Hiking activities in North America
-
A
Montana Creek Trail
Montana Creek Trail and Windfall Lake Trail connect at Windfall Lake and can be combined for an interesting 11½-mile overnight hiking trip. It is easier to begin at the trailhead at Montana Creek and follow the Windfall Lake Trail out to the Glacier Hwy. The 8-mile Montana Creek Trail, known for its high concentration of bears, begins near the end of Montana Creek Rd, 2 miles from its junction with Mendenhall Loop Rd.
reviewed
-
Three Lakes Loop Trails
Along Three Lakes Rd, a USFS road heading east off Mitkof Hwy at Mile 13.6 and returning at Mile 23.8, are Three Lakes Loop Trails, a series of four short trails that total 4.5 miles. At Mile 14.2 is a 3-mile loop with boardwalks leading to Sand, Crane and Hill Lakes, all known for good trout fishing. Sand Lake has a free-use shelter. From the Sand Lake Trail, a 1½-mile trail leads to Ideal Cove on Frederick Sound.
reviewed
-
Emerald Lake Hiking Trail
This steep, difficult 6.4-mile trail begins at Grewingk Glacial Lake and leads to Portlock Plateau. You'll witness firsthand the reclamation of the wasted forest (due to spruce bark beetle damage) by brushy alder and birch, considered delicacies by local wildlife. At Mile 2.1, a spur trail leads to scenic Emerald Lake, and there are great views of the bay from the plateau. In spring, stream crossings can be challenging.
reviewed
-
Eagle Summit Trail
Eagle Summit, 3624ft in elevation, has a parking area for the second trailhead of the Pinnell Mountain Trail. A climb of less than a mile leads to the mountaintop, the highest point along the Steese Hwy and a place where the midnight sun can be observed skimming the horizon around the summer solstice. On a clear day, summiting here can feel like ascending to heaven. The peak is also near a caribou migration route.
reviewed
-
B
Exit Glacier Guides
For those not satisfied with merely gazing up at Seward's backyard glacier, Exit Glacier Guides gives you the chance to tread upon it. Its five-hour ice-hiking trip gears you up with ice-axes and crampons, ascends part-way up the Harding Ice Field Trail and then heads out onto the glacier for crevasse exploration and interpretive glaciology. By the time you read this, Exit'll likely offer overnight treks as well.
reviewed
-
Skull Rock Loop
Leave the car behind to appreciate Joshua Tree's trippy lunar landscapes. Visitor centers provide maps and advice about the 12 short nature walks and six hiking trails. For the kids, pick up a Junior Ranger booklet and ask which trails are most kid-friendly. If you don't have a lot of time, the 0.25-mile Skull Rock Loop is an easy loop, as is Keys View Trail, which provides views of the entire Coachella Valley.
reviewed
-
Monument Mountain
On US 7, less than 5 miles north of Great Barrington center, is Monument Mountain, which has two trails to the summit of Squaw Peak. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote that Monument’s summit resembled ‘a headless sphinx wrapped in a Persian shawl.’ On August 5, 1850, Hawthorne climbed the mountain with Oliver Wendell Holmes and Herman Melville, thus sealing a lifelong friendship.
reviewed
-
Mt Alice Trail
Seward Hwy near Bear Lake marks the trailhead for the Mt Alice Trail, a fairly difficult and highly recommended 2½-mile climb to the alpine summit. Bald eagles, blueberries and stunning views can be had elsewhere, but it's the solitude - this trail is relatively unused - that makes Mt Alice great. Back at Bear Lake, you can either backtrack to town or forge on another 11 miles to rejoin the Seward Hwy.
reviewed
-
Tunnel Mountain
For a short (2.3km one way) climb (260m) to break in your legs and survey the area, walk up stubby Tunnel Mountain, east of downtown. A trail leads up from St Julien Rd; you can drive here, but it's not a long walk from downtown to the start of the path. From the east end of Buffalo St, a 5.1km interpretive trail between Bow River and Tunnel Mountain heads north and east toward the Tunnel Mountain Hoodoos.
reviewed
-
Grace Ridge Hiking Trail
This is a 7-mile trail that stretches from a campsite at Kayak Beach trailhead to deep inside Tutka Bay in the state park. Much of the hike runs above the tree line along the crest of Grace Ridge, where, needless to say, the views are stunning. There's also access from Sea Star Cove public-use cabin. You could hike the trail in a day, but it makes a great two-day trek with an overnight camp in the alpine.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
C
Treadwell Ditch Trail
Treadwell Ditch Trail can be picked up either a mile up the Dan Moller Trail or just above D St in Douglas. The trail stretches 12 miles north from Douglas to Eagle Crest, although most people begin in Douglas and hike to the Dan Moller Trail and then return to the road, a 5-mile trip. The path is rated as easy and provides views of Gastineau Channel as it winds through scenic muskeg meadows.
reviewed
-
Ranger-Led hikes
At 10:00, 14:00 and 16:00 daily, rangers at the Exit Glacier Nature Center lead free one-hour hikes to the face of the glacier, providing information on the wildlife and natural history of the area. For a more strenuous outing, show up at the nature center on a Saturday at 09:00 for the guided ascent of the Harding Ice Field Trail. The trek lasts eight hours; pack a lunch and rain gear.
reviewed
-
Hike to Birch Hill Lake
If you find yourself with an unexpected day in Bettles, which can easily happen in August, take a hike up to Birch Hill Lake. The trailhead is unmarked but can be located by first heading to the Evansville Health Clinic. Next to it is a small brown house, and the trail can be found just to the right of the house. It's a 3-mile trek to the lake and can get swampy. Wear rubber boots.
reviewed
-
Pyramid Mountain
Two trails, both starting on Anton Larsen Bay Rd, lead to the top of Pyramid Mountain (2401ft). Avoid the easternmost trail, accessed off the golf course, which is brush-choked and hard going. Instead, continue west to Anton Larsen Pass, where the other trail begins in the parking area on the right. It's a steep but easy-to-follow climb, straight up the mountain 2 miles to the top.
reviewed
-
D
Peterson Lake Trail
Peterson Lake Trail is a 4-mile route along Peterson Creek to its namesake lake, a favorite among hike-in anglers for the good Dolly Varden fishing. The trailhead is 20ft before the Mile 24 marker on Glacier Hwy, north of the Shrine of St Terese. Wear rubber boots, as it can be muddy during the summer. The Peterson Lake Cabin turns this trail into a delightful overnight adventure.
reviewed
-
Dan Moller Trail
Dan Moller Trail is a 3.3-mile trail leads to an alpine bowl at the crest of Douglas Island, where you'll find the Dan Moller Cabin. Just across the channel in West Juneau, the public bus conveniently stops at Cordova St in West Juneau and from there, you turn left onto Pioneer Ave and follow it to the end of the pavement to the trailhead. Plan on six hours for the round-trip.
reviewed
-
E
Booth Falls & Booth Lake Trail
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Hiking
A two-mile hike to the 60ft Booth Falls follows USFS Trail 1885 into the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. The trailhead is off N Frontage Rd west of I-70 exit 180. Continue beyond the falls to encounter meadows filled with wildflowers and views of the Gore Range. The trail continues to Booth Lake, 6 miles from the trailhead, and climbs about 3000ft. Best between June and October.
reviewed
-
F
Point Bishop Trail
Point Bishop Trail is at the end of Thane Rd, 7½ miles southeast of Juneau. This 8-mile trail leads to Point Bishop, a scenic spot overlooking the junction of Stephens Passage and Taku Inlet. The trail is flat but can be wet in many spots, making waterproof boots the preferred footwear. The hike makes for an ideal overnight trip, as there is good camping at Point Bishop.
reviewed
-
White Tank Mountain Regional Park
An urban playground, on the Valley’s western edge, is the 46-sq-mile White Tank Mountain Regional Park. Better known as the White Tanks, it drapes across dramatic canyon landscape and is zigzagged by 26 miles of trails, including a grueling one to the top of the 4018ft summit. The park entrance is about 20 miles west of I-17 via Dunlap/Olive Ave.
reviewed
-
Turnagain Arm Trail
An easy 11-mile, hike that begins at Mile 115. Originally used by Alaska Natives, the convenient route has since been used by Russian trappers, gold miners and happy hikers. The trail, with a mountain goat's view of Turnagain Arm, alpine meadows and beluga whales, can also be accessed at the McHugh Picnic Area (Mile 112), Rainbow (Mile 108) and Windy Corner (Mile 107).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
G
Boulder Falls Trail
A quick and relatively easy ramble along the upper reaches of boulder creek and into its headwaters. This trail begins approximately ten miles west of downtown Boulder, bends into a cozy but dramatic canyon with soaring granite walls and ends at Boulder Falls which alternates between trickling and gushing depending upon the season. A bit more than a one-mile roundtrip.
reviewed
-
H
Royal Arch Trail
Challenging but not excruciating, this roughly two-hour, 3.6-mile, well-signed trail leads you up along the Flatirons, through a vaguely-red rock canyon, through a keyhole and up to a wonderful natural rock arch where you'll perch on boulders, gaze at the Boulder basin, and, on clear days, glimpse the Denver skyline. Grab a trail map at the park office before hiking.
reviewed
-
Parks, Culture & Recreation Department
Before hiking Mt Ballyhoo, Bunker Hill or just about anywhere outside town, obtain a permit from the Ounalashka Corporation and check with Unalaska's Parks, Culture & Recreation Department, in the community center (next to the visitors center). PCR offers organized hikes in summer that are highly worthwhile if you're in the area longer than just the ferry stop.
reviewed
-
10th Mountain Division Hut Association
- Aspen, USA
- Activities › Hiking
This organization manages a system of 29 backcountry huts – a few with wood-burning saunas – between Vail and Aspen, and connected by 350 miles of suggested routes ideal for cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing in the winter and hiking in the summer. It's perfect for couples and families. Reservations are by lottery system only and cannot be made online.
reviewed
-
Square House Hiking Tour
The park's most popular ranger-led hike, this strenuous 1-mile hike takes two hours but includes exposure to cliffs, rocky slopes, climbing a 20ft ladder and two shorter ladders. One highlight is seeing one of only two original kiva roofs in the park.
reviewed