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.

So what are the best hikes you've done? Here are my favorites:

1. Lake Oesa, Yoho National Park (Canada)
2. Top of Half Dome, Yosemite NP
3. Observation Point, Zion NP
4. Angels Landing, Zion NP
5. South Kaibab, Grand Canyon NP
6. Sliding Sands, Haleakala NP

I based my choices on how spectacular the entire hike was, not only its final destination.

1. Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah

2. Dark Angel in Arches National Park. It was cool walking on top of sandstone fins.

3. Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park on the Mist trail.

4. Grandview Trail in Canyonlands, Island in the Sky district, Utah.

5. Riverside walk in Zion National Park

Utahtea

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.
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?
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.

My dear Mother-in-law likes to go to Reno, Tahoe and Laughlin to gamble.

My Dad likes to play golf.

Each to his own. Do what you like but don't put other's down for what they like.

Utahtea

OK, here are my favs:
1. Nevada Falls, Yosemite
2. Navajo Loop, Bryce
3. Chesler Park, Canyonlands
4. Bright Angel, Grand Canyon

For those people who hate hiking and nature, why don't you go to your "Hilton vs Mariott" threads instead of posting here?

Patricia -

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"...

Anyway, here's my list, in no particular order:
- top of Half Dome, Yosemite
- any hike at Grand Canyon
- Delicate Arch
- Sentinel Dome, Yosemite
- Queen's Garden, Bryce

Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon
Panorama Trail, Yosemite Valley
Flat Top Mountain, near Anchorage
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.

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?
Overweight and prefer "experimenting what the local cuisine has to offer"?

Hmmm....

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

1. Las Vegas strip
2. 5th Avenue, New York
3. any mall
4. Bourbon St, New Orleans
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.

To answer the question:
Pipiwai Trail, Maui
Phoneline Trail, Sabino Canyon, Tucson
Every hike in Sedona, AZ
Ravens Cliff Falls, SC

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.