Find Your Connection in Nature Stories
Best Hiking and Biking Trails for Outdoor Adventure
Reconnect with nature on trails that inspire adventure, wellness and a deeper connection to protected lands.
June is Great Outdoors Month! It’s the perfect time to explore hiking and biking trails at one of The Nature Conservancy’s preserves.
Picture traffic-free trails through shady forests, rocky outcrops perfect for enjoying a snack in the sun, cool waters for refreshing tired feet and scenic overlooks featuring endless nature in every direction. TNC’s preserve trails provide access to many serene and ecologically significant areas, often places promising solitude and breathtaking scenery.
In the spirit of Great Outdoors Month, we invite you to lace up your hiking boots or tune up your mountain bike and visit one of our nature preserves for a dose of nature that is guaranteed to take your breath away.
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Places We Protect
TNC has preserves – with trails for hiking, biking and other adventures – in every state!
Find a Preserve Near YouFind your adventure on the trail.
There’s something about moving through nature at your own pace that invites a deeper connection to the land around you. At TNC, we protect special places not just so they endure, but so people can experience them.
TNC’s network of nature preserves protects our nation’s biodiversity by connecting lands and waters that provide resilience in the face of a changing climate. Many of these preserves are open to the public, offering a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities amidst stunning natural landscapes. Visitors can enjoy a variety of trails and overlooks that lead to unique habitats, protected waters and, quite often, impressive views.
Whether you love the adrenaline of bike ride through the forest or the serenity of a stunning view, when you explore these trails, you’re stepping into landscapes carefully conserved for wildlife, clean water and climate resilience. Each visit builds a stronger relationship between people and nature, helping ensure these places are cared for today and protected for generations to come.
Opening our preserves for responsible recreation also strengthens the communities around them. Trails bring people together, support local economies and offer spaces where physical health, mental well-being and a love of the outdoors can thrive. Simply put: when people have access to nature, everyone benefits.
Explore TNC’s Best Hiking and Biking Trails
Discover some of the best hiking and biking trails across The Nature Conservancy’s protected places.
Plan Your Visit!
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- Doe Mountain
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Doe Mountain
Tune Up the Bike
Doe Mountain offers a growing system of conservation minded trails designed to welcome mountain biking while protecting sensitive habitats. Riders can expect rolling terrain, forested climbs and long views across the Southern Appalachians — an example of how outdoor recreation and habitat stewardship can thrive together.
Image © Creative Commons/Alice Teoh
- Dick and Nancy Eales Preserve at Moosic Mountain
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Dick and Nancy Eales Preserve at Moosic Mountain
Tune Up the Bike
Rising above northeastern Pennsylvania, TNC’s Eales Preserve is a standout destination for more technical mountain bikers who love rocky terrain and rewarding climbs. A network of rugged trails winds through rare heath barrens and forested ridgelines, delivering sweeping views and some of the most challenging and celebrated riding on TNC lands.
Image © John Rogan
- Hickory Ridge Preserve
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Hickory Ridge Preserve
Tune Up the Bike
TNC’s Hickory Ridge Preserve features a thoughtfully designed multiuse trail system welcoming hikers, bikers and adaptive users. The first phase, completed in 2024, adds 4.1 miles of beginner and intermediate trails, including adaptive‑friendly routes. Flowing through oak‑hickory forests, it showcases how sustainable design can expand access, reduce erosion and protect the surrounding landscape.
Image © Anthony Graziano
- Maurice River Bluffs Preserve
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Maurice River Bluffs Preserve
Tune Up the Bike
Overlooking one of New Jersey’s most ecologically rich rivers, this preserve features two separate trail networks: five miles of hiking trails winding along forested bluffs with elevated views of wetlands, and a dedicated six‑mile mountain biking trail built for riders, complete with berms and jumps. It’s an ideal destination for hikers and cyclists seeking a scenic, nature‑rooted adventure.
Image © The Nature Conservancy
- Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area
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Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area
Tune Up the Bike
Minutes from downtown Little Rock, Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area spans 373 acres of rugged terrain, scenic overlooks and multi-use trails. From beginner-friendly paths to challenging climbs, hikers and bikers can explore diverse terrain overlooking Lake Maumelle and Pinnacle Mountain. It’s both a scenic retreat and an key conservation area protecting rare species and regional water resources.
Image © The Nature Conservancy
- Surry Mountain Preserve
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Surry Mountain Preserve
Tune Up the Bike
At TNC’s Surry Mountain Preserve, shared-use trails wind through the forest offering a quiet, immersive ride or hike. The Red Trail leads to beautiful and remote Lily Pond, with rolling terrain that’s approachable yet engaging, making it a great option for riders who want a peaceful, nature-forward experience away from crowded trail systems.
Image © Joe Klementovich
- Block Island
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Block Island
Lace Up the Boots
The trails winding across Block Island’s protected lands lead hikers along bluffs, beaches and rolling grasslands shaped by wind and sea. From Clay Head to Rodman’s Hollow, these paths will transport you to another place and time. With 28 miles of trail open to the public, Block Island has something interesting around every corner, blending salt air and ocean views with conservation success.
Image © Nat Rea
- Blowing Rocks Preserve
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Blowing Rocks Preserve
Lace Up the Boots
TNC’s Blowing Rocks Preserve features easy walking paths and boardwalks leading to a rugged limestone shoreline. Waves crash against the rocks during rough seas, creating a visually powerful hike that packs a lot of impact into a small footprint.
Image © Kinzie + Riehm
- Lucius Pond Ordway-Devil’s Den Preserve
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Lucius Pond Ordway-Devil’s Den Preserve
Lace Up the Boots
Affectionately known locally as “The Den,” TNC’s Devil’s Den Preserve – its largest in Connecticut – has lots of great trails for different experience levels, each highlighted on a digital kiosk at the preserve’s entrance. Numbered markers along trails are easy to see and follow to ensure you stay on the right path.
Image © Tebben Gill Lopez/TNC
- Edge of Appalachia – Buzzardroost Rock Preserve
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Edge of Appalachia – Buzzardroost Rock Preserve
Lace Up the Boots
TNC's Buzzardroost Rock Preserve delivers one of the most dramatic views in the state, perched high above Ohio Brush Creek. The hike rewards visitors with sweeping vistas, rare prairie plants and a powerful sense of place at the crossroads of the Midwest and Appalachia.
Image © David Ike
- Green Hills Preserve
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Green Hills Preserve
Lace Up the Boots
TNC’s Green Hills Preserve offers an expansive network of shared-use trails for hiking and mountain biking, with routes ranging from gentle climbs to more adventurous rides. Families and seasoned explorers alike will find rewarding views of lakes, forests and distant peaks. Just minutes from North Conway, it’s a welcoming place to experience New Hampshire’s iconic mountain scenery.
Image © Joe Klementovich
- Nags Head Woods Preserve
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Nags Head Woods Preserve
Lace Up the Boots
Tucked among the Outer Banks, TNC’s Nags Head Woods Preserve feels worlds away from the beach. Shaded trails pass through maritime forest, wetlands and dunes, revealing a rare and exceptionally diverse ecosystem just steps from the coast. NOTE: This preserve welcomes hiking, but bikes are not permitted.
Image © Andrew Kornylak
- Santa Fe Canyon Preserve
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Santa Fe Canyon Preserve
Lace Up the Boots
TNC’s Santa Fe Canyon Preserve offers trails through piñon juniper woodland and canyon landscapes just outside the city of Santa Fe. Hikes here feel quiet and expansive, highlighting the transition between desert and mountain ecosystems. Take the audio tour to learn about the interesting history of this preserve, or enjoy the quiet that the trails provide.
Image © Roberto E. Rosales
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
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Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Lace Up the Boots
Here, trails move across open hills where bison roam and grasses stretch to the horizon. Hiking the preserve offers a rare chance to experience an ecosystem that once covered much of the Midwest—and to feel immersed in space, wind and big sky.
Image © Zoe Colatarci
- Warm Springs Mountain Preserve
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Warm Springs Mountain Preserve
Lace Up the Boots
TNC’s Warm Springs Mountain Preserve offers a more remote hiking experience, with trails that traverse forested slopes and high ridgelines. It’s a place for hikers seeking solitude, expansive views and a deeper connection to the central Appalachian landscape.
Image © Glenna Goldman/TNC
- Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve
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Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve
Lace Up the Boots
A boardwalk trail system at TNC's Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve guides hikers through the wetlands of Great Salt Lake. Flat and accessible, this 1.3 mile route offers outsized rewards in the form of wildlife viewing, especially during bird migration seasons.
Image © Ian Shive
Be Prepared and Leave No Trace
Before you head on your hiking or biking adventure, be sure to visit the preserve webpage to review specific guidelines for visitors. Some best practices to keep in mind before hitting the trails include:
- Bring enough hydration to accommodate the adventure.
- Wear footwear and layers for varying weather and conditions, including long sleeves and pants to reduce exposure to ticks and poison ivy.
- Apply (and reapply) sun protection. Even cloudy conditions can lead to sunburn!
- Stay on marked trails to avoid disturbing protected habitat or trespassing on adjacent private property.
- Pack out all trash and waste, including biodegradable materials.
- Consult individual preserve webpages to learn more about site-specific guidelines, including whether pets are allowed on your outdoor adventure.
More Stories to Fuel Your Next Adventure
These stories dig into why time on the trail is good for both people and nature. Explore the science behind nature’s benefits, learn how trails connect us to the outdoors and discover the conservation efforts that keep these places healthy, inspiring and open for future adventures.
Nature is an Investment
Enjoying Nature Pays Dividends
Nature’s Dividends, a synthesis of more than 1,000 studies released by TNC, highlights how investing in nature supports healthier people, stronger communities and thriving economies. Outdoor recreation plays a role, contributing to the U.S. economy, supporting lower rates of chronic disease and improved mental health, and delivering other benefits.
More To Explore
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Where Wildflowers Bloom
From trillium to trout lily, explore the blooms that signal the start of spring and learn how The Nature Conservancy protect the landscapes on which these ephemeral wildflowers depend.