Our list of the top 4 hiking regions in the world includes 3 in the USA:
#2 Southwest USA – info page
#3 The Rockies – info page
#4 USA Sierra Nevada – info page
Yet our list of the top 10 hiking towns in the world includes only one in the States: Moab, Utah. And it’s only 10th.
How can we fix that disconnect?
Should we add the “Switzerland of America” Ouray, Colorado?
Ouray is better known as the “winter ice-climbing capital” of America, but many feel the surrounding San Juan Mountains are the best in the State. Perhaps the best in the Rockies.
Other candidates?
Buzz recommends, in addition to Ouray:
North Conway, NH
Asheville NC
Springdale
Bishop, CA
Nevada City, CA
Leavenworth, CA
Boulder, CO
Crested Butte, CO
Telluride, CO
Jackson, WY
Crested Butte was my favourite Colorado town during my travels last summer. But I went there for mountain biking, not hiking.
The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog recommends, aside from Ouray:
Damascus, VA
East Glacier, MT
Asheville, NCCooke City, MT
Bryson City, NC
Fairplay, CO
Grand Lake, COTownsend, TN
Taos, NM
Santa Fe, NM
Leadville, COGatlinburg, CO
Estes Park, COThe Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog – Top Hiking Towns
Leave a comment if you’ve an opinion on these. Or if we’ve missed your favourite hiking town.
besthike.com 
Glad to see that Smoky Mountain Hiking’s towns were mentioned. Damascus is really quite the hiking town considering it is a haven that is looked forward to by most AT thru-hikers.
Great post.
Tim
http://www.appalachiaandbeyond.com
My town should definitely be on this list: Mount Shasta, California.
Blast. I’d not even thought of Mount Shasta even though I’ve hiked there myself.
Tom Chandler hosted our Hiking Bloggers Ho Down in 2006:
http://troutunderground.com/2006/10/08/outdoor-bloggers-hike/
… I guess I’ll need ANOTHER post on best hiking towns USA. Featuring Shasta.
Hood River, OR – Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens
Marin County, CA – Muir Woods, Point Reyes
Seward, AK – Harding Icefield, Lost Lake, many, many more
Mammoth Lakes, CA – Yosemite, Eastern Sierra
I definitely think that Ouray should be added. What keeps Ouray so cool is its small and compact size and lack of a large ski resort. In terms of hiking towns, doesn’t that mean you have incredible hikes from town? If so, then, I wonder about Fairplay CO. Unless you want to walk the high grasslands, I think you are in the car driving. I also agree with Telluride Colo too. Ouray and Telluride are only 7 miles apart as the crow flies but 50 miles apart on paved roads if that tells you much about the amount of public lands in between (as well as the Sneffels Massif — home to Mt. Sneffels one of Colorado’s 14ers.
As with any list, defining the parameters are half the process. As such, I agree with Karen: “out the door” is the most important factor to me. As soon as you get into a car, it’s not a “hiking town”. (“Fairplay, CO”??)
The second factor for me, is good weather. I’m a wimp; I don’t like to suffer, but I do like to get out every day, including in the winter.
The third factor, is can I afford to visit or ideally, afford to live there.
Ouray fits these parameters surprisingly well. You can get 4,000 vert starting in the parking lot of the Hot Springs Pool! However I put Boulder very high on my list because of the 4th parameter: you can get a job, you can raise a family, you can get a life.
And in regards to Jim’s recommendations, I’m really looking forward to being in Marin County in 3 weeks, albeit briefly ($$). And I’ll be in Springdale, UT two days from now … 62d F here I come!
Heck yeah, Ouray is one of the best hiking towns around. One of my all time favorites is located just outside of Ouray…the Blue Lakes.
How about Lake Louise, Canada? That whole area is stunning!
There shouldn’t be 3 US regions in the top 4 in the first place…
Moab’s great but man would I love to hike anywhere in New Zealand. That would be #1 on my list too.