Hiking activities in North America
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Humphreys Peak
The state's highest mountain is a reasonably straightforward, though strenuous, hike in summer. The trail, which begins in the Arizona Snowbowl, winds through forest, eventually coming out above the beautifully barren tree line. The total distance is 4.5 miles one-way; allow six to eight hours round-trip.
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Hiking Trails
Hikers can explore Yellowstone's backcountry from more than 92 trailheads that give access to 1100 miles of hiking trails. A free backcountry-use permit, which is available at visitor centers and ranger stations, is required for overnight trips. Backcountry camping is allowed in 300 designated sites, 60% of which can be reserved in advance by mail; a $20 fee applies to all bookings that are more than three days in advance.
After much heated debate and a narrowly avoided fistfight, we have settled on the following as our favorite five day hikes in the park.
Lone Star Geyser Trail
A good family hike or bike ride along an old service road to a geyser that erupts every three…
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Hiking Trails
Several hiking trails offer sweeping city views in the verdant Upper Manoa and Makiki Valleys above downtown and the University of Hawaiʻi. Few trails are just barely accessible by bus, including the 0.8-mile-long route to Manoa Falls. Consult Na Ala Helefor more information and directions.
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Hiking
Haines offers two major hiking-trail systems – Mt Riley and Mt Ripinsky – as well as afternoon walking tours of Fort Seward (the visitor center has details).
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Hiking
Hiking is the most popular activity in the area, and some trails access USFS cabins. Juneau Parks & Recreation organizes free hikes. West Glacier Trail, which sidles along Mendenhall Glacier, has the most stunning scenery. The Mt Roberts Trail is the most popular hike to the alpine country above Juneau.
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Flattop Mountain
A three- to five-hour, 3.4-mile round-trip of Alaska's most-climbed peak starts from a trailhead on the outskirts of Anchorage. Maps are available at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center and the Flattop Mountain Shuttle will run you to the trailhead.
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Fiery Furnace
Advance reservation is usually necessary for the three-hour ranger-led Fiery Furnace hikes that explore the maze of spectacularly narrow canyons and giant fins. This is no walk in the park. (Well, it is, but…) Be prepared to scramble up and over boulders, chimney down between rocks and navigate narrow ledges. The effort is rewarded with a surprising view – an incredibly thin arch or soaring slot – around every turn. The ranger stops plenty of times to talk (and let hikers rest).
If you're an accomplished route-finder and want to go it alone, you must pay a fee, watch a video and discuss with rangers how to negotiate this confusing jumble of canyons before they'll…
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Church Fork Trail
Looking for the nearest workout with big views? Hike the 6-mile round-trip, pet-friendly trail up to Grandeur Peak (8299ft). Millcreek Canyon is 13.5 miles southwest of downtown.
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Big Meadows
A very popular area with four easy-to-midlevel difficulty hikes. The Lewis Falls and Rose River trails run by the park's most spectacular waterfalls, and the former accesses the Appalachian Trail.
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Bearfence Mountain
A short trail leads to a spectacular 360- degree viewpoint. The circuit hike is only 1.2 miles, but it involves a strenuous scramble over rocks.
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Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The 2160-mile Appalachian Trail is headquartered at this tremendous resource for hikers.
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Santa Cruz State Parks
Streamside trails through old-growth redwood forests await at Henry Cowell Redwoods and Big Basin Redwoods, off Hwy 9 north in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and the Forest of Nisene Marks, off Hwy 1 south near Aptos. Mountain bikers ride Wilder Ranch, off Hwy 1 west.
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Escalante Canyon Outfitters
Cofounder of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Grant Johnson and his Escalante Canyon Outfitters are the best for informative multiday hikes through the region. Don Montoya, curator at the Anasazi State Park Museum, runs the archaeo-hikes to Native American sites and rock art.
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Earth Tours
Founder, and main guide, PhD geologist Keith Watt has an enthusiasm for the area that is catching. Choose from among the numerous half- and full-day area hikes offered or take a 4WD trip into the backcountry.
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Hiking Trails
Some excellent hiking trails meander off the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A), northwest of Banff. The Parkway branches off from, but finally rejoins, the Trans-Canada Hwy en route to Lake Louise. Waterfalls are the lure of a trail that follows the sparkling waters of Johnston Creek, which has creatively carved its way through the soft limestone of Johnston Canyon. The trail is paved as far as the Lower Falls (2.2km).
The next 3.2km stretch to the Upper Falls is more challenging but worth it for the views.
A further - and mostly untraveled - 6.2km brings you to the Ink Pots, five small springs of blue and green water surrounded by snowy peaks.
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