The 5 Best Beginner-Friendly National Parks In America With Easy Trails And Wild Views

National parks possess a mythical romance in American culture. Over 330 million people visited a national park in 2024, spending a total of 1.4 billion hours wandering their many trails. And with the newly launched America the Beautiful digital pass alongside an updated list of entry-fee-free days, a national park holiday is easier to plan than ever before. With 63 designated national parks in the United States, a visit to one is more than a retreat to the wilderness for some quiet time, but a journey through a historical narrative where our horizons expand, and nature evolves before our eyes.

For hiking enthusiasts and experienced campers, national park exploration may be second-nature, with a variety of publications, blogs, and informative articles geared toward the veteran trailblazer. However, for novice hikers, a national park visit can appear daunting, often paired with a false notion that national parks are only for the most hearty outdoor types.

The good news is that there are many beginner-friendly trails throughout the National Park System that promise a no-stress walk through nature while remaining safe, secure, and in many cases, sweat-free. In addition, many national parks are in close proximity to historic and charming towns that are worth a visit and add to the overall experience. Ready to hit the trails? We've compiled a list of the best beginner-friendly national parks in America, offering easy hikes, epic views, and adventures for travelers of all skill levels.

Straddling the borders of Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited in America, renowned for its postcard-perfect mountain ranges and hiking trails. With over 11 million visitors in 2025, you can rest assured that there is something for everyone. Less than one hour from Knoxville, and just a few miles from the quirky, gateway town of Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountain National Park is known for being beginner-friendly, plus the surrounding communities offer history, Southern dining, breweries, festivals, and fun vibes.

The park has easy hikes that are perfect for day trips, where you can grab views of waterfalls and diverse plant life and be back in town in time for dinner. Commencing at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, the nearly 4-mile Gatlinburg Trail is considered one of the easiest, with an elevation gain of around 200 feet. Popular for biking and dog walking, you can extend the trek by taking a detour to Cataract Falls, which is an easy walk that is ideal for kids, seniors, or anyone who wants to witness breathtaking foliage and majestic waterfalls without any extra sweat. One visitor on TripAdvisor praised both the trail's ease and beauty: 'We loved this gorgeous trail!  A nice easy walk with some slopes, nothing too steep. Beautiful scenery!"  More easy trails include the Oconaluftee River Trail, with over 40 species of wildflowers, and the shady Elkmont Nature Trail. Both have elevation gains of less than 100 feet and range from 0.8 miles to 3 miles. 

In addition to vehicle-friendly lookouts, GSMNP has gone to substantial lengths to accommodate wheelchair-bound visitors. The Sugarlands Nature Trail is a fully ADA-accessible trail through second growth forest. There are additional trails that can be managed by renting a special off-road wheelchair. 

Claiming the highest headlands along the nation's Atlantic coast, the ethereal beauty and abundant postcard-worthy scenery of Acadia National Park draws 4 million annual visitors. It's also just over a mile from the town of Bar Harbor, where coastal charm, fresh seafood, and cozy inns promise the quintessential New England experience. The park features miles of hiking trails and historic carriage roads surrounding by magnificent tall trees.

Most of Acadia National Park is located on Mount Desert Island, which also happens to be Martha Stewart's favorite vacation destination. In addition to guided walks, presentations, and educational programs, Acadia is well-known for having beginner-friendly hikes that don't sacrifice spectacular scenery. Jordan Pond Path is consistently noted as one of the easier trails. The 3.3-mile trek, which features glorious views of glacially sculpted mountains, is mostly flat with an elevation gain of only 59 feet, and can be completed in under two hours. There's a short section that's a bit rocky, but most reviewers don't find this an obstacle. "This was my first hike in Acadia. It's an iconic one, and everyone should do it at least once," stated a review from TripAdvisor.  Another reviewer says, "I'm 62 and not that athletic and I had no problems!"

The Wonderland Trail is a relaxing coastal stroll with tide pools and sea creatures, while the Ship Harbor Trail is great for bird-watching. The many crushed gravel Carriage Roads provide some of the easiest hiking options, with areas suitable for wheelchairs. The 1.5-mile Jessup and Hemlock Loop is comprised of a wooden boardwalk with benches and a wide gravel road.  Despite its ease, one Reddit review hails it as one of their "favorite parts of the park." 

As the world's first national park, Yellowstone never ceases to leave visitors awestruck. Observe wildlife in its natural habitat or witness jaw-dropping natural wonders, including half of the world's active geothermal geysers, in the comfort of your vehicle or along its more than 1,100 miles of trails. While some trails have a reputation for difficulty and are best suited for skilled hikers, Yellowstone has many short, easy trails (including some with boardwalks) leading directly to the park's most iconic sights.

One of the most popular easy hikes is the Midway Geyser Basin Trail. Less than a mile in length, mostly via a boardwalk, the trail offers views of the otherworldly Grand Prismatic Spring – the largest hot spring in the United States with a unique ecological environment — Excelsior Geyser, Opal Pool, and Turquoise Pool. For a longer trail that's still considered easy due to its flat gravel surface, the Fairy Falls Trail continues for over 4 miles, terminating at Fairy Falls, which plunges 200 feet into Fairy Creek.

Though there are some steps and a steep incline, Fountain Paint Pot Trail is entirely along a boardwalk. Despite its ease, the half-mile trail loops around hydrothermal formations that form Yellowstone's volcanism, including geysers and hot springs. "Fountain Paint Pot Trail is one of Yellowstone's easiest wins," states a review from TripAdvisor. "It's a short, flat boardwalk loop with bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, colorful pools, and even the occasional surprise geyser." Storm Point Trail, Lone Star Geyser Trail, and the family-friendly Mystic Falls Trail, are easily managed by even the most novice hikers. If you'd rather stay off your feet and have an expert guide you around in retro style, then hop on a renovated yellow vintage bus for a guided tour with the Yellowstone Park Transportation Company. 

Estimated at over 70 million years old, and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Grand Canyon National Park attracts around 6 million visitors per year. The entire park spans 1,904 miles, while the canyon gorge is 277 miles long and (at certain points) 18 miles wide. Don't let these numbers scare you, however, as the Grand Canyon is an excellent choice for novice hikers and those who'd rather drive to selected lookout points for spectacular views. 

For the best easy hikes, the South Rim is recommended. Though busier than the North Rim, it benefits from being accessible year-round, extensive infrastructure, and several easy hikes to some of the park's, if not the world's, most iconic scenery. The most notable is the Rim Trail, which is mostly paved with minimal inclines, has plenty of rest stops, and is handicapped accessible. As a bonus, there's a shuttle between all major lookout points — so no need to hike the entire 13 miles. Just hop on and off the shuttle whenever you like.

Known for being an easy trail without the crowds, the Shoshone Point Trail offers some of the canyon's best scenery. According to The Hiking Guy, this calm trail through a ponderosa pine forest terminates at a picturesque picnic spot and is well worth the effort. At around 2 miles out and back, the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point is another great beginning hiker option. While the trail is steeper than the previous two, it's wide and well-paved and features possibly the best panoramic canyon vistas. The trailhead can be reached by a shuttle from the Visitor Center. 

Renowned for its cascading waterfalls and grand sequoias, California's Yosemite National Park spans 1,200 square miles of Sierra Nevada grandeur, approximately 61 miles northeast of Fresno. In addition to Amtrak and Greyhound service directly into Yosemite Valley, the Yosemite Valley Shuttle System offers an extensive network of in-park shuttle service to major points of interest, trailheads, visitor centers, lodging, and services. From the Victorian-era romance of Ahwahnee Lodge to rustic campgrounds, Yosemite offers something for every taste, including easy hiking trails that can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities.

The 1-mile Cook's Meadow Loop is considered very easy with a super-sized scenic payoff. Starting from the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, the paved trail is entirely flat and features views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Sentinel Rock. The trail is open year-round, but it can get slippery after rain or snowfall. There's a parking lot and a shuttle stop at the Visitor Center, making it an easy spot to reach. This comment on TripAdvisor attests to the trail's ease: "The trail is well developed, partly laid out as a boardwalk, flat and easily accessible with strollers or for people with reduced mobility."

The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail will lead you to the lower 320-feet of North America's tallest waterfall. At only 1 mile, this paved loop trail is a great way to enjoy quick and easy views of Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Creek. The eastern half of the trail is wheelchair accessible if not covered in snow, and the deafening roar of the waterfall reaches its highest pitch in spring and early summer. Considered an easy to moderate trail, the 2- to 5- mile Mirror Lake Loop reveals mystical mirror images of the Half Dome when the water is calm. Give it a look if you're a longer adventure.

In order to choose the five best beginner-friendly national parks with easy hikes and spectacular scenery, we consulted a wide range of sources from government websites, popular hiking apps, review platforms, plus a variety of blogs and articles. These sources included TripAdvisor, Reddit, National Park Service webpages, state tourism webpages, AllTrails, The Hiking Guy, Camping Kiddos, and Business Insider. 

While the size of this list could be easily doubled, the five chosen were based on easy access, visitor reviews, park infrastructure (such as a shuttle service), well-marked signage, lookout points, and short hikes to primary points of interest. We ultimately chose parks that represent diverse geographic regions of the United States for a diversity of landscapes and specific interests.