Trips

Venture off SoCal's coast for long beaches, hidden canyons, and sea life.

As every student of wilderness knows, Denali’s rewards—raw Alaska, awe-inspiring wildlife, soul-quieting solitude—are commensurate with the challenges. Get them all on a 31.8-mile crown-jewel trip that climbs to Anderson Pass, the only nontechnical path across the Alaska Range.

This magnificent, 55.5-mile northern loop accesses the moose-filled Waterton Valley backcountry, and finishes with a grand finale along the Highline Trail, a topo line below the Continental Divide.

Pack maximum Glacier highlights—densely stacked peaks, jewel-like turquoise pools, and blinding-white waterfalls—into three days with this 35.6-mile point-to-point from St. Mary to Two Medicine.

Discover a private paradise in Capitol Reef National Park by crossing the park's convoluted Waterpocket Fold on this 32-mile point-to-point.

Come for the sheer, glaciated peaks, but be mesmerized by rain-fed waterfalls that pour down on all sides along this weeklong trip in North Cascades National Park.

See the tallest waterfall in the United States up close in this short and easy loop hike in Yosemite Valley.

This trail goes through the desert. You'll pass cactus flowers in March and April, abandoned cars & hot tubs and you might see a coyote or two. You can follow any road up to the radio tower - either at the base of the hills or near the railway. Bring water as it's very dry and there's no shade.

This 7.2-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail visits the Shuckstack Mountain lookout tower for unrivaled views.

This 10-mile, cathedral-like hallway in Capitol Reef National Park combines easy canyon hiking and foolproof routefinding with life-list sights.

Climb two steep miles up Chimney Tops Trail, 10 miles south of Gatlinburg, to rocky outcrops overlooking Mt. Le Conte, Mt. Mingus, and Sugarland Mountain.

This paved, half-mile (one-way) trail leads to the highest point on the Appalachian Trail and 100-mile views of seven states.

Descend from Grandview Point for a lesser-hiked, four-day, point-to-point between rim and river.

Spend the night at a five-star campsite tucked in the broad slickrock bowls between Capitol Gorge and Pleasant Creek on this 7.7-miler in Capitol Reef National Park.

Find unusual solitude at this popular alpine park on a 16.4-mile peakbagging overnight to the Continental Divide.

A forgotten explorer's route leads to 42-mile off-trail adventure--with several peak bagging options--and bona fide solitude in Yellowstone National Park.

Go high above this tiny Lake Superior island for solitude, views, and one of Michigan's most incredible ridge hikes.

On this 13.7-mile out-and-back trek to the bottom of the Grand Canyon tour rugged canyons, cross the Colorado River, and take in stunning river-to-rim views.

Get full-canyon views from Skeleton Point on this 7-mile drop into the Big Ditch.

Drop off the north rim on the North Kaibab Trail on 8.1-mile hike down to Bright Angel Canyon.

Multi-layered red rocks line mile-deep canyons and cactus flowers explode with pastels on this 9.7-mile out-and-back to Esplanade overlook.

You'll summit the highest point in Texas on this 8-mile overnight trip in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

A perfect summer hike, this 7.5 mile in-and-back features a cool swimming hole at the halfway point in North Chickamauga Creek. Indian rock houses, wild blackberries, and remnants of the coal industry can be found along this trek.

On this climb from the Hoh River's silty riffles to high-country glacier views, you'll pass through a moss-hung rainforest that might be the lushest place in America.

This moderate, 6.2-mile hiking (or running) trail in Red Rock Canyon winds around sandstone and limestone hills with postcard views.

Glide through back-to-back lakes on this classic, 35-mile North Country paddling trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Just 20 minutes outside of Durham, take this 3.9-mile loop to get a good look at an old mill as you traipse through bluffs, banks, and boulders along the Eno River.

In a mere 3.2 miles, reach the top of Occoneechee Mountain—the tallest point between the North Carolina Triangle and the Atlantic Ocean.

This little-known 8.8-mile trail an hour outside of Seattle weaves through lush forest to the stunning and secluded Rainy Lake beneath the east face of Preacher Mountain.

Stroll through root-wrapped rocks, venerable hemlocks, and moss carpeted undergrowth on this 4.4-mile hike to Barclay Lake in the Washington Cascades' new Wild Sky Wilderness.

Take this beloved and well-maintained 6.6-mile trail through abundant greenery and past the enchanting Bridal Veil Falls to arrive at the snowy peaks of Mount Index reflecting in Lake Serene.

Pack for a quick overnight in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and discover hidden alpine lakes and the stunning panorama of peaks that is the Central Cascades.

Hike this 13.2-mile there-and-back just outside of Seattle to summit Green Mountain along a path where vibrant magentas and yellows bloom between your feet.

Take a walk though Washington's mining and logging history by exploring the area once known as Mineral City on this 15-mile out-and-back.

Get near-instant mountain view gratification from the top of this steep, one-mile trail to a still-operational fire lookout near Stevens Pass.

Exercise your route-finding skills on this steep fiver-miler up a little-known peak named for a Seattle-area mountaineer offering wide panoramas over the Snoqualmie Pass area.

If you like splendid isolation with a little challenge, try this messy 11-mile out-and-back to the Blethlen Lakes along Quartz Creek.

This short but challenging 1.3-mile route climbs 1,300' above an old mining quarry to a scenic viewpoint high above the small town of Index, WA.

Massive stands of old growth forest, an abundance of cascading waterfalls, and an azure alpine lake resting below the sheer cliffs of Mt. Pilchuck await on this 6.2-mile lollipop loop.

This two-mile walk up an old mining road visits the remains of the Sunset Copper Company. Exercise extreme caution when exploring in or around mine openings.

Try this less-crowded alternative to the top of popular Mount Si on the original, steeper 2.7 mile route.

Climb two miles up the switchbacked flanks of Greider Peak to a pair of lovely lakes in a deep, glacier-carved basin.

Take this unofficial two-mile trail to the top of a little-known mountaintop offering views over Annette Lake and several Snoqualmie Pass peaks.

This short (1.5 miles) but steep (more than 3,000 feet elevation gain) ends atop one of the highest peaks in Snoqualmie Pass.

Hike or bike this former forest road to the Dingford Creek trailhead.

Summit the Southwest's most European mountain.

Tackle tricky terrain to gain a solitary alp.

Spend three days circling the jagged, gaping remains of one of Central Oregon’s peaks on this 22.6-mile loop in the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Walk a scary-narrow rock fin to an airy summit.

Claim a rare feat on this classic-in-waiting loop.

Feel like you've notched a first ascent.

Top a Yosemite-like dome in a sea of green.

Cross deep, vine-laced forests to bluff-top views over rivers and prairie.

Trace the watery divide between the Carolinas.

Discover a pocket of wildlife beyond Yellowstone’s borders.

Vista Point Trail in the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area presents an easy 3-mile loop past quiet coves, lookout points, and the habitat of one of the largest bald eagle populations in the eastern U.S.

Looking to stretch your legs and get back to the outdoors? This 6-mile loop winds through the lowlands and hills of Lake Crabtree Park in the middle of Morrisville, less than 20 minutes from Raleigh.

Navigate a vertical sandstone maze to guaranteed solitude on a high-desert summit.

Enjoy cool, lush forest along and above the banks of the Sandy River on this 5.6-mile double loop trail in Gresham's Oxbow Regional Park.

Go to hiker heaven on Canada’s finest high-country path.

Climb without crowds to the state's top mountain view on this 9.6-mile out-and-back in Sequoia National Park.

See Enchanted Rock's pink granite dome, one of the most famous landmarks in Texas on this overnight loop and side trip to the 1,825-foot summit.

Climb to an expansive view of green rollers that inspired two long trails on this 22-mile loop in the Lye Brook Wilderness.

Rock-hop and wade your way down a wild sandstone corridor.

Circle an upland swamp rich with views, solitude, and wild edibles.

Climb to West Virginia's highest peak (and pass Seneca Falls) on this 11.5-mile point-to-point located in Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area.

Climb through towering evergreens to in-your-face Cascade views.

Leave the crowds behind on this secluded 5.2-mile forest hike to the top of Washington's Larch Mountain, with views of Silver Star, the Columbia Gorge and Mt. Hood.

Overlook the battlefield where the Modoc made their last stand, and a nearby spatter cone displaying unusual frozen rock formations on this 2.6-mile out-and-back.

This easy 2-mile out-and-back visits two collapsed sections of a wide lava tube with Native American pictographs and natural bridge walls.

Walk an old homestead route that crosses sagebrush plains and passes lava flows and collapsed tubes on this 9.5-mile point-to-point trail.

This easy, 3-mile trail (out and back) visits Lassen's largest geothermal area—a steaming basin filled with boiling mud pots, belching fumeroles, and colorful hot springs.

Spend a few days wandering through Necklace Valley's chain of lakes on this 18-mile trek through a remote section of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. For more adventure, peak bag nearby Mt. Hinman and Mt. Daniel.

Hike to the edge of a glacier through some of the best views in the North Cascades.

Only have a day to see the North Cascades? Then, this should be at the top of your priority list. Hike to a base camp for climbers, at the base of Sahale Peak, in 5 ½ miles, and 3966ft of elevation gain, and marvel at the best view the North Cascades has to offer.

A classic out and back hike that encompasses all that is wild and original in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Difficult trails, an abundance of beautiful alpine lakes surrounded by massive granite outcroppings, jagged peaks, and an attendant herd of Mountain Goats. What’s not to love?

This easy mile and a quarter loop gets high enough to get a nice view of Boulder, and lots of linking trail options easily lengthen the hike.

A gentle 7.5-mile hike with moderate uphill through the canyon.

One of the best and most accessible backcountry ski day trips.

The White Mountains Recreation Area is one of the most extensive winter trail systems in Alaska. With well maintained cozy cabins roughly 10 miles apart, skiers, ski-jourers, dog mushers, snowshoers, snowmachiners and even cyclists easily share the trails.