Why Wyoming Just Stole America’s Hiking Crown

If your idea of bliss is big sky, empty trails, and wild country that still feels truly wild, Wyoming just jumped to the top of your list. A new 50-state ranking from EDGE Fall Protection names the Cowboy State the best hiking destination in the country, scoring how each state stacks up on natural attractions, trail infrastructure, protected lands, hiking participation, air quality, and traveler amenities. Wyoming didn’t just win—it ran away with it, posting 40.14 out of 50 and nailing perfect 10s for both natural attractions and trail infrastructure.

Those aces aren’t theoretical. Yellowstone’s otherworldly geology, a deep and well-maintained trail network, and easy access to the state’s marquee landscapes make Wyoming a hiker’s dream—especially in shoulder season. Cody Yellowstone is the poster child for a slower, quieter fall getaway, where, as local marketing manager Katrina Southern puts it, northwestern Wyoming becomes “an idyllic destination for fall travelers who want to play outside without the crowds.” This is the time of year when elk bugle across wide valleys, grizzlies and black bears tank up for winter, and clear mountain streams turn electric with feeding trout. If you’re plotting a trip around Cody, the region’s free travel guide lays out outfitters, things to do, and sample itineraries to get you moving.

Montana, Wyoming’s neighbor to the north, made a strong run and finished second with 33.90. Big Sky Country shines on air quality and trail infrastructure, and the options feel endless: the knife-edge peaks of Glacier National Park, the sprawling Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness, and stretches of the Lewis and Clark Trail, with eco-lodges that let you stay plugged into the landscape instead of the grid. Not every northern state fared so well, though. North Dakota surfaced as an outlier—boasting the highest natural-attractions score in the analysis yet landing dead last overall thanks to a thin trail infrastructure. Even so, progress is happening on the ground. The Roughrider Trail got nearly five more miles south of Mandan along Highway 1806 this spring, linking Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park to Fort Rice Campground and pushing the route past 22 miles. The state also nudges visitors to the OuterSpatial app, which maps roughly 2,200 miles of existing trails.

Air quality loomed large in the rankings, but clean skies alone didn’t decide the winners. Vermont and West Virginia both posted perfect 10s for air quality, yet they diverged overall—Vermont dragged on the share of protected wildlands, and West Virginia gave up ground on trail infrastructure. That said, West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park remains a standout, with big-view rim walks and cliff-hugging paths like the Endless Wall Trail that families rave about. Other states floating near the top on air quality included Montana, Maine, New Hampshire, and Nebraska. On the flip side, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado sat at the bottom of the air-quality pack, a reflection of chronic wildfire smoke and parched conditions that can turn even great trails into hazy slogs.

For hikers plotting the next pilgrimage, the takeaway is simple: scenery matters, but so do the nuts and bolts. Wyoming’s win shows how a dense, well-kept trail network, generous protected lands, and breathable air combine to elevate a place from beautiful to unbeatable. Use the rankings as a compass, not a script—and remember that the difference between a good trip and a great one often comes down to the quality of the trails beneath your boots and the air in your lungs.

The original story by Emese Maczko for WV News.