Rodney Russell
The best places to retire for hiking enthusiasts pair direct trail access with retiree-friendly factors like cost of living, healthcare, and amenities. From Investopedia's 100 Best Places to Retire in 2026, nine cities stand out for putting national parks, Appalachian routes, river bluffs, and forest trails within easy reach of daily life after work.
Key Takeaways
- Living near hiking trails can help retirees make outdoor activity a regular part of life after work.
- These cities pair trail access with retiree-friendly factors such as cost of living, healthcare, and local amenities.
- The options include places near national parks, Appalachian routes, river bluffs, forest trails, and mountain hikes.
- If your ideal retirement includes regular time on the trail, you don't have to limit your search to remote mountain towns.
Investopedia identified the 100 Best Places to Retire earlier in 2026 based on factors such as cost of living, healthcare access, and community amenities. For hiking enthusiasts who want access to national parks, mountain adventures, scenic bluffs, or forest trails, these nine cities from that list offer ways to make hiking a regular part of retirement life.
Why This Matters for You
For retirees who enjoy spending time outdoors, living near trails can make it easier to stay active, build a routine, and keep exploring new places after leaving the workforce.
Where National Parks and Mountain Trails Are Within Reach
Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville sits close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, giving retirees access to hundreds of miles of trails, from easy walks to strenuous mountain hikes. Well-known routes in the park include Alum Cave Trail and Charlie's Bunion, while other nearby options include Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Ijams Nature Center, Meade's Quarry, Frozen Head State Park, and stretches of the Appalachian Trail.
About three hours east of Nashville, Knoxville sits on the Tennessee River and near Fort Loudoun Lake, giving boaters and paddlers access to hundreds of miles of navigable waterways. The city of about 200,000 people offers college-town amenities, including sports, theater, downtown events, and quality healthcare. Its lower cost of living is another perk for retirees, and Tennessee does not tax pension income, Social Security benefits, or distributions from 401(k)s and IRAs.
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, in southwestern South Dakota, gives hikers access to some of the West's most distinctive rock formations, forest trails, and wildlife habitat. Nearby routes include Black Elk Peak, Sunday Gulch, and Palmer Gulch in Custer State Park; Crow Peak, Flume Trail, and Buzzard's Roost in Black Hills National Forest; and local trails in Founders Park and Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park.
Home to about 80,000 people, Rapid City is known as the “Gateway to the Black Hills” and offers close access to landmarks such as Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park. Beyond outdoor recreation, it has a strong arts scene and a lower-than-average cost of living. South Dakota has no state income tax, meaning retirement income—including withdrawals from retirement savings accounts, pensions, and Social Security benefits—can go further.
Casper, Wyoming
Casper is a city of about 59,000 residents along the North Platte River in east-central Wyoming, with everyday hiking access in places such as Casper Mountain, Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park, and Fremont Canyon. It's also within driving distance of some of the American West's most famous landscapes, including Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
Beyond hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing, and birding are popular outdoor activities in the area. Casper also has museums, a vibrant arts scene, and a lower-than-average cost of living. The city is about 2½ hours from Cheyenne, Wyoming's capital.
Where Appalachian Trails and Blue Ridge Views Are Nearby
Johnson City, Tennessee
With a population of about 75,000 people, Johnson City is part of East Tennessee's Tri-Cities region, along with Bristol and Kingsport. Its location near the Appalachian Mountains and Cherokee National Forest gives hikers plenty of options, including Buffalo Mountain Park, Winged Deer Park, Willow Springs Park, and stretches of the Appalachian Trail.
The city is close to both the Virginia and North Carolina borders and about four hours from Nashville. Local museums highlight Miocene-era fossils, railroad history, two centuries of East Tennessee history, and the area's Cherokee roots. Johnson City also has a strong music scene, public art, local festivals, a lower-than-average cost of living, and no state income tax in Tennessee.
Roanoke, Virginia
Home to about 100,000 people in western Virginia, Roanoke is one of the few cities connected to both the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail. Nearby hikes include Mill Mountain Park, Read Mountain Preserve, Tinker Cliffs, McAfee Knob, and Peaks of Otter, which offer sweeping views of Virginia's Blue Ridge region. George Washington and Jefferson National Forests also put many more trails within reach.
Roanoke is also known as an East Coast mountain biking destination, and water sports are popular on the nearby Upper James River and Smith Mountain Lake. The city has a strong performing arts community, live music scene, museums, and historic sites that highlight its Appalachian heritage, African American influence, Civil War ties, and railroad roots. It's about two hours from Richmond, Virginia's capital, and four hours from Washington, D.C.
Lynchburg, Virginia
About an hour from Roanoke, Lynchburg sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, near both the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway. The city of about 81,000 people offers easy access to local hikes, including the Alpine Trail, Blackwater Creek Trail, Point of Honor Trail, and Liberty Mountain Trail System. Peaks of Otter, Devil's Marbleyard, Sharp Top Trail, and four Virginia state parks are also within a short drive.
Lynchburg has more than 50 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, and its farmers market dates to 1783. The city is also home to several colleges and universities, with a mix of arts offerings, dining options, and lower-than-average housing costs.
Where River Bluffs and Forest Trails Are Close By
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, a city of 51,000 people along the Mississippi River, is known for its river bluffs, overlooks, and extensive trail systems. Riverside Park, Hixon Forest, and Great River Bluffs State Park offer nearby hiking, while Perrot State Park, Wyalusing State Park, and Beaver Creek State Park add more trails and vistas within a short drive.
La Crosse is also known for boating and fishing and sits about 2½ hours southeast of Minneapolis and 2½ hours northwest of Madison, Wisconsin. The area has museums, performing arts, historic sites, a lower-than-average cost of living, and strong healthcare access. Wisconsin does not tax Social Security benefits, though it does tax other sources of retirement income.
Wausau, Wisconsin
Called “Wisconsin's Basecamp,” Wausau sits in the north-central part of the state, with plenty of hiking and outdoor recreation nearby. Local options include Rib Mountain State Park, the Turkey Vulture Trail, Cedar Creek Trail, and Sylvan Hill Park. Within a short drive are Eau Claire Dells and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, a 1,200-mile route through Wisconsin.
Home to about 40,000 people, Wausau is roughly three hours from both Minneapolis and Milwaukee and has a strong arts and cultural scene. Like La Crosse, it has a below-average cost of living, affordable housing, and a more relaxed Midwestern pace. Retirees will also benefit from Wisconsin's treatment of Social Security benefits, which are not subject to state income tax.
Dubuque, Iowa
As the state's oldest city, Dubuque is home to about 60,000 people and sits along the Mississippi River. Its location gives retirees access to plenty of outdoor recreation, including the city's 43-mile hiking-biking trail network and the Mississippi River Trail, which offers views of the river as well as into Illinois and Wisconsin. Mines of Spain Recreation Area adds more nearby options, including Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail, Calcite Trail, and Julien Dubuque Trail.
Dubuque is about 90 minutes from Madison, Wisconsin, and about three hours from Des Moines. Local attractions include the Fenelon Place Elevator, known as the world's steepest and shortest scenic railway, and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. The city also has a vibrant music and theater scene, a lower-than-average cost of living, and no state taxes on Social Security benefits or retirement and pension fund withdrawals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best state for retirees who love hiking and want low taxes?
Tennessee and South Dakota stand out, as neither taxes pension income, Social Security benefits, or retirement account withdrawals, and both feature cities like Knoxville and Rapid City with strong trail access.
Which cities offer access to both the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia, are both near the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway, with Roanoke being one of the few cities directly connected to both.
Are there affordable hiking retirement spots in the Midwest?
Yes. La Crosse, Wausau, and Dubuque all offer below-average costs of living, river bluffs, and extensive trail systems along the Mississippi River, plus favorable treatment of Social Security benefits.
Outlook
Retirees who want hiking to be a regular part of life have a wide range of options beyond remote mountain towns. From the Great Smoky Mountains near Knoxville to the Mississippi River bluffs around Dubuque, these nine cities combine trail access with the cost of living, healthcare, and amenities that make for a comfortable retirement.
