most beautiful mountain scenery for easy summer hiking
Nov 27th, 2010, 07:57 AM
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most beautiful mountain scenery for easy summer hiking
After being spoiled by Switzerland, I am looking for the most beautiful mountain scenery and easy summer hiking in North America. Any suggestions? I am leaning towarde Lake Louise to Jasper. Can I do better than that?
Nov 27th, 2010, 08:29 AM
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Nov 27th, 2010, 11:18 AM
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The hike between Crested Butte and Aspen is easy and beautiful. You start up high on the Crested Butte side and walk all the way into the Maroon Bells and catch the bus at Aspen Highlands into the town of Aspen proper. We've done it before and tried to do it around 4th of July this past summer, but the passes were not open yet and there were several rivers to ford which were running too high at that time of year. When we did it before it was around the first of August and had to walk through streams but they were not bad.
The walk is easier going from Crested Butte to Aspen because more of it is downhill on the Aspen side of the West Maroon pass while you can hike from Aspen to Crested Butte, it is longer because more of the hike is uphill.
Note though that Aspen is a ritzy glitzy town and it packed in the summer.
Crested Butte is out of the way laid back and funky.
I feel like there's hut to hut hiking somewhere in Colorado you might do a google search for hut to hut hiking in the US if that's your style.
The walk is easier going from Crested Butte to Aspen because more of it is downhill on the Aspen side of the West Maroon pass while you can hike from Aspen to Crested Butte, it is longer because more of the hike is uphill.
Note though that Aspen is a ritzy glitzy town and it packed in the summer.
Crested Butte is out of the way laid back and funky.
I feel like there's hut to hut hiking somewhere in Colorado you might do a google search for hut to hut hiking in the US if that's your style.
Nov 27th, 2010, 04:37 PM
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There are many places. If you are wanting something that looks like the Alps, most people would suggest North Cascades. But many places would work. Even places like Mount Hood, Mount Saint Helens, Lassen offer unique hikes.
How much elevation gain do you want, how far and how high to start with? Those are the determining factors in how easy your hikes will be. Rocky's, Glacier, Rainier as others have mentioned would all be great.
How much elevation gain do you want, how far and how high to start with? Those are the determining factors in how easy your hikes will be. Rocky's, Glacier, Rainier as others have mentioned would all be great.
Nov 27th, 2010, 05:33 PM
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The Presidential Range in NH. You can make it as easy or challenging as you want.
Mt. Washington is over 6,000 ft. Some of these hikes do require thought and proper gear because the weather can change mid-hike. A lot of out of state hikers underestimate our mountains and need help to get back down.
P.S. NH will charge hikers for rescues if it's determined you go stuck/lost/whatever as a result of your own poor planning.
Mt. Washington is over 6,000 ft. Some of these hikes do require thought and proper gear because the weather can change mid-hike. A lot of out of state hikers underestimate our mountains and need help to get back down.
P.S. NH will charge hikers for rescues if it's determined you go stuck/lost/whatever as a result of your own poor planning.
