14 Best Hikes in the Midwest for Wildlife, Flowers & Scenery

The Midwest is home to many beautiful places and trails. Let’s take a look at some of the best hikes in the Midwest that you can enjoy either alone or in a group.

The Midwest is home to 12 states, including Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota, some of which are located within the ‘Great Plains’ region. Nestled within many of these states are countless scenic trails, spanning some of the region’s most breathtaking landscapes. 

Some of the most stunning geological landscapes within the region include mountains, hills, lakes, rivers, valleys, and ravines, alongside stretches of majestic plains that span thousands of miles. Thankfully, the selection of public trails allows you to experience such terrain firsthand. However, it all depends on where you want to start. So, what are the best hikes in the midwest?     

1. The Best Hikes in the Midwest: Badlands National Park

• State: South Dakota 
• Length: 1.3 miles 
• Trail type: Out & Back 
• Difficulty: Moderate – Challenging 

The Notch Trail in Badlands National Park, South Dakota is filled with deep valleys and stunning spires, making it an incredibly scenic trail. This makes it one of the best hikes in the Midwest!

The trail spans a total of 1.3 miles and takes around an hour. Spring or summer is usually the best time to hike here, as it will be less slippery. The rest of the national park is also free to explore, so you can choose to explore any other trail you desire.  

2. Devils Lake State Park

• State: Wisconsin 
• Length: 5.1 miles 
• Trail type: Loop 
• Difficulty: Easy 

The Devil’s Lake Loop Trail in Baraboo provides simply breathtaking views and is perfect for those who want a longer hike of between 2-3 hours. You should pack hiking poles for the steeper sections of the trail, which will help you to navigate around safely. 

The ‘Devil’s Doorway’ is positioned on a bluff, so you should maintain extra caution. However, the doorway is also one of the highlights of this trail, offering scenic views overlooking stretches of forest and a magnificent lake. Altogether, this trail spans a total of 5.1 miles. There are plenty of other hikes that you can try at the park, ranging from easy to difficult. 

3. Hocking Hills State Park

• State: Ohio  
• Length: 0.8 miles 
• Trail type: Loop 
• Difficulty: Moderate 

The Rock Hill Hiking Trail in Hocking Hills State Park showcases some fascinating geological features, including a feature better known as the ‘Rock House’ cave. The Rock House cave is one of the main attractions of the trail. The hollowing of the cave was created by the erosion of the sandstone and water leaking parallel to the cliff face.   

This short trail spans over a 0.8-mile loop and is rated at a difficulty level of ‘moderate’. It should take between 30 minutes to an hour to complete. 

4. The Best Hikes in the Midwest: Scotts Bluff

• State: Nebraska
• Length: 3 miles 
• Trail type: Out & Back 
• Difficulty: Easy – Moderate 

The Saddle Rock Trail in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska is perfect for those who want a moderate or easy hike, while still getting incredibly scenic views. During spring and summer, you’ll be able to see wildflowers in full bloom and even get to take a look at a man-made rock tunnel. The trail spans over 3 miles and should take you around 1-2 hours. 

5. Mark Twain National Forest

• State: Missouri  
• Length: 1.4 miles 
• Trail type: Out & Back 
• Difficulty: Moderate 

The Greer Spring Trail in Missouri is home to the Greer Spring, which pushes out around 220 million gallons of water a day and is the second-largest spring in Missouri. Along the trail, you will get a glimpse at different parts of the spring and be able to witness its beauty. 

It can be slippery and wet in the rain, so you should ensure you take some good hiking boots and check out our top tips for hiking in the rain. You should also make sure you stick to the trail, due to the presence of poison ivy and oak in the area. The hike spans a total of 1.4 miles and should take around an hour to complete, with a moderate difficulty rating. You should also keep dogs on a leash if you or any member of your group plans on taking a furry friend.   

6. Chapel Loop Trail

• State: Michigan 
• Length: 10.2 miles 
• Trail type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderately Difficult 

The Chapel Loop Trail is suitable for those who want to enjoy a longer hike, spanning a total of 10.2 miles. This hike should take you between four to five hours to complete. While it is a longer trail, the scenery is beautiful. During your hike, you will get to see the Rocks National Lakeshore and look out over Lake Superior. The scenery has to be what makes the Chapel Loop trail one of the best hikes in the Midwest.  

7. The Best Hikes in the Midwest: Turkey Run State Park

• State: Indiana
• Length: 0.5 miles 
• Trail type: Out & Back 
• Difficulty: Moderate

Turkey Run State Park is home to a variety of different trails, ranging in difficulty. If you follow Sugar Creek on trail four, you will be able to take a look at an old coal mine, one of the many highlights of the several trails. The easiest trail is trail 11, which spans a total of 0.5 miles, and you should be able to walk in around 30 minutes. 

8. Theodore Roosevelt National Park

• State: North Dakota 
• Length: 4.4 miles 
• Trail type: Loop  
• Difficulty: Moderately Difficult 

Caprock Coulee Loop Trail in Theodore Roosevelt National Park is great for spotting bison, making it an exciting trail for anyone of any skill level. It also offers incredible views of the mountainous terrain from every angle. If you like peace, then this trail is a great option too, as this location often tends to be quieter.  

This hike spans over 4.4 miles in total, averaging a time of between 2-3 hours to complete. With some elevated terrain, the Caprock Coulee trail is classed as a trail with ‘moderate difficulty’. 

9. The Best Hikes in the Midwest: Kanopolis State Park

• State: Kansas
• Length: 6 miles 
• Trail type: Out & Back 
• Difficulty: Moderate – Challenging 

The Buffalo Track Canyon Nature Trail and Horsethief Canyon Trail at Kanopolis State Park both capture some scenic views. Some highlights include views of flower-filled meadows, caves, sandstone slabs, and views of flatlands stretching out for miles. You can on The Buffalo Canyon Trail at Trailhead C, and follow it 0.75 miles to switch over to the Horsethief Canyon Trail. This route will give you plenty of scenic views to enjoy.  

These two trails are around 6 miles in total, so it’s best suited for those who want to walk a long trail of around two hours.  

10. Tahquamenon Falls State Park

• State: Michigan
• Length: 4 miles 
• Trail type: Out & Back 
• Difficulty: Challenging 

The River Trail in Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Michigan is best suited for more experienced hikers due to being rated as ‘difficult’. This indicates that the hike may be challenging. 

While on this four-mile trail, you will come across numerous staircases, hilly terrain, and exposed roots, as well as many scenic views. In fact, it is classed as ‘the most scenic trail in the park’. It should take between two hours to complete this trail. Make sure you check opening times and fees before entering. You should also note that bicycles are not authorized.    

11. The Best Hikes in the Midwest: Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

• State: Arkansas 
• Length: 2.9 miles 
• Trail type: Out & Back 
• Difficulty: Moderate 

The Whitaker Point Trail in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest stretches over the course of three miles, surrounded by large areas of mountains and freshwater springs. You may also see wildflowers, rivers, caves, and wildlife along your journey.  This trail is very popular, so you may prefer to opt for visiting at a quieter time of day. It takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete and is rated as ‘moderate’ in terms of difficulty. 

12. The Ozark Trail

• State: Missouri 
• Length: 230 miles 
• Trail type: Out & Back 
• Difficulty: Challenging 

The Ozark Trail is a well-known trail that spans over 230 miles, so it is best suited for those who want to do multi-day hiking. The trail consists of several different hikes which will take you through the St. Francois Mountains of southeast Missouri, with plenty of scenic views. One highlight of the trail is the ‘Taum Sauk’ section, which combines several geological features including the state’s highest point and tallest waterfall. This makes it one of the best hikes in the Midwest. 

Generally speaking, this trail can take anywhere between 10-14 days to complete and is considered to be a difficult route. Make sure you have all the correct gear before pursuing this route.

13. The Best Hikes in the Midwest: Cuyahoga Valley National Park

• State: Ohio
• Length: 2.2 miles 
• Trail type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate

The Ledges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is considered to be a ‘moderate’ hike that should take between 1.5 -2 hours to complete. Along the way, you’ll be able to see a range of different rocks in vibrant colors, from oranges to greens. The hike is a total of 2.2 miles long.  

14. Monument Rocks Chalk Pyramids

• State: Western Kansas
• Length: 9 miles 
• Trail type: Out & Back 
• Difficulty: Easy

The Monument Rocks Chalk Pyramids trail is an easy trail that offers spectacular views of chalk rocks that formed an estimated 80 million years ago. This trail only takes an hour and spans over a total of 9 miles, however, you should be able to complete it in an hour due to the easy-going terrain. However, it is important to note that you should be aware of snakes in the area. It is also best to go at a drier time of year, as rain can make the roads difficult to drive in. 

These 14 trails are some of the best hikes in the Midwest, offering both beautiful scenery and challenging routes for more experienced hikers. These trails are a fun and exciting way to explore what the surrounding has to offer. You could also try making these healthy vegan hiking lunches, which are perfect for when you’re on the go. However, always remember to dispose of your waste responsibly. 

On any hike, it is always important to remember to bring the correct gear and respect the nature around you. This means no littering or other activities that could disrupt the surrounding wildlife. 

Read more: 

• 8 Tips That Make Hiking With a Baby Easy & Fun
• 8 Tips for Staying Warm and Safe When Hiking in Winter
• 16 Best Hikes in Olympic National Park

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