Favorite Hiking Trails

[shiny]

One of the things I plan to do even more of now that I'm not working is hiking. I'm interested in what any hikers on this board would say were their favorites.

So far, I'd say my favorites were at Zion National Park in Utah.

Ha, I'm especially interested in which WA trails you especially like.

 

[kat]

My favorite place is the Adirondacks in NY. I'll be doing more hiking too, though I've done plenty of it to get away from work.

 

[Caroline]

Utah is hard to beat, in my experience. Best of the very best -- Hall's Creek Narrow's in Capitol Reef National Park. Absolutely heaven -- NO crowds.

If I had to try to equal that, I'd say anything in the Eastern Sierra of California. Taboose Pass, if you're feeling super ambitious and are in a LOT better shape than I am.

Caroline

 

[riskadverse]

I've just started hiking in the last three months - I never seemed to have the time before retirement.   I'm slowly getting in better shape and can tackle 6 to 8 miles and 1000' in elevation change.   I'm still so new at it that I have no experience outside San Diego county. 

 

[Whakamole]

Lots of terrific trails in Washington State.

If you like hiking up a mountain, you've got:
- Mount Si
- Tiger Mountain
- Mount Pilchuck

All of which are popular and so kinda crowded.

But there are trails everywhere. Did Robe Canyon a few weeks ago; unfortunately a slide has cut off part of the trail but it's still a beautiful hike.

 

[unclemick]

Heh, heh, heh

I take it - they haven't reopened the old stomping grounds of my youth - Mt. Saint Helens.

Though I caught something on PBS last year. Or is special permission required?

 

[Whakamole]

Heh, heh, heh

I take it - they haven't reopened the old stomping grounds of my youth - Mt. Saint Helens.

Though I caught something on PBS last year. Or is special permission required?

Naah, there are a ton of trails open there:

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/04mshnvm/trails/index.shtml

Kind of a long drive if you just want to hike for the day. It's one of those places I keep meaning to go to, but every time I drive by I'm either dead tired or the weather sucks. Driving by again this weekend on the way to Portland, here's hoping

Got a favorite trail?

 

[preben]

North Thailand - even longer drive!

 

[haha]

Shiney, there are so many nice hikes all over that I would say the best thing is to figure how far you want to drive. For example, if you live on the eastside, the trails that Whalcamole mentioned are good and close.

One of my favorites is a pretty long hike and a long drive N of Seattle. It crosses the Cascade Crest and drops you down into Lake Chelan. Not a day hike. LIkewise, for overnighters lots of great trials in the  North Cascades Wilderness. This has been a dry year, but still for some of these you might want to check snow conditions. Off HiWay 20 to the north are lots of triails mostly made by stream fishermen on the south side of Mt. Baker.

About an hour north of Seattle in decent traffic is the drainage of the Stilliguamish and Sauk rivers. Many good trails here, and some get pretty high pretty fast.

People that live in Tacoma like the area around Mt. Rainier.

I used to live on the Peninsula. Really nice trails on the south side of Crescent lake, as well as Hurricane Ridge. Also out there are the great lowland trails aong the Hoh and Bogachiel Rivers, as well as lowland hikes to Lake Ozette and on to the Beach.

I would advise picking an area, and then stopping by the library to borrow any one of many very nice guides that are specific to small areas. Most of these books will also mention if there is exposure on a trail, as not everyone is comfortable with that. Also if it is something where you should have an ice axe.

Ha

 

[unclemick]

Long drive from the LA swamp - last up that way in the mid 90's. No that much of a hiker - but still remember night sking and fishing the upper Green River after work when living in Kent - you could easily manage both/either during the work week. And growing up there - the weather - you took what you got.

 

[Shredder]

Try the Beartooth Mountains in Montana, oh and take along a fishing pole. Not a day drive for most of us, but well worth it. Been there 4 times and am wanting to go back. Almost like Yellowstone without the people.........Shredder

 

[wildcat]

Reco doing the Appalachian Trail at some point in your life. Very difficult but it can be broken up into phases. Very historical trail but certainly not as impressive as some of the scenery out West.

 

[Sue]

I've mainly hiked in Maine and in the White Mountains in Hew Hampshire, but I just spent some time hiking in the Western Sierras.  Compared to the Northeast, the Sierras are hot and dry, but the views are spectacular.  Less vegetation means more open trails.  I can't wait to visit the Eastern Sierras.     

 

[jerryo]

Try the Napali (sp??) coast on the island of Kauai.

 

[sailor]

Reco doing the Appalachian Trail at some point in your life. Very difficult but it can be broken up into phases. Very historical trail but certainly not as impressive as some of the scenery out West.

I second AT. I've done probably about 200 miles of it and I hope when we ER my knees will be still good for half a year hike.
As far as hiking in WA how about the trail around Mt. Rainier? I think it's about 120 miles.
Alaska is also great for hiking (if you can stand mosquitos) - most of the state has no trails (well, they are some in state and national parks) - just cross country hiking

As far as international hikes - some nice hiking can be found everywhere - for example I have fond memories from Nepal (Himalayas), France/Spain (Pyreenees and Massif Central), Switzerland & Austria(Alps), Poland(Tatras/Beskidy/Bieszczady), Slovakia(Tatras),
Turkey (Cappadocia, Mt Ararat)

sailor

 

[jefipius]

Just about any track in New Zealand!

One of the things I plan to do even more of now that I'm not working is hiking.  I'm interested in what any hikers on this board would say were their favorites.

So far, I'd say my favorites were at Zion National Park in Utah.

Ha, I'm especially interested in which WA trails you especially like.

 

[Austin_Explorer]

Outside of Texas, my wife and I really enjoyed the week we spent hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana. Never saw a Grizzly, but we did spot just about everything else.

In Texas I think we most enjoyed Big Bend.

Texas is not the best state in the nation for hiking, but I've come across more and more trails across the state as I keep looking:

http://www.texashiking.com/

 

[shiny]

I KNOW that there are TONS of trails here in Washington, its almost overwhelming to decide where to go, that is why I wanted to know favorites ~ thanks Mikey and Whackamole for the references.

We've hiked in lots of places in the US and some foreign countries, Corsica and Australia mostly. But I haven't tackled any of the really long trails, maybe I'll eventually do some of that.

I guess my favorite way to hike is to get up early hike all day then be back to homebase (hotel/campsite/home) in time for a shower before cocktail hour, dinner, early to bed then get up and do it all again the next day. The one time I did an overnight hike the 2nd day was sorta miserable.

Here in WA I intend to take more day trips (We are on the west side BTW, in Queen Anne) I can't wait for DH to retire (see, Beachbumz, I'm trying to use the proper words!) so we can do more during the week ~ that pesky job!

I still like to know favorites all over the country as we intend to do some extensive road trips in the future. Plus, we always manage to get to a foreign country a couple of times per year (Thailand is high on the list after reading this site!)

 

[HFWR]

http://www.in.gov/dnr/outdoor/hike/

As a Boy Scout back in the 60's, I hiked many a trail in Indiana.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Winter hiking in the new hampshire white mountains. Any trail. Big benefit: at 40 below zero at night, very little competition for sleeping space in the shelters...however you have to dig down into the snow 6-8 feet to find the opening, and its advised that you dont build your fire too close to that hole or you'll be sleeping a long, long time.

Hiking the area around muir woods and mount tamalpais in the Marin County area north of san francisco and the trails along the edge of the sea from the base of the golden gate bridge down to and past the sutro baths also offer some spectacular views.

 

[Jarhead*]

Winter hiking in the new hampshire white mountains.  Any trail.  Big benefit: at 40 below zero at night, very little competition for sleeping space in the shelters...however you have to dig down into the snow 6-8 feet to find the opening, and its advised that you dont build your fire too close to that hole or you'll be sleeping a long, long time.

Hiking the area around muir woods and mount tamalpais in the Marin County area north of san francisco and the trails along the edge of the sea from the base of the golden gate bridge down to and past the sutro baths also offer some spectacular views.

Hiking in 40 below weather, and 8 to 10 feet of snow, does sound like a great time.

Were you forced to by gun point?

Just curious. What in the hell were you thinking?

 

[MJ]

Didn't know NH even go that cold.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Up at elevation it sure as heck does. Minus 47 is the record.

Its quiet and very serene, which is hard to come by on some of the busier trails. Fresh water is also readily available at your campsite...no hiking a half mile round trip for a pot o' water. Dish up some of the snow and git going.

Me and three others used to do the hikes in jan/feb on a regular basis, so at least I wasnt the only idiot!

 

[deserat]

Well, there are plenty good hiking trails here in northern CA for sure. I did like hiking in the Sabino Canyon in Tucson, AZ. I loved hiking in the Alps (Tour du Mont Blanc) last summer and this summer it will be the Dolomiti in Italy. Switzerland is gorgeous, especially the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald areas. Around Zermatt (Matterhorn) is nice, too. Mountains near Sand Diego were nice, as well as the Devil's Punch Bowl in the San Gabriel's in Los Angeles. I've also done somenice hiking near Yellow Springs, OH, and an intersting hike along the Gulf of Mexico in FL.

Lots of options!

Bridget

 

[Zipper]

The Bruce Trail in Southern Ontario follows the Niagara Escarpment all the way north to Tobermory.

Take the Chi-Chi-Mon ferry across to Manitoulin Island.

The Zipper's brother is a dive-master in Tobermory. Lot's of wrecks in crystal clear water to explore!