This Is the Quietest Trail in the U.S.—and It Follows a Stunning Scenic River

True silence is something most people rarely get to enjoy. Even when we’re exploring seemingly remote places, human-made noises can still reach our ears, be it airplanes buzzing overhead or the distant rumble of a highway. That’s why Quiet Parks International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving silence, started identifying, evaluating, and recognizing the quietest parks and trails in the world.

The first trail in the United States to receive the rare “Quiet Trail” designation is a watery one: the Niobrara National Scenic River, located near Valentine, Nebraska. The nationally protected waterway is a popular destination for river recreation—from canoeing on calm, early-morning water to floating on tubes with friends. But, it is also surprisingly quiet. 

The trail was awarded Quiet Trail status in October 2023. To earn the designation, qualitative and quantitative sound data was collected from the river over two years.

“Our testing process is very exact,” Gordon Hempton, cofounder of Quiet Parks International, said in a statement. “Beyond collecting standard acoustic data, each team member must agree, unanimously and unhesitatingly, that natural quiet prevailed throughout the testing period. The Niobrara River’s splendid geologic landscape, unusual atmospheric conditions, and outstanding wildlife all contributed towards a positive outcome,”

The 76-mile Niobrara National Scenic River stretches from Valentine, Nebraska, to just north of Newport, Nebraska. It is also where six major ecosystems converge, resulting in around 160 plant and animal species. The presence of a diversity of wildlife only makes the waterway’s role as a quiet escape even more important; quiet places benefit all living things, not just overstimulated humans. 

“Quiet is rare globally, as 97 percent of the U.S. population faces noise pollution from sources like aviation and highways,” said Susan Cook, a superintendent at Niobrara National Scenic River. “Destinations where one can experience the pure sounds of nature are becoming increasingly scarce, so we are thrilled to be able to offer this at Niobrara National Scenic River.”

While Niobrara National Scenic River is the first Quiet Trail in the U.S., it does have two international counterparts. There’s Cuifeng Lake Circular Trail in Taiwan’s Taipingshan National Forest as well as the Montañas Vacías Bikepacking Trail in Spain. Trails around the village of Finnhamnen in the Kvarken Archipelago of Finland and Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii are currently being evaluated.