Hiking activities in USA
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Delicate Arch
You've seen this arch before: it's the unofficial state symbol and is pictured on what seems like every piece of Utah tourist literature ever printed. The best way to experience the arch is from beneath it. Park near Wolfe Ranch, a well-preserved 1908 pioneer cabin. From there a footbridge crosses Salt Wash (near Native American rock art) and marks the beginning of the moderate-to-strenuous, 3-mile round-trip trail to the arch itself. The trail ascends slickrock, culminating in a wall-hugging ledge before reaching the arch. Tip: ditch the crowds by passing beneath the arch and continuing down the rock by several yards to where there's a great view, but fewer folks (bring…
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Deep Desert Expeditions
- Moab, USA
- Activities › Hiking
Archaeological hikes, photo treks, multiday guided backpacking, catered camping and Fiery Furnace walks – in winter, too!
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Corona Arch Trail
- Moab, USA
- Activities › Hiking
To see petroglyphs and two spectacular arches, hike the moderately easy 3-mile, two-hour walk. You may recognize Corona from a well-known photograph showing an airplane flying through it – this is one big arch.
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Capitol Gorge Trail
At the end of Scenic Dr is Capitol Gorge Trail (1 mile, easy), which leads past petroglyphs. Spur trails lead to Pioneer Register, where names carved in the rock date back to 1871, and the Tanks, giant water pockets. Look for the spur to the Golden Throne formation off Capitol Gorge Trail (another mile).
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Bristlecone Loop
The 1-mile Bristlecone Loop, at road's end near Rainbow Point, is an easy walk past 1600-year-old bristlecone pines, with 100-mile vistas.
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South Mountain Park
At 25 sq miles, this local favorite is larger than Manhattan. The 51-mile trail network (leashed dogs allowed) dips through canyons, over grassy hills and past granite walls, offering city views and access to Native American petroglyphs.
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Skyland
There are four easy trails here, none exceeding 1.6 miles, with a few steep sections throughout. Stony Man Trail gives great views for not-too-strenuous trekking.
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Riprap
Three trails of varying difficulty. Blackrock Trail is an easy 1-mile loop that yields fantastic views. You can either hike the moderate 3.4-mile Riprap Trail to Chimney Rock, or detour and make a fairly strenuous 9.8-mile circuit that connects with the Appalachian Trail.
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Ridge to Rivers Trail System
- Boise, USA
- Activities › Hiking
More rugged than the greenbelt are the scrub- and brush-covered foothills above town offering 75 miles of scenic, sometimes strenuous hiking and mountain-biking routes. The most immediate access from downtown is via Fort Boise Park on E Fort St, five blocks southeast of the state capitol building.
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Old Rag Mountain
This is a tough, 8-mile circuit trail that culminates in a rocky scramble only suitable for the physically fit. Your reward is the summit of Old Rag Mountain and, along the way, some of the best views in Virginia.
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Mount Sentinel
A steep switchback trail from behind the football stadium, forged in the early 1900s by local university students, leads up to a concrete whitewashed 'M'(visible for miles around) on 5158ft Mt Sentinel. Tackle it on a warm summer's evening for glistening views of this much-loved city and its spectacular environs.
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Mount Holy Cross Wilderness
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Hiking
Consult rangers for hiking tips. There are six developed campgrounds in the region. The strenuous Notch Mountain Trail affords great views of Mt of the Holy Cross (14,009ft), or very experienced hikers can climb the mountain itself (a class 2 scramble) via Half Moon Pass Trail.
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Many Glacier
Anchored by the historic 1915 Many Glacier Lodge and sprinkled with more lakes than glaciers, this picturesque valley on the park's east side has some tremendous hikes, some of which link to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. A favorite is the 9.4-mile (return) Iceberg Lake Trail, a steep but rewarding jaunt through flower meadows and pine forest to an iceberg infested lake.
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Indianapolis Hiking Club
Who knew you could hike in Indy? Join free, 5- to 8-mile jaunts around downtown, Broad Ripple, rugged Eagle Creek Park and elsewhere. Check the website for times and departure points.
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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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