Summit Seeker

Moderate

91 Trails Found | 25 States
Showing all results

Best Moderate Hikes at a Glance

This page lists 91 moderate hikes from the Summit Seeker trail database, across 25 states. Summit elevations run from 520 ft (Multnomah Falls) to 9,585 ft (Cathedral Lakes).

90 of the 91 routes have a distance we can quote (63 from a published source, 27 estimated from the mapped track). The shortest is Angel Falls at 1.1 mi; the longest is Panorama Trail at 8.5 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 200 ft (Angel Falls) to 3,122 ft (Mount Willey). Together the quoted routes add up to 335.1 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 82 moderate, 5 hard, 2 strenuous, 1 easy. 1 of the routes has not been verified against the summit yet, so that page quotes no distance or time.

56 of the 91 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area; the others give the summit location and route line only.

By state: California (8), New Hampshire (8), Oregon (8), Vermont (8), Virginia (7), Massachusetts (6), Montana (5), Connecticut (4), Idaho (4), Maine (4), New Jersey (4), New York (4), Washington (3), Alabama (2), Alaska (2), Colorado (2), Missouri (2), South Carolina (2), South Dakota (2), Georgia (1), Maryland (1), Minnesota (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Rhode Island (1).

Figures are as recorded in each trail's own data and are planning estimates (≈ marks a figure estimated from the mapped track); confirm conditions and route length with the land manager before you go.

Route facts for the 40 highest summits

Trail State Summit Route Distance Gain Time Difficulty Trailhead
Cathedral Lakes California 9,585 ft Cathedral Lakes via John Muir Trail 7.6 mi round trip 1,000 ft 6.5 hr Hard Cathedral Lakes Trailhead, Tioga Road near Tuolumne Meadows. Limited parking
Eagle Cap Oregon 9,544 ft — ≈2.7 mi round trip ≈1,191 ft ≈1.5 hr Moderate —
Calypso Cascades Colorado 9,220 ft Wild Basin Trail 3.6 mi round trip 610 ft — Moderate Wild Basin Trailhead
Fern Falls Colorado 8,790 ft Fern Lake Trail 5.2 mi round trip 700 ft — Moderate Fern Lake Trailhead
Sentinel Dome & Taft Point California 8,122 ft Sentinel Dome & Taft Point Loop 4.9 mi loop 1,000 ft 3.5 hr Moderate Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Trailhead, Glacier Point Road. Limited parking
Garfield Peak Oregon 8,051 ft — 3.6 mi round trip 1,010 ft 1.5 hr Moderate —
Bridal Veil Falls Idaho 7,490 ft trail from Stanley Lake Trailhead 7.4 mi round trip 600 ft — Moderate Stanley Lake Trailhead
Panorama Trail California 7,214 ft Panorama Trail (Glacier Point to Valley) 8.5 mi one way 1,255 ft 3.5 hr Hard —
Little Devil's Tower South Dakota 7,001 ft Little Devils Tower Trail 3 mi round trip 600 ft 1.5 hr Moderate —
Lady Face Falls Idaho 6,680 ft trail from Stanley Lake Trailhead 5 mi round trip 300 ft — Moderate Stanley Lake Trailhead
Tennent Mountain North Carolina 6,056 ft Ivestor Gap Trail 3.9 mi loop 688 ft 1.5 hr Moderate —
Vernal Fall California 5,900 ft Mist Trail to Vernal Fall 2.4 mi round trip 1,000 ft 3 hr Moderate Happy Isles Trailhead, Yosemite Valley. Take free shuttle in summer
Nevada Fall California 5,900 ft Nevada Fall via Mist Trail 5.4 mi round trip 2,000 ft 5.5 hr Hard Happy Isles Trailhead, Yosemite Valley. Use shuttle in summer
Avalanche Lake Falls Montana 5,850 ft Avalanche Lake Trail 4.6 mi round trip 500 ft — Moderate Avalanche Picnic Area
Apikuni Falls Montana 5,770 ft — 2 mi round trip 700 ft — Moderate Apikuni parking area
Rockwell Falls Montana 5,690 ft South Shore Trail 7 mi round trip 375 ft — Moderate South Shore Trailhead
Ptarmigan Falls Montana 5,660 ft Iceberg-Ptarmigan Trail 5.4 mi round trip 700 ft — Moderate Iceberg Ptarmigan Trailhead
Umbrella Falls Oregon 5,300 ft — 4.1 mi loop 840 ft — Moderate Elk Meadows Trailhead
Comet Falls Washington 5,300 ft — 3.8 mi round trip 900 ft — Moderate Comet Falls Trailhead
Chush Falls Oregon 5,040 ft — 5.2 mi round trip 435 ft — Moderate Chush Falls Trailhead
Cervidae Peak Idaho 4,987 ft — ≈1.9 mi round trip ≈1,896 ft ≈1.5 hr Moderate —
Virginia Falls Montana 4,850 ft St. Mary Falls Trail 3.6 mi round trip 359 ft — Moderate St. Mary Falls Trailhead
Bear Butte South Dakota 4,409 ft Summit Trail (Bear Butte State Park) 3.7 mi round trip 1,000 ft 1.5 hr Moderate —
Barren Rock Virginia 4,380 ft — ≈2.5 mi round trip ≈712 ft ≈1 hr Moderate —
Mount Willey New Hampshire 4,285 ft Avalon Trail to Mount Willey ≈7.6 mi round trip ≈3,122 ft ≈4 hr Moderate Crawford Depot
Tamanawas Falls Oregon 3,740 ft — 3.6 mi round trip 650 ft — Moderate Tamanawas Falls Trailhead
Flattop Mountain Alaska 3,510 ft — 3.4 mi round trip 1,300 ft 2 hr Moderate —
Haystack Mountain Vermont 3,420 ft — 4.2 mi round trip 1,000 ft 2 hr Moderate Binney Brook Rd Trailhead
Hoye-Crest Maryland 3,369 ft — 2 mi round trip 700 ft 1 hr Moderate —
Bigspring Mountain South Carolina 3,136 ft Burgess Gap Road ≈3.5 mi round trip ≈625 ft ≈1.5 hr Moderate —
Mount Cardigan New Hampshire 3,121 ft West Ridge Trail 3 mi round trip 1,225 ft 1.5 hr Moderate West Ridge Trailhead, Cardigan State Park, Orange
Roundtop Mountain South Carolina 3,048 ft Round Mountain Road (Palmetto Trail) ≈4.3 mi round trip ≈1,064 ft ≈2 hr Moderate —
Spruce Mountain Vermont 3,037 ft — 4.2 mi round trip 1,300 ft 3 hr Hard Spruce Mountain Trailhead, Plainfield
Race Point Alaska 3,022 ft Mount Marathon Trail ≈1.8 mi round trip ≈2,644 ft ≈2 hr Moderate —
Mount Kearsarge New Hampshire 2,930 ft Winslow Trail 2.2 mi round trip 1,100 ft 1.5 hr Moderate Winslow State Park, Kearsarge Mountain Rd, Wilmot
Potato Chip Rock California 2,881 ft Mount Woodson Trail via Lake Poway Not verified — — — Lake Poway Recreation Area. Parking fee $5-10 on weekends
Mount Willard New Hampshire 2,865 ft — 3.2 mi round trip 900 ft 1.5 hr Moderate Crawford Notch Depot, US-302
Lewis Falls Virginia 2,770 ft — 3.3 mi loop 990 ft — Moderate —
Mount Pisgah Vermont 2,751 ft South Trail 3.4 mi round trip 1,450 ft 2.5 hr Moderate South Pisgah Trailhead, Route 5A
Stowe Pinnacle Vermont 2,740 ft — 2.8 mi round trip 1,520 ft 3 hr Moderate Pinnacle Meadow Parking, Upper Hollow Rd

Showing the 40 highest of 91 trails, sorted by summit elevation; every trail is listed by state below.

Route notes

  • Cathedral Lakes — 7.6 mi round trip via the Cathedral Lakes via John Muir Trail from Cathedral Lakes Trailhead, Tioga Road near Tuolumne Meadows. Limited parking, 1,000 ft of elevation gain, about 6.5 hr, rated Hard. Parking: $35 park entrance.
  • Eagle Cap — an estimated 2.7 mi round trip, about 1,191 ft of elevation gain, about 1.5 hr, rated Moderate. Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
  • Calypso Cascades — 3.6 mi round trip via the Wild Basin Trail from Wild Basin Trailhead, 610 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.
  • Fern Falls — 5.2 mi round trip via the Fern Lake Trail from Fern Lake Trailhead, 700 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.
  • Sentinel Dome & Taft Point — a 4.9-mile loop via the Sentinel Dome & Taft Point Loop from Sentinel Dome/Taft Point Trailhead, Glacier Point Road. Limited parking, 1,000 ft of elevation gain, about 3.5 hr, rated Moderate. Parking: $35 park entrance.
  • Garfield Peak — 3.6 mi round trip, 1,010 ft of elevation gain, about 1.5 hr, rated Moderate.
  • Bridal Veil Falls — 7.4 mi round trip via the trail from Stanley Lake Trailhead from Stanley Lake Trailhead, 600 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.
  • Panorama Trail — 8.5 mi one way via the Panorama Trail (Glacier Point to Valley), 1,255 ft of elevation gain, about 3.5 hr, rated Hard.
  • Little Devil's Tower — 3 mi round trip via the Little Devils Tower Trail, 600 ft of elevation gain, about 1.5 hr, rated Moderate.
  • Lady Face Falls — 5 mi round trip via the trail from Stanley Lake Trailhead from Stanley Lake Trailhead, 300 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.
  • Tennent Mountain — a 3.9-mile loop via the Ivestor Gap Trail, 688 ft of elevation gain, about 1.5 hr, rated Moderate.
  • Vernal Fall — 2.4 mi round trip via the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall from Happy Isles Trailhead, Yosemite Valley. Take free shuttle in summer, 1,000 ft of elevation gain, about 3 hr, rated Moderate. Parking: $35 vehicle entrance fee.
  • Nevada Fall — 5.4 mi round trip via the Nevada Fall via Mist Trail from Happy Isles Trailhead, Yosemite Valley. Use shuttle in summer, 2,000 ft of elevation gain, about 5.5 hr, rated Hard. Parking: $35 park entrance. The route passes Lady Franklin Rock (mile 0.71), Clark Point (mile 0.81), Vernal Fall (mile 0.93) and Silver Apron (mile 1.05).
  • Avalanche Lake Falls — 4.6 mi round trip via the Avalanche Lake Trail from Avalanche Picnic Area, 500 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.
  • Apikuni Falls — 2 mi round trip from Apikuni parking area, 700 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.
  • Rockwell Falls — 7 mi round trip via the South Shore Trail from South Shore Trailhead, 375 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.

Notes cover the 16 highest summits; every trail's own page has the full route.

alabama

1,873 ft

Burgess Point

≈4.4 mi
2 hrs
945 ft
Moderate View
1,493 ft

Wade Mountain

≈3.8 mi
1.5 hrs
545 ft
Moderate View

alaska

Flattop Mountain, Alaska
3,510 ft

Flattop Mountain

3.4 mi
2 hrs
1,300 ft
Moderate View
3,022 ft

Race Point

≈1.8 mi
2 hrs
2,644 ft
Moderate View

california

Cathedral Lakes, California
9,585 ft

Cathedral Lakes

7.6 mi
6.5 hrs
1,000 ft
Hard View
Mission Peak, California
2,517 ft

Mission Peak

6.2 mi
5 hrs
2,100 ft
Strenuous View
Vernal Fall, California
5,900 ft

Vernal Fall

2.4 mi
3 hrs
1,000 ft
Moderate View
Nevada Fall, California
5,900 ft

Nevada Fall

5.4 mi
5.5 hrs
2,000 ft
Hard View
Panorama Trail, California
7,214 ft

Panorama Trail

8.5 mi
3.5 hrs
1,255 ft
Hard View
Potato Chip Rock, California
2,881 ft

Potato Chip Rock

Route not verified yet

View
8,122 ft

Sentinel Dome & Taft Point

4.9 mi
3.5 hrs
1,000 ft
Moderate View
2,300 ft

Sturtevant Falls

3.3 mi
400 ft
Moderate View

colorado

Calypso Cascades in Wild Basin, Rocky Mountain National Park
9,220 ft

Calypso Cascades

3.6 mi
610 ft
Moderate View
Fern Falls on the trail to Fern Lake
8,790 ft

Fern Falls

5.2 mi
700 ft
Moderate View

connecticut

1,752 ft

Mount Riga

≈3.6 mi
1.5 hrs
887 ft
Moderate View
1,588 ft

Pine Mountain

≈2.6 mi
1 hrs
514 ft
Moderate View
1,732 ft

Stone Man Mountain

≈2.9 mi
1 hrs
518 ft
Moderate View
1,699 ft

Thorpe Mountain

≈3 mi
1.5 hrs
648 ft
Moderate View

georgia

Amicalola Falls
2,590 ft

Amicalola Falls

2.1 mi
725 ft
Moderate View

idaho

7,490 ft

Bridal Veil Falls

7.4 mi
600 ft
Moderate View
4,987 ft

Cervidae Peak

≈1.9 mi
1.5 hrs
1,896 ft
Moderate View
Elk Creek Falls
2,650 ft

Elk Creek Falls

2.8 mi
579 ft
Moderate View
6,680 ft

Lady Face Falls

5 mi
300 ft
Moderate View

maine

Angel Falls, Maine
1,800 ft

Angel Falls

1.1 mi
30 min
200 ft
Easy View
Billings Falls in Gulf Hagas, Maine
1,200 ft

Gulf Hagas

8 mi
6 hrs
1,600 ft
Strenuous View
View east from Penobscot Mountain, Acadia National Park
1,194 ft

Penobscot Mountain

3.7 mi
2.5 hrs
973 ft
Moderate View
Pleasant Mountain, Maine
2,006 ft

Pleasant Mountain

3.6 mi
2 hrs
1,600 ft
Hard View

maryland

Hoye-Crest, Maryland
3,369 ft

Hoye-Crest

2 mi
1 hrs
700 ft
Moderate View

massachusetts

Alander Mountain, Massachusetts
2,231 ft

Alander Mountain

≈5.4 mi
2 hrs
722 ft
Moderate View
2,290 ft

Honwee Mountain

≈3.1 mi
1.5 hrs
1,011 ft
Moderate View
1,903 ft

Mount Fray

≈4.1 mi
1.5 hrs
341 ft
Moderate View
Mount Frissell, Massachusetts
2,451 ft

Mount Frissell

≈3.5 mi
1.5 hrs
587 ft
Moderate View
Mount Wachusett, Massachusetts
1,998 ft

Mount Wachusett

3 mi
1.5 hrs
1,000 ft
Moderate View
2,418 ft

Widow Whites Peak

≈2.2 mi
1 hrs
712 ft
Moderate View

minnesota

Mount Josephine, Minnesota
1,342 ft

Mount Josephine

2.52 mi
1 hrs
636 ft
Moderate View

missouri

1,690 ft

Ketcherside Mountain

≈5.2 mi
2 hrs
857 ft
Moderate View
Taum Sauk Mountain, Missouri
1,765 ft

Taum Sauk Mountain

≈2.9 mi
1 hrs
493 ft
Moderate View

montana

Apikuni Falls
5,770 ft

Apikuni Falls

2 mi
700 ft
Moderate View
5,850 ft

Avalanche Lake Falls

4.6 mi
500 ft
Moderate View
Part of Ptarmigan Falls seen from the bridge
5,660 ft

Ptarmigan Falls

5.4 mi
700 ft
Moderate View
5,690 ft

Rockwell Falls

7 mi
375 ft
Moderate View
4,850 ft

Virginia Falls

3.6 mi
359 ft
Moderate View

new hampshire

Arethusa Falls, New Hampshire
2,000 ft

Arethusa Falls

2.9 mi
1.5 hrs
868 ft
Moderate View
1,720 ft

Eagle Cascade

4.6 mi
500 ft
Moderate View
Mount Cardigan, New Hampshire
3,121 ft

Mount Cardigan

3 mi
1.5 hrs
1,225 ft
Moderate View
Mount Kearsarge, New Hampshire
2,930 ft

Mount Kearsarge

2.2 mi
1.5 hrs
1,100 ft
Moderate View
Mount Major, New Hampshire
1,786 ft

Mount Major

3 mi
1.5 hrs
1,136 ft
Moderate View
Mount Willard, New Hampshire
2,865 ft

Mount Willard

3.2 mi
1.5 hrs
900 ft
Moderate View
Mount Willey, New Hampshire
4,285 ft

Mount Willey

≈7.6 mi
4 hrs
3,122 ft
Moderate View
1,280 ft

Rattle River Falls

3.4 mi
500 ft
Moderate View

new jersey

Allamuchy Mountain, New Jersey
1,237 ft

Allamuchy Mountain

≈2.5 mi
1 hrs
652 ft
Moderate View
1,378 ft

Bowling Green Mountain

≈3.7 mi
1.5 hrs
817 ft
Moderate View
Mount Mohican, New Jersey
1,575 ft

Mount Mohican

≈2.2 mi
1 hrs
835 ft
Moderate View
Wawayanda Mountain, New Jersey
1,470 ft

Wawayanda Mountain

2.6 mi
1.5 hrs
900 ft
Moderate View

new york

Anthony's Nose, New York
900 ft

Anthony's Nose

2.4 mi
1 hrs
700 ft
Moderate View
Breakneck Ridge, New York
1,260 ft

Breakneck Ridge

3.25 mi
3 hrs
1,440 ft
Moderate View
Lucifer Falls in Robert H. Treman State Park
1,030 ft

Lucifer Falls

2.2 mi
675 ft
Moderate View
Storm King Mountain, New York
1,340 ft

Storm King Mountain

≈2.5 mi
1.5 hrs
892 ft
Moderate View

north carolina

View from Tennent Mountain in early spring
6,056 ft

Tennent Mountain

3.9 mi
1.5 hrs
688 ft
Moderate View

ohio

Sandstone ledges in Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve
1,135 ft

Christmas Rocks

≈3.2 mi
1.5 hrs
650 ft
Moderate View

oregon

5,040 ft

Chush Falls

5.2 mi
435 ft
Moderate View
Eagle Cap, Oregon
9,544 ft

Eagle Cap

≈2.7 mi
1.5 hrs
1,191 ft
Moderate View
Garfield Peak Trail near the summit, above Crater Lake
8,051 ft

Garfield Peak

3.6 mi
1.5 hrs
1,010 ft
Moderate View
Multnomah Falls
520 ft

Multnomah Falls

2.4 mi
600 ft
Moderate View
680 ft

Punch Bowl Falls

3.8 mi
600 ft
Moderate View
Tamanawas Falls on Cold Springs Creek
3,740 ft

Tamanawas Falls

3.6 mi
650 ft
Moderate View
Triple Falls in the Columbia River Gorge
720 ft

Triple Falls

3.6 mi
680 ft
Moderate View
5,300 ft

Umbrella Falls

4.1 mi
840 ft
Moderate View

rhode island

712 ft

Sprague Hill

≈4.6 mi
1.5 hrs
288 ft
Moderate View

south carolina

3,136 ft

Bigspring Mountain

≈3.5 mi
1.5 hrs
625 ft
Moderate View
3,048 ft

Roundtop Mountain

≈4.3 mi
2 hrs
1,064 ft
Moderate View

south dakota

Bear Butte, South Dakota
4,409 ft

Bear Butte

3.7 mi
1.5 hrs
1,000 ft
Moderate View
7,001 ft

Little Devil's Tower

3 mi
1.5 hrs
600 ft
Moderate View

vermont

2,130 ft

Falls on the Waterbury Trail

2.8 mi
800 ft
Moderate View
View east from the summit of Haystack Mountain
3,420 ft

Haystack Mountain

4.2 mi
2 hrs
1,000 ft
Moderate View
Willoughby Gap from the north, between Mount Hor and Mount Pisgah, Vermont
2,648 ft

Mount Hor

≈3.8 mi
1.5 hrs
700 ft
Moderate View
Mount Pisgah above Lake Willoughby
2,751 ft

Mount Pisgah

3.4 mi
2.5 hrs
1,450 ft
Moderate View
Snake Mountain, Vermont
1,287 ft

Snake Mountain

4.1 mi
2 hrs
975 ft
Moderate View
3,037 ft

Spruce Mountain

4.2 mi
3 hrs
1,300 ft
Hard View
2,740 ft

Stowe Pinnacle

2.8 mi
3 hrs
1,520 ft
Moderate View
2,680 ft

White Rocks

3.2 mi
1.5 hrs
1,250 ft
Moderate View

virginia

4,380 ft

Barren Rock

≈2.5 mi
1 hrs
712 ft
Moderate View
2,080 ft

Doyles River Falls

3.3 mi
1,189 ft
Moderate View
2,150 ft

Jones Run Falls

3.2 mi
1,045 ft
Moderate View
Lewis Falls in Shenandoah National Park
2,770 ft

Lewis Falls

3.3 mi
990 ft
Moderate View
2,480 ft

Rose River Falls

4 mi
910 ft
Moderate View
2,220 ft

South River Falls

3.3 mi
910 ft
Moderate View
2,630 ft

Whiteoak Canyon Falls

4.6 mi
1,040 ft
Moderate View

washington

Upper Bridal Veil Falls
1,650 ft

Bridal Veil Falls

4 mi
1,000 ft
Moderate View
Comet Falls
5,300 ft

Comet Falls

3.8 mi
900 ft
Moderate View
Falls Creek Falls
2,150 ft

Falls Creek Falls

3.4 mi
750 ft
Moderate View