Best USA hiking holiday destinations by private jet charter

Havasu Falls Hike, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Hike through Arizona’s arid desert scenery to discover a true oasis: the five turquoise Havasupai waterfalls. The trek to the most impressive, Havasu Falls, is one of America’s top waterfall hikes, featuring spring-fed cascades that tumble over orange cliffs surrounded by lush vegetation. You’ll need a permit to trek through this remote Indian reservation, which is set in a side canyon next to its famous neighbor, the Grand Canyon. It’s a 20-mile return journey on foot from Hualapai Hilltop, or you can take a short helicopter ride. Either way, the Havasupai people require you to stay overnight in the canyon due to the length and difficulty of the trek.

Nearest private jet airport:  Hualapai Airport. As an example, a flight in a light jet from Denver International Airport to Hualapai would take one hour 40 minutes.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Considered the ‘Crown of the Continent’, Glacier National Park crosses the Continental Divide and joins up with Waterton Lakes Park in Canada. The national gem is named for its huge glaciers and features valleys that have been carved by ice flows over two million years. You’ll be spoilt for hikes, with over 700 miles of trails bisecting the icy landscape. Favorite hikes include the Grinnell Glacier trek and 11.4-mile Highline Trail which showcases views of Mount Oberlin and the Garden Wall, which is covered in flowering plants and shrubs.

Nearest private jet airport:  Glacier Park International Airport lies half an hour away. As an example, it would take three and a half hours to fly there from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in a super-mid-size jet.

Half Dome Hike, Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite is one of the USA’s most-visited national parks, famed for its hulking mountains, lakes, giant Sequoia forests, and flowering meadows. It’s a haven for walkers. The 17-mile Half Dome trail is one of the most popular Yosemite hikes and requires a permit. It takes up to 12 hours to hike and is not for the faint of heart, as the trail rises 4,800 feet in elevation and involves climbing a series of cables up the rock face. In return, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views from the 8,844-foot summit of Yosemite Valley and Nevada Falls.

Nearest private jet airport:  Mariposa Yosemite Airport is one hour and 20 minutes from the trailhead. To fly there in a light jet from Orlando Sanford International Airport for example, it would take just under six hours.

McKinney Falls State Park, Texas

Want to go hiking in Austin? Then visit the 744-acre McKinney Falls State Park. Explore around nine miles of trails through Texas Hill Country, passing alongside Onion Creek where water crashes over limestone rocks into sparkling pools. Take the Homestead Trail Loop to visit the historic 1850s home of Thomas F. McKinney, one of Austin’s first colonists. Don’t miss Old Baldy, a 500-year-old Cypress tree that towers over 100 feet. Get the ultimate outdoors experience by camping or stay in one of the park’s cabins.

Nearest private jet airport:  Austin Bergstrom International Airport is just 10 minutes from the park entrance. You can fly there, for example, from Chicago O’Hare International Airport in two and a half hours in a light jet.

Sliding Sands Trail, Haleakala National Park, Hawaii

Picture moon-like craters, cinder cones and volcanic peaks: that’s Hawaii’s Sliding Sands Trail in a nutshell. This is one of the most popular Maui hikes, set in Haleakala National Park. The trek length can vary up to 11 miles, depending on your start and end point. Along the way, you’ll descend into Haleakala Crater, which is lined with colorful rocks and unique flora such as silverswords and bright-yellow bidens. Climb back out and extend the trip by following the zig-zag trail up Halemau’u, the world’s largest dormant volcano, which rises to 10,023 feet above sea level.

Nearest private jet airport:  Kahului and Kapalua Airports in Hawaii lie less than two hours from the trailhead. If you’re flying from San Francisco International Airport, for example, the flight would take five hours and 30 minutes in a super light jet.

Camelback Mountain Hike, Arizona

There’s more to Arizona hiking than magnificent Grand Canyon hikes. Head to Phoenix to summit the hump-shaped Camelback Mountain, located 20 minutes from downtown. The challenging trek covers less than four miles round-trip, with a steep gradient and final rock scramble to the top. Start at sunrise to avoid the heat and you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Arizona, from Scottsdale to Phoenix and Paradise Valley. There’s more adventure to be found in the area with dozens of nearby Sedona hikes.

Nearest private jet airport:  Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport lies just 18 minutes away. An example flight in a mid-size private jet from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport would take five hours.

Appalachian Trail, Georgia to Maine

Buy a sturdy pair of hiking shoes to tackle one of the USA’s most iconic long-distance treks: the Appalachian Trail. Stretching 2,200 miles across 14 eastern states, the trail runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia all the way up to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Travel over the ridges of the mighty Appalachians to experience a slice of untamed America. Highlights include Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain National Park and Maine’s Hundred-Mile Wilderness. It takes several months to complete the entire trail, or you can trek a small section.

Nearest private jet airport:  Gilmer County Airport lies just over an hour from the Georgia trailhead. As an example, it would take one hour 40 minutes to fly there from George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport in a super light jet.

Torrey Pines Hike, Torrey Pines Natural Reserve, California

Torrey Pines Natural Reserve offers everything from desert landscapes to sandstone canyons and ocean views. The 2,000-acre reserve is named after the rarest tree in the country. There are six trails to choose from – they’re rated some of the best hikes in San Diego and are located just 15 miles from the city. Follow the Guy Fleming Trail for spring wildflowers and High Point Trail for 360-degree views of the San Diego area.

Nearest private jet airport:  San Diego International Airport is less than 30 minutes away. As an example, flying from Seattle Tacoma International Airport in a mid-size jet would take just under two and a half hours.

Silver Falls Park, Oregon

Oregon has some of the most impressive scenery in the Pacific Northwest, from volcanoes to rugged coastline, mountains, and lakes. There are some amazing Portland hikes on offer, but an hour’s drive south of the city you’ll find Silver Falls, the state’s largest park at 9,000 acres. Enjoy 25 miles of pristine hiking trails including the Trail of Ten Falls, which takes you through moss-covered forests and behind powerful waterfalls. The 7.2-mile loop lasts up to five hours and provides views of 10 falls, including the 177-foot-tall South Falls.

Nearest private jet airport: McNary Field Airport lies 35 minutes from the park. As an example, it would take two hours to fly there in a mid-size jet from Los Angeles International Airport.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Looking for places to hike on the east coast? Then visit Acadia National Park, which covers 47,000 acres of Maine’s coast. Acadia has over 120 miles of trails which wind through thick, wildlife-rich woodland and along the jagged coast. Follow the Cadillac Mountain Loop to see the highest peak on the east coast or try the Ocean Path, Bubble Rock, or Jordan Pond trails. One of the most adventurous hikes is the Beehive Trail, which involves scaling the granite boulder using ladders, iron rungs, and handrails.

Nearest private jet airport:  Hancock County – Bar Harbor Airport lies just 19 minutes from the park entrance. It would take two hours 35 minutes to fly there in a light jet like a Cessna Citation CJ3 from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The Narrows Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park’s Narrows Trail is one of the world’s top slot canyon hikes. Venture through the narrowest section of the Zion Canyon by wading through the Virgin River. Along the 16-mile round-trip hike, you’ll pass hanging gardens and be surrounded by walls of red rock over a thousand feet tall. Hike in summer when the water is at its lowest and warmest. The Narrows Trail can be walked bottoms-up from the Temple of Sinawava, or you’ll need a permit to head top-down from Chamberlain’s ranch.

Nearest private jet airport:  St George Regional Airport is an hour and a half from the trailhead. It would take just under six hours to fly there in a mid-size Bombardier Learjet 60XR from John F Kennedy International Airport.

Hollywood Sign Hike, California

Go hiking in Los Angeles for stellar views of the famous Hollywood sign. A variety of trails, taking up to three hours, afford great photo opportunities of the 45-foot-tall sign on Mt Lee in the Santa Monica Mountains. Brush Canyon is a popular option and takes you to a viewpoint above and behind the sign which looks out over LA all the way to the Pacific. Other routes include the easy Mount Hollywood loop from Griffith Observatory and the more difficult Cahuenga Peak.

Nearest private jet airport:  Van Nuys Airport lies 30 minutes from Griffith Observatory. In a super light jet, the journey there would take six and a half hours from Teterboro Airport in New York.

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Wyoming is home to the incredible Grand Teton National Park, which has some of the most superb mountain hikes in America. Linked to Yellowstone by a memorial road, the park has over 200 miles of trails which vary in length. Traverse 310,000 acres of meadows dotted with alpine lakes, grasslands, and glacial moraines, all surrounded by a backdrop of the Teton Mountain Range. You’ll need a permit for the 40-mile Teton Crest Trail, with its lakes, mountains, and high-altitude passes.

Nearest private jet airport:  Jackson Hole Airport is 25 minutes from the park entrance. To fly there in a light jet like the Embraer Phenom 100 from LA Van Nuys Airport it would take just under two hours.

If you’ve been inspired by one of these USA hiking holiday destinations, then why not charter a private plane to travel there in luxury? Wherever you’re flying from, contact us for more information and to get a tailored quote for all your private jet hire needs.