Hiking and trails in retirement

Caines Head State Recreation Area near Seward offers a 4.5-mile coastal trail along Resurrection Bay, accessible at low tide. Chugach State Park, one of the largest state parks in the U.S. at about 495,000 acres, surrounds Anchorage and has dozens of trails at varying fitness levels.

Arkansas State Parks cover a wide range of terrain, from the Ozark highlands at Petit Jean State Park to the hot springs area trails at Gulley Park in Fayetteville. The Buffalo National River corridor itself has more than 100 miles of maintained hiking trails through limestone bluffs and hardwood forest.

California State Parks maintains more than 280 park units with over 3,000 miles of trails, including accessible paved paths at many coastal and valley parks. The Southern California district alone offers myriad hiking opportunities at little or no cost, according to the state parks system.

Georgia State Parks offer marked trail systems across the state, from accessible lakeside paths at Lake Lanier to mountain ridge walks at Amicalola Falls State Park. The Appalachian Trail's southern terminus at Springer Mountain is a known destination for hikers in North Georgia.

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation manages over 30 state parks with trail networks, including more than 40 miles of trails at Farragut State Park. Visit Idaho's state parks guide highlights hiking, biking, and scenic lake access across the panhandle and southern Idaho.

Mammoth Cave National Park offers over 80 miles of surface trails, including several accessible routes such as Heritage Trail and Sloan's Crossing Pond Walk, a 0.4-mile boardwalk around a marshy pond with wildlife wayside exhibits. Daniel Boone National Forest adds hundreds of additional trails across eastern Kentucky's rugged terrain.

Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island offers more than 150 miles of trails, and the park's 45-mile historic carriage road network is open to walkers and can accommodate those needing more level terrain. The Ocean Path along the rocky shoreline is noted as a particularly accessible paved trail, and Maine by Foot maintains a comprehensive accessible-trails directory covering the entire state.

Montana has 55 state parks and is bordered by Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, offering trails from gentle riverside walks to high-alpine routes. Montana State Parks maintains a trails map and the state's Accessible Trails program marks routes suitable for those with limited mobility.

New Hampshire's White Mountains contain hundreds of miles of trails including the Appalachian Trail corridor and the accessible Valley Way in the Presidential Range for those seeking easier terrain. The NH State Parks system manages trails at Franconia Notch, Odiorne Point on the seacoast, and dozens of other natural areas accessible with a day-use fee.

The Adirondack Park contains over 2,000 miles of trails, and the Catskill Scenic Trail offers 26 miles of gentle former-railroad walking. The Appalachian Trail crosses the state's southern tier, and many DEC state parks maintain accessible nature walks with firm surfaces for visitors with limited mobility.

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through the state with more than 300 miles of connected trails, and the NPS notes many overlooks and shorter loop walks accessible to visitors with moderate mobility. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (shared with Tennessee) offers over 800 miles of trails, and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail spans 1,175 miles coast to mountains across the entire state.

Oregon State Parks oversees more than 200 parks with trails ranging from paved, accessible loops to multi-day backcountry routes. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area alone offers dozens of day-hike options close to Portland, and state parks like Silver Falls feature accessible viewpoints near its chain of waterfalls.

Lookout Mountain, rising directly above the city, offers the Bluff Trail following the bluff line for several miles and connecting to Sunset Rock and Point Park, a Civil War battlefield with panoramic views. Raccoon Mountain to the northwest features a trail system used by hikers and trail runners, with views over the Tennessee River valley.

Diamond Valley Lake's Lakeview Trail is a 21.8-mile route circling the reservoir for hikers and cyclists, passing three dams with panoramic valley views, while the 5.9-mile North Hills Trail and the 1.3-mile seasonal Judy Abdo Wildflower Trail add shorter options. The Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species Reserve surrounding the lake preserves over 14,000 acres with 30 additional miles of biking, hiking, and equestrian trails.

Lands End in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area offers cliff-trail loops through cypress groves above the Pacific with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and access to a labyrinth and former Sutro Baths ruins. The Presidio and Marin Headlands across the bridge extend the trail network to hundreds of additional miles, many paved and fully accessible.

Forest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the United States at over 5,100 acres, runs along the Tualatin Mountains within city limits and has more than 80 miles of trails. The 40-Mile Loop, a regional trail network, links Forest Park to the Columbia River waterfront, Powell Butte, and several other natural areas.

El Dorado Nature Center offers two miles of dirt trails and a quarter-mile paved loop around lakes, a stream, and forested areas; admission is free on weekdays. The Palos Verdes Peninsula, accessible by car from Long Beach, adds challenging coastal bluff trails at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park.

The East Bay Regional Park District manages 73 parks with 1,330 miles of trails within easy reach of Oakland, including Redwood Regional Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline, offering everything from flat shoreline walks to forested canyon routes.

The Barataria Preserve unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, about 20 miles southwest of the French Quarter, has nearly 9 miles of boardwalk and earthen trails through cypress-tupelo swamp, marsh, and upland forest. The National Park Service offers a free visitor center film and guided ranger walks; no admission fee is charged.

Yuma's East and West Wetlands parks along the Colorado River provide accessible riverfront walking and primitive trails within the city, while the Yuma Heritage Area waterfront parks and trail system along the south bank includes a 3.5-mile signed hiking route. The Colorado River State Historic Park and Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park loop also serve as popular short trail destinations close to downtown.

Ijams Nature Center anchors Knoxville's Urban Wilderness, a 1,000-acre connected greenway network on the south side of the city with over 50 miles of trail through former quarries and river bluffs. The Knoxville Greenways system connects to Fort Loudon Lake and multiple city parks; trail maps are maintained by the City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, about 20 miles northwest, has more than 20 miles of trails ranging from easy ridge walks to longer loops with Atlanta skyline views. Sweetwater Creek State Park, 15 miles west of downtown, follows a wooded creek corridor to historic mill ruins on a moderate 4-mile trail.

Sun City's flat street grid and canal paths provide walkable infrastructure for residents, and RCSC publishes biking and walking maps distributed through the Sun City Welcome Center at Bell Recreation Center; nearby White Tank Mountain Regional Park (roughly 20 miles west) offers accessible desert trails and petroglyphs. The Maricopa Trail system also passes through the broader West Valley area.

Barton Creek Greenbelt, a 12-mile trail network running through limestone canyon terrain in south-central Austin, is one of the city's most popular hikes and offers creek access in several spots. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation department maintains dozens of additional trail systems, with the Barton Creek main trail spanning about 7 miles one way.