Worlds away from its thrumming cities, America's wild spaces are some of the most awe-inspiring in the world. Vast swaths of the country are given over to soaring snow-crowned peaks, thick, trail-laced forests, and sprawling lakes and rivers. Some places are easily accessible for hikers of all abilities; others are left to the pros.

Read on to discover the most spectacular slice of wilderness in your state...

Alaska was made for larger-than-life, off-the-beaten-path adventures and many of the state's unspoiled wildernesses aren't accessible by road. That's true of the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, an area you can only reach via the Alaska Railroad, which slices through the center of the state. Drink in the ethereal ice-blue glacier, in the midst of the Chugach National Forest, before taking to the Placer River on a rafting trip with Chugach Adventures.

Look once and you'd be forgiven for thinking this was the mighty Grand Canyon – but's actually the equally awe-inspiring McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area in Colorado. Twisted red and orange rock ripples out for as far as the eye can see, with plunging canyons and the wiggling Colorado River. A favored area is the Black Ridge Canyon Wilderness, which spreads out for 75,000 eye-popping acres. 

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Lose yourself in Peoples State Forest, a densely wooded wilderness that's as well known for its winter adventure opportunities as for its summer hikes. At a humble 3,124 acres, it's more diminutive than some giant wild spaces on this list, but it has standout spots including Matthies Grove with its teetering white pines. Take to the 14 miles (23km) of forest trails and you'll soon forget all about civilization. 

Florida's famous 'river of glass,' the sprawling Everglades, comprise some of the Sunshine State's most famous natural landscapes. But such is their sheer size that it's still easy to find remote pockets. Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness is a stirring designated wilderness covering large swaths of the park, and characterized by wildlife-rich waterways, home to dolphins, manatees, and turtles. 

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America's wild spaces don't come much more rugged than this. A hike in the Wilderness Area of Haleakalā National Park (which protects the dormant Haleakalā Volcano) is best left to those with experience, given the stark environs, sheer remoteness, and changeable conditions. If you're a pro up for the challenge, the region can be reached by two soaring trailheads: the Halemauʻu or Keoneheʻeheʻe. The volcano summit soars to an eye-watering 9,740 feet (2,969m). 

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Taking over some 12,953 acres of the Hoosier National Forest, the Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers pure, unbridled adventure. Strike out on the 36 miles (58km) of trails, which snake through serene hardwood forest and fringe glassy Monroe Lake. The lake is popular with kayakers too, as well as campers who pitch up on its wooded banks. 

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You might not know that these stirring landscapes exist in the Sunflower State. A camera-loving patchwork of wetlands, salt marshes and grassy prairies opens out in the center of Kansas and provides a critical habitat for a bounty of migratory waterfowl. Trails strike into the varied ecosystems, offering a chance to spot everything from herons and egrets to prairie dogs. 

While Kentucky is better known for its free-flowing bourbon than its wild spaces, the Bluegrass State has natural wonders aplenty. There are oodles of remote pockets in the Daniel Boone National Forest, which gobbles up great tracts of eastern Kentucky. Areas of note include the Beaver Creek Wilderness, known for its sheer sandstone bluffs and natural arches. And don't miss a trek to Vanhook Falls, a near 40-foot (12m) cascade accessed via the Sheltowee Trace Trailhead. 

The image of feral horses silhouetted against an orange sunset forms a classic scene of Assateague Island National Seashore, a protected swath of the Maryland and Virginia coast. Other draws include windswept, grass-flecked beaches the color of champagne and isolated campgrounds that allow you to get back to nature. There's a paved biking trail affording stellar views too. 

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In the far western reaches of the state, where the urban hub of Boston is a distant memory, you'll find Bash Bish Falls State Park. Despite its remote location, the site remains pretty popular given the sheer beauty of the natural spectacle. Enveloped by thick forest, which puts on a spectacular show during fall, Bash Bish Falls cascades some 80 feet (24m) over a rocky gorge into a sapphire pool. 

Drawn to the coasts of Florida and California, few outsiders know the beauty of Mississippi's sugar-white shores. But the Gulf Islands National Seashore protects a great swath of it (swooping into the Sunshine State too). Mississippi's Horn Island and Petit Bois Island together comprise the Seashore's untouched Island Wilderness, described by the National Park Service as 'the only remaining examples of undisturbed natural coast'. Expect secluded sands, wildflowers, and animals such as alligators and turtles. 

This sweeping escarpment in the far west of Nebraska draws adventure seekers with its rugged trails beating through pine-covered canyons and its soaring observation decks. Keen hikers are joined by wildlife such as bighorn sheep, bobcats and deer, and there's also a nature center so you can learn all about the wilderness.

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The far-reaching White Mountain National Forest is New Hampshire's pride and joy and one of the finest natural areas in New England. Parceled up within it is the Pemigewasset Wilderness, which was once home to a vast logging railroad network. Now it's a true wilderness, having regenerated from decades of logging, and wild hiking trails ripple through its 45,000 acres. 

The Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness looks like something from another planet. Oddly mushrooming rock formations litter the badlands landscape, their shapes resembling dwellings from Star Wars' Tatooine. There's sparse vegetation here, but hardy shrubs that do survive include pinon-juniper and sagebrush, which appear in diminutive scatterings. It's truly out of this world. 

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The High Peaks Wilderness Area is exactly what it sounds like. It's one of the largest designated wilderness areas east of the mighty Mississippi and it unfolds in great tracts of rippling, forest-covered mountains. Knitted into the landscape are two of the state's highest summits: Mount Marcy and Algonquin Peak at 5,344 feet (1,629m) and 5,114 feet (1,559m) respectively. Soaring, high-altitude lakes and rushing waterfalls complete the picture. 

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Characterized by roaming bison, stark, undulating badlands, and epic scenic roads, Theodore Roosevelt National Park unfolds in the rugged western part of North Dakota. The wildest bit of all is the North Unit, which is bisected by the 14-mile (23km) scenic drive. You'll rise up above the soul-stirring badlands landscape as you edge towards Oxbow Overlook, a dizzying pull-out offering sweeping panoramas. 

Don't be put off by the macabre name of this forested wilderness. Hell Hollow apparently earned its moniker due to the area's steep hills, which made access difficult (the creek valley is still reached via some 262 timber steps). Still, it's worth it to be immersed in nature, exploring a creek-sculpted gorge that plunges for 100 feet (30m) and looking out for the abundant birdlife that call the hollow home. 

Oregon has endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, from traversing volcanic landscapes sculpted over millennia to trekking across windswept beaches edged by misty maritime forests. In little-visited Eastern Oregon, there are natural jewels aplenty. Among them is the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, which is home to the deepest river gorge in all of North America. Besides the ravine, there's epic whitewater along the Snake River and forested backcountry scattered with hiking trails. 

A tangle of seven islands is protected by the sweeping wilderness area, characterized by the rushing Allegheny Wild and Scenic River. You'll feel light years from Pennsylvania's biggest cities – buzzing Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – as you strike deep into forests thick with maple and sycamore trees. There aren't maintained trails, but it's still a popular place for primitive camping. 

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This bird's-eye snap shows off the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in all its glory. The island refuge is distinguished by lush vegetation and blonde sandy shores papered with beach grass, and it offers a haven for myriad wildlife species. The threatened piping plover finds refuge on the island, alongside other birdlife including the American oystercatcher and the snowy owl. 

The South Carolina coast is seriously precious and this wildlife refuge protects an unspoiled string of fragile and wildlife-rich barrier islands. It's a true natural playground with sweeping salt marshes, winding bayous, and bird-filled forests, and it provides a haven for many creatures. Almost 300 bird species have been known to grace these shores, including American oystercatchers and black skimmers. It's a home for alligators and turtles too. 

Texas's sheer enormity means it's not hard to find truly wild places – and choosing the state's finest wilderness is no easy feat. There's something extra special about the striking Guadalupe Mountains, though. A large swath of their namesake national park is designated wilderness, and it's distinguished by ultra-craggy flaxen mountains, sprawling desert, and some of the darkest skies in all of America. 

Epic sunsets and blazing fall color are the drawcard of Shenandoah National Park, which comprises a large swath of designated wilderness. Expect undulating peaks heaving under the weight of thick forest and meadows dense with wildflowers, all bisected by hundreds of miles of hiking trails. While on the ground, be aware of resident wildlife including bears, bobcats, and groundhogs. 

Washington's natural prowess is well known and there are endless epic wildernesses to explore. But perhaps none more stirring than the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area towards the center of the state. It includes the aptly named Enchantments (pictured), a breathtaking area of granite peaks and glossy lakes hemmed in by woodland. The region is crisscrossed with challenging hiking trails too.

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At the time of writing, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve remains America's newest national park and it wows visitors with its epic bridge, world-class river rafting and hiking over forested clifftops. Almost all of the park is relatively quiet, but Glade Creek is especially so. The richly forested area includes the abandoned ruins of an old lumber hamlet, as well as primitive campgrounds and a pretty little bridge that crosses the waterway. 

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Yellowstone is probably America's most famous wilderness, known for heavily trafficked wonders such as Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful Geyser. But there are plenty of ultra-remote pockets of the USA's first national park too. The Thorofare is known as a truly secluded slice of the wild: spreading out in Wyoming's far northwest, it's a faraway land of mountains and meadows dominated by bears and wolves. 

Now discover the world's most wonderful wildernesses