If you want to really feel a place—its wild edges, its untamed heart—you don’t drive through it. You walk. And when it comes to world-class hiking, the U.S. cannot be beat . From desert vortexes to alpine epics, mossy East Coast ridgelines to black sand coastlines, this country is laced with trails that go way beyond basic. In this guide, we’re breaking it down two ways: First, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite hiking hotspots —compact zones where you can stay in one pl