The United States is full of beautiful landscapes just waiting to be explored! If you’re looking to get outside more as a couple and start hiking, then you may want to consider choosing a shorter hike if you’re just getting started. Our 6 short hiking trails are perfect for a few hours of exercise with your love.
Whether you are looking for a day hike to spend a day outdoors together or a fun short hike to see if hiking is right for you, these hikes won’t disappoint. Here are the best short hiking trails in the United States that couples will love!
6 Short Hiking Trails for Couples in the USA
Frozen Niagara Cave Hike – Short Hiking Trails in Kentucky
Located in Mammoth Cave National Park, this easy hike is great for those looking for doable hiking trails. It’s short and sweet! This path is a whopping 0.25 miles round trip.
Therefore, it’s easy to do in about an hour or less, depending on your pace. This cave has plenty of sites, such as the Rainbow Dome and Crystal Lake. These stops make excellent places to stop on the park’s day hiking trails.
Lassen Peak Trail Hike – Volcanic Hike in California
This trail is five miles round trip and located in Lassen Volcanic National Park. While it is five miles of hiking, it is built for beginners. There is a 2.5-mile climb up. However, the other portion is downhill, making this one of the easy hiking trails.
Lassen Peak Trail is one of the best hikes you can do as a beginner. You get to climb to the top of a volcano and see the beautiful peaks.
North Vista Trail Hike – Canyon Trail in Colorado
Located in Black Canyon, Colorado, North Vista Trail Hike is a three-mile round-trip path. This is a fabulous place where you can see beautiful views of the canyons.
Visitors can also see right down into the Black Canyon, which is one of the deepest in the world. You can see the Gunnison River as well as a Painted Wall landmark along your hike.
Stephens Gap – Cave Trail in Alabama
Located in Alabama, a hike to Stephens Gap takes you through a 150-foot cave. The reward at the end is the beautiful views of a waterfall.
While this might be a bit scary for new hikers, it is a simple walk down to the cave. Plus, it’s only a total of two miles round trip.
Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail – Scenic Hike in Hawaii
If you are looking for a beautiful scenic trail of Oahu, choose this two-mile trail. It will take you along the shoreline with stunning cliffside views of humpback whales and a gorgeous view of the lighthouse.
Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail is one of the easiest trails. It’s also a good option if you are just getting started with hiking or are looking to do some exercise while on your honeymoon.
Lower Yosemite Fall Trail – Scenic Hike in California
The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail can get a little slick in the wintertime. Otherwise, this one-mile hike offers 30 minutes of beautiful views in Yosemite National Park. It’s wheelchair-friendly and open all year. That means you can visit during any season.
This short trail is full of stunning vistas of the Lower Yosemite Falls, where you can see the tallest waterfall in the entire country.
Are you ready to try short hiking trails?
Whether you’re looking for an easy hike or a short hike, these won’t disappoint. Day hiking trails are great for first-time hikers or a fun outdoor date if you want to spend some time outside.
Photos: Egle Sidaraviciute, Cottonbro, Holly Mandarich, Jamie Fenn, and Kampus Production
Chloe BeaverLove being able to jump on a short hike to break the day up or spend the second half exploring something else! Would love to try Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail because the landscape looks so different than anything I’ve hiked previously! Great list here.
Bhushavali NOf late I’m very much looking into short hiking trails, esp. because of my toddler. It is fun to hike with her, but not so much when she’s tired and I have to carry her and hike! The Niagara Cave hike is super do-able. Lassen Peak Trail sounds interesting esp. when you say you get to hike over a volcano. Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail sounds cool too.
Linda (LD Holland)We have indeed been spending more time outdoors. And this list of short hikes will be perfect – when we can get back into the U.S. again. I love that the ones you have selected have such great sights to view. And that they are short enough for most people to easily be able to do.
SherianneI have a love-hate relationship with hiking. I am visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park this summer and was discouraged by the 5-mile hike, it is good to know it is an easy trail. Love that the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is wheelchair accessible!
PaulaI would do any of these hikes since they all sound amazing. The ones in California I think I have already done. We hike with smaller kids now so all our hikes are shorter now and we still enjoy them so much! Just being in nature and enjoying each others company is the key.
ClariceWow! I love the idea of a Volcanic Hike and happy to know that the Lassen Peak Trail is built for beginners. Hope to visit in the future.
UmikoWe did Frozen Niagara three years ago as part of the other hike we did at Mammoth NP. It’s beautiful! But I pinched myself because I didn’t know about North Vista Trail as we visited Black Canyon of Gunnison last summer. I guess it’s a reason to go back.
Ami BhatSign me up for the cave trail. That would be my first pick in this list. Followed by the volcanic hike one. US indeed has some interesting nature trails. Thanks a bunch for sharing them
Subhashish RoyWow such fabulous hiking trails. You in US are really blessed with such great places to rush to when one needs a break. I love these short trails on weekends and North Vista Trail Hike in Colorado seems really an ideal place to be in.