Great American Trails

💡 The fascinating reason arches exist.

Arches National Park holds more than 2,000 documented natural stone arches, the highest concentration anywhere in the world!

Their existence comes down to sandstones, underground salt deposits, and one persistent force: water. Over millions of years, uplift, erosion, and repeated freeze and thaw cycles have widened cracks in the rock. Softer layers wore away, leaving behind sandstone fins that were gradually sculpted into the arches we see today.

Experiencing Arches on foot adds a deeper layer of appreciation. On our guided hike, Deserts and Canyons of the Southwest, you’ll explore in a small group of 6 to 12 travelers alongside an experienced leader who brings expert knowledge of the region while ensuring the journey runs smoothly from start to finish.

Learn more about the journey here:
https://greatamericantrails.com/trekking-hiking/arizona/deserts-and-canyons-of-the-southwest

📸 Photo credits: Visit USA

Summer is only 3 months away, and there’s no better time to start planning how you want to spend it.

Warmer weather and long daylight hours create the perfect conditions for hiking and cycling adventures across the USA. Whether you’re drawn to mountain trails, coastal paths, or wide-open desert scenery, we’ve designed journeys, guided and self-guided, that make it easy to focus on the experience.

Explore our guided and self-guided journeys at greatamericatrails.com and secure your summer plans with confidence.

📸 Photo credit: Visit USA

What if your time on the trail came with a deeper understanding and greater perspective?

A guided hiking trip offers more than miles covered. Traveling in a small group of 6 to 12 with an experienced local leader, each day is enriched with regional knowledge, thoughtful pacing, and seamless organization from start to finish.

With logistics handled and context woven into every step, you’re free to focus on the landscape, the learning, and the shared experience along the way.

Explore our full collection of guided hikes here: https://greatamericantrails.com/activities/guided-hikes

Just outside San Francisco, a network of coastal trails and forest paths offers a very different way to experience California. Over 5 days, this self-guided hike moves from the quiet of Muir Woods National Monument, where centuries old redwoods tower overhead, to open coastal walks with wide views across the Pacific.

It’s a journey that balances forest and ocean, shade and salt air, giving you time to settle into walking without needing to rush or overthink the logistics. Each day brings a change in scenery, but the pace stays comfortable and unhurried.

This trip is perfect for those who want the freedom to explore independently, with the comfort of knowing that the route, accommodation, and planning are already taken care of.

You can find this journey, and others like it, on our website:
https://greatamericantrails.com/self-guided-hikes/california/san-francisco-bay-coastal-hike

Looking for a journey that blends striking landscapes with cultural depth?

Antelope Canyon, in northern Arizona, is where both come together in a powerful way. It is known for its sculpted sandstone walls and ever shifting light. As sunlight filters through narrow passages, deep reds and glowing oranges change throughout the day, revealing details photos can’t quite capture.

Experiencing Antelope Canyon on a guided walk adds essential cultural context, offering insight into the landscape, its history, and its significance to the local community. It’s not just about what you see, but understanding the place you’re walking through.

Antelope Canyon features on several of our Arizona and Southwest journeys, including National Parks of the Western USA – San Francisco to Las Vegas.
https://greatamericantrails.com/active-touring/national-parks-of-western-usa-san-francisco-to-las-vegas

How do you like to explore? By bike along coastal roads, or on foot through national parks?

You can explore by bike on our 7 day self-guided journey along the coast of Maine, following quiet backroads and shoreline routes. Or lace up your hiking boots for a 2 week guided walking trip through the national parks of Arizona, California and Utah. Either way, it’s about experiencing the country actively and at a pace that lets you take it all in.

We’d love to know. How would you like to explore the USA? 👀

Take a closer look at these journeys:
Coastal Maine by Bike: https://greatamericantrails.com/self-guided-cycling/maine/coastal-maine-by-bike

Best of the West – San Francisco to Las Vegas: https://greatamericantrails.com/active-touring/arizona/best-of-the-west-san-francisco-to-las-vegas

🇺🇸Discover the BEST of the USA on foot or by bike with Great American Trails!

Formerly North America Active, Great American Trails is the new name in self-guided and guided hiking and cycling holidays across the USA.

Whether you're pedaling through historic trail networks or hiking across panoramic national parks, our trips are designed for curious travelers, not just hardcore hikers or cyclists. Bring your love for the outdoors and a sense of discovery, and we’ll take care of the rest!

See where the trail leads at greatamericantrails.com. Your next American adventure starts here!

Great American Trails is part of the World Expeditions Travel Group, experts in adventure travel since 1975.

Brave to go beyond the dense urban jungle – there exists a wealth of wild landscapes and unique experiences to enjoy in Ontario.

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