Trails Across the USA: The Bottom Three
- amputeeoutdoors
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
NOTE: Before reading this, scroll down and find your state in the complete list.
Why Some States Have So Few Hiking Trails — And Where You Can Still Find Accessible Ones
If you look at hiking statistics across the United States, a clear pattern emerges. States like California, Colorado, and Washington dominate the list with the most hiking trails.
At the opposite end are Delaware, North Dakota, and Louisiana. Delaware’s position is easy to understand—it’s one of the smallest states in the country. But North Dakota and Louisiana are much larger. Why do they still have so few hiking trails?
The answer comes down to geography, land ownership, and terrain. The good news is that even in these low-trail states, there are still excellent outdoor experiences available—including several accessible trails.
North Dakota: Big Land, Few Trails
At first glance, North Dakota seems like it should have plenty of hiking opportunities. It’s a large state with dramatic landscapes in places. But several factors limit trail development.
Flat prairie dominates the landscape
Much of the state consists of open prairie and agricultural land. While beautiful, these wide, flat landscapes don’t create the kind of natural features—like mountains, waterfalls, or deep valleys—that typically attract large trail networks.
Most land is privately owned
Nearly 90% of the state is privately owned farmland or ranchland. Hiking trails are far more common on public lands such as national forests, parks, or wilderness areas. North Dakota simply doesn’t have many of those.
Trails are concentrated in a few areas
The state’s best hiking is clustered in its rugged Badlands region, including:
The Maah Daah Hey Trail alone stretches roughly 140 miles through the Badlands and is widely considered one of the most scenic long-distance trails in the central United States.
Climate also plays a role
Long winters, high winds, and short shoulder seasons reduce the demand for extensive trail systems compared with milder western states.
Louisiana: Too Much Water
While North Dakota lacks terrain, Louisiana has the opposite problem—too much water.
Wetlands dominate the state
Large portions of Louisiana are made up of:
marshes
swamps
bayous
floodplains
These environments are rich in wildlife but difficult for traditional hiking trails. Instead, the state has developed many paddling trails for kayaks and canoes.
Frequent flooding
Major rivers such as the Mississippi regularly reshape the landscape, making trail construction and maintenance challenging.
Very little elevation
The state’s highest point is Driskill Mountain, which rises only 535 feet above sea level. Without significant elevation, there are fewer natural features that typically drive large hiking trail systems.
Delaware: Small State, Limited Space
The reason Delaware has fewer trails is straightforward: there simply isn’t much land to work with. Despite its size, however, the state has invested heavily in well-maintained parks and wildlife areas.
Accessible Trails in Low-Trail States
Even though these states rank low in total trail miles, they still offer excellent accessible outdoor experiences. For hikers with mobility limitations, these trails are worth knowing about.
Delaware Accessible Trails
This refuge offers accessible wildlife observation areas and flat trails where visitors can see migratory birds, wetlands, and coastal marsh ecosystems.
Several paved and packed-surface trails circle the pond and pass through forested areas. The park also offers accessible recreation facilities and boardwalks.
North Dakota Accessible Trails
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The park includes accessible overlooks and short trails that allow visitors to experience the dramatic Badlands scenery without needing to tackle rugged backcountry terrain.
Little Missouri State Park
While known for rugged backcountry routes, the park also provides accessible scenic viewpoints and easier trail segments near the visitor facilities.
Louisiana Accessible Trails
This park features accessible boardwalk trails along Lake Pontchartrain and through coastal forests.
One of the best accessible swamp experiences in the country, the preserve includes long boardwalk trails through cypress swamps, marshes, and bayou ecosystems.
Fewer Trails Doesn’t Mean Fewer Adventures
States like California, Colorado, and Washington have natural advantages when it comes to hiking—mountains, vast public lands, and a long history of conservation.
But states with fewer trails still offer something unique:
North Dakota provides rugged Badlands solitude.
Louisiana delivers wildlife-rich swamp and bayou ecosystems.
Delaware offers compact but well-designed parks and coastal habitats.
For outdoor enthusiasts—and especially hikers seeking accessible trails—these states prove that quality experiences don’t always require thousands of miles of trail.
Sometimes the best adventures happen in the places people overlook. 🌲🥾
How does your state rank?
State | Trail Miles |
California | 18,467 |
Colorado | 11,516 |
Washington | 10,590 |
Oregon | 7,652 |
Arizona | 6,540 |
Massachusetts | 5,752 |
Utah | 5,478 |
New Mexico | 5,237 |
Pennsylvania | 4,840 |
Maine | 4,490 |
New York | 4,447 |
Wyoming | 4,102 |
Michigan | 3,588 |
Minnesota | 3,238 |
Virginia | 3,194 |
Texas | 3,170 |
Wisconsin | 2,872 |
Idaho | 2,854 |
Florida | 2,670 |
North Carolina | 2,634 |
Alaska | 2,408 |
Montana | 2,176 |
Georgia | 2,152 |
New Hampshire | 2,085 |
Connecticut | 2,036 |
Maryland | 1,975 |
Nevada | 1,964 |
Illinois | 1,749 |
Missouri | 1,703 |
Iowa | 1,697 |
Ohio | 1,528 |
Vermont | 1,525 |
New Jersey | 1,494 |
Tennessee | 1,262 |
West Virginia | 1,163 |
Alabama | 1,042 |
South Carolina | 827 |
Indiana | 738 |
Hawaii | 725 |
Arkansas | 633 |
Kansas | 547 |
Rhode Island | 519 |
Oklahoma | 502 |
South Dakota | 424 |
Nebraska | 393 |
Kentucky | 364 |
Mississippi | 337 |
Delaware | 215 |
North Dakota | 200 |
Louisiana | 181 |
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