18 hikes listed for weekend TikTok

1/ An account called @stepsandtrails posted a list of 18 organized hikes set for this weekend on TikTok on May 20, 2026. The post includes dates, routes, difficulty ratings, distances, estimated times, meeting points, and contact links for each. 2/ The hikes span local and regional trails, with organizers advising reservations for popular ones due to limited parking. They also shared gear recommendations available online. This comes amid Memorial Day weekend crowds expected at parks nationwide. 3/ Here's what the post covers: 18 options through May 24-26, rated easy to strenuous. Examples include a 4-mile moderate loop at [specific trail, e.g., local park trail] meeting at 8 a.m. Saturday, and a 10-mile challenging regional ridge hike Sunday with 5-hour estimate. Full deets in TikTok video. 4/ Why now? Memorial Day weekend means free entry at National Parks, BLM lands, and USFWS sites on May 25—boosting turnout. Great Smoky Mountains National Park warns of heavy traffic and delays; Nevada State Parks reports campsites booked solid. 5/ Planners like Backpacker curated 6 hikes timed for blooms and crowd avoidance during the free-entry window. @stepsandtrails expands that to 18, focusing on organized groups with meetups—safer for beginners amid congestion. 6/ Cautions: Southern California has smoke advisories from wildfires like Sandy Fire (2,100+ acres in Simi Valley) and Bain Fire (900 acres in Riverside County). Over 17,000 under evac orders; check AQI before heading out. Nebraska parks note burn bans. 7/ For water plans, boating experts push life jackets, no alcohol, and float plans with crowds returning. The @stepsandtrails list sticks to hikes but aligns with the outdoor rush. 8/ Check the original TikTok via the X post for links, reservations, and updates. Recent X chatter also notes a Georgia hiker rescue in Cohutta Wilderness—reminder to prep. Hikes run through Monday; spots may fill fast.