American hiking towns off the beaten path.
Less-touristed hiking towns in America, for travelers seeking fewer crowds but all the beauty.
Wallace
Photogenic pocket-sized city in Idaho's Silver Valley mining district, Wallace sits alongside the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River and carries a notable…
Margaretville
This small village on the edge of Catskill Park in upstate New York, Margaretville sits on the water in mountain terrain and supports a modest but real café…
Saranac Lake
The largest community within New York's Adirondack Park, Saranac Lake sits on Lake Flower — a wide stretch of the Saranac River — with mountain terrain on al…
Republic
A tiny waterside village in Ferry County, Washington, Republic was once the largest mining camp in the Republic Mining District and home to the "Hot Air Line…
Roanoke
Roanoke's most recognizable landmark is the Roanoke Star, an illuminated star atop a mountain within the city limits that has earned it the nickname "The Sta…
Lebanon
Modest Oregon city on the South Santiam River, Lebanon sits at the eastern edge of the Willamette Valley with a compact centre of cafés and restaurants, a ne…
Trinidad
A compact Colorado city on the historic Santa Fe Trail, Trinidad sits in mountain terrain at the edge of Las Animas County and is home to Trinidad State Coll…
Wawona
This little community situated entirely within Yosemite National Park, Wawona sits alongside the South Fork of the Merced River with mountain scenery in ever…
San Luis Obispo
This walkable California town with a dense food-and-drink scene, vineyards in the surrounding area, and hiking terrain on its doorstep — including Cerro San…
Lava Hot Springs
This pocket-sized Idaho resort town on the Portneuf River draws visitors to its natural hot springs, which feed pools suited for bathing, and to a turbulent…
Port Gibson
This compact Mississippi city on the western edge of Claiborne County, Port Gibson sits along the Mississippi River with an unusual concentration of churches…
Bandera
This little Texas Hill Country city that calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the World," a title rooted in its role as a staging area for the Great Western C…
Torrey
Small Utah hamlet just outside Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey is unusually rich for its size with a genuine cluster of cafés and restaurants — making it…
Hot Springs
Hot Springs, Arkansas, built its identity around natural thermal springs that drew visitors for centuries before the federal government protected the area in…
East Glacier Park Village
A compact grid-street hamlet at the forested edge of Glacier County, this compact Montana community sits where open ranchland meets dense pine country, makin…
Gatlinburg
Gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this modest Tennessee resort town sits at the park's edge along U.S.
Frostburg
A pocket-sized Appalachian college town in western Maryland, Frostburg sits along the historic National Road (US 40) and serves as the western terminus of th…
Omak
A small city on the Okanogan River in north-central Washington, Omak serves as the gateway to the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest and sits within reach of…
Salida
A pocket-sized Colorado mountain town on the Arkansas River with a café and restaurant scene that outpaces the town's size, Salida is the county seat of Chaf…
Lenoir
This Caldwell County seat in the foothills of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains has a centre with a notable concentration of historic churches.
Nelsonville
Modest village in New York's Hudson Highlands, Nelsonville sits alongside Cold Spring in Putnam County and serves as a starting point for hiking trails throu…
Cass
A tiny white-clapboard hamlet along the Greenbrier River in West Virginia's forested uplands, where tree-lined roads and wooded ridgelines rising behind mode…
Grants Pass
This walkable Oregon city on the Rogue River, Grants Pass has a centre with a real café and restaurant scene and sits close to mountain terrain with scenic v…
North Hudson
A compact waterfront town in the United States with easy access to upland country and some heritage architecture nearby, making it a quiet base for exploring…