Yosemite trail ranks in top 5 hiking trails in U.S. Which one is ‘most loved?’
Of the top five “most loved” hiking trails in the country, two of them are in California — and one of those is in Yosemite National Park.
In Yosemite, Half Dome via the Muir Trail is the fifth “most loved” trail in the U.S., behind the Lands End Trail in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which came in second.
That’s out of 1,000 hiking trails, 20 from every U.S. state, that outdoor apparel brand KÜHL analyzed and ranked based on metrics such as the number of AllTrails reviews the trails have gotten and the trails’ average star rating, how often the trails appeared in Google searches in the last year and the trails’ popularity on Instagram, according to a July 13 news release.
The brand assigned weights to the metrics, with Google searches at 40%, Instagram mentions at 30% and the combined AllTrails reviews and star rating at 30%.
The No. 1 “most loved” trail in the country is Centerpoint to Goat Trail in Arkansas, thanks to its “jaw-dropping views over the Buffalo River,” the brand said.
No. 3 is Bright Angel Trail in Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park, followed by Indian Head and Rainbow Falls in New York’s Adirondack Mountain Reserve, according to the brand.
Lands End Trail snagged the second spot with its Instagram-worthy views, scoring 87 out of 100 overall, the brand said.
“It’s the 15th most scenic trail in the country with 28,681 Instagram hashtags, the 82nd most-Googled with 7,200 annual searches, and holds the #60 spot on AllTrails, earning a stellar 4.8 stars from 11,654 reviews,” the brand said. “This 3.4‑mile loop near the Sutro Baths guides hikers past windswept cypress woodlands, rugged coastal cliffs, and the remnants of the bustling 19th‑century Sutro Baths, all while offering sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Easy to access and visually rich. A quintessential San Fran experience.”
Half Dome via the John Muir Trail has a higher rating and more Google searches, but came in 43rd for the “most-Instagrammed” and at 85.5 out of 100 overall, the brand said.
The trail is “the 65th most-Googled, with 8,800 searches in the last year, and it ranks #1 on AllTrails with an impressive 4.9 stars from 14,357 reviews,” the brand said. “Covering 14 to 16 miles round‑trip, this hike winds through pine‑fringed subalpine meadows before ascending the granite dome made famous by its cables. It delivers a full‑on Yosemite experience: dramatic terrain, heart‑pounding climbs, and Instagrammable summit views.”
The brand created the list of the most popular hiking trails in each state “so that hiking enthusiasts, from coast to coast, could make an informed decision when planning a weekend getaway or a holiday trip.”
