Zone 5
Great Plains (Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma)
North Dakota
Sunset Trail Loop
2.1 mile loop; 169ft. elevation gain; Easy to Moderate
Views; badlands; prairie; Little Missouri National Grassland
South Dakota
Crow Peak Trail
6.3 miles out & back; 1,521ft. elevation gain; Moderate
Views; forest; Black Hills National Forest
Iowa
Aston/Clear Creek Trail
4.2 mile loop; 257ft. elevation gain; Easy to Moderate
Forest; creek; prairie; Coralville
Nebraska
Baxa Trail
1.6 miles out & back; 179ft. elevation gain; Moderate
Rock formations; views; prairie; Ogallala
Kansas
Smoke Valley Ranch: Big Loop
5.3 mile loop; 272ft. elevation gain; Easy
Prairie; views; rock formations; Winona
Smoke Valley Ranch: Big Loop Guide
Oklahoma
Oklahoma River Trail
3.8 miles out & back; 36ft. elevation gain; Easy
River; history; wildlife; variable length; Oklahoma City
Zone 6
Great Lakes States (New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois)
Minnesota
Superior Hiking Trail: Bean and Bear Lakes
6.3 miles out & back; 997ft. elevation gain; Moderately Strenuous
Views; forest; lake; waterfall; Silver Bay
Superior Hiking Trail: Bean and Bear Lakes Trail Guide
Wisconsin
Lion’s Den Trail
2.1 mile lollipop loop; 147ft. elevation gain; Easy
Views; beach; forest; creek; Grafton
Illinois
Lake Defiance Trail
3.9 mile loop; 93ft. elevation gain; Easy to Moderate
Forest; lake; views; McHenry
Indiana
Eagle’s Crest Trail
4.8 miles out & back; 206ft. elevation gain; Moderately Strenuous
Views; lake; forest; creek; Eagle Creek Park
Michigan
Penosha Trail
4.9 mile loop; 393ft. elevation gain; Moderately Strenuous
Forest; creek; Brighton State Recreation Area
Ohio
Rock House
0.8 mile loop; 203ft. elevation gain; Moderately Strenuous
Rock formations; forest; Hocking Hills State Park
New York
Devils Hole, Whirlpool, and Niagara Gorge Railroad Grade
7.9 mile loop; 2,485ft. elevation gain; Strenuous
Views; rock formations; river; Niagara Falls