Michigan Middle of the Pack in Best States for Hiking List

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• Wyoming sits at the top of the rankings with a perfect 10 score for both natural attractions and trail infrastructure, achieving an overall score of 40.14 out of 50

• Hawaii comes in second place with a total score of 39.96, also scoring perfectly for natural attractions

• North Dakota ranks as the least favorable state for hiking with a total score of 8.38 out of 50

A new study has found that Wyoming is the best state for hiking in America, with Hawaii and New Hampshire completing the top three positions.

The research, conducted by EDGE Fall Protection, LLC, analyzed all 50 states based on five key factors: natural attractions, air quality, protected wilderness, hiking engagement, and trail infrastructure to determine which states offer the best experiences for hikers.

Michigan findings

Michigan ranked 26th in the nation, scoring 21.07 out of 50. The highest score for the state was in air quality, where it scored 6.97 out of 10.

National Park Service lands in Michigan, including Isle Royale and Sleeping Bear Dunes, brought in around 2.8 million park visitors in 2023 which supported around $413 million in economic output for the state. In 2024 visitor numbers increased to 2.9 million.

National findings

According to the findings, Wyoming ranked first with a total score of 40.14 out of 50, scoring perfectly in both natural attractions and trail infrastructure categories. The state’s vast wilderness areas and extensive network of well-maintained hiking trails contributed to its high score. Wyoming’s hiking appeal is further validated by visitor statistics from Yellowstone National Park, which hosted 4,744,353 recreation visits in 2024, representing a 5% increase over 2023, according to the National Park Service.

Hawaii secured the second position with a total score of 39.96 out of 50, just narrowly missing the top spot. Like Wyoming, Hawaii scored a perfect ten for natural attractions, reflecting its diverse landscapes ranging from volcanic terrain to lush rainforests. However, its score for trail infrastructure was lower at 3.75, which prevented it from claiming first place. The challenging terrain of Hawaii makes trail maintenance difficult and expensive.

New Hampshire placed third with a total score of 36.07 out of 50. The state achieved the highest hiking engagement score of any state, a perfect ten, indicating strong interest in hiking activities among residents and visitors. New Hampshire’s air quality score of 8.66 was also among the highest in the study.

Montana ranked fourth with a total score of 33.90 out of 50, performing strongly across all categories with particularly good scores in air quality and trail infrastructure.

Alaska secured fifth place with a total score of 33.43 out of 50. The state received a perfect score of ten for protected wilderness, the highest of any state, reflecting its vast untouched natural areas.

Vermont ranked sixth with a total score of 31.43 out of 50 and achieved a perfect score of ten for air quality, making it an ideal location for hikers seeking clean mountain air.

Utah placed seventh with a score of 30.68 out of 50, scoring highly for natural attractions and hiking engagement. The state has a good selection of parks, with popular national parks including Zion and Bryce Canyon having a combined visitor number of 7,444,667 in 2024, a 5% increase over the previous year.

Maine secured eighth place with a total score of 30.38 out of 50, with its strongest performance in the air quality category and protected wilderness.

Washington ranked ninth with a total score of 30.29 out of 50, offering a balanced performance across all categories, particularly in air quality and protected wilderness.

West Virginia completed the top ten with a total score of 30.07 out of 50, with a perfect score in air quality.

The top 10 states for hiking in America