Here’s where Rocky Mountain National Park ranks in a list of the best parks for hiking

Rocky Mountain National Park is ranked high on a new list of the top 10 best national parks for quality hiking. Three other parks on the list are within a day’s drive of the Front Range.

The parks were judged based on three criteria: number of hiking trails, number of visitors (as an indication of popularity) and user trail reviews found on the AllTrails app. The research was conducted by Kuru, which makes sneakers, sandals and hiking boots.

Rocky Mountain National Park took third place with 220 hiking trails, 4.1 million visitors in 2024 and an average trail rating of 4.5 stars on the AllTrails 1-5 scale. “That 4.5 star rating? It’s well-earned,” according to Kuru’s summary of the survey, “just like every breathtaking view above tree line.”

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, far and away the busiest U.S. national park with 12.1 million visitors, placed first with 348 trails and an average trail rating of 4.4 stars. It is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian range.

Other parks ranked in the top 10 that are located within a day’s drive of the Front Range include Yellowstone, Zion and Grand Teton.

At No. 2, Yellowstone in northwestern Wyoming came in with 252 trails, 4.7 million visitors and an average trail rating of 4.4. “Beyond geysers and bison, Yellowstone offers miles of trail magic,” the report said.

Zion, located in southwestern Utah, came in at No. 9 with 93 trails, 4.9 million visitors and a trail rating of 4.4. “Zion’s towering sandstone walls and narrow slot canyons make it a mecca for thrill-seekers and photographers,” the report said. “It’s red rock bliss with rave reviews.”

Grand Teton in northwestern Wyoming placed 10th with 3.6 million visitors and a trail rating of 4.6. “Grand Teton may be last on this list, but it’s high on impact,” the report said. “The jagged skyline alone is worth the trip, but pair it with over 100 well-rated trails, and you’ve got a hiker’s paradise.”

Other parks on the list include Yosemite in California (fourth), Acadia in Maine (fifth), Olympic in Washington state (sixth), Grand Canyon in Arizona (seventh) and Glacier in northern Montana (eighth).

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