The Fremont Lookout Trail at the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State is an extremely popular hike filled with awe-inspiring landscapes and possibly a little wildlife.

The Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park is one of the most accessible glaciers in North America. You can book a ride to go walk on the glacier, or, if the thought of a crowded bus doesn’t appeal to you, why not hike a short trail to the toe of the glacier for a little exercise and an expansive view at trail’s end.

During her road trip through four Canadian Rockies national parks, Traveler contributing photographer Rebecca Latson managed to hike a few trails, two of which are in Kootenay National Park. She writes about these hikes for the Traveler’s “Trails I’ve Hiked” series.

The trail to Dege Peak in the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park is one of the more popular trails in this area, and with good reason. The well-maintained route takes the hiker past scenic basins, flower-filled meadows, and distant mountains to a 360-degree view at trail’s end.

If you are looking for a less-congested trail to hike at the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park, where you can listen to birdsong, admire green meadows and colorful wildflowers, watch the antics of ground squirrels, and enjoy eye-popping views of Mount Rainier along a fairly level trail, then the Silver Forest Trail is the perfect choice.

There are must-do hikes in many parks and Delicate Arch Trail in Arches National Park is one of them. This 3-mile (4.8 km) roundtrip hike up and over slickrock to a sandstone arch so famous it’s on the Utah state license plate is extremely popular and with good reason. It’s a trail contributing photographer Rebecca Latson has hiked and it’s one you can hike, too.

Imagine a lake of bright yellow-orange lava with a molten fountain gushing 1,900 feet (580m) in the air. Now imagine walking across a smoothed solid rock surface where that lava lake once churned, guided by ahu (rock cairns) past a tall cinder cone as you aim toward the other side. That’s the experience of the Kīlauea Iki Trail in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

There are trails within each of the three units comprising John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, none of them very long. In truth, you can do every single trail within a unit (not each unit, but a unit) in an entire day. Contributing writer and photographer Rebecca Latson describes the trails she hiked at the Painted Hills Unit of this national monument in Oregon.

Looking for some great views along a relatively short trail on which to stretch your legs after arriving in Great Basin National Park? Contributing photographer and writer Rebecca Latson suggests hiking the trail to Stella Lake.

The Lost Mine Trail is one of the most popular at Big Bend National Park, and with good reason. The trail is not too very steep and the views of the Chisos Mountains and Chihuahuan Desert are expansive. Traveler contributing writer and photographer Rebecca Latson shares her observations about this trail she’s hiked.

There are living things on this planet which defy the passage of time, surviving harsh winters, burning dry summers, and altering climate. These hardy, gnarly lifeforms are the bristlecone pines, trees that can live for thousands of years. At Great Basin National Park, you can hike the Bristlecone Grove Trail to pay your respects to these “elders.”

If you’ve ever visited Lassen Volcanic National Park, you’ll probably have hiked the Bumpass Hell Trail. It’s one of those must-do hikes. But that’s not the only trail you should tackle. Contributing photographer and editor Rebecca Latson hiked Cinder Cone Trail in the more remote northeastern portion of the park and firmly believes the rewards are worth the effort.

On the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, where the Colorado River drains out of Shadow Mountain Lake and heads down a short course to fill Lake Granby, is a path that leads to the shoulder of Shadow Mountain. There, in an opening in the piney forest, stands a fire lookout built in the 1930s.

Don't think that because historic Fruita seems to be mentioned in the same breadth with "Capitol Reef National Park" that this park isn't for hikers and backpackers. It is one of the more rugged and demanding parks in the system, one that tests not only how much water you can carry, but at times your route-finding skills.

A short walk, some homesteader history, and a little solitude all can be found within minutes of entering the Rincon District of Saguaro National Park in Arizona.

One of the best hikes at Saguaro National Park is one you can combine with a stop at the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center on the eastern side of the park.

There are many ways to experience Mount Rainier National Park. One such experience is along the Eastside Trail. Along this trail, follow a snow-fed river interspersed by waterfalls through an old-growth forest. Without distracting views of the mountain, discover some of the wonders of the forest.

In Redwood National and State Parks, set aside a half-century ago to protect what little remains of the tallest trees on the planet, it’s saying something to be given the moniker Tall Trees Grove.

It's hard to beat autumn for prime hiking in parks from coast to coast. This season brings fine weather to most of the country and in many locations fall foliage is an added bonus.

A day hike along Redwood Creek offers a great sampler of Redwood National and State Parks.