Best Hikes?
 

Being somewhat tired of the endless threads on hotels/restaurants/cruises/shopping, I decided to get some opinions on something I haven't seen discussed too often here. <BR><BR>So what are the best hikes you've done? Here are my favorites:<BR><BR>1. Lake Oesa, Yoho National Park (Canada)<BR>2. Top of Half Dome, Yosemite NP<BR>3. Observation Point, Zion NP<BR>4. Angels Landing, Zion NP<BR>5. South Kaibab, Grand Canyon NP<BR>6. Sliding Sands, Haleakala NP<BR><BR>I based my choices on how spectacular the entire hike was, not only its final destination.

1. Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah<BR><BR>2. Dark Angel in Arches National Park. It was cool walking on top of sandstone fins.<BR><BR>3. Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park on the Mist trail. <BR><BR>4. Grandview Trail in Canyonlands, Island in the Sky district, Utah.<BR><BR>5. Riverside walk in Zion National Park<BR><BR>Utahtea<BR><BR>

Oh great. Another boring "best hikes" thread.

Oh great. Another one of those fat slobs who rate their trips in terms of their shopping/eating experiences.

Wow. Another tree. Wow. Another rock. Wow. Another sunset. Wow. Another hiker.<BR>Wow. Another lake. Wow. Another tree. Wow. Another rock. Wow. Another sunset. Wow. Another hiker. Wow. Another lake.

YesNature, disregarding your biased comment, why exactly do you think hiking/nature should be considered superiotr to shopping or enjoying a fine meal in a restaurant, or even being pampered on a cruise?<BR>I'm not a big fan of outdoors either, and prefer to spend my travel time doing things I enjoy most - any problem with that?

My DH & I like to go to National Parks for my vacations and see natures wonders. <BR><BR>My dear Mother-in-law likes to go to Reno, Tahoe and Laughlin to gamble. <BR><BR>My Dad likes to play golf. <BR><BR>Each to his own. Do what you like but don't put other's down for what they like.<BR><BR>Utahtea

OK, here are my favs:<BR>1. Nevada Falls, Yosemite<BR>2. Navajo Loop, Bryce<BR>3. Chesler Park, Canyonlands<BR>4. Bright Angel, Grand Canyon<BR><BR>For those people who hate hiking and nature, why don't you go to your "Hilton vs Mariott" threads instead of posting here?

Patricia - <BR><BR>Why aren't you equally offended by the "biased comments" AGAINST hiking (i.e. that it's boring)? For some reason, you chose not to chastise those posters.

This exchange of replies reminds me of what some friend (a fanatic hiker) once said: "the quality of people encountered increases with the altitude"...<BR><BR>Anyway, here's my list, in no particular order:<BR>- top of Half Dome, Yosemite<BR>- any hike at Grand Canyon<BR>- Delicate Arch<BR>- Sentinel Dome, Yosemite<BR>- Queen's Garden, Bryce<BR><BR>

Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon<BR>Panorama Trail, Yosemite Valley<BR>Flat Top Mountain, near Anchorage<BR>Feldtmann Lake, Isle Royale

Greg- It's called "altitude sickness". It's thin air up there.

Maybe you should consider that other people have certain limitations when dismissing some forms of enjoying travel, other than hiking.<BR><BR>Both me and hubby are overweight, so we cannot go on a hike easily. Still, we are happy to experience the joy of travel through activities that we can physically afford. Staying in a very nice hotel, experimenting what the local cuisine has to offer, shopping, etc is a wonderful and rewarding way of having a great trip, and bringing nice memories back home.

Overweight and prefer not to hike?<BR>Overweight and prefer "experimenting what the local cuisine has to offer"?<BR><BR>Hmmm....<BR>

<BR>you may get nice memories, but more calories for sure.

1. Las Vegas strip<BR>2. 5th Avenue, New York<BR>3. any mall<BR>4. Bourbon St, New Orleans<BR>5. to the cafeteria and back, every day at lunch

top

The Kalaulau Trail in Kauai...awesome!

Is there any reason one cannot like both hiking/nature AND going out to good restaurants? I personally enjoy both. Too bad anonymity brings out such a lack of respect for others.<BR><BR>To answer the question:<BR>Pipiwai Trail, Maui<BR>Phoneline Trail, Sabino Canyon, Tucson<BR>Every hike in Sedona, AZ<BR>Ravens Cliff Falls, SC<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Winter hiking with semi proper equipment(winter boots,clothes etc.) a half hour behind a dozen or more snow shoeing hikers going up Mt. Chocorua(3475') on a drop dead gorgeous sub zero february day.Totaly on a whim.It was boiler plate ice 800' below the summit , crampons were the only sane way to the top.But it was worth it.most of the hike was on packed snow curtesy of the snowshoers.It was much easier than a summer hike. Just a walk in the park.

1)Parker Ridge Trail, Jasper Nat'l Park<BR>2)Lake Agnes and Plain of Six Glaciers Trails, Banff (love the teahouses at the end)<BR>3)Portage Glacier Trail, Alaska<BR>4)Awapuhi Trail, Kauai<BR>

Vernal Falls, Yosemite<BR>Beech Mountain Trail, Acadia, my current favorite there, althought there are many. Acadia doesn't have big mountains, but the combination of hills, ocean and green forests can't be beat.

1. Angel's Landing, Zion NP<BR>2. Lincoln-Lafeyette Loop, White Mountain National Forest<BR>3. Mt Washburn, Yellowstone NP<BR>4. Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton NP<BR>5. Riggs Spring Loop, Bryce Canyon NP<BR>6. Presidential Range (Crawford-Appalachia) , White Mountain National Forest<BR>7. Diamond Head, Oahu,Hawaii

The Appalachian Trail. Hocking Hills State Park in SE Ohio. Clingman's Dome. Grandfather Mt. Pt. Reyes, Ca. I stayed in the US. Why even respond to the overweight slobs, they'll be dead soon anyway.

1. Dhety Oguz trail, Kyrgyzstan<BR>2. Inca Trail, Peru<BR>3. Hua Shan, China<BR>4. Through Petra, Jordan<BR>5. Chacaltaya, Bolivia

1. Boy Scout Tree Trail Jed Smith Redwoods St. Park (California)<BR><BR>2.)Rim Trail Grand Canyon N.P.<BR><BR>3.)The Kalaulau Trail in Kauaii<BR><BR>4.)Beach Trail from Wai'anapanapa to Hana.<BR><BR>

-Top 'O Half-Dome<BR>-Solitude Lake, Grand Teton N.P.<BR>-Samaria Gorge, Crete, Greece<BR>-A peak on the west side of Lake Tahoe (the name escapes me)<BR>-Hanging Canyon, Grand Teton N.P.<BR>-White Mtn. Wilderness Crest Trail, New Mexico

6 1/2 mile loop trail at Point Lobos State Park, just south of Carmel.<BR><BR>Susan G. Start small and expand your perimeters. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish and you will earn new calories to consume wonderful things! Lifelong WeightWatcher talking here.

Lake Oesa, Yoho NP, Canada<BR>Thompson Pass, Alaska<BR>Fairyland Trail, Bryce NP<BR>Beehive Trail, Acadia NP<BR>Skyline Trail, Mt Rainier NP<BR><BR>For interesting beach, tidal pools and rain forest:<BR>Schooner Trail, Pacific Rim NP, Canada

Any other favorites? Maybe even local trails we haven't heard of.

I didn't respond to this post at first because I've done many really good hikes, but I don't know the names of most of them. Some were in Olympic NP, Mt Ranier, Yosemite, Sequoia, Banff and Jasper, Rocky Mountain NP. My favorite so far in RMNP was the walk from Bear Lake to Cub lake via Odessa Lake.<BR><BR>I just walked segments 9-11 of the Colorado Trail with family members in July, about 46 miles near Leadville over the course of 6 days. The trail from Tennessee Pass to Turquoise Lake was incredible, especially around Porcupine Lakes.<BR><BR>In tems of local trails, in and around Durango, CO, there are several classic hikes. I'm not including "difficult" (according to the Forest Service) hikes, because I don't tend to do them. Here are some I like:<BR><BR>Easy: (Most of these are approached by rough rock roads; only the third requires 4WD.)<BR><BR>Spud Lake hike - starts from Old Lime Creek road, which is a great drive in its own right, north of Durango.<BR><BR>Big Al trail near Mancos is handicapped accessible (I think) - just a nice walk through aspen to a great viewpoint. This makes the list because I was able to take elderly, arthritic flatlanders on it.<BR><BR>The walk from the parking area near Kennebec Pass to Taylor Lake and beyond - goes through impressive fields of wildflowers with peaks all around. Lots of great picnic spots.<BR><BR>The walk around the Big Meadows Reservoir just east of Wolf Creek Pass.<BR><BR>Moderate:<BR><BR>Much of the Colorado Trail. The stretch between Molas and Kennebec Passes is particularly spectacular.<BR><BR>The hike from the Bandora Mine to the Animas-Dolores divide in the ineral Creek area just northwest of Silverton. Looks down on Lake Hope and Trout Lake.<BR><BR>Animas City Mountain on the edge of Durango is good because you get great views north, up the Animas valley, and views south to Durango.

Haven't had the opportunity to do much hiking out west, but we enjoy the Whiteoak Canyon trail in Shenandoah Nat'l Park.

I live in the Northwest and there are so many great hikes and climbs<BR> Mt. Rainier/Mt. Adams/Mt. St. Helens<BR> and all the hikes and trails around these great mtns.<BR><BR>Specific climbs<BR> Granite Peak<BR> Mt. Dickerman<BR> Cutthroat Pass<BR> Twisp River Pass<BR> Chelan Lakeshore Trail<BR> War Creek Pass to Stehekin<BR>I could go on and on but then that would be really boring!<BR><BR> <BR>

Good trails are never boring. Exhilerating--challenging--peaceful--meditative--tiring--but never boring!

They don't all "have" to be nature hikes, right?<BR>1. Lake Quinault Rain Forest, WA<BR>2. Ruby Beach, WA<BR>3. Black Forest, CO<BR>4. Most of the trails in Sedona, AZ<BR>5. Walking from downtown San Francisco so far out that we could see the entire skyline before we realized how far we'd gone (it was our first visit)<BR>6. Perdenales Falls, TX<BR>7. The beach in Seagrove, FL (before Seaside developers "found" the area)<BR>8. Boston <BR>9. Paris - all around town

Wintertraveler- I liked your response- thinking outside the box ;0)<BR>I like nature hikes but also just trekking through an interesting city. I know they offer "walking tours" in Europe. I gather they are organized tours where the participants walk from one place to the next (not just a city walking tour). Has anyone ever done this?

I also enjoy hiking as well as fine dining. I need the former to burn the calories of the latter! For those with bad knees etc. I think it is still of value to try a scenic trip with a small boat ride/or float plan trip to get your self reinspired about the beauties nature has to offer. <BR><BR>Standing at the top of Nevada falls after hiking 3-hours uphill and past Vernal Falls (Yosemite) was an awesome experience even if the last 20 minutes was spent wading through snow with wet socks.<BR><BR>Denali Park and anywhere in Alaska is also a very refreshing experince. Trails in Petersburg are flat and made of wood for easy tranquil hikes.

Don't remember all the names - but every hike I've done in the White Mountains of New Hampshire has been breathtaking.<BR><BR>Also agree - any in Sedona.<BR><BR>For a flat but extremely scenic 3 mile hike - Cliff Walk in Newport, RI.<BR><BR>The 5 1/2 miles sea wall around Stanley Park in Vancouver.<BR><BR>I love to hike, love to eat, love to do almost anything to do with traveling. What's not to love. Our most recent hike was on the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. Awesome.

I enjoy big city vacations as well as wilderness ones.New Orleans or Yosemite, they both sound great right now. ........My favorite hike is the Mt. Tallac trail at Lake Tahoe.Unbelievable views! But don't go there, it's already too crowded.Just kidding

Maroon Bells, Aspen, CO<BR><BR>