Backpacker Magazine – February 2008

Backpacker's Readers' Choice Awards 2008

America's 100 Best Hikes–chosen by you.

by: The Backpacker Readers

Tags:
• Mount Rainier
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• Continental Divide Trail
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• Appalachian Trail
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• San Francisco
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• Portland
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• Grand Canyon
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• Adventures
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• Skills
|
• Nature
|

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Quick Fixes: Most Downloaded Big-City Hikes
City	Trail/Park Name	Mileage (Total)	Distance From Downtown	Highlights
Albuquerque	Vacas Trail, San Pedro Parks Wilderness	15.2	92	Forested hills, fish-filled creeks
Atlanta	Panther Creek Trail, Chattahoochee National Forest	10.8	93	5 waterfalls and great swimming holes
Boston	Ponkapoag Pond Loop, Blue Hills Reservation	4.1	15	Rare white cedar bog is home to 17 endangered species
Chicago	West Loop, Red Gate Woods	5.9	23	Glacier-carved ravines; a buried nuclear reactor
Columbus	Zaleski Backpack Trail, South Loop, Zaleski State Park	11.7	70	Indian ceremonial sites and an old mining town
Dallas	Cross Timbers Trail, Lake Texoma	8.9	99	Bayous, blackjack oak, and BBQ
Denver	Dakota Ridge via Red Rocks Trail, Matthew Winters Park	6.0	14	Wildflower meadows and two lakes below Mt. Massive
Indianapolis	Low Gap, Morgan-Monroe State Forest	10.3	46	Gorges, bridges, rock overhangs, and an old cabin
Las Vegas	The Strip	8.3	0	Canals, palm trees, slots, and interesting wildlife
Los Angeles	San Bernardino Peak, San Gorgonio Wilderness	16.8	83	SoCal's third-highest summit (11,502 feet); views of Bear Lake
New York City	Hurd Corners to Morgan Stewart Shelter, via the AT	19.2	75	Wetlands, lakes, oaks, and access from Grand Central
Philadelphia	Fall Trails Loop, Ricketts Glen State Park	7.2	143	21 waterfalls, 23 species of warbler
Portland	Hawk Mountain, Mt. Hood National Forest	4.6	86	Start at a rustic cabin, end at a protected summit
Salt Lake City	Mineral Fork Trail, Wasatch-Cache National Forest	9.8	23	Climb 3,500 feet; commanding views over the city
San Diego	Santa Margarita River Trail, Santa Margarita Canyon	5.7	58	The last wild river in the canyon–with great wildlife
San Francisco	Tolman Peak Loop, Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park	5.5	34	Giant redwoods and sandy beaches
Seattle	PCT north from Snoqualmie Pass, Snoqualmie NF	6.3	50	Routefinding, switchbacking, and solitude
St. Louis	Wilderness Trail, Meramec State Park	9	70	Lollipop loop with scenic bluffs

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