCE, RI

    Photo: Ally Cowie

    Located right in the middle of Providence, RI, Roger Williams Park is a whopping 427 acres. The park holds a zoo (the 3rd oldest in America), a planetarium, natural history museum, and botanical garden, six miles of trails for hiking and biking, and a pond that’s a great place for renting a paddle boat or just watching the ducks. Residents love visiting the park in autumn to catch the gorgeous changing foliage that New England is so known for.

    adventure Atlanta chicago hike John Muir los angeles Outdoors parks Providence recreation san francisco Scottsdale trails travel urban hiking walking
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleAruba Launches the “Aruba Promise” Campaign
    Next Article Priceline Releases Holiday Travel Trends and Deals for 2019
    Keith Langston

    Related Posts

    How To Move Abroad According To Experts

    July 9, 2025

    Explore LGBTQ-Friendly Malta

    July 5, 2025

    Before You Book Your Summer Trip You May Want To Consider The Weakening U.S. Dollar

    June 13, 2025
     
     
     
      
     
    Don't Miss It!

    How To Move Abroad According To Experts

    By Lauren MulveyJuly 9, 2025

    If you’re living in the U.S. right now, you might be thinking get me out…

    Explore LGBTQ-Friendly Malta

    By Lauren MulveyJuly 5, 2025

    For LGBTQ+ travelers, Malta is a place of genuine welcome, vibrant culture, and unshakable pride.…

    More Anti-Tourist Protests in Spain

    By Lauren MulveyJune 23, 2025

    Protestors in Barcelona are pushing back against mass tourism with water pistols and marches through…

    Our Latest

    How To Move Abroad According To Experts

    July 9, 2025

    Explore LGBTQ-Friendly Malta

    July 5, 2025

    More Anti-Tourist Protests in Spain

    June 23, 2025

    Brazil Allows Gender Changes On Official Documents

    June 15, 2025
    Editor's Pick!

    Vaccines Will Be the Key for Cruise Ships to Resume Sailing

    By Keith LangstonDecember 21, 2020

    Shortly after the pandemic began, cruise lines around the world began touting that COVID testing,…

    Celebrate Mrs. Maisel’s 8 Marvelous Nights of Hanukkah at INTERSECT by Lexus in NYC

    December 13, 2019
    For You

    4 Airports You’ll Actually Want to Spend Time In

    By Keith LangstonFebruary 27, 2019

    Layovers, delays, cancellations…these can all lead to hellish airport experiences. Especially if that airport is…

    How to Travel the World Without Ever Leaving New York City

    By Jenna LeisNovember 6, 2019

    When people first come to New York, they soon realize that this city is truly…

    © 2025 The World Travel Blog — USA
    • Destinations
    • Events
    • Health
    • Travel
    • Global Cocktails Blog

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker.