15 Amazing Hikes Within 1 Hour of a Major US Airport

Looking for a quick escape into nature without straying far from the city or an airport terminal? Across the country, surprising pockets of wilderness and scenic trails offer accessible outdoor experiences, often just a short drive from major city centers and airports. These hikes are all short and sweet: just enough to give you a soul-restoring dose of nature while remaining highly accessible.

Calico Tanks Trail
Closest Airport: LAS (Las Vegas)

Driving Time from Airport: 25-30 minutes
Hike Length: 2.2 miles
Hike Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

Starting from the Calico Hills Trailhead in Red Rock Canyon, this hike wends its way through prominent red rock formations. The trail navigates the rocky terrain and leads to natural depressions in the stone where water can accumulate after rainfall, known as tanks or pockets. Good views and vibes abound.

South Mountain Park Mormon Trail
Closest Airport: PHX (Phoenix)

Driving Time from Airport: 15-20 minutes
Hike Length: 1.1 miles
Hike Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult

This route climbs South Mountain starting from the Mormon Trailhead in South Mountain Park.. The hike features multiple locations where ancient petroglyphs, left by the Hohokam people, are present on the rock surfaces.

As you climb further, the trail opens up, often providing increasingly expansive views of the surrounding desert and the Phoenix metropolitan area stretching out below. Depending on how far you take the trail, you can be rewarded with some pretty incredible vistas.

Runyon Canyon Park Inspiration Point Trail (Out and Back)
Closest Airport: LAX (Los Angeles)

Driving Time from Airport: 30-45 minutes
Hike Length: 1.6 miles
Hike Difficulty: Moderate

Accessed via the Fuller Ave Entrance, the Inspiration Point Trail in Runyon Canyon Park is an out-and-back route. The trail is a gradual climb, giving you wide views across the city of Los Angeles, including a clear view of the Hollywood Sign.

Inspiration Point itself serves as the typical turnaround point for this specific hike. From here, you’ll have a view stretching from the Hollywood Hills across the basin towards Downtown LA, and even out to the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. Runyon Canyon is very popular, so expect company on the trail, especially during peak hours. 

Discovery Park Loop Trail
Closest Airport: SEA (Seattle)

Driving Time from Airport: 30-35 minutes
Hike Length: 2.8 miles
Hike Difficulty: Easy

Beginning at the Visitor Center Trailhead, the Loop Trail in Discovery Park is a circuit route that traverses various park areas. Sections of this trail provide views looking out across the waters of Puget Sound and towards the Olympic Mountains in the distance.

As with many Pacific Northwest trails, sections of the Loop Trail can sometimes be muddy, especially after rain. Be prepared for varying trail conditions.

Twin Peaks: Partial Figure-Eight Loop
Closest Airport: SFO (San Francisco)

Driving Time from Airport: 20-30 minutes
Hike Length: ~1.5-2 miles
Hike Difficulty: Moderate

Starting from the Twin Peaks Boulevard Parking Area, this partial figure-eight loop gives you views covering the entire San Francisco Bay Area. From different points along the loop, you can see downtown San Francisco’s skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the East Bay, and the surrounding hillsides. 

Blue Hills Reservation Great Blue Hill Trail (Red Dot)
Closest Airport: BOS (Boston)

Driving Time from Airport: 25-35 minutes
Hike Length: 1.3 miles
Hike Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous

Beginning at the Trailside Museum Parking Area (South) in Blue Hills Reservation, the Great Blue Hill Trail (Red Dot) climbs to an observation tower with wide views towards the city. The trail provides a classic New England woodland hiking experience with a significant uphill push. While not overly long, the trail can be steep and rocky in places.

Everglades National Park: Anhinga Trail
Closest Airport: MIA (Miami)

Driving Time from Airport: 50-60 minutes
Hike Length: 0.8 miles
Hike Difficulty: Easy

Located at the Royal Palm Visitor Center in Everglades National Park, the Anhinga Trail is a short loop. This trail primarily consists of a well-maintained boardwalk that meanders directly through a vibrant wetland known as a “slough.”

There is an incredible amount of visible wildlife; it’s renowned for guaranteed sightings of alligators basking or swimming nearby and a diverse array of bird species like anhingas (hence the name), herons, egrets, and turtles.

Sweetwater Creek State Park Red Trail
Closest Airport: ATL (Atlanta)

Driving Time from Airport: 25-35 minutes
Hike Length: 2.0 miles
Hike Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Starting from the Visitor Center Trailhead in Sweetwater Creek State Park, the Red Trail follows the creek. The highlight of this trail is reaching the impressive ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company mill, a stone structure dating back to the Civil War era.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve Rocky Glen Loop
Closest Airport: ORD (Chicago)

Driving Time from Airport: 30-40 minutes
Hike Length: 1.2 miles
Hike Difficulty: Easy

Beginning at the Waterfall Parking Lot (near Cass Ave entrance) in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, the Rocky Glen Loop has a section with a cascading waterfall, giving you the chance to see some truly impressive nature even this close to busy Chicago.

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve: Outer Loop Trail
Closest Airport: DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth)

Driving Time from Airport: 20-25 minutes
Hike Length: 2.4 miles
Hike Difficulty: Easy

Starting from the Main Entrance Parking at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, the Outer Loop Trail includes an observation tower that provides wide views of the surrounding area. This trail offers an easy hiking experience on a relatively flat and well-maintained path.

Red Rocks Park Trading Post Trail
Closest Airport: DEN (Denver)

Driving Time from Airport: 35-40 minutes
Hike Length: 1.4 miles
Hike Difficulty: Easy

Beginning near the historic Trading Post, this easy trail in Red Rocks Park offers a unique geological experience. The path navigates around the base of the park’s massive, iconic red rock formations, allowing you to appreciate their immense scale and striking color up close. If you time it right, you can enjoy the views during sunset and then head up the steps to catch a wonderful concert.

Wissahickon Valley Park Forbidden Drive (Section)
Closest Airport: PHL (Philadelphia)

Driving Time from Airport: 25-35 minutes
Hike Length: Varies depending on section (~2-3 miles for a shorter out-and-back)
Hike Difficulty: Easy

Accessible from various points like near Valley Green Inn, sections of Forbidden Drive in Wissahickon Valley Park follow Wissahickon Creek. The path includes views of the creek and historic bridges. The length is flexible, allowing for shorter or longer out-and-back walks along the creek.

Maybury State Park Hiking Trail Loop
Closest Airport: DTW (Detroit)

Driving Time from Airport: 25-35 minutes
Hike Length: ~4 miles
Hike Difficulty: Easy

Starting from the Eight Mile Road Entrance Parking, the Hiking Trail Loop in Maybury State Park passes through rolling woodlands and includes a very pretty pond along the way.

Minnehaha Park Minnehaha Falls Lower Glen Trail
Closest Airport: MSP (Minneapolis-Saint Paul)

Driving Time from Airport: 10-15 minutes
Hike Length: 2.1 miles
Hike Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Beginning with a descent via staircases near the top of Minnehaha Falls, the Lower Glen Trail follows the creek below the falls. While the trail is very straightforward, there may be uneven or rocky sections along the creek bed.

Little Big Econ State Forest Kolokee Loop (Partial)
Closest Airport: MCO (Orlando)

Driving Time from Airport: 30-40 minutes
Hike Length: ~2-3 miles (shorter sections)
Hike Difficulty: Moderate

Starting from the Barr Street Trailhead in Little Big Econ State Forest, sections of the Kolokee Loop follow the course of the Econlockhatchee River. Shorter sections of the full Kolokee Loop are accessible from this trailhead, providing options for a few miles of hiking along the river.

Earlier this year, we published a list of backpacking trips you can take without needing to quit your job. This list gives you even more flexibility; not only can you stay employed, but you don’t even need to venture that far from a city to experience some fun trails and good views!

Did we miss any of your favorite trails? Let us know!

Featured image: Graphic design by Zack Goldmann.