NorahThe west coast of the U.S. gets a lot of love, and with due reason. The west is an amazing natural landscape with a plethora of amazing adventures. However, the east coast has a wide array of adventures as well! In this guide, I will be listing off five bucket list hikes available on the east coast. These are amazing adventures and really capture how diverse the landscape can be along the east coast.
The East Coast is severely underrated. The Appalachian mountains stretch along a wide expanse of the region, and are filled with world class hiking and epic adventures.
For me, the East and West coast cannot be compared. They are two totally different regions, and both have epic adventures to be had and regions to be explored.
Let’s get started!
East Coast Bucket List Hike #1: Mount Katahdin via the Hunt Trail.
Mount Katahdin is the end point of the Appalachian Trail, and is easily one of the most intense hikes I have ever done in my life. The nine hour hike begins well below the tree line, and traverses up the side of the imposing, intense mountain.
There were parts of this hike that were straight rock scrambles. As someone that is comfortable around heights and cliffs, this really pushed my limits.
Once you clear the tree line, you are treated to about two miles of straight views as you make your way to the summit. This was much easier ground to traverse, as it was on level ground and did not involve rock climbing.
You need a pass for climbing Katahdin, and I would recommend getting up as early as you can the day you plan to hike. Not only is there limited parking, there is also limited time you can complete the hike. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the area, and you do not want to be caught at the summit during a storm.
I would also recommend exploring Baxter State Park while you are in the area. The park is beautiful and really captures the lovely Maine wilderness.
Check out this video I made of my time in Baxter State Park:
East Coast Bucket List Hike #2: Bubble Rock Trail in Acadia National Park.
Acadia as a whole has some incredibly neat hikes, and is a wonderful destination as a whole. I highly recommend the Bubble Rock Hike, as it circles the famous Jordan Pond and is an intense adventure.
The hike is easy for the first mile or so, as you are making your way around the lake. Once you pass the lake, the hike is basically straight uphill.
This is not unique to Acadia hiking; almost all the hikes in the park involves some sort of rock scrambling up a sheer cliff face. It is what makes the hiking so fun!
I would recommend stopping for plenty of views at the top, and I would also recommend eating at the Jordan Pond House afterwards. Popovers are a famous pastry to have in Acadia, and the ones at the Jordan Pond House are just delicious.
East Coast Bucket List Hike #3: Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.
If you are traveling to Acadia National Park, you simply must hike Cadillac Mountain for sunrise. There is a permit system to drive your car to the top for sunrise, but it is notoriously difficult to get tickets. Plus, the hike makes for a much more unique experience!
Hikes to Cadillac Mountain begin all over the park, but I would recommend taking either the Cadillac South Ridge Trail or the Cadillac North Ridge Trail.
Keep in mind that this trail will mostly be completed in the dark. Thankfully, there are no large predators in Acadia. All you really have to focus on is not getting lost. We didn’t get lost, so I am sure you will be fine.
Make sure to allot enough time to make it up the mountain before sunrise, and take in the joy of being the first people on the east coast to welcome the sun. The views are truly spectacular; I cannot recommend this trail enough.
East Coast Bucket List Hike #4: Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park.
Old Rag is probably THE hike in Shenandoah National Park. It is a grueling nine mile trek to the top of Old Rag Mountain, which then provides 360 views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
I am from the Charlottesville area, and it is easily one of the most underrated areas in the country. The mountains are beyond beautiful, and Old Rage does a really phenomenal job of capturing the beauty of the region. The hike is super popular and you must have a permit to hike it, but there are lots of permits and they only cost $1.
This is definitely a three season hike, although you could do it in the winter if you are feeling extra adventurous. Fall would definitely be the busy season, but you would be able to see the leaves changing. Spring would be wonderful for seeing flowers blooming, while winter would be great if you are looking for solitude. I went during the summer, and it was definitely hot. However, the temperature was still manageable, and there is nothing quite like a Blue Ridge mountain summer.
This hike, much like Katahdin, has lots of rock scrambling. I went with a friend, and having the help of an extra person hoisting me up the rock scrambles was very helpful. I would recommend bringing lots of snacks, as well as a lunch. You can make a picnic of it at the top!
Want more details on Shenandoah? Check out my guide to five underrated national parks in the U.S.!
East Coast Bucket List Hike #5: Humpback Rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Humpback Rock is just a classic East Coast hike. The hike itself is only about two miles, but it is a steep two miles. Located at milepost five along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the hike has everything you could want-beautiful mountain views, enough of a climb to get your heartrate up, and easily accessible and plentiful parking. Humpback Rock is another trail I grew up hiking, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Bonus Hike: The Appalachian Trail.
The Appalachian Trail is not so much a trail as a lifestyle. Stretching all the way from Georgia to Maine, the hike itself is a community fueled endeavor that is at the very top of my bucket list. A collection of East Coast hikes would be remiss if we did not include the hike of all hikes.
Happy trails!
