X Scenic US Destinations Where You Should Probably Avoid Solo Hiking

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Not all difficult hikes are off-limits for experienced solo hikers. For example, a rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike within the main corridor, while grueling, is relatively safe for soloists; the trail is well-marked and well-traveled, so it's unlikely you'll get lost, and you're never far away from other hikers. Now, if you're thinking of tackling the canyon's remote Nankoweap Trail, that's another story.

Most of the features that would make a hike inadvisable to tackle solo revolve around safety issues. Swift-flowing creeks to ford, rock walls that require scrambling, dangerous wildlife like grizzly bears or rattlesnakes, extreme isolation — all of these can tip a hike into the danger zone where getting into trouble solo could spell doom. We typically think of dangerous hikes as remote excursions into the wilderness, but there are stunningly scenic day hikes on this list that plenty of influencers represent as easier, or safer, than they really are.

The dangers of solo hiking also apply to pairs or groups who set out together and become separated, either by accident or on purpose. According to Glacier National Park Rangers, "Separated parties make up more than 75% of our search and rescue incidents." Some couples have even become victims of what The Guardian calls "Alpine Divorce," a phenomenon in which the faster party leaves behind their slower hiking/romantic partner in order to chase a summit. Whatever the reason one might find themselves hiking solo, these are the destinations where getting separated could turn into a matter of survival, and unless you're a seasoned expert, choosing to solo hike should be out of the question.

A stunning summer hike in the North Cascades, the 4.2-mile out-and-back Sauk Mountain Trail packs in an astounding concentration of panoramic scenery as it climbs a series of stupefyingly steep switchbacks on the way to a dazzling summit with views of Mt. Rainier, the Skagit River Valley, and even far-away Puget Sound. It's a popular stop on any road trip on the Cascade Loop, but it's also a known deathtrap. In 2026 alone, two hikers have fallen to their deaths on this trail, one a solo hiker who fell 1,000 feet off a switchback, and another who became separated from his family.

All routes in and out of the Grand Canyon involve some level of risk, but the absolutely gorgeous Nankoweap Trail, the most dangerous hike in the Grand Canyon, is next-level. It's a steep, 11-mile trek from the North Rim to the Colorado River, with no water sources along the way. At times the trail is barely a foot wide, with steep drop-offs, and at other times there is no trail, requiring advanced route-finding. According to the National Park Service, "this trail is not recommended for inexperienced or solo hikers."

Glacier National Park's unmatched beauty might make it The Crown of the Continent, but make sure to bring your royal entourage when visiting. Hiking in Glacier recommends a minimum group size of three to avoid grizzly bear encounters in the park, because the best way to warn a grizz of your approach is to make lots of noise by chatting among your group. Many groups hike the stunning, 11-mile Grinell Glacier Trail hoping to spot grizzlies from afar, but you can still surprise a bear here — the most recent mauling happened in May 2026 when the noise of a rushing creek masked the humans' approach and they found themselves accidently sneaking up on the bear.

Colorado is home to 58 of the country's 67 tallest mountains over 14,000 feet, aka "14ers," including Capitol Peak, often called the most dangerous — which does not deter inexperienced hikers from making reckless solo summit attempts. According to AAA Colorado, "Colorado has been gripped by 'summit fever' — the burning desire to climb to the top of one of the state's many 14ers." Many who attempt Capitol Peak fail to reach the summit due to unyielding exposure and steep, harsh terrain. In the summer of 2017, a record five hikers died on the mountain, including some who abandoned their hiking companions to go it alone.

One of the most rugged hikes in New Hampshire, sometimes called "the Switzerland of America," the 23-mile Presidential Traverse is one backpacking trip you should never undertake alone. Brutal, wildly unpredictable weather swings make this a particularly treacherous undertaking, with multiple windswept summits and ridgelines to cross. During the trek, hikers summit five peaks, including Mt. Washington, where the wind once clocked 231 mph, the highest recorded in the Western Hemisphere. One of the early signs of hypothermia is confusion, so if you're hiking solo, you are more likely to slip into the danger zone without realizing it. A buddy can notice your physical and mental state before it's too late. 

Hawaii's iconic Kalaulau Trail is also one of its most dangerous, especially for solo hikers. Steep, often muddy, criss-crossed by treacherous waterways, this trail on Kauai's lush Nā Pali coastline is definitely one for the buddy system. After some heavy rain, the trail becomes slippery, leading to at least 69 rescues in 2025. One Facebook user described part of the trail itself giving out under his feet, causing him to tumble down the hillside: "My buddy grabbed me and pulled me up and we sat for a minute like — did that just happen?" Had he been hiking alone, things might not have ended so well.

This 6.5-mile loop hike through Spooky Gulch and Peek-a-Boo Canyon, a pair of connected slot canyons in Utah, is just 10-12 inches wide in spots, making it highly possible for a solo hiker to become wedged in while marveling at the sandstone formations. It's a danger in any slot canyon. Remember 127 Hours, the movie where James Franco's character got stuck in a similar Utah slot canyon and sawed his own arm off with a pocket knife? It's based on a true story. Elsewhere, a young woman got so stuck in a different slot canyon that rescuers needed 12 hours and a gallon of dish soap to free her — lucky for her, she was hiking with a partner who could summon help.

In 2025, a veteran thru-hiker learned the hard way that solo hiking can be dangerous no matter your experience level. The 33 year-old was backpacking a section of Southern Utah's epic and stunning 800-mile Hayduke Trail in Arches National Park when he stepped in quicksand and became hopelessly mired. Luckily, he carried a Garmin GPS and was able to summon search and rescue. "Quicksand is real," the hiker wrote on Reddit. "I didn't believe it before today. It does not care how experienced you are. It only cares that you stepped in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Most of the year, majestic Mt. Baldy, Los Angeles County's highest peak, is considered challenging yet safe to hike alone. But failing to mind the forecast can be fatal, with 23 deaths between 2016 and 2025, according to The Guardian. The Hiking Guy, who has summited many times, often solo, writes, "In the right conditions it's very doable for fit hikers. But outside of those conditions it can become a mountaineering experience." In January 2023 actor Julian Sands, an experienced mountaineer, died while solo hiking Mt. Baldy. Reflecting on the tragedy, one Redditor posted, "My personal policy: don't go hiking alone. Every human, no matter how fit, is a rolled ankle or small stumble away from death on mountain trails."