Hikes in United States

We loved the hike up Mount Hoffman. The views from the summit were said by John Muir to be amongst the most dramatic in the valley and May Lake is stunning. All around a winner in Yosemite, but wait for the snow to melt!

The Kirby Cove trail is highly traveled by tourists and for good reason. This hike has some of the best views in the Bay Area, with outstanding views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Kirby Cove Trail also has a rocky shore beach at the halfway point that is excellent for picnics.

Located in the "Little Bryce Canyon", otherwise known as Red Canyon, the Cassidy Trail is an overwhelmingly beautiful hike. Slowly gaining then traversing along an exposed ridge, the route has nearly continuous views for its entire duration towards Mexican Hat Peak.

The hike along the Diablo Lake Trail rises 213 m above Diablo Lake, delivering hikers to a view of Ross Dam before dropping to a suspension bridge over Lake Diablo. During summer, the Diablo Lake Trail can be done as a one-way hike with a ride back to the trailhead via the Diablo Lake Ferry.

This is another super high hike in the Colorado Rockies; however, access in on the high Independence Pass Highway reduces the elevation you have to gain yourself!

It’s a postcard-perfect river walk: simple as that. The Metolius River is unbelievably beautiful and the easy hike along its flank is worth the relatively long drive from Bend. The water is clear and flecked with stunning whitewater rapids. This truly is a trek worth taking.

This less trodden trail leaves from Hermits Rest and bring you to a secluded and shaded spring that seeps down from a hole in the roof of a small overhang. This hike gets very little sun, and the solitude of the picturesque spring is well worth the physical effort!

The South Rim is our favorite way to view the incredible Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, providing a variety of stunning views back to the falls. Descending on Uncle Tom's Trail is a spectacular trip down near the Lower Falls. You simply must do this hike if in Yellowstone.

Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge is a perfect hike for beginners, families with kids, strollers, and hikers using wheelchairs, who can enjoy the first quarter mile. This 5.5 km route is paved and extremely easy to follow, allowing you to simply enjoy the expansive views. When it comes to views versus effort, this is an excellent payoff. With a rolling blanket of mountains stretched out before you, you’ll see why this hike is used by so many adventurers every year. It’s a great way to soak up the beauty of the Olympics without needing to work too hard, and the location makes it easily accessible from Port Angeles. Oh, and don’t worry- there are usually no hurricanes here.

The road to the trailhead is subject to seasonal closures, so make sure you check the status before planning a winter trip. The ridge is open for skiing in the snowy season.

Discovery Park and Lighthouse Loop Trail is a 7.1 km hike in the Seattle-Tacoma area that is rated as easy. This hike is part of a designated National Recreation Trail that passes through beautiful forest and meadows. It’s popular with runners and walkers and can be enjoyed all year. This loop extends out to the beach where the West Point lighthouse stands watch. It’s a fantastic trip that requires very minimal elevation gain. Wildlife also frequent this area, making it a favorite for birdwatchers.

This trail gets busy, so if you prefer a quieter hike, try visiting early in the morning, later in the afternoon, or midweek.

The Painted Wall Lookout Trail leads to an impressive panoramic viewpoint of the natural wonder. The Painted Wall is so grand and inciting that it will impress visitors of any age. From river to rim the gneiss cliff is woven with white ribbons of pegmatite marbling. Some might even say it resembles a tasty, marbled steak. But that is the beauty of this wall, people interpret the marbling in various ways, from steak, to paint brush strokes or dragons.

Lake Wenatchee State Park is a wonderful spot to spend a day or an afternoon, with boat launches, picnic spots, and a beautiful lake to see. Pack a picnic if you want to spend the day out, or use the park as a break on a long drive. The lake is usually warm enough for a swim in the summertime, so bring a bathing suit and take a dip if you fancy!

This 3.4 km loop is moderately trafficked and rated as easy. There are no challenges to consider when it comes to navigation or the route itself. It’s great for little kids or older family members. There are other trails in the area if you want a longer walk, but we love this walk followed by a late afternoon swim and snack on the beach.

A fun hike with scenic views of the surrounding landscape, the Mesquite Flat and Sand Dunes Trail is a must do when visiting Death Valley National Park. Leading you through rolling sand dunes, the route is both fairly short, and lacks any serious elevation fluctuation. The Mesquite Flat and Sand Dunes Trail is therefore a perfect route for the entire family to enjoy.

The Cottonwood Spring Nature Trail is a leisurely hike with plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing. Considered by many to be a hidden gem of Joshua Tree National Park, the spring that the hike bypasses has been used as a freshwater source since the time of the Cahuilla Indiginious peoples, and is therefore considered to be historically significant. With a diverse mixture of desert plants and flowers, the Cottonwood Spring Nature Trail is a great place to take in the desert aesthetic.

The Grizzly and Cupid Peak Hike is an ambitious climb to the Continental Divide and up two peaks. Though demanding, these vistas from atop the pass are breathtaking, though we aren’t really sure if it’s the scenic views or the high altitude taking our breath away. Nevertheless, we love this hike through the Front Range, and you will too.

Short in distance, and with relatively little elevation gain, the Devil's Postpile Loop is an excellent route for beginner hikers and families with young children. The route traverses a scenic pathway before arriving at the stunningly amazing Devil's Postpile - an incredible geological formation that is amongst the most beautiful within Inyo National Forest.

The Ape Caves Trail takes you into a lava tube discovered in 1951. The tubes were created by an eruption of nearby Mount St. Helens. At 4.0 km long, this trail is the longest continuous lava tube in the continental United States and the third-longest lava tube in North America. Nearly 200,000 people hike through the tube each year, making this a very popular spot to explore. The hike itself is quite easy and is suitable for all ages, although those who are claustrophobic may want to evaluate whether this is the right trail for them.

The caves are open between April and October and reservations are required to visit the cave. You’ll need one reservation per vehicle. Make your reservation on the official site.

This guide describes the route through the Lower Cave. The Upper Cave requires about 2 more hours and a bit of scrambling to complete.

Bumpass Hell Trail is an extraordinary route within Lassen Volcanic National Park. A short route that can be enjoyed by the entire family, Bumpass Hell Trail delivers you to an otherworldly landscape of magnificent geothermal activity. With an abundance of informative plaques to help educate you on what you are seeing, the Bumpass Hell Trail is an incredible route that will not leave you disappointed!

The Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona is an iconic sight. This church was designed by Marguerite Brunswig, a local rancher and sculptor who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, the famous architect who aided in the design of the church. The Chapel Trail begins from the chapel and takes you around East Twin Butte optionally extending to the Chicken Point viewpoint.

This hike is easy and family-friendly. The trail ends at a junction with Little Horse Trail, making it easy to continue further if you want a longer hike. Make sure you stop into the chapel to admire the stained glass windows and dramatic view.

The Lower, Middle, and Upper Blue Lakes Hike is a spectacular adventure in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado that will take you up to a series of alpine lakes. While out hiking the trail, you will make your way uphill through the forests and meadows along the East Fork Dallas Creek, before arriving at the Blue Lakes and the imposing Mount Sneffels looming overhead. Although challenging, this is a fantastic route to experience some truly beautiful Colorado scenery.